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. In 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.

Virginia Resolutions of 1798 were resolutions adopted in that year by Virginia. They were drawn up by Madison and were similar in import to the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 (which see).

Virginius Case.-On October 31, 1873, the steamer Virginius was captured on the high seas, near Jamaica, by a Spanish vessel. The Virginius was sailing under the American flag, but was supposed to be carrying men and arms to aid insurgents in Cuba. Executions followed of the captain and several others. The United States demanded the surrender of the vessel and the survivors, and reparation for the insult to our flag. The vessel was surrendered in December, but sank on the voyage to New York. The prisoners were also liberated. Spain disclaimed any intention to insult us, and it was proven that the Virginius was not entitled to sail under our flag.

Vote, Presidential. (See Presidential and VicePresidential Electoral Vote; Presidential Popular Vote.)

Voters, Qualifications of. (See Qualifications of Voters.)

Voting in the Air.-This phrase was invented by William M. Evarts, of New York, during the presidential campaign of 1884, to characterize the action of those who intended to vote for St. John, the Prohibitionist candidate. St. John had no chance of election, and votes for him were considered, from the Republican standpoint, as thrown away.

Wade-Davis, Manifesto. (See Davis- Wade Mani

festo.)

Wagon Boy.-Thomas Corwin, of Ohio, was so called because he had driven an army-wagon during the War of 1812.

Walker, General William (sometimes called "the gray-eyed man of destiny"), was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1824, followed journalism in New Orleans and San Francisco, practiced law in California and then engaged in the expeditions an account of which will be found under the title Filibusters.