The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-05-06
THE VETO.

THE VETO. /
Comments of the Press.
| philadelphia Times
| Mr.. Mcclure SAWS in the Times on the
veto MESSAGE: "The tone OF President
Hayes veto of.the Army Bill must dis
appoint very many who had been led to
believe that be mas prepared to accept a.
the Laws Of pesce, and remove the c"un-
,rv from all the irritating snd arbitrary
laws Of war. / is written in cre,litable
temper, and has none of the clsr-'rsp Of
firerv sentences of the Stalwarts; but it
deliberately TAXI issue with Congress on
the use Of Federal troops at elections,
and defends The prerogatives OF the Exc
cuive in maintaining peace at the polls
by the hayune', regardless Of the laws Of
the States OF the actions Of the proper
| ly constituted authorities This is a
most vital and feartullv fatal mistake
on the part of President Hayes. and he
can no more maintain the Executive cor
troll of elections under the prelerce of
keeping peace at the polls than he can
turn the current OF the N agara back
ward. What he supports iu his argu-
ment in favor Of the u.e Of Federal
troops at elections is neither possible of
execution in free country in time nf
peace, nor can It serve party purposes in
the present attitude Of parties, except
TO furnish ptetex,s to q D m 'cra,ic SEN
ate and House for rejecting the Presiden
lial vote nf any Safe where the policy of
military Intervention has been foolshly
attempted. Uilil the President himself
taught the nation the pussible dangers OF
the section repealed by the vetoed Army
Bill, there we're few who deemed the isl
sue grave one; bot with his official in
depreciation Of his powers under the Fill
teenth A amendment of the Constitution,
and the law that authorizes the army to
he summoned ITO keep the peace at the
pOlls," be has clearly defined an issue
that must do more to justify determined
resistance By Congress than all the rea
sons hitherto presented. He has given
an Interpretation Of the institution tina,
makes The r.psl o: tue clause repealed by
the political rider to the Army Bill an
imperative necessity, for now Congress
m lst face the question as the Executive
declares it, and it must protect the na-
,ion, the laws, and the elections in the
various Safes from the arbitrary and
revolutionary military policy avowed BY
the President in q time Of profound
peace"
New York SUM-
"The frau1ulent President has vetoed
the army appropriation bill, because Con-
gross, in granting m ,ney for the support
OF the army. has provided that the troops
shall not be used at elections. The pro-
vision which is thus vetoed is wise, neces-
sary, Indispensable. /, cannot be aban
doned. II must be insisted upon. For
Congress to retreat from the great posi-
ton which II has assumed would be fool
ish, unpatriotic, ridiculous, and probably
fatal TO those responsible FOR l.. II Is
vain in this country to attempt to rule the
majority. TIE many cannot be cocrced
by the few. A man holding the Presi-
dental authority through fraud may Of
fer bis veto, but the proper reply to it is
to re enact the laws to which he objects
and then adjourn, leaving him to face the
responsibility OF disbanding the armv
and disofganizing the public service be-
cause the majority of Congress grant ap-
proprialions ON terms different from
those he dictates. This emergency
seems likely to form Iew crisis in the
development and application OF the Con-
stitu'ior, No honest believer in popu-
lar 'vernment shcu'd be found doing
:, anything in the way Of terminating this
crisis otherwise than in favor Of the great
republican doctrine that the m j 'rity must
rule. And in the present case we are told
that the maj ,ritv are ready to back down
and fall on their knees before this man
Hayes 7"
i cThs World)
"The Presidents veto opens the way
wide and clear to popular Democratic
victory In 1880. Congress called upon
him to accept the principle Of free and
honest elections unclouded and uncoei-
e ced by the exhibition OF Federal bavonets
at the polls. This principle he refuses
to accept, under the cover OF formal oh
ijeclions. for the most part captious, IN
sound and irrelevant. Let Congress
now strip away the cover by its own
conservative action, and leave the refusal
,, naked in allils political defnrmitv. to be
judged by the people. The principle
: contended for by Congress should be
presented to the President again as once
in form which shall leave him NO choic
!. hel ween complete acceptance Of il and
fat rejection j.. The repesls contain
ed in the Legislative Appropriation Bil
:. also should nov be presented at once t.
!, him separately. U Ulder no temptation
under no prpvocation, let Congress nov
adj ,urn without making all The appro
!; pria,ions necassary to carry on the Gov.
: ernmcnt, Representing the maj aj,tity o.
the American people, Congress must see
! to it that the wheels Of the public admin
= : istration are kept smpo,hly and steadil,
: in m 'tion; and il the President OF tac,
:, tious and mischievous minority, under
;, the guidance Of evil counsellors, insists
:, upon obstructing with his veto Legislative.
: repeals in harmony with all the g, eat pre-
cedents OF the history OF freedom, le
. the issues that be makes he taken BY tn,
Democratic party calmly and fearlessl!
> before the tribunal OF the people in all th,
States of the Union.
vi ---~-------------
l. IN. 7. Herald. 30th ult
= Good Prospects for General Legis
y latiOn.-Mr. Warmers Coinage Bill
l. Likely to Break Party Lines.
:, There IS . strong disposition to g
- into general legislation and to prolonI
i the session, and many persons talk thi
'e evening OF a session lasting into August
The House determined to take up All
Warmers Silver Bill next Saturday, bu
the question will come up again to-mor
Is row again. This bill repeals the statute