Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-03-28

mCnt Ul government. y or MT, van Du-
ren, standing on the threshold of his adj
mnistraton, TO announce to the world that
he will veto any bib which Congress may
pass on parlcul n subject, - as gross
breach Of public decoruns, and as utoient a
stretch Of his proper duties, as it 1could be
for The Supreme Court TO pass a solemn re-
solution, declaring that il Congress enacted
such on such la,C, they Mould pronounce ii
unconstitutional, and SCI ii aside according
ty, the moment any question under IL should
come before them for adjudication The
iluslrious man who has just retired from
the Office Of Chiel Magistrate has not hesi-
tated to exercise lis constitutional mega
tive, whenever called to do so by sense OF
duty bat, dictator rs he has been freely
termed by his opponents, he never so far
transcribed The obvious bounds Of polite
a propriety as 10 announce to the people,
IN Advance, that he meant 10 use that pow
or in a suppositious case.
Nothing, we repeat, but the clearesl war
rent of constitutional obligation could pos.
sibv excuse the step which Mr.. Van Bu-
rem has thought proper 10 adopt. Is any
such warrant nlledged? Docs the nd
dress state any such constitutional inerdc-
ton Of legislative power in Congress
over the slavery in District Of Columbia
Does Mr.. Van Buren, venture TO affirm
that such law as he declares his intention
Of vetoing would be a violation Of any ar
ticle or clause in the federal compact? No
he believes that such a course will be sin
accordance with the spirit which actua-
ted the venerated fathers oil the republic"
but does not pretend that such a spirit has
made itself pa pable and unequivocal in any
of the written provisions OF the instrument
which he has sworn 10 maintain. If this
early announcement Of his intentions with
regard 10 one subject which, if raised, he is
determined 10 exercise with the spell Of
the veto, is justifab e, why not carry Out
the new scheme Of Government, and favor
the world with full list of topics, on
which Congress must not act without the
fear OF the Presidents negative before their
eyes? 1t might save much Ruthless legis-
laton 10 have the predeterminaion OF The
executive formally made known on all qucs-
tions of legislation; but without such an a.
vowa Of them, con jecture may 90 widely
asIride, since there is no other very certain
mode Of ascertaining what is or is not, to
Mr.. Van Buren's belief according to "the
spirit which actuatcd the veneratcd ia ,hers
OF the republic"
Mr.. Van Buren, indicates haste 10 a.
vow his predeiermina ion on the subject with
boldncss. IL is made in a cringing spirit
Of pr0pitiation TO The south, and in the cer-
tainty that q majority at the north accorded
Nth his bieaUS. His sentiments on lie sub
jcct Of slavery, SO far as can become ques-
ton for federal legislation, were all under
stood before. They had been distinctly
expressed, aud he had been supported with
a knowledge Of his opinions on that topic,
and clear apprehension Of what would in
all probability be his course should his &C.
ton become necessary. There was not The
slightest proper occasion, therefore, for any
thing, beyond ca I'm repetition Of his pre-
viousIy expressed sentiments. The Veto
Pledge is the peace altering Of an ignoble
spirit to appedse the eTaSperated Slavehot-
ders at the south. What a mockery il,
would now be, if, in the course Of the next
four years, such a change should take place
in the public mind (and such change is
clearly within the scope of possibility as
that large majority Of the people should
demand the abolition Of slavery at the seat
of the federal government, and Congress,
in compliance with The demands, should
pass billto that effect-what a mockerv,
we say it would be TO presen, the measure
to the President for his approval. He
would answer, 81 am pledged 10 use my
Veto" But the opinions Of men have clan
ged since that pledge was given. "No
matter; il was unconditional, and must he
fulfilled" But the facts elected in the dis
cussion Of the subject prove incOntestibIy
that the measure is demanded by a regard
for the prosperity Of the country. mo
| m, ,,IaJ,r.,1 - lilo froo
states have solemnly resolved that they will
states, if the condition of the league re.
quires the perpetuiion OF slavery in the ten
miles square place under the exclusive con-
trole of the federal government, and there
| fore this measure is necessary for the pre-
servation OF Union. 'No matter; | am
pledged, am pursuing course in accor-
dance with the spirit which actua,ed the
venerated fathers OF the republic, and ! can
not be moved from my fixed and predeter-
mined purpose. told the people in the
outset Of my administration what meant TO
do. They had ample warning, and ought
not 20 have changed their minds, for, be-
ing solemnly pledged 10 veto any bill Tor
the abolition Of slavery in the District OF
Columbia, cannot now recede."
There is a single phrase in the anti-abo-
ltion portion Of Mr.. Van Buren's address
upon which we shall make one additional
comment, and then dismiss the subject. Al
luding 10 the pro-slavery mobs and riots
which have taken place in various parts OF
the country, he says "reckless disregard of
OF the consequences of their conduct has
exposed individuals TO popula- Indignation.
This is an admirable version Of the matter.
The issuing Of a temperate and decorous
newspaper, in which a question Of great
! public moment was gravely discussed,
] sharnA Lnuonl Ill nncslinn n InnSI trcck