Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-05-14
THE VETO MESSAGE.

Inc PRESIDENT veto OF what Is
known as the Democratic Caucus
bill, is a clear, comprehensive, prac-
teal statement of a sound constitu,
tional doctrine, and a direct issue
with a dangerous heresy. 1t is not
a proclamation in behalf Of the use
of military force in elections. All
good men are opposed to any inter-
ference whatever with elections, ex-
cept in extreme cases, whether such
interference comes from the regular
army of the United States, from
State militia, or from local combina-
tons of roughs, bullies, repeaters,
rife clubs, bulldozers, or White
leagues. But this is not the ques-
ton. The proposed bill from the
Democratic caucus is an interfer-
ence with the indispensable exercise
of the powers of the Federal Gov
eminent under its Constitution and
laws. As the President yey perti~
nently says:
THE great elementary coustitu-
tilnal principles which was the
foundation of the original statute
of 1892. and which has been its
essence in the various forms it has
assumed since its first adoption, is
that the Government of the United
States possesses, under the COnslitu-
ton, in a full measure, power of self
protection by its own agencies, alto
getheT Independent OF State authority,
and if need be against hos
tili;y of State Governments.
Ii should remain embodied
IN our statutes unimpaired as il has
been from the very origin Of the Gov
eminent. 1t should be regarded as
hardly less valuable or less sacred than
q provision of the Constitution itself
1t is question of national su-
premacy. The action of the Demo-
cratic majority has forced this issue
squarely upon the country, and it
will be the leading one in the next
Presidential canvass. The people
are called upon once more to say
whether the Federal Government,
which means all the people of this
great country combined, is the su-
preme power of the land, or whether
this supreme power is lodged in the
thirty>eight separate States of the
Union, as States. The President
and the Republican party stand
with Hamilton, Webster, Clay, Lin
coin, and other great expounders of
the Constitution, while the Demo-
Gratis array themselves with Cal
hOun, Yancey, JEFF. Davis, Wigfall,
Toombs, and the Nullifers of South
Carolina. The issue is fairly made,
and while we regret that there are
still men of ability and influence
who are willing to espouse a doc
trine which has been productive of
treason, bloodshed, loss ofprOperty,
and which resulted so nearly in the
overthrow of the Government, yet
We accept it with an mistaken con-
fdence that a majority of the peO-
pie will sustain the Republican par
ty, and that finally the supremacy
of the National Government will be
so well established that no one will
be found to question it.
The President deserves the
thanks of the good people of the
whole country, for his bold, clear,
unequivOcal statement of the issues
involved in this controversy. He
shows himself fully capable of deal
ing with great public questions in
statesmanhke manner, and that |
when the American people elevated |
him to his present high and respon-
sible position, their confidence was
not misplaced. He plants himself
on the broad principles embraced
in the Constitution as expounded by
some of the wisest and greatest
statesmen of which the coun-
try can boast, and stands
upon a foundation so secure that it |
can never be shaken by the hosts of
States Rights Democracy, who
after desperate attempt. TO break
up the Government and an ighoble
failure, are ready to renew the agi~
tatiOn regardless of what the con-
NAV be,