Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-08-05

men who have filled the Executive Chair. |
IL ] were President of the United States.
an act which did not involve either of the |
principles above enumerated, must have
been passed under very peculiar clrcum-
stances OF precip,tancy or opposition TO the |
known public will, TO induce me to refuse
TO it my sanction.
II the opinion have given of the mo,
tves of The trainers of the Constitution,
~ giving the veto power TO the President.
It follows that they could have expec'e ed
That he who was constituted the umpire
between contending factions should ever
identify himself with the n'erest of one of
them, and voluntarily rasee himself from
the proud eminence Of leader of nation
TO The chief of a party. can easily con-
ceive the existence of a state of things bv
which the Chief Magistrate Of State may
be forced TO act upon party principles; but
such course is entirely opposed to all the
Obligations which the Constitution imposes
on President Of the United States. The
immense influence he possess will always
give to his party the preponderance, and
the very circumstance of its being an Ex
ecutive will be the cause of infuslng more
bitterness and vindicive feeling in these
domestic contests. Under these crcum,
stances, the qualified veto given BY the
Constitution may, it the President should
think proper to change its character, be-
come as absolute in practice as that passed
by the King of France and England. From
the great variety of local interests acting
upon the members of the two Houses of
Congress, and from the difficulty of keep
ing all the individuals OF large party un
der the control of party discipline, laws
will often be passed by small majorirics ad
verse TO the interests ofthe dominant party;
but if the President should think proper to
use the veto power for the purpose Of pro-
noting the interests of his party it will be
in vain to expect that q Minority so large
as two thirds in both Houses would be
found in opposition to his wishes. In the
hands of such a President, the qualified
veto of the Constitution would in practice
become absolute.
have, upon another occasion, expressed
my views upon the danger Of domnan,
Executive party. j. may, perhaps, be said
that the Chief Magistrate will find it i'm.
possible 10 avoid the influence of party spi
rll. Several Of our Chief Magistrates, how.
ever, have been able TO escape its influence
or, what is the same thing. to act as ifthcy
did not feel it. Al one mode ofavoding il
it would be my aim to interfere with the
legislation Of Congress as little as possible.
The clause in the Constitution which
makes it the duty of the Presiden, to give
Congress information Of the state of the
Union, and to recommend to their consid-
GRAFTON such measures as he shall Judge
necessary and expeden'. could never be IN
| tended to him the source of lcgisation.-
Information should always be frankly given
and recommendations upon such matters
as come more Immediately under his cog
| nizance than theirs. But there it should
end. II he should undertake to prepare
the business Of legislation for the action oc
Congress, or to assume the character of
code maker for the nation, the personal in
terest which he will take in the success of
his measure will necessarily convert him
into partisan, and will totally incapaciate
him from performing the part Of that Impair
tla umpire, which is the character that I
have supposed The Constitution intends him
TO assume, when the acts passed by the
Legislature are submitted to his decision.
| do not think 1t by any means necessary
that he should take the lead as reformer.
even when reformation is. in his opinion.
necessary. Reformers will be never want
ing when il is well understood that the
power which yields the whole patronage
of the nation will not oppose the reiorma-
ton.
| have the honor TO be, with great con.
sideration and respect, sir your humble
servant. w. II. HARRISON.
To the Hon. SHERRop WILLIAMS.