The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1892-09-02
COL. WALTER EVANS
Discusses the vetoes aud Incidentally
the Constitution.

Nol' NhttI =. ENdHs, hVSI uh auScuCc
of some weeks, has returned. Knowing
Col. Evans opposition to the new Con-
stitution, a reporter asked him:
"What do you think, Colonel, of the
Constitution muddle nj Frankfort, and
the Governors vetoes? 2"
"Well," he replied, "a great deal
might be said on those subjects. The
Constitutional hndrances to necessary
legislation are so numerous aud aggra-
waiting that the vast work imposed upon
the present Legislature could hardly be
accomplished, even by body which
worked in perfect harmony and on the
most enlightened lines. As it is, very
little has been done.
ut seems to me the Governor was
bound to veto the Revenue bill, upon
several of the grounds stated by him.
True the Supreme court of the United
States, in Field vs., Clark, has recently
held that when a bill has been signed by
the Speakers Of the two Houses and by
the President, the accuracy of its enroll
ment is unimpeachable, but in that case
the court distinctly states that it does
not decide what would be the effect if
Constitutional requirement had not been
complied with. Surely the Governor,
before he signs bill, may, and indeed
should, feel satisfied that the Constitu-
tional requirements have been duly OBJ
served. Otherwise of what value are
they?
1.-THE conclusions of the Governor re-
specting section ia of the Constitution
are, think, very much open TO doubt,
and full discussion will probably not es'
tablish his view, taking the Constitution
as a whole. However, great Difference
should be shown to his views, as he, it
seems, must at last be charged with hav-
ing made the Constitution"
"What do you mean by that?" asked
the reporter.
Il mean this. The people ratified the
draft Of a Constitution submitted TO
them pursuant to the law, but, so far as
l know, nobody but my excellent friend,
Capt. Silas Miller, and myself, two lone
Republicans, felt bound to recognize
that document after it was ratified by
the people. At all events, the conyen-
ton would not recognize it. On the
contrary, it made new one and refused
10 submit il To the people, though the
law expressly required it. Our honOred
Court Of Appeals, in the face of the facts
aud arguments tn the contrary, would
not by any means say that this document
had any validity by reason Of the action
of the convention, hut gravely held that
as Governor Brown had recognized it,
| il was the Constitution Of the State
recognition of tremendous significance
as all must admit.
1.-THE funny part of il was that His
Excellency had probably never seen the
document when the suit was brought in
which the decision WAS made, "a II had
MT been printed. He had never done
an act under it, and his imputed recog'
milton must have been great surprise
to him. In short. we appear to have an
organic law for the good old Common
wealth made by mere gubernatorial rec
ognition,' recognition, too, which that
functionary gave somewhat 'unbeknowns,
10 himself
Besides, this supposed recognition
was ex post facto. II given at all IL WA
long after the suit was brought to test
the validity Of what had been done. But
the craze last year seemed To have led "a
10 many curious IL not absurd results
Probably this came from great indispO
sition respectfully To listen Ia arguments
against what WAS supposed Ia he tho
popular side. At all events this Is what
| mean by the Governor making Oh,
Constitution"
/ nave you V"""kV" y""' 'N"s a"""
the value Of the Constitution
"By no means. In the most disinter
ested and painstaking way, !, like othe'
people, suppose, tried Ia reach jus
conclusion respecting the merits of thu
submitted draft before IL was voted upon
IL seemed 10 me To he very much wors'
than the old one. adhere to what
publicly stated IN the canvass last year
H., Z, ,.,,,lI COAT "A milIion dollars 4,