The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-04

ganizati0n Of our Government down
to the present time is known by The
leading events Of the period. SO the
term of Nj. Hayes, besides the great
1iaud Of which himself is the embody-
mcnt, will be recognized as the admin
lstlatlon OF vctoes, or q reckless use
nflhis the most conservative power
known TO our constitution. MIR.
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 prccedcnts.
In reading the life of Gen. TAYLOR,
we find IT, csc remarkable words, utter
CD during his candidacy for the Presi
'ency upon the veto power. At that
time the entire country was exceed.
ingly jealous and therefore watch(ul
OF any cncroachment upon their libcr-
ties, and especially SO of the free in
stitution Of the Republic. Elections
then were constitutional and their re-
suits determined by constitutional
principles, therefore, the policies an
nounced and the doctrines defended
were Of 4 constitutional character.
Whatever side gained the victory, it
is reasonable 10 conclude that the DO
litical principles advocated by the
successful candidate was the will of
the majority Of the citizens. and
therefore, n 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 high conscrva.
tive power; but in my opinion it
should never bc exercised except in
cases Of clear violation of the consti-
tuition Or manifest haste and want of
due consideration by Congress.
If President Hayes could forget
himself and cease to parade his ind-
Sidual opinions, and would address
himself more TO the constitution and
its clear violations-if he would
adopt these views Of an officer, hon
estly elected by the honest vote Of
large majority Of his fellow citizens,
oar country could soon bc restored
to its ancient mooring and our peo-
pic, already too much excited and
hardened by unwarrunLcd discussions
that gender strife between sections
nnd bitterness between citizens, might
address themselves to building their
waste places and restoring, in 4 meas
ure, their broken fortunes.
If our members of Congress could
have been brought to believe that
every day, spent in paltry squabbles,
aml every night, in disgraccful fill
mastering over differences that could
not he adjusted because of the Prcsi-
dents individual opinions, serve only
TO sink their proceeding 10 the level
nf o nuisance in the estimation Of the
people, All adjournment might have
been reached long before The first OF
July and thousands Of dollars saved
IN tho nations treasury.
Great question: involving the va
lidity of tho 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 10
be unconstitutional, passed by ma.
jority 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 psrty's
dictations between o clearly demon
strated duty, the country's welfare
and his own conscience, Questions
relating to the dmilistration of jus.
tice and concerning constitutional
I'w and civil liberty were banded
about and finally disposed of by an
l.imarrahted use Of the veto power.