The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-03-21

to revise them. This power was given to the
President quite much for the benefit Of the Leg
isla,ure as for his own. 1t was never intended to
be an ordina, power, freely and frequently US
ed. The trainers Of the Constitution never sup
posed that they were making the President the
! high and final Judge Of that instrument,-ihe ar
bitter in the last resort Of all questions that might
rse in its construction far enough from it,
They vested this great pTcrogaiive in Supreme
Court, whose tenure Of Office would secure Impair
tality, and an entire fearcssness Of all consequent
ces as to party, or from party to themselves The
Supreme Court Of the United States are the right
fu expounders Of Constitutional Law. But is il
not apparent to every rejecting man, judging from
what has happened under his own observation
that the Executive may undertake the exercise Of
this appropriate jurisdiction of another department,
in using the veto power it has been used, and
may be ngain used ? Is it not time then TO begin
to think Of reducing this veto power to mere
ron,p inentary negative In other words, is
it not enoughfor the President TO stop an Act and
,,nd it back for RECOMMENDATION to the House in
VIII. II it originated, Congress having the right to
pass it tag,in by mojorify, and not being sub
ect to ano.her veto The President would thus
he able to arrest ipprovdent legislation, without
making himself greater than the Legislature itself
The President was never iatended by the Const-
tuition TO be the Grand I.a~gi4er Of the country.
Still farhe, ;--ougnt not the Presidents aP-
pointing power 10 be curtailed, and portion oil II
at least vested in The Senate, or in joint commit
tee of both Houses The Senate can now pre-
vent an appointment which they may deem I'M
proper but they cannot cause that which they
may deem the best TO be made. All but very
small portion Of the appointments are for limited
terms, or daring pleasure ; and where they are
made by suboi dnate officers Of tho Executive de-
partnient, i, has now come to be understood thai
they must be made in accordance with the will Of
I The Chief Magistrate. The vast influence Of the
Post Office. it may be feared, will sometimes pass
into the hands Of the President, The President
may also constitute himself treasurer Of the United
States. 1t is unnecessary TO enlarge upon this
point Nor is it required TO do more than remind
the friends Of repu bcan institutions Of the great
and constantly incre sing hos, Of ofice-holders in
this country ,-oflhe nordinate thirst for Office
OF the dangers to be apprehended from an Office
holding party, coming into power as such, and
with P,esidcr, at their head kSssd to them by
ties which he cannot and rnot sunder, ard un
der an obligation (of political gratitude lis there
such thing y to sabserve their views and inter-
ed Of works both ways. One President may ere
ute great and dependent rmy Of ofIice-holders
and this army in turn may he so necessary to the
man who aims at the succession, that he will COM
nit himself TO it, and perhaps come in under n
virtual pledge to support it and this army may be
,l,ua Lap, in po.Ser 60, .avorai ,srm- shaping tho
administration Of affairs to its own selfish purposes
with little or reference to the good Of the coun-
try. Does not experience indicate the necessity Of
some curailment Of this appointing power would
not the country be on the whole better served by
less potent Chef Executive Magistrate Leave
to him power enough to be efficient and respecta-
BILE but reduce his present dimensions "a Rhode
Island man would understand more exactly what
! is meant, If it should be added, comparing great
things with small, that tho President wouid be
strong enough, ifhs were like the chairman of a
Grand Committee, with power more incidenta!
than direct.
1t will not DO TO say that one administration may
recede from the encroachmenis Of proceeding,
aud may discharge the Executive functions with
greater modesty, and within strictly constitutional
limits. The Constitution has been tried in that
essential part of it which fixes the powers of the
Executive. What has been done once may be
repeated under more unfavorable circumstances
and ii the part Of political foresight to provide
remedy for probable, and occasional evils in the
body polite.
The preceding remarks have been confined to
that part ofthe Constitution which relates to the
powers Of the Chief Magistrate. Are there no
other parts Of that instrument, especially those
lating to the power Of Congress which require, il
not alteration, at least more precise definition, with
view to The amicable adjustment Of those con-
sttuonal questions which have SO frequently agi-
tated and distracted the country j, is the glory
of the form Of government under which we live
that it admits at any time Of n peaceable amend
ment, according to the suggestions of experience
without resort to the hazardous experiment Of q
revolution. The Constitution of the United States
was framed Cor the good and safe government o.
the People and they have right and it 10 the
duty to adopt il to this end by such changes q.
have been shown to be necessary by its practica
: operation.
Without going at present into farther particulars
has not enough been offered to justify the sugges
D ton that n CoNvENTIoN OF THE STATE,
should be called 10 amend the CoNsrIrurIos
E OF THE UNITED STATES. B.
: FIRE. We learn from the Journal of yester
day, that FIRE broke out in Taunton, on We'd
naadav nioht lasf vvhich Tho .,..o .r Al