The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-05-09
III. pr..id.a.,. Veto Massage.

nj
out the Presidential signature, accompanied by
n message stating At length the reasons for the
veto. The Presidsnt says il the bill contained
no other provisions than those for the support
OF the army 1t would rcceiye.his prompt eppro-
val. but it includes further fsgislation and in
wolves questions OF the sravest character. He
recites the statute now in force embodied in Sec
tions 2002 and 5528 OF the revised statutes and
SAYS the adoption Of the proposed amendment
may be considered in two aspects: First, as it
affects the right Of the United States govern
ment to use tho military force to keep the peace
mt elections second, as il affects the right Of the
government by civil authority to protect eec-
tions from violence and fraud. He then quotes
and calls attention to sections 2O03, 5629, $3.50,
553l aud 5532 of the revised statutes, and Sec
tion Is Of the army appropriation bill, passed
June 18th, 1878, together with remarks upon
the purpose and effect Of the latter as stated in
the speeches of Senators and Representatives
who supported it, From these laws he says 1t
appears there can be no military interference
with elections, and that, consequently, there is
no necessity for the enactment of this bill. He
then calls attention to the existing laws of the
prevention Of discrimination on account of race,
color or previous condition Of servitude, and to
punish fraud, violence and intimidation at Fed
eral elections and says: "These laws it is the
duty of the Executive Department Of the gov
ernment to enforce. The intent and effect of the
sixth section Of this bill is to prohibit oil civil
officers of the United States, under penalty Of
fine and imprisonment, from employing any ad-
eouate civil force for this purpose at the place
where their enforcement is most necessary,
namely, at the places where Congressional cleo
tions are held. If the proposed legislation
should become law, there will be no power ves-
ted in any officer of the government to protect
from violence officers of the United States en-
gagged in the discharge Of their duties. Their
tho lo
but the national government will be powerless
to enforce its own statutes. The States may
employ both military and civil power to keep
peace and to enforce laws ut State elections. 1t
is now proposed to deny to the United States
even the necessary civil authority to protect ma
tionsl elections. No sufficient reason has been
given for this discrimination in favor Of State
and against national authority With regard
to the manner in which it is sought to repeal the
law authorizing the use Of troops at the polls,
he says: "The object aimed Mt it is altogether
foreign to the purpose of an army appropria-
uon OiM. -'THo P~-utfoo Of tuesi~s 20 >fProPrio-|
tion bills measures not pertinent to such bills
did not prevail until more than forty years after
the adoption of the constitution. 1t has become
n practice; oil parties when in power have adop-
ted it. Many abuses and great waste of public
money have in this way crept into appropriation
bills Public opinion of the country is against
it. The States which have recently adopted
constitutions have generally provided a remedy
for the evil by enacting that no law shall
contain more than one subject, which
shall be plainly expressed in its title
The constitutions of more than half of the States
contain substantially this provision. The pub
lie welfare will be promoted in many ways by a
return to the early practice of the government
and to the true principle Of legislation, which
requires that every measure shall stand or fall
to its own merits" He says: "Ths
Congress has ample opportunity nnd time to
pass the appropriation bills and also to enact
any political measures which may be determined
upon in separate bills by the usual and orderly
methods of procedure. But majority Of both
houses have deemed it wise to adhere to the
principles maintained in the last Congress by q
majority of the House Of Representatives, name
ly, that the House Of Representatives has the
sole right to originate bills for raising revenue,
and, therefore, has the right to withhold the ap-
upon which the existence of the
government may depend unless the Senate and
President shall give their assent to any legsla-
tion which the House may see fit TO attach to
the appropriation bills. To establish this prin.
ciple is to make radical, dangerous and
unconstitutional change in the character of our
institutions. That q majority Of the Senate
now concurs in the claim Of the House adds
to the gravity Of the situation but does not alter
the question at issue. The new doctrine, If
"
unchecked and despotic> power in the House of
Representatives. bare majority of the House
will become the government. The Executive
will no longer be what the trainers of the consti-
tuition intended-an equal and Independent
branch Of the government. The principle of this
bill places not merely the Senate and the execu.
tive, but the judiciary also, under the coercive
dictaton of the House. The House alone will
be the judge of what constitutes a grievance,
and also Of the means and measures Of redress.
An act of Congress to protect elections is now
the grievance complained of. But the House
may, on the same principle, determine that o
treaty made by the President, with the advice
and consent of the Senate, o nomination or ap-
pointment of Office, or o decision or opinion
of the Supreme Court, is q grievance, and that
the measure of redress is to withhold the ap-
required for the support of the of.
Tending branch Of the government. Believing
that this bill is q dangerous violation of the
spirit and meaning of the constitution, am
to return it to the House in which
It originated without my approval"
A SIGNIFICANT CoNrRAsr.-w Washington, April
2s.-A colored Republican from Columbia has
been given profitable position in the Capitol
building upon Senator Hampton's recommends
tion.
A colored Republican from Portland, Maine,
j Informed me last night that when he applied to
Blaine, few months ago, for similar recon-
mendation, which wonid have secured him
place, Blaine reminded him that "the colored
people have no political strength in Maincr'
and recennened him to stick to his trade. The
appointee in this instance was classmate Of
Prof. Greener in Boston high school, and
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