The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-30
The Veto Message.

The Veto Message.
we have something to say as 70 VI.
HAYes's message vetoing the army app,o-
nr,a,;on bin. He assumes that elections lot
congressman are national elections, anu that
che National Government has eieca.oh om.
GERS. and then declares that inasmach - ''e
states can use both civil and military power
% nreserye the peace and prevent frauds
=, st,.e elections, he does not see why the
y.,,ona, Government cannot righffully pre-
.srve the peace and prevent fraud at nation
., elections. This is to beg the very question
mt issue. There are no nationa' e'ectlons ZOE
congressman. The fathers OF the republic
never dreamed Of such thing. A national
officer to supervise congressional eiec''onS
xvas never heard OF until after the war;
coporessmen are State officials. Ibey re-
.;de in their own States Nihey resign,
they resign to the Governors oil their STATES.
II a vacancy is to be filed, the Governor
.,sues the writ OF election. The State of1-
cers certify their elections. The Fedora!
Government has as much right rs the Bril-
fish Government to supervise the election
NJ congressmen, who are chosen by the
people of the States to represent them, 10
do their will, end TO promote their inter.
ests. One such villain as JOHNNY DAvEN-
PORT. backed up by the military power
OF the United States, can change the po-
,itical complexion of Congress. One PHIL.
SHERIDAN can turn State over 10 elmer
party. And fifty thousand JOHNNY DATEN-
PORTS and PHIL. SHERIDANs scattered over
the whole country could and would 10 Few
years convert the Government into stable
one ipdeed-a rock-rooted despotism. The
President could compel his own reelection,
IL that were deemed necessary, or dictate MS
successor. 1t will require but few years
to educate the voters up to this point.
Twenty years ago it would have been count
ed treason to the States to have proposed TO
appont deputy marshals and supervisors to
oversee congressional elections to be held
under the eye of the Federal army. Now the
President does not hesitate to declare that II
i q duty OF the Federal Government to pro-
tect such officials by the use OF the Federal
power. II the Republicans bad known In
into their hands, there would not now be
Democratic Congress. And il these DIES.
potic laws be not repealed (and they never
will bel General GRANT may be set down as
President.elcct (by the army OF the United
States for the next term, and as many more
rs he chooses to serve.
So much as to the laws which it is pro-
posed to repeal ny amendments tackled on
to the several appropriation bil!s-not the
army bill alone. Now, as to Tie manner in
which it is proposed 10 repeal those laws
There is much force in what the President
SAYS. ANY sort Of grievance, or supposed
grievance, might be attempted to be RENE
died in the same way. a Republican House
wouldn't hesitate moment to legislatc the
justices OF the Supreme Court of the United
States out OF existence on an appropriation
bill if they were in the way OF the party.
Indeed, the Supreme Court was packed
BY General GRANT to secure certain
decision in a certain case, it has been
charged. And the Republicans tackled
on to an appropriation bill the exist
ing law authorizing supervisors outside
OF cities OF 10000 inhabitants. So we shall
not censure the President for Directing to
the signing of bin under comnul>ion.
But we do denounce him as an unwilling
enemy of free government and civil liberty.
He has made it possible for a centralized
despotism to be erected in few years upon
the ruins OF our present Federal system,
We had read only synopsis OF the Presi-
dents message when we penned this article.