Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-03
FROM TAE NATIONAL 1NrELLIeENcER.
To tie PEOPLE.
TIE DEFENCE.
No. ".

ing TO their connection W tn the great de-
partments of the government BY this
Course we shall be enabled to make some
approaches TO system, and 10 assign rc-
sponsibility its proper limits. ..,- ..,
Before we proceed to this enquiry, it is
necessary 10 take a short view OF the dis
tribution of powers under the constitution,
which appears III the discussions Of The
day, 10 have been entirely lost sight of,
and which is essentially necessary TO un-
derstand TO avoid running into error in
the estimates made of executive conduct.
=. he constitution establishes three great
: departments OF power, the Legislative, cx-
ecu'iye and judicial. Congress constitute
the first, the president the second, and the
Judges the last. In the discha, &c Of u.
dicioi iunct,ons the president does not, in
the least, cooperate except so far as to
nominate the Judges. In those Of leglsla-
ton he has a qualified agency. In the
formation OF treaties this agency is only Ii
mited by the viii of the senate but in the
euaclion Of laws it is extremely circnm-
scrbed. tits limited 20 a simple negative,
which is unavalling IN case two thirds OF
each house repass bill. In congress laws
are initiated there all there details are
examined. That BODY is constituted FOR
this express and almost exclusive object.
One of its branches is chosen directly by
the people every two years, while the u
Their IS the representative cf The states.
From these considerations, there can be
no doubt chat The esponsibili,y Of making
goodlawswas intendedby ;he constitution o
reside IN congress. IS it Iikew.se The
intention OF that instrument that lhe chief
magistrate should share ii with them? To
certain extent, it certainly was but to
what extent is not so certain.---'ihe theo-
ny OF The British constitution, which ap-
pears TO have been steadily in the contenl
( platoon OF the convention, vests this power,
without any qualification, it, the king. Yet
! that magistrate, Notwithstanding The mo-
narchical structure Of the government
and the little respect paid 10 public opini-
| on, has waved the exercise Of it for more
| than century. 1t may be said that The
president has stronger claims 10 par,ici-
pate in the ;lion Of laws than the king,
from his being elected by The people but
TO this it is sufficient answer 10 say, that
1t is inadmissib!e III republic, 10 consi-
der one man, ioT The enaclion of laws, as
faithful representative as many men,
brought from every section of tie union
and further, thst the British parliament,
composed of an hereditary house Of lords,
and house of commons, which have lone
since ceased 10 represent the people, can
not be considered as filing the same poll
teal sphere with All American congress;
nasmuch as the latter is the coma tide re-
preventative OF the people and the states
while the former Is lille more than an "a
ristocratic association. II, theieidre, IN
der such a government, experience has
evinced the danger and impolicy OF inter
posiDgth executive veto; how much more
dangerous and impoliuc would its exercise
be likely to be ia Illustration of the decided
will of the nation, expressed through their
immediate representatives.
1t will not be concealed that the cons,i-
tuition requires the offrobahon of the pre-
sldeut to every bill before II becomes Il law.
/" II he APPROVE, he shall siyR it." /. is abb
solulely necessary, then, tisl lac should all
prove before he signs bill it follows ihat
il be dlsapprove biz he shall not sign a..
OF what natJge are we then to consider
this appreciation
Ii may be assumed as certain that the
same unqualified appreciation is moi impIi-
ed IS ~ the Legislative body. The iat.er
are called upon to pursue bills into al their
details, to accept OF rejeGt diiierent parts,
and to introduce whatever modification
they tank proper The former is ONLY
permitted to approve or reject, in the
whole, without the power Of suga esting a.
ny amendment. Farther ;--belore bnl
Can be submitted to him, il mus: have re-
ceived the appreciation of both branches Of
the legislature, tue representatives of the
people and of the states. When, there
fore, bill, under these circumstances is
submitted to him, it is apparent that tic
case IS essentially varied from that Which
existed during its progress through the
legislature. Al enquiry into its details
arising from the desire Of improving them
Is ioreCiosed. The opinion OF the lcplsIo-
ture, virtually that Of tie people, Is deciar-
ed in It's favor. II only remains To- the
/ president to decide whether, under these
circumstances, the public good may be
promoted or injured by lis appreciation,
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