Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-18

teal EXCITEMENT TO his country from what he
sciontously believed TO be dangerous infacton Of the
Constituton-,o avert tho evils which threatened In its
consequences the long continuance Of the confederacy,
upon its original princples-hc had, with patriotism
surpassed, boldly and firmly s'aked himself his
present and his future popularity and fame against what
seemed to be the current Of public opinion. Had he
signed this BILL the road on which he would have ira
yelled, would have been broad pavement, and his
continued elevation certain, beyond the possibility OF n
doubt As ii was, he had planted himself upon the ram
parts of the Constitution, and had taken the high
sponsbility upon himself to check the downward march
in which the system OF which this bill is part,
fast fastening II required Just such man. in such
times TO restore the Constitution TO its original reading
In the course Of long and even,u life, he had always
been equal to any emergency, however perplexing or
embarrassing his situation might be. He had never
failed TO assume responsibility when he should assume
II; and IN no instance i'm his public c had he display
cd in a more eminent degree that moral courage and
firmncss OF character which peculiarly character
istic OF him. than in this. He had achieved civil VIC
tory, which will shcd lus're upon hi. future fame
an! be infinitely more durable. than m'ny such vico
re' that Of the battle OF O-esns for by this sin
act he verify believed he had Jons than any man
in thi' country, FIR the lat thirty years 70 prcs-v-
he Consiiu'ion and TO p.rpetuate The liberties
Joy The Constitution was, he hoped TO he again
.dered and prac.ed upon "a il. in tact. wa one Of
iimie powers. and the States permitted enjoy all
the rowers which they originally uteaaci In reserve
tn themselves in that compact OF Urion. The perni.
cous conse quences the evil tendencies 10 cav nothing
Of the corrupting influence cf the exercise of power
| o7er internal Improvements by the Federal Govern
mentwere not fuiIy developed until within few
years Last past. Mr.. Madison the Last day Of hi.
term o Office, put HE veto IN, bonus hill. In rho
| following year, NJ. Mouros rejc-ted bin assuming
Jurisdiction and irving tolls the Cumberland road
The subject OF the power discussed at grea lsngt
AMI with great abli in the naxt Congress. The House
OF Representatives. by small majority, at that time
affirmed The power to appropriate Money for objects o.
national improvements. hat denied, and by he vote OF
the House negatived, the power TO construct roads
can'l. Of any character. whether military CONNER
cidi. or for the transportation OF the mail II not
until the last s1mnsra on that the broad power Ia
80 TIE extent claimed, limited only by the ahi,ra
ry discretion Of Congress- asserted and attempted
| 10 be maintained by the Executive and by Congres.
was not until that period that il. dangers ware fully
perceived. The President had manifested in the
sag. before that he had been attentive observer
OF its progress and its probable IL not is inevitable
consequences. He could not shut his cyos 70 the
slant collisions the hcar-burnng. the combinations,
and the certain corruption Which ito continual eYer-
else would tend, both in snd out OF Conxres'. In the
console nious discharge Of constitutional duty, which
he was not at liberty 10 decline, he had withheld his
signature from thi. BILL and had frankly submitted to
us his views upon this important question: and he
al we would deliberate upon il temporarily, az we
should, and in the vote which we were about to rive
upon the re confederation OF this BILL according 10 tn.
powers OF the Constitution express the opinions which
we entertain, and not max. filss issue, growing out
OF ap'r'onal assault upon the character motives OF
the Chief Magistrate.
remark, which fell from q member from Kentucky
(Mr Chlon,) who preceded the member from Ohio,
deserved passing notice, not hecaure OF the source
from which il emanaed, for If that considsred il
would he wholly uncaled for, but simply because il
had b.en made by member Of the House. We wsrn
asked IL Congress were to be controlled by one man
an Tor on- tbs gentleman informed us that he would
not submit to II. The gentleman should learn if he
does not kno,c that tho constitution had conferred upon
the President the power which he had in ibis instance
eSercised and if the gentleman thinks he should no,
| exercise it, he should ,o-k an amendment, or the
con.ti'u'ion. BY denying the power construct
ro,ds and canals; by refusing 10 assume the exercise
OF any doubtful power, and by deemng il safest to
mt m
an amendment Of the constitution, tho President
had deprived him,el OF powerful branch OF execu.
two patronage and influence, and has thereby Civ
en- the most conclusive evidence OF his integrity OF
purpose, and the strongest r.ua.ion OF the affected and
stale cant Of his Annmis that because he once
leader Of tho armies of his country, he would he dis
posed in the civil Government 10 90 wers
than legmately belonged TO him. The power OF in
terposDg the Execu; tive veto upon the rgi.laon OF
Congre,s,had been often exercised since the commence-
ment OF The Government under tbs present eon,tu-
zion. II had generally been exercised upon cons,tu.
t0nal grounds. But Instances 10 be found where
The power had been exercised wholly upon IN. grounds
of the irexpedency OF the measure. gle instance
h" would cite. On the 2sth February, 1907, General
Washington returned, with his objections. The House
in which il originated bill which had passed Con
gress, and which had been presented 10 him for hi.
signature entitled Gan act 10 ascertain ard FIX the
military establishment of the United States" He with
held hs signature from hi, bill mt because Of the
consttutionaly Of its provisions, hut because in his
opinion, ii inerpedient to pass il. Mr. Madison,
during hs administration, had put his veto upon
bills be sides the bonus bill The exercise of this con
stitmtional power by the Executive had never been
received with alarm, hut, on the contrary had been
regarded, as il was intended 10 be. a necessary
and wholesome check upon the acts of the Legislature
Lot the remark of The gentleman pass. IL demand. no
m ore especial notice.
MIR. p. said he deemed II unnecessary 10 enter anew
upon the discussion Of this hill. Whnn il was original.
y its passage before the House. he had had The hon
to submit his views in oppoIiiipn IT, and would not
then repeat them. Nor would he detain tho House at
that late period Of the session. by any elaborate Discus
sion Of the general principles involves in il. provisions
for they had been often discussed and were familiar
the House. He hoped the result Of the vote, which
about 10 give in the solemn discharge of n
high duty which had devolved upon Us, upon this ire
cse measure in the fret wear of new sdmni.ra ion
might rssusciae the almost forgotten principles Of the
Constitu'i1n, and Put end 10 eystem which Cannot,
end in gooi and must lead to the most ruinous conse-
quences. The Chief Magistrate, with a di,int.re.ted
patriotism, and regardless OF the consequences TO him
self personally, ba. risked all hat he s or NAV be- and
thrown himself into the BREACH 10 resist the annihil,
ten Of the State sovereignrss, and 20 guard against
that consolidation Of these States which bad once hern
the dread and the terror of the original friends of The
confederacy, sni their steady followers to the
hour He was prepared 10 sustain him 10 The utmost,
OF his poor ability; and he confidently believed that he
would receive the hearty III anks Of generous country
for his course, and NOT he rsquitcd by the unus6abe
BilIinggse abuse which had this dsy heard poured
upon him. He would deain the House no longer
Mr.. p. r Barbour and ,sid: Mr.. Speaker. feel
mpeed, by mp'rous OF justice, 10 ssy some
thing in vindcson and justification Of the Chief Ma.
g'tra's Of the Union against The strong snsdveron.
in which gentlsmsn have indulged towards him, be-
cause he h,s dared to 10 his duty.
IT, in doing this shall use the language OF common.
datiou let suppose that II il in the ,p OF per-
.onsl alterations; never have bsen, and trust in God
a. L..