The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-08
The Veto.

YIN Tie ufSl page VI to-uay issuC VI tiic
VIRGINIAN will be found the full text of
the Presidents veto, a brief synopsis of
which appeared last week. 1t is a docu-
ment that should be carefully perused by
every one who desires to arrive at fair un-
Outstanding of the chief political question
that is now demanding so much attention
from the Lawmakers of the land, and it
should be laid away for future reference,
as we doubt not that the expressions and
views therein contained will be quoted by
prominent men of both parties. in the i'm
portant contests the country is now Just
entering upon.
Calm. sensible and logical, it exposes the
! pitiful pretensions that Democratic leaders
have SO boldly assumed, and dispels the
phantoms that have been coniured up to
supply the issue upon which the Democrat
ic party is to conduct the contest
Of 1880. In trumpet tones it was an
nounced that the fight was to be grand
struggle for constitutional liberty that the
issue was whether or not elections should
be free from military supervision and inter-
ference. Answering, the President points
to the law now in full force. which prohib-
its the presence Of troops at the polls, I'M
less in response to the request Of State au-
thorities, and for the suppression of armed
enomies of the National Government. He
clearly shows that it is not the desire of the
Executive to interpose a single barrier to
In f,,11 1o1 of
the elective franchise, but that its whole aim
and object is to so provide that every man
within the broad limits Of the Union shall
be maintained in the enjoyment of all the
rights accorded him by the Constitution.
Nearly every paper in the State has
thought proper to condemn in unmeasured
terms the action of the President, but not
one of them, outside Of the cities, so far as
we have noticed, has published the message
in full and thereby given the people an OPP
portunity of judging for themselves of the
business of the criticisms. 1t needs no
commentator, and we lay it before our
readers with the confident assurance that
the force of its arguments and business of
its conclusions, will be fully appreciated by
men who carefully read and impartially
Judge it.
AS stated last week the announcement Of
the veto threw the Democrats into confu-
sion, although they might have been pre-
pared for it. On Thursday last they tried
to pass the bill over the veto, but failed for
want Of the necessary two-thirds. the bill
only receiving one hundred and twenty
votes to one hundred and ten in the mega
tive, with forty-eight members paired. This
division may be called strictly party one,
except as concerned the Greenbackers. OF
these, three only voted with the Democrats,
and nine with the Republicans.
The result of the test threw the Demo-
Gratis into violent case of the Caucus"
and with great precipitancy they retired
into secret council, and after appointing
special committee to make a thorough
and unsparing search of the Hall for
any reportorial ear that might be secreted
there, proceeded to deliver themselves Of
opinions on the issue. The stalwarts as
sumed the defiant after the most approved
pattern, and a great deal of fustian was in
dulged, but wise counsel prevailed, after
two or three days fever, and it was finally
decided to agree upon bill which provides
that sections 2,0O2 and 1908 of the revised
statutes shall not be construed as authorizing
the President to station and maintain United
States troops at the polls, except under OF
ders to repel armed enemies of the United
States, or in pursuance of the constitutional
requirement upon application to repress do
nestle violence. This, it is thought, will be
passed and signed by the President, as it is
not antagonistic to his views as expressed
in the mpssaoe