The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-05
The THIRD Veto.

to-day the following message, VetOlDg the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial App-o
priation bill:
To the House Of Representatives
After mature consideration of the bill en-
titled IAN act making appropriations for
the legislative, executive and judicial expen.
ses Of the Government for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1880, and for other purpo-
ses," herewith return it to the House of
Representatives. in which it originated, with
tile following objections to its approval:
The main purpose Of tn bill is to appro-
pirate the money required to support, during
the next fiscal year, the several civil DEPART
ments OF th3 Government. The amount ap-
propriated exec. DIS IN the aggregate $lS, 00O,-
600.
This money is needed to keep in operation
the essential functions of all the great de.
partments of the Government-legislative
executive and judicial. If the bill contained
no other provisions no objections to its ap-
proval would be made. Is embraces, how
ever,a number OF ella Uses relating to subjects
of great general interest, which are wholly
unconnected with the appropriations which it
provides for. The objections to the practice Of
lacking general legislation to appropriation
bills, especially when the object is to deprive
a coordinate branch OF the Government Of
its right to the free exercise of it's own dis
erection and judgment touching such general
legislation, were set forth in the special
message In relation to House bill No. l,
which was returned to the House of Repre-
sentatives on the 29th Of last month. re-
greet that the objections which were then ex-
pressed to this method Of legislation have
not seemed to Congress Of sufficient weight
to dissuade from this renewed incorporation
OF general enactments in an appropriation
bill. and that my constitutional duty in re.
spect Of the general legislation thus placed
before me cannot be discharged without
seeming to delay, however briefly, the ne
ceseary appropriations by Congress for the
support OF the Government. Without re.
peating those objections, Respectfully refer
to that message for statement of my view 8
on the principle maintained IN debate BY the
advocates Of this bill, viz: that ito with.
hold appropriations is constitutional means
for the redress of VoDat the majority of the
House of Representatives may regard as "a
grievance
The bill contains the following clauses,
viz !:
'sAnd provided further, That the following
sections Of the Revised Statutes of the Uni
ted States, namely 20l6, 2,01S and 1920.
and all Of the succeeding sections of said
statutes down to and including section 2 1927,
and also section 5.522, be, and the same are
the other sections Of the Revised Statutes,
and all laws and parts Of laws authorizing
the appointment of chief supervisors OF cleo.
lions, special deputy marshals OF elections
or general deputy marshals having any
duties to perform in respect to any election |
and prescribing their duties and powers and |
allowing them compensation, be, and the |
same are hereby REPEALED
1t also contains clauses amending sections |
2 ,Ol7, 2,0l9, 2,02S and 2,03l of the Revised |
Statutes.
The sections Of the Revised Statutes whicE |
the bill, If approved, would repeal or amend |
are part Of an act approved May 30, 1870, |
and amended February 2S, 1871, entitled |
tsAn act to enforce the rights OF citizens OF
the United States to vote in the several |
States Of this Union, and for other purpo-
ses." All Of the provisions OF the above
named acts, which it is proposed in this bill
to repeal or modify, relate to the Congression-
al elections. The remaining portion of the
law, which will continue in force after the
enactment of this measure, is that which
provides for the appointment, by Judge OF
the circuit court Of the United States, OF
two supervisors Of elections in each election
district, at any Congressional election, on
due application Of citizens who desire, in the
language of the law, ''to have such election
guarded and scrutinized.' The duties of
the supervisors will be to attend at the polls