UIL Social Studies Presidential Vetoes & Messages

James Madison: #1 (1811), #5 (1815), #7 (1817)

#1 February 21 ( 1811) = Madison vetoes two bills of Congress, one granting land in the Mississippi Territory to a Baptist congregation and the other incorporating an Episcopal church in Washington, D.C. Madison argues that both bills violate the non-establishment clause of the First Amendment.

#5 (1815) = Rejected allowing militia officers to hold certain civil offices, thinks it could threaten balance of government.

#7 March(1817)= Four days before presidential inauguration of James Monroe, Madison vetoes bill providing federal funding of roads and canals on grounds that no Constitutional clause allows for such improvements funded by federal government.

James Monroe: #1 (1822)

The Veto:

James Monroe vetoed the bill "An Act for the Preservation and Repair of the Cumberland Road" on May 4, 1822.

The Reason:

Monroe's primary argument was that the federal government did not have the constitutional power to fund internal improvements like roads and canals, a view he held strongly. He believed these projects should be the responsibility of the individual states.

The Cumberland Road:

The Cumberland Road, also known as the National Road, was a major highway that ran from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling, in western Virginia.

The Bill's Purpose:

The bill aimed to establish a system of tolls to finance repairs and improvements to the Cumberland Road.

The Veto was Sustained:

The House of Representatives sustained the veto on May 6, 1822, by a vote of 68 yeas to 72 nays.

Andrew Jackson: #2 (1830), #5 (1832)

#2 (1830):In 1830, President Andrew Jackson delivered his Second Annual Message to Congress, focusing on the progress of the Indian Removal Plan and the benefits it offered, while also using pocket vetoes to kill bills related to infrastructure projects and the Louisville and Portland Canal Company.

Here's a more detailed look:

Second Annual Message (December 6, 1830):

Jackson's message to Congress focused on the Indian Removal Act and its implementation, highlighting its progress and the positive outcomes for both the government and the Native American tribes.

Pocket Vetoes:

Jackson used the pocket veto, allowing bills to expire without his signature, to kill legislation related to:

Act Appropriating Funds for Light Houses and Harbors: This bill aimed to fund the construction of lighthouses and improvements to harbors.

Act to Authorize the Purchase of Stock in the Louisville and Portland Canal Company: This bill aimed to authorize the purchase of stock in the Louisville and Portland Canal Company.

Maysville Road Veto:

In 1830, Jackson vetoed a bill providing federal funds for the Maysville Road, a project to improve a road in Kentucky, arguing that federal funding of intrastate projects was unconstitutional and interfered with paying off the national debt.

Constitutional Principles:

Jackson's vetoes, particularly the Maysville Road veto, reflected his strong belief in limited federal power and the importance of states' rights.

Bank War:

While not directly related to the 1830 events, Jackson's famous veto of the Second Bank of the United States in 1832, which was a recharter of the bank, further solidified his stance on limited federal power and his distrust of financial institutions.

Jackson's Rhetoric:

Jackson's rhetoric emphasized the role of the small farmer, the working man, and the middling artisan, which resonated with many and became a defining characteristic of Jacksonian Democracy.

#5(1832) : The Veto:

On July 10, 1832, President Jackson vetoed the bill to re-charter the Second Bank of the United States, a bill that had passed Congress.

Constitutional Concerns:

Jackson argued that the Constitution did not grant Congress the power to create a national bank, even though the Supreme Court had previously upheld its constitutionality in McCulloch v. Maryland.

Power and Monopoly:

He viewed the bank as a powerful entity that could potentially harm the economy and that its charter granted it unfair advantages, essentially a monopoly, which he saw as undemocratic.

Undemocratic Nature:

Jackson criticized the bank's structure, arguing that it was controlled by a select few, including foreign nationals, and that it benefited the wealthy at the expense of the common people.

The Veto Message:

Jackson's veto message, issued on July 10, 1832, outlined his reasons for the veto and became a significant document in American political history.

John Tyler: #1 (1841), #2 (1841), #8 (1844)

#1 (1841) In 1841, President John Tyler, as a states' rights republican, vetoed ten bills, including six regular vetoes and four pocket vetoes, many related to Whig financial policies and the national bank, leading to a political clash with his own party. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Tyler's Philosophy:

  As a states' rights republican, Tyler opposed the Whig program for a national bank, high tariffs, and federally financed internal improvements. 

• Vetoes:

  Tyler vetoed ten bills, including six regular vetoes and four pocket vetoes. 

• Whig Party Disagreement:

  Many of the vetoed bills addressed national finances and had support from the Whig Party in Congress, leading to conflict and frustration. 

• Cabinet Resignations:

  Following Tyler's veto of two Whig banking bills, all members of his cabinet except for Secretary of State Daniel Webster resigned in protest, a move engineered by Henry Clay. 

• Impeachment Attempts:

  Some Whigs in Congress called for Tyler's impeachment due to his frequent use of the veto power. 

• Select Committee on the Veto:

  After a fourth veto in the summer of 1842, the House of Representatives created a Select Committee on the Veto to investigate Tyler's actions. 

• Select Committee Report:

  The committee's majority report found that the President "by the mere act of his will," abused his veto power. 

• Foreign Policy Achievements:

  Despite the domestic policy stalemate, Tyler had several foreign policy achievements, including the Webster–Ashburton Treaty with Britain and the Treaty of Wanghia with China

#8(1844) In 1844, President John Tyler vetoed a bill to improve rivers and harbors.

James Polk: #2 (1846)

Veto of the River and Harbors Bill:

On August 3, 1846, Polk vetoed a bill that would have provided federal funding for internal improvements, specifically related to harbors and rivers.

He argued that the bill was unconstitutional because it unfairly favored certain areas, including ports that had no foreign trade.

Polk also believed the bill would lead to a consolidation of power in the federal government at the expense of the states, and that debates over which projects to fund would "engender sectional feelings and prejudices".

The House sustained the veto on August 4, 1846, by a vote of 97 yeas to 91 nays.

Messages to Congress:

War Message (May 11, 1846): Polk announced to Congress that the United States was at war with Mexico, citing Mexico's actions as the reason for the conflict.

Other Messages: Polk also sent messages to Congress regarding Oregon, a treaty with the Cherokees, and the settlement with Mexico, among other matters.

Second Annual Message (December 8, 1846): In his second annual message, Polk discussed the ongoing war with Mexico and the need for resources to prosecute it.

Special Message to Congress on Mexican Relations: He recommended liberal provisions for sustaining the military force and furnishing it with supplies and munitions of war, and expressed his desire for a speedy and amicable resolution of the conflict.