The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-05-09
tn. Pre.id.n,,s Veto Message.

n message stating at length the reasons for the
veto. The President says IL the bill contained
no other provisions than those FOR the support
OF the army 1t would receive nus prompt apPro-
val. but il includes further legislation and in
wolves questions Of the sravest character. He
recites the statute now In force embodied in sec
tions 2OO2 and 552S OF the revised statutes and
saws the adoption Of the proposed amendment
may be considered in two aspects: First as 1t
affects the right Of the United States govern
ment 10 use tho military force to keep the peace
Mt elections, second, il affects the right of the
government by civil authority to protect elec-
tions from violence and fraud. lie then quotes
and calls attention to sections 20O3, 6029, $3.50,
553l and 5532 Of the revised statutes. and sec.
ton Is of the army appropriation bill, passed
June 18th, 1873, 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 it
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 ut Fed
cral elections, and says: "Thcsc 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
rions 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
rights and duties under the law will remain,
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 nroposcd to deny to the United States
even the necessary civil authority to protect ma
tional 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 at it is altogether
foreign to the purpose of m army appropria-
ton 1,M. T,,e r--O.ioo vr ,o~Si~s 20 approrrir
ton bills measures not pertinent to such bills
did not prevail until more than forty years after
the adoption of the constitution. 1t has become
practices 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 n remedy
for the evil by enacting that no law shall
contain more than one subject. which
shall be plainly expressed in its title
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
according to its own merits.' He says: This
Congress has ample opportunity and 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
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-
propriations upon which the existence Of the
government may depend unless the Senate and
President shall give their assent to any legisa-
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 n 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
maintained, will result in the consolidation of
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
OThnCh 9l lhc government Inc pTinClple Vi tnl5
hill places not merely the Senate and the exccu.
tive, but the judiciary Also under the coercve
dictation of the House. The House alone will
be the Judge of what constitutes grievance,
md 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, nomination or APP
pointment Of Office or q decision or opinion
of the Supreme Court is q grievance, and that
the measure of redress is to withhold the ap-
preparations required for the support of the Of
Tending branch of the government. Believing
that this bill is a dangerous violation of the
spirit and meaning of the constitution, | am |
compelled to return it to the House in which |
it originated without my approval"
SIGNIFICANT CoNTE Asst. w ashngton, AprI! |
2S.-A colored Republican from Columbia has
been given profitable position in the Capitol
building upon Senator liamptons recommenla-
tion.
colored Republican from Portland, Maine,
informed me last night that when he applied to
Blaine, q few months ago, for n similar recon-
incubation. which wonld have secured him q
place, Blaine reminded him that "the colorcd
people have 40 political strength in MaincH'
and recemnened him to stick to his trade. The
Prof. Greener in Boston high school, and
scored seventy-three upon civil service exami-
nation in Washington before he applied to his
senator.
Senator IIampton's applicant confessed, in a