The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-05-03
PRESIDENT HAYES AND THE 46th
CONGRESS LOCK HORNS,


! CONGRESS LOCK HORNS.
Veto of the Army Appropriation Bill
WASHINGTON, April 30.
, The army appropriation bill was returned
to the house to-day without the presidential
signature, it was accompanied by message
, stating, at length, the reason for his veto
The President says: eff the bill contained
no other provisions than than those for the
support of the army, it would receive his
prompt approval, but it includes further
legislation and involves question of the
gravest character" He recites the strtute
now in force, embodied in sections POOP
and 5g29 of the revised statutes, and says
the adoption of the proposed amendment
may be considered in two aspects; FIRST as
it affects the United States government
to use the military force to keep peace at
elections. Second, as it affects the right of
the government by civil authority to pro-
tect elections from violence and fraud, HIT
then quotes and calls atten lion to sections
2003, $500, $780, 5531 and 5432 of the Re-
vised statutes, and to section Is of the
army appropriation bill passed June 18,
| 1878, together with remarks upon the pur-
pose and effect of the latter as stated in
the speeches of Senator'S and Representa-
tives who supported it from these laws. He |
says it appears there can be no military in
reference with elections, and that conse-
quently there is no necessity for the enact-
ment of section 6, of this bill. He then
calls attention to the existing laws for the
prevention of determinations on account
of race, color or previous condition of ser
vitude, and to punish fraud, violence and
intimidation at federal elections, and SAYS
these laws it is the duty of the executive
department of the COMMENT to enforce.
The intent and effect of the sixth section of
this bill is to prohibit all civil officers of
the United States. under the penalty of
imprisonment, from employing any ade~
quate civil force for this purpose at a
place where their enforcement is most
necessary; namely, at places where con-
gressional elections are held If the pro-
posed legislation should become law, there
will be no power vested in any officer of
the government to protect from violence
the officers of the Tinted States engaged 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. States may
employ both military and civil power to
keep peace and to enforce the laws at State
elections. 1t is now proposed to deny to
the United States even the necessary civil
authority to protect the national elections
No sufficient reason had been given for this
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
pools, the President says, the object aimed
at is altogether foreign to the purpose of an
army appropriation bill The practice of
lacking to appropriation bills measures not il
pertinent to such bills did not prevail until
more than forty years after the adoption of {
he constitution. 1t has become a common Il
common practice. All parties when in i
,ower have adopted it, and many abuses h
md great waste of public money have, in -
his way, crept into appropriation bills.
Public opinion of the country is against it.
states, which have recently adopted con-
titutions, have generally provided a rem
dy for the evil by enacting that no law
hall contain more than one subject which n
hall be plainly expressed in its title The 4
constitution of more than half of the
tates contains substantially this provision
ublic welfare will be promoted in many
'ays by return to the early practice of
lie government, and to the true principles 4
legislation which requires that every
leasure shall stand or fall, according to its
wn merit He says this Congress has
nple opportunity and time to pass appro-
ration bills, and also to enact any politi- Sh
Il measures which may be determined upon
separate bills, by the usual and orderly
ethods of proceedings, but majority of n
9TH houses have deemed it wise to adhere y
the principle maintained in the last
'ngress by majority of the house of
namely-that the house of IT.
representatives. has the sole right to IL
iginste bills for raising revenue, and m
erefore has the right to withhold e
upon which the existence
the government may depend, unless the
nator and president shall give their assent
any legislation the House may see fit to
ach to the appropriation bills. To es- -
1lish this principle is to make radical,
ngerous and unconstitutional change of
character of our free institutions; and
It a majority of the Senate now concurs -
the claims of the house, which adds to 3
gravity of the situation, but does not ~.
err the question at ISSUE The new
,trine, it maintained will result in the
oscillation of unchecked and respotic Re
ver in the house of representative. A and
e majority will no longer be what the i'"i
mers of the constitution intended-an In
lal and independent branch of governs
Mt principle. This bill places, not mere I'LL
he senate and executive, but the judi~
" also under the coercive dictation of pr,
house. House alone will be Judge of
means and measures of redess. An act
congress to protect elections is now the
,vance complained of, but the house
Y, on the same principle, determine that Hill
eaty made by the president with the adj wi
and consent of senate, the nomination
appointment to Office, or desission or
Non of the supreme court is a griev-
g and that a measures of redress is to NJ,
hold appropriations required for the NCN
port of the offending branch of the -,
eminent. Believing that this bill Is a NJ
gerous violation of the spirit and mean NE
of the constitution, am compelled to
m it tc the House in which it origin
without my approval.
he prospect for a fruit crop in Lcake hoT
pretty fair, considering the late
HarkboraVsan