Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-09

| a DEGRADING pr,position as that contained in the
article quoted above from the Richmond EDqut-
rer. the avowed friend of popular rights, the
Jealous guardian Of the principles and powers oil
the constitution, and professediy the watch'u' and
determined opposer Of all encroaehments by the
executive upon legislative prerogat'ves.
The proposition here Is, that upon making an:
other application for a renewal OF the charter OF
the national bank, before any further proceedings
are had. that a. committee be appointed 10 Wdu
upon the President. and request 81 ham pro
gra,nme of such q bank as He MAY THINK FIT 20
offer TO Congress" General jackson has alrea
DIV assumed, and acted upon the principle OF
nesativing any legislative measure mat does not
suit his taste. TINS is virtually suoJectns the
legislative branch of the government so lar 10
executive control, as that no measure which mas
received the sanction of the Senate. and the Re
representatives. of the people, will BE- suffered to
pass into law, il it does not comport with his
notions, or answer his views and purposes. Thls
is negative usurpation; for though the constltu
ton gives the power of withholding his signature
from bills which have received the sanction OF
the Legislative houses il was never intended, nor
expe ctpd, that he would exercise 1t on every oc.
casion, when measure did not exactly tally
with his own precnnceived notions OF policy. or
as the case may be, with his selfish views or
whims The power Of the veto would never
have been vested in the executive, 1t the conven-
ton. or the people. had imagined it would have
been TINS perverted and abused. II is not IA be
supposed that chief magistrate, let him De ia
ken from what portion of the country he may.
can be better acquainted with the general ihte-
rests and concerns of the people than their he.
representatives. are. This is clear from the nature
of things; and it is rendered certain bv the IN.
PRODUCTION of the provision In the constitution,
that if two thirds Of both houses pass the bill
Notwithstanding the veto. II becomes law With.
out the executive appreciation.
But the proposition IN the foregoing article IN
the Richmond Enquirer. goes much further than
the principle Of thu veto implies. even upon the
extended construction OF the power which has
recently been adopted.
1t Is, for Congress to appoint committee to
wait upon the President before hand. and ak the
favor of him to condescend so far as to furnish
them with such a bill for the renewal Of the bank
charter. as he may think fiji to offer 10 Con
gress" This the writer OF the article SAYS
would be 8. courtesy IN the President" In our
Judgment, it would go far beyond mere courtesy
1T would be mean, abject. and sla'ish submis.
sion to arbitrary power. The President has no
more right to demand this OF the representatives
Of the people of the United States, than he has
TO insist on their forming themselves upon the
model of the old Parliament of Paris. and to act
only in registering the DEGREES Of the monarch
Much less have those representatives the right 10
deg adp the character of those whom thew repre-
sent, those from whom bnth the President and
themselves derive their power. and surrender
their dignity and independence. as well a their
constitutional suthori'y, at the iootstool OF
usurping executive magistrate.
Much as we 'aink the interests OF the Ioun-
try, as well the government. require the re
chsrtering If the bar k. would much rather see
that institution annihilated. than TO witness such
dlseracefn and degrading course pursued bv
the legislative branch Of the governments as thst
TO which we have alluded. l. would accomplish
what appears to be favorite object with the pre-
sent execu,ive-,t would reduce the government
to "a simple machine" requiring nothing to
manage IL. ercept Despite disposition and a
fearless hand, both Of wh,ch might be easily Ob-
tanned