The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-04
0RANGEBURG, $. G., July 4, 1879.
The Veto Power.

EFcIy administration from tho or
ganization OF our Government down
TO the present time is known by the
leading events Of the period. So the
icrm of Mr.. Hayes, besides The great
1la.l OF which himself is the embody-
lncnt, will be recognized rs the admin
iStlation of vctocs, or q reckless use
nf'this the most conservative power
known TO our constitution. Mr..
Hayes, i'll every veto message, brings
prominently before the public his
views of policy, his opinions of pub
lie necessity, his ideas Of constitu-
tional requirements and his notions
of political precedcnts.
In reading the life Of Gen. Taylor,
we find tlese remarkable words, utter
cd during his candidacy for the Presi.
'cncy upon the veto power. At tha,
time the entire country was exceed
ingly jealous and therefore watcllrul
OF any cncroachment upon their libcr-
ties, and especially so Of the free in
stitution Of the Republic. IIlcctiors
AheR were constitutional and their re-
suits determined by constitutional
principles, therefore, the policies an
nounced and the doctrines defended
were Of constitutional character.
Whatever side gained the victory, it
is reasonable to conclude that the DO
litical principles advocated by the
successful candidate was the will of
the majority of the citizens, and
therefore, true index Of what was
held to be constitutional. General
Taylor says, "The power given by
the constitution TO the Executive to
interpose his veto, is a high conscrva-
tive power; but in my opinion it
should never be exercised except in
cases of clear violation Of the consti-
tuition or manifest haste and want of
due consideration by Congress"
# President Hayes oouii forget
himself and cease to parade his indi-
Sidual opinions, and would address
himself more TO the constitution and
its clear violations-if he would
adopt these views of an officer, hon
cslly elected by the honest vote Of
large majority of his fcllow-c itizcns,
oar country could soon bc restored
to its ancient mooring and our pco-
pic, already too much excited and
hnrdencd by unwarrnnLcd discussions
that gender strife between sections
md bitterness between citizens, might
address themselves to building their
waste places and restoring, in meas
ure, their broken fortunes.
If our members of Congress could
lave been brought TO believe that
every day, apent in paltry squabbles,
and every night, in disgraccful fill
lmsLcring over differences that could
not he adjusted because of the Presi-
dents individual opinions, serve only
TO sink their proceeding 10 the level
nf o nuisance in the estimation of the
people, AL adjournment might have
hecn reached long before the first OF
July and thousands OF dollars saved
On tho nations treasury.
Great questions involving the Va
ldity of the constitution have been
before Congress from the first day Of
the extra session until its close, and
the discussions upon the Democratic
side were conducted in all the fairness
of an honest logical debate, but was
met by the Radicals with taunts, cpl
thets and billingsgate. When these
questions or matters were proven TO
he unconstitutional, passed by ma.
jorty of both branches Of Congress
and sent to the President for his ap-
proval, that Official saw fit to inter
pose his private views and his pprty's
dictations between o clearly demon
strated duty, the country's welfare
and his own conscience, Questions
relating to the ristration of jus.
tice and concerning constitutional
I'w and civil liberty were banded
about and finally disposed of by an
ri"alrahtcd use Of the veto power.