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were under plug-ugly rule for so many years, and de-
prived of their rights, who gave them relief? who gave
them the metropolitan police bill? The members from
the counties who represented the popular will. Suppose
the Governor had had the veto power at that time, could
that relief have been afforded them ? Again, when groan-
ing under radical tyranny and oppression for the last five
years, who came to their rescue again? The last Legis-
lature, the county members. Suppose the Governor had
the veto power then, and had used it to restrict the action
of the Legislature? Suppose hereafter the Governor
should veto measures intended for the relief of the people
he did not mean the present incumbent, but we might
have a Governor who would do it.
Mr. Tarr, of Caroline, said he had listened with great
pleasure to the interesting debate which had taken place,
and the views of the distinguished gentlemen who had
spoken on the subject, but he had yet to hear an argu-
ment which tended to convince him that the section, as
reported by the committee, should not be adopted. The
gentleman from Kent (Mr. Wickes) had argued that it
was a departure from time-honored principle. He (Mr.
T. ) had as much respect for antiquated memories as any
one, but they were here to address themselves to the
present and to the future, and to throw safeguards around
the rights of the minorities. He was not willing to tie
himself down to everything which was recognized in the
past, but must live up to the exigencies of the present.
The gentleman says that all legislation is deferred un-
til the heel of the session. It is to prevent that very
difficulty that this power is to be conferred. It will com-
pel the Legislature to pass the laws and present them to
the Governor in time, and for this very reason he was in
favor of conferring this power. It will break up these
night sessions, when one-half the members are asleep and
the other half not in the House, and two or three members
rush important bills through ad libitum.
He asked what would have been the state of the coun-
try if it had not been for this veto—this rod of power, as
it was called? The iron heel of oppression would have
pressed much heavier upon that desolated and ravaged
section of our country, and confiscation bills would ere
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