The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-30
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.

The history of our country's Legislation
has been enlivened by an unprecedented act
Oh tho part of the IA fncto Executive u our
American Union. For the first time In o cen"
fury we have witnessed the rare spectacle OF
President oil the United btates practically
vetoing bill III advance Of its regular pas
sage by the two houses Of Congress-
We have been assured, by the highest
authority, that some time before the repeal
Of the acts authorizing the presence Of troops
at the polls, by the Congress now convened In
extra session. Hayes, anticipating their legls-
latIon, had previously prepared to nnllfy It
by n most extraordinary usurpation of his
prerogatIves. II was not Mn easy matter 10
credit these assurances. for, though it had
long been manileat that Hayes had yielded
himself I'd the vlndictive mastery of the stall
wart element Of his party, still the people Of
our country have an abiding faith In tho un-
written law III precedent Ia our highest office.
They had never heard of a President destroy
ing the force OF an aeto Congress- before that
act was hardly mere than contemplated.
They were naturally unwilling to credit the
statements Of those bitter partlsans who
sought to prevent the repeating Of obnoxious
laws by threatening tho repealers with d
presidential veto.
| IL Ia true Hayes had graeiousness enough
| ID walt for four days after the passage VI the
army bill before he promulgated his veto oi
the wlso measure. But II ia no less true that
the VITO message was prepared before Con-
gress made that measure law subject to the
Presidents approval. Therefore, we say II IL
the only case oh record where the country
| hns been practically threatened and inflicted
with veto In advance of legislation.
| The repeating clauses Oh the army bill wers
recently phased In Congress by tho repre-
sentatlves of majority Of more than one
million Or our voters. They were vetoed hj
d President who was defeated by majorit,
or nearly half of million votes. Though
tho not wns complained of by Hayes AZ on
interfering with the prerogatIves of the presl
dent, still there was no ground for this veto
4 The people might have expected tho veto a
d partisan act; one inspired by tho mallgnan
party leaders who have hitherto kept them
selves In power by using tho army TO contro
elections, paid supervisors as canvaasers, an
purchasable returning boards to count th
votes. 81
Hayes veto message was not heard yester
day In tho lower House. 1t was sent to tina
body but not read, AZ the House adjourne
yesterday morning without transaeting an
business, az an act Of respect To the memor
OF deceased member, Mr.. Clark, Of Iowa.
/ II Ia not known now how the Democrat
will receive this message OF defiance flung |
, their faces. 1t foreshadows the veto Of tI
j legislative appropriation BILL The passing
! Of these measures and making them laws
& almost absolutely necessary for carrying Q
: the government. VIII the great Democrat
+ party, confident III It's strength, resent Til
4 insulting defiance and deprive the militar,
a executive and legislative branches Of the 60
/. eminent of the appropriations on which d
ponds their very existence, or will they retil
Y from their vantage ground and seek con
i promisep
i The great issue is ut hand. The Executiv,
D representing minority In our government
I Ii opposed ny large Legislative majority.
!. weak administration elutching the false pr
+ text advanced, by such worthy as Sec,
!. Robson, uses II to nnllify the will Of FL
a millions Of our voters. II will soon be dete
|, mined who will win In this struggle for co
Q stItutional liberty President who, once
i Congress, voted to impeaeh Andrew Johnst
= for a less abuse Of the veto power or legi
4 lature which represents the sentiment Of
II vast majority Of our citizens.
4