Jackson's choice as the latter's successor, and belonged to the Barnburner faction of his party. The most important events of his administration were the panic of 1837 and the Canadian Rebellion.

Vermont was originally part of the colony of New York, though also claimed by New Hampshire. A convention declared it independent of both of these in 1777. Its separate existence was not formally admitted by New York till 1790. By act of Congress of February 18, 1791, to take effect on the following 4th of March, Vermont was admitted to the Union-the first State after the original thirteen. The capital is Montpelier. The population in 1880 was 332,286, and in the last, 1890, census Vermont has two representatives in Congress and four electoral votes, and is heavily Republican in politics. Its name is of French origin, and means green mountain;" popularly it is known as the Green Mountain State. (See Governors; Legislatures.)

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Veto.-A veto is the act by which the executive refuses his concurrence in a measure of the legislative body with which he is associated and thus prevents its becoming a law. The power of veto is generally given to mayors of cities and to Governors of States, the latter sometimes acting in conjunction with other officials. The veto may be overriden by a vote of the legislative body, in most of the States a two-thirds vote being necessary that purpose, while in the others a three-fifths or even a simple majority vote is sufficient. Only four of the States, namely, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, and Ohio, have refused to give the executive the power to veto. The right to veto acts of Congress is vested by Article 1, section 7, of the Constitution, in the President alone. He is required to sign every bill or return it to the house of Congress in which it originated, with his objections. The latter act constitutes a veto, and if two-thirds of each house pass the bill again it becomes a law notwithstanding the veto. If the President fails to return the bill within ten days (Sundays excepted) it becomes a law, as if he had signed it, unless "Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a

law." If, therefore, Congress adjourn within ten days after the passage of a bill and the President has refrained from acting on the bill, it does not become a law; the disposal of a bill in this way, when the President does not choose to veto it formally, is termed a "pocket veto, a term which seems first to have been applied by the Whigs to the disposition in this way of two internal improvement bills by Jackson. The earlier Presidents of the United States seldom exercised the veto power. Up to Jackson's administration it had been used but nine times-twice by Washington, six times by Madison and once by Monroe. Jackson vetoed nine bills, and after him the exercise of the right became more frequent. Up to Johnson's administration no bill had been passed over a veto, but now a large majority in each house was opposed to the President's policy; Johnson constantly vetoed bills which were usually re-passed by the necessary two-thirds vote and became laws in spite of him. Hayes' administration shows a large number of vetoes, including those of a bill to restrict Chinese immigration and several appropriation bills with riders attached; but since 1869 Cleveland has vetoed the largest number of bills, more than all the previous Presidents collectively, but the greater number of these were private pension bills.

Vigilance Committee.-Among those who hastened to California after the discovery of gold in 1849 were many lawless characters, who soon caused a reign of terror. The Territory became a State in 1850, but the laws seemed powerless to restrain the commission of crime. To alter this condition of affairs large numbers of the best citizens, irrespective of party, banded together in San Francisco and other places in 1851, under the name of vigilance committees, took the law into their own hands, and by their vigorous actions gradually restored the country to a safe and peaceable state. 1856 they were again forced to administer the law. They held trials and administered justice as seemed to them right. In other parts of the United States vigilance committees have been organized at different times as temporary measures of necessity, or to punish particular crimes, but their actions have often

been more entitled to the name of lynch law than those of the California vigilance committee.

Vice-President of the United States, is the officer that succeeds the President in case of the latter's removal, "death, resignation or inability." His salary is $8,000. The Vice-President is president of the Senate, but has a vote only in case of a tie. Originally each presidential elector voted for two persons, and the person receiving the highest vote was elected President, he receiving the next highest, vice-president. (Constitution, Article 2, section 1.) The Twelfth Amendment changed the method of election, separate votes now being_cast for President and Vice-President. When the Vice-President is absent or performing the duties of the President, a president pro tempore of the Senate is chosen. Under the former law, in case of inability to serve of both President and Vice-President, the duties of the office devolved upon this officer; accordingly to prepare for all emergencies it was customary toward the end of a session of Congress for the Vice-President to withdraw and a president pro tempore to be elected. For the present law on that subject see Presidential Succession. Below is a list of the Vice-Presidents of the United States:

PRESIDENTS PRO TEMPORE OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE:

Vilas, William F., was born at Chelsea, Vermont, July 9, 1840. He graduated at the Wisconsin State University, to which State his family had moved, and also at the Albany Law School, Albany, New York. He raised a company in 1862, going to the war in command of it; reached the grade of lieutenant-colonel. In 1863 he resumed the practice of law in Wisconsin. He was law lecturer in the State University. In March, 1885, President Cleveland appointed him Postmaster-General. In December, 1887, he was made Secretary of the Interior.

Virginia was one of the original States of the Union.. On April 17, 1861, a State convention passed an ordinance of secession which was ratified by a popular vote in May. By Act of January 26, 1870, the State was readmitted to the Union. The capital is Richmond. The population in 1880 was 1,512,565, and in the last census (1890) 1,655,980. Virginia is entitled to ten seats in the House of Representatives and twelve electoral votes. It is considered a Democratic State in national politics. It was named for Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen.' Popularly it is called the Old Dominion, sometimes the Mother of Presidents, and occasionally the Mother of States. (See Governors; Legislatures; West Virginia.)

Virginia Dynasty is a name given to the group of Virginians that, at the beginning of this century, wielded an almost controlling influence in the affairs of the nation. (See Virginia Influence.)

Virginia Influence. By this name is known the influence wielded by the State of Virginia, headed by Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Taylor, Tazewell, the Randolphs and others, from the adoption of the Constitution until about 1824. It arose largely from the unaminity of its people on national subjects, owing to a certain clannish feeling among them The lead taken by the State in opposition to Hamilton's view of the Constitution caused it to be regarded as the head of that opposition, and therefore of the Republican party. This Virginia Influence was a distinct factor in national politics. After John Adams, all the Presidents until John Quincy Adams, in 1825, were from Virginia.