Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-10-25

pretation; and that there is no possibility
of establishing, by its authority, any prac-
tical limitations on the powers of the re-
spectiye branches of the government.
When the message denies, as it does,
the authority Of the Supreme Court to
decide on constitutional questions, it eff
lIleC,s, so far as the opinion of the Presi-
dent and his authority can effect, com
plete change in our government Ii does
two things first il converts constitu-
tional Limitation Of power into mere mat
ters of opinion, and then strikes the Ju-
dicial Department, as an efficient de-
partment, out of our system. But the
message by no means stops at tins point.
! Having denied to Congress the authori-
ty Of Judging what powers may be con-
Nstitu,lonaliy conferred on Bank, and
having erected the judgment of the Pre-
sident himself into a standard by which
to try the constitutional character OF such
powers, and having denounced the au-
thority of the Supreme Court, and decid-
ed finally on constitutional questions, the
message proceeds to claim for the Pres
idcnt, not the power of approval, but the
primary power, the power Of originating
laws. The President informs Congress,
that he would have sent them such a
charter, if it had been properly asked
for, rs they ought to possess. lie very
plainly intimates, that, in his opinion, the
establishment of all laws, Of this nature,
at least, belongs to the functions OF the
executive government, and that Con-
gress ought to have waited for the mani
!, iestation of the executive will, before it
presumed to touch the subject. Such,
MIR. President, stripped of their disguis-
cs, are the real pretcnces set up in behalf
of the executive power in this most ex-
: traordinary paper.
II Mr.. President: we have arrived at a
new epoch. We are entering on exper-
iments with the Government and the Con-
stitution of the country, hitherto untred,
and of fearful and appalling aspect. Its
principles are at war with all that public
opinion has sustained, and all which the
experience of the Government has sanc-
toned. 1t denies first principles; it con
tradicts truths heretofore received as in
disputablc. 1t denies to the judiciary
the Interpretation of law, and demands tc
divide, with congress, the origination o
statutes. 1t extends the grasp of cxecu-
tive prctension over every power of the
Government. But this is not all. Ii
presents the ChiefNIagistrate of the Un-
ion in the attitude of arguing acay the
powers of that government over which
he has been chosen to preside; and a
y dopting, for this purpose, modes of rea-
soning, which, even under the influence
Of all proper feeling towards high Off
cial station, it is difficult to regard as re-
! spectacle. Ii appeals to every prcju-
dice which may betray men into a mis-.
taken view of their own interests; and tc
every passion which may lead them ia
> diSobey the impulses ofther understand
ing. 1t urges all the specious topics o!
state rights and national encroachment,
! against that which great majority OF
the states have affirmed to be rghtful
and in which all Of them have acquiesc
ed. 1t sows, in an unsparing manner
the seeds of jealousy and ll-will agains,
that government of which its author i,
the official head. 1t raises cry tina
), liberty is in danger, at the very momen
when it puts forth claims to power here
toiore unknown and unheard OF. 1t af
r fects alarm for the public freedom, whel
, nothing so much endangers that freedom
: as its own uparallelcd pretences. This
n even, is not all. 1t manlestly seeks t.
influence the poor against the rich;
3 wantonly attacks whole classes of tn
e people, for the purpose ofturning agains
e them the prcjudices and resentments @
i other classes. 1t is State paper whicl
: finds no topic too exciting for its use; n
d passion too maammabe for its aGdres
c and its solicitation. Such is this mes
0 sage. 1t remains, now, for the peopl
g of the United States to choose between
f the principles here avowed, and their 90
/, vernment. These cannot subsist togeth
o er. The one or the other must be re
D.; jected. If the sentiments ofthe me essag
e shall receive general appreciation, tn
i con stitution viii nave penshed, eve
earlier than the moment which its enc
mics originally allowed for the termina
, ton Of its existence. 1t will not hav
q survived to its fiitieth year.
a From the National Inte elligencer