Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-30
MR.. WBBSTER'S SPEECH,
4 THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, IN wol=
CESTER, OCTOBER IL.
(Cnucin1eHN

Al THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, IN wou=
CESTER, OCTOBER IL.
(CoRciuded.l
Mr.. President, among the novelties introduced
into The Government, by the present Administra-
tion is the frequent ofthe Presidents negative
on acts OF Congress. Under former Presidents this
power has been deemed an extraordinary one to be
exercised only i'll peculiar and marked cases. Ii
was vested IN the President, doubtless, a guard
against hasty or inconsderate legislation, s. against
any act, inadvertently passed, which might seem to
encroach on the just authority of other branches of
the Government Idonot rccollcct that by all Gen
era Jacksons predecessors, this power cxcrcis.
| ed more than three or four times. Not having re.
Cured to the Journals, cannot, of course, no
that am numerically accurate in this particular;
bnt such is my belief rcco!lect 10 one m the time,
of Mr.. john Adams, Mr. Jefferson, Mr.. Monroe, or
Mr.. John Quincy Adams. The only cases which
occur to me are, twoin General Washingto adj
mIREtEation, and two in Mr.. MatiiSon's There NAV
be some others; but all know that it is power
which has been very sparngly and reustantfy used,
from the beginning of the Government. The cases.
sir, to which have now referred, cases, in
which the President returned the Bills ,oith object
ions. The silent Veto is, believe the exclusive
adoption of the present Administration. think
that some years ago, a bill, by DadveEtcnce
cident failed to receive tho Presidents signature
and so did not become a Law. But am not aware
OF any instance, bofore the present Administration
III which the President has, by design omitted to
sign bill, and yet has not returned il to Congress.
But since the present Administration came into
power, the TEro, IN both Kinds has been repeated
ly applied In the case of the Maysvillo Road, tho
Montgomery Road, and the Bank we have had
the VETO, Wih reaseHs. In internal improve
men bill of former session, in similar bill al tho
late session, and in the State interest bill, have
had the silent VETo rcius II without reasons.
Now, sir, it is to be considered, that the Presi-
dent has the power of recommending measures to
Congress Through hisfriends, he may and docs
oppose, also any legislative movement, which he
docs moi approve. ff in addition to this he may
nile on all
the bills presented to him during the last ten
days Of the session; if he may refuse assent TO
them all without beng called upon to assign
any reasons whatever, il will certainly be a great
practical augmentation of his power. Any one
who looks at volume Of the Statutes, will see that
great portion of all the Lays are actually pass
ed withH the last ten days OF each session yf
the President is at liberty to negative any or all
OF these laws, az pleasure rather, 60 refuse TO
render the bills laws, by approving them, and still
may neglect to return them to Congress, for re-
ncwed action, he will hofd very important con-
troll over the Legislation of this country. Tho day
of adjournment is actually fixed, some weeks in
advance. This being fixed, little activity and
perseverance may easily. in moss cases, and per-
baPs in all, where alarm has been excited, post
Ponc important pending measures to period with
IN ten days of the close of the session: and this
operation leaves all such at the pleasure
of the President, TO sign the bills not, without
being obliged 10 state his roas ons publicly.
a silent VETO, on the Bunk Bill, would have
been the invitabe fate Of that Bill, if its friends
had not refused TO fix on any term for adjournment
before tho President should have had the bill long
as to he required. by constitutional provisions, TO
sign it, or to send it back with his reasons for
not signing it. The two Houses did not a.
gree, and could agree, to fix day TO-
adjournment, until the Bill, was sent TO the
President, and then was taken to fix on such
day should allow him the whole constitutional
period. This seasonabe prescntiinent rescued the
bill from the power of the silent negative.
This D5acticah innovation he tnude of admin
Isiering the government, much at variance with
its general principles, and so capable Of defeating
tho useful acts, deserves public consideration
It's tendency is, to distract the harmony, which
ought always TO exist between Congress and the
Executive, and TO that, which the Constitu.
ton intended only as extraordinary remedy,
tor extraordinary eaaes, into common means OF
making executive discretion paramount to the dis.
ctotl"n OF Congress-, in tho enactment Of laws.
Mr. PRESIDENT, the Executive Government has