Year: 1879

Some of the Democratic journals, follow
ing the lead of their New York papers, are
approvingy quoting the following passage,
concerning the veto power of the President,
from Story's Commentaries on the Constitu-
tion:


"He will use 1t only on extraordinary occa-
sions, when just regard to the public safety
or 'pnblic' interests, or constitutional obliga-
tion, or necessity of maintaining the appro.
pirate rights and prerogatives of his Office COM
pels him to the step, and then it will be a
solemn appeal to the people themselves from
their own representatives"


That is sound doctrine, and Republicans
accept it in its length and breadth. The
veto po1er is not to be used inconsiderately.
To adopt the language of the eminent con-
stitutienal lawyer just quoted, the President
will use it only on extraordinary occasions
with just regard to the public interests, and
as solemn appeal to the people themselves
from their representatives. This is an ex-
traordinary occasion. Congress is striving TO
beat down the safeguards about the ballot
box, to give the decision of the next Presi-
dental election into the hands of the repeat
ers and ballot-box suffers of New York city.
The passage of the amended army bill is
step in this direction. OF itself 1t is not so
Objectionable as some other legislative meas
ures proposed by the majority in Congress.
But its aim is unmistakable. The purpose Of
lit is to prevent the calling upon the aid of
the Federal police In case of riot and disturb
auce at Federal elections. The occasion for
the use Of soldiers to suppress election riots is
rarely found, and the prohibition will be Of
little practical value. But its enactment es-
tablshes precedent which may be made
use of to cripple the power and interfere with
the processes of Federal civil officers and
Federal courts. The real question is whelh-
er the United States Marshals and Supervis-
ors and other subordinates shall have the
power to prevent fraud at United States elec-
tions, or whether they shall be deprived of
that power.


If the President believes that the occasion
is extraordinary, that just regard for the
public safety or public interests, and for the
sanctity of his oath demands the interposi
tion of the veto, he should, according to the
very authority quoted by the Democrats, in.
terpose his negative to defeat legislation
which, in his opinion, menaces the public
safety and jeopards public interests. A more
extraordinary occasion for the exercise of the
veto power cannot occur. The purity and
freedom OF the ballot are threatened. Fur
thermore "the appropriate rights and
prerogatives of his ofice'' are invaded
for the Congressional majority threaten to
stop the supplies unless he disregards his
convictions and signs bills that he believes 10
be dangerous TO the public good. And the
veto, ifinterposed will be ga solemn appeal
to the people themselves from their own rep
resentatives."


Surely more fitting occasion for the in
terposition of the veto power cannot be i'm
agined. II the President believes thai the
occasion is an extraordinary one, then Just
regard for the public interests, and the ne
cessity Of maintaining the appropriate rights
and prerogatives of his office call for the ex
ercise of the power of negative conferred Oh
him by the Constitution, it is, according te
the highest constitutional authority hi;
bounden duty to make a solemn appeal to
"the people themselves from their own rep
resentatiVeso