Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-16

tachlng Such repeaI as rloer 10 taslH
measure.
The anger aroused in congress by the
secret service messages of President
Roosevelt was only a mild form of irri-
tation beside the wrath of the twenty
seventh congress at this second veto FROM
President Tyler. Extreme measures were
resorted to. John Quincy Adams, who
mad not got along any too well with con-
gress when he was president, was now
member of that body, and was made
chairman of the committee that was 10
apply the congressional slipper to the re-
fractionary president. The committee
went so far as to propose constitutional
amendment permitting congress to Ss'-r-
ride veto by a majority vote. It also
held that Tyler should be impeached.
Tyler sent in protest, which was treat
ed with studied disdain. Meanwhile,
enough test votes could not be secured to
override the veto. and the second tariff
bill passed by the twenty-seventh con
gress was retired to the limbo of laws
that might have been.
The period that followed was one of the
stormiest ever witnessed in the congress
of the United States. So closely drawn
were the lines of battle that almost
hair turned the balance. 1t was first
planned to divest the vetoed measure Of
the Objectionable rider repeating the pro-
viso against distribution of the proceeds
of land sales, but there were Wings who
preferred no tariff at all rather than one
which prevented the distribution of the
land funds to the states, and there were
Democrats who would rather see things
remain in their upset condition than have
congress pass a tariff law which Tyler
could sign. However, there were patriotic
members of both parties who labcred
strenuously to pass proper tarin meas
ure-and after repeated defeats they were
finally able to score the ultimate victory.
The expedient by which the vetoed tariff
bill was finally got through the house
again was to divest 1t of the ''distribu-
ton" clause, and then offer II as sub
stitute for some unimportant measure OF
| another nature that was pending. Such
narrow margin between the two forces In
congress has seldom been seen. There
was the widest confusion The vote on
engrossing the bill was announced to be
yeas 100, nays 1O1. On the verifcation OF
this vote it was found to be tie. Speak
er White, a Kentuckian. thereupon voted
no." and declared the bill rejected
reconsideration was moved and ordered,
by a vote of log to SO. Again the question
of engrossment was voted on and 1t was
carried by a vote of 1Os to 102 The speak
er again exercised his right to vote, which
produced a tie, and he declared the bill
rejected. Then a member who had not
voted, claimed the right to do so and yot-
ed in favor of engrossment Another fol-
lowed suit, and the bin was declared pass
ed by vote of 1O5 to 1os.
49,
After a number OF amendments were
tackled on by the senate, the vote on en-
crossing the bill was taken and stood
"a to g. That was the test vote. This is
probably the only time in the history Of
the country that any measure OF such i'm
portance ever got through on so close a
margin. The change of a single vote at
either end of the capitol would have pre-
vented it's passage. The house accepted
all of the amendments Of the senate, and
the act was promptly approved by the
president.
Those historians whose verdicts are ac-
cepted as most nearly free from partisan
bias justify Tyler's refusal TO sign
tariff bill that carried with it the come
pulsory payment to the states of reve-
nues from land sales while they we're
so badly needed to meet the current ex-
penses of the general government. Yet
congress has never resented any action
of a president with more bitterness than
II resented this action of Tyler's He
stated that he would not be forced to
accept that which he would reject, even
at the cost of rejecting that which he
would otherwise accept. On this position
he stood pat, and showed a strength of
backbone that many partisans to this day
refuse to acknowledge he possessed.
$50
Strange to say, the act of 1872 was made
possible by the votes of Democrats Four
of them voted for the measure in the sem
ate, one Of these being James Buchanan.
afterward president. They based their
support on the patriotic ground that the
country needed more revenue. The pas
sage of the measure was the signal for
a revival of business. It was the most
elaborate and carefully drawn act yet
passed The duties followed closely
those of the tariff of 1882. AS to how
much the new law contributed to the bus
mess revival opinions will always differ.
but that there is reason for the asser-
ton that II did have an indirect, If not
direct. bearing in that direction, few
men deny. It is interesting to note that
although the act really lowered the du-
ty on iron, that industry had a greater
prosperity during the years that followed
than it had enjoyed during the years
under the higher duties Of the Clay com
promise. The Whig tariff was distinctly
a protection tariff, and at the same time
it was a successful revenue measure
Copyright, 1909. by Frederic ]. Haskin).