Year: 1879

to force the Senate ana the Execut to accede to
its wishes just as the two houses now propose to
coerce the Executive. Under othe~ circumstances
the powers of the Executive branch # the Govern
ment might be usurpcd By the House of Repre-
sentatives.


The President will also call attention to the
threat that has been made to withhold supplies"
if this political legislation is not agreed to, and
will show the absurdity and the weakness of such
an assumption. The appropriation bills which 1t
is said that Congress may refuse to pass are i'll no
sense "mouey bills" in the of being IN
tended to impose taxation upon the people.
Congress, in pursuance Of its right and
duty under the Constitution, has established an
Army, and Ixed by law It's pay and the cost OF
maintalningit. 1t has also caused to 90 collected
from the people the money necessary for supporting
this Army during the next year, and proposes to
continue the collection OF Goley for that purpose.
The hardship TO oppress Of the people, if there
is any, is in the collection Of the money from them,
and not in the application of it to the uses for
which 1t was collected. congress does not say to
the. Executive that unless he will approve the
measures which Ii has PIE pared the people through
their representatives, Will refuse to pay any more
money for maintaining, an Army; but Congress
does say that unless tie President will sign the bl
in spite of the Objectionable section, it will divert
| the money which the Jple have PAID INTO the
Treasury expressly for ne support of their Army
| from the purpose LOT WnlcE lney lDleHutu III anu
| will cause IL to aCcumr late III the treasury
VICIOUS METHOD OF LEGISLATION.
| That the judgment OF the people of this country
does not approve this node of legislation the Pres


dent Will show by calling attention to the fact that
| twenty-five States in the Union, including nearly
! every one of those which have within few
years remodelled OF amended their Constitutions,
have forbidden their Legislatures to incorporate
extraneous matter into appropriation bills.
| In view of the fact that this objectionable prac'
tice has been common for many years, and has been
resorted to by all parties, the President will admit
that he would not, in the first instance and without
| due notice to Congress, veto bill simply because


it contained prov IONS foreign in their character to
the general purpose of the measure. So in this case


his veto is based upon his serious objections to the
provisions of the bill ITSELF and not upon the mode
| of legislation that has been adopted.


At the same time the President will express the
hope that Congress, By amendment of the rules OF
otherwise will prevent the attachment of riders to
| appropriation bills He will express tho opinion
that the practice ought in any event to be stopped


and will hint that he Will consider 1t his duty 10
] act accordingly in the future.


| Mr.. HAYES OF THIS MIND ALL ALONG.


The veto message will put the President before
Congress and the country in the attitude toward
the political legislation proposed these appropri-
alton bills which he has held from the very begin
4


| ming of the controversy.


The doubts of Republicans in regard to his posi-
tion toward these measures, and the assertions OF
Democrats that they had assurances either that he


would sign the bill or that be would make COM
promise with them have done him equal injustice.


His backbone has needed support at any time, as
| any one might have learned who would have taken


the pains to find out. When some of the Republi-
can leaders, who have since done such splendid ser


vice In exposing to the country the true character
| of the Democratic policy, hestated and were IN
| some measure undecided as 20 the wsest course TO
pursue the President had no doubts, and by the
! positive stand which he took he infused courage


into more than of his party friends III Congress.
| Nothing which has occurred has done so much to


unite the Republican party in both houses of Con;
gress, and to cause Republicans to make the stand
| they have as the assurance that victory was sure
| TO crown their efforts to stop this Objectionable
legislation through the firmness of President Hayes,
| No one can tell what course the Democrats VIII
pursue in regard to this veto message; but IT is
| probable that tomorrow the message will be laid
! upon the table and printed, and that caucus viii


be held before any definite action upon 1t is taken.