Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-03-31
uSI1RpATInN

greatest men of our country, occupying the
highest stations, in the National and State
Governments were almost afraid to touch lest
they should violate some constitutional or legal
principle, is laid hold of by HIM, in the most
barbarous and ruthless manner Legislators
in his estimation are stra VS. and The laws they
make, the pens which children build with
them, that may be demolished at pleasure.
They may make law and if it suits his Uhinls
he viii approve it,---otherwise, woe be to the
fabric! We viii not attempt to enumerate the
number of times this great SoLoN has exer-
cised the veto power since he has been Gov
ernor of Mississippi, for all know they are ma
NJ, and that it maitered but little whether the
law was good, bad or Indifferent that he Veto
ed---our object is merely to remark upon the
necessity of having Legislators at all, when
their acts can be so easily set aside and by men
whose fortune or popularity is not always the
best guaranty and test of their attainments.
That the high Executive officer should always
be selected for his eruddion and profound
Judgment there can be no doubt; and his moral
character should be above reproach. But
since this is rarely the case,-not happening
one time in ten,-the greatest security the
people cal have is among the multitude of
council when their immediate representatives
convene to deliberate upon the welfare of the
State,-for then, instead of the judgment of
one man, they have the united council of more
than ndred,-whom it Is reasonable to sup
pose are acquainted with the wants of their
constituents, the requirements of the State
and will do nothing that will not promote the
welfare of the whole. With what extreme
caution, then, should laws they have made be
set aside, by the fiat Of one individual, and he
no. more skilled perhips than he should be-
The people assemble together, biennially, 20
| choose their law makers, FELL them when and
where In meet regulate the pay they shall re-
ceive, and enjoin on them TO pass such laws as
in their judgment shall be best calculated to
promote the public good, and when they have
done to return home. But lo when these SER
wants of the people have faithfully discharged
their duty according 10 the trust reposed, and
are ready to return TO their constituents and
account unto them for their acts, this one man
steps forward, with little briCf authority ard
says, This must not bep Il forbid it, The
People need-they shall have no such lawr
Now, we are not altogether opposed to the
veto power, although it savors o: monarchy,
for it is only the little of monarchy which is
indispensable in all representative govern
Inents, to check excessive legislation unless
upon second consideration the Parliament or
Congress should constitutionally override it !;
but 1t Is by far less dangerous to make dozen
lnIudIClous laws, which scarcely 90 into opera
uo2 before they can be repealed, than TO sup
press one judclcus law, that may affect the IN
terests OF a State or Nation most seriously
Besides, If law is unconstitutional the Judcia-
ry, and not the Governor, is the proper tribu-
nal TO ascertain that fact,-even as the assem-
bed representatives of the people are, to de-
eide Its expediency;-and in either case would
be more agreeable to the mind of any Execu-
tive officer who was not fond of taking the re-
sponsIbilty,-whch has this dangerous ten
dency, that such functionary is apt to lose sight
OF the proper obligations resting upon him and
run INTO an abuse of that privilege which is al
most non'inalty conferred, TO give character
and dignity to the post he occupies--and but
rarely to De used. But the abuse of this nriv-
ilege had its origin with the present locofoco
party, whose principles naturally tend to usur-
patton. 1t commenced as we have before OBJ
served with Gen'. jackson; who used it less
frequently however, and more iudiciously than
many of his followers. Before his time il had
probably never been interp0sed more than once:
and SO dormant had 1t lain until raked I'D by
HIM that IN speaking ofthe powers of the Pres.
ldent 1t was rarely thought of But since his
time it has become as common as beftino At a
horse-race' until every child is familiar with
the name-and there is nothing more universal
than' I'll put my reto on YOU But, as if the
most common use of this potent prerogative
was not sufficient to answer the imperious and
dictatonal ends of the present party in power
and Their co-laborers in Tyranny, another ex-
pedlent mere revolving and au Iacious, because
Il has no authority under the constitution
or laws, is being resorted to,-Procamation
The late effort of Gov. McNutt in this respect
is but fresh proof of the unhallowed aspirations
OF this most republican party to overreacb
and smother the liberties of the people, BY
means the most foul. Ifthe Legislature could
not reach the Bonds signed for the Mississippi
Union Bank-and the very circumstance o.
having made the effort and failed, proved thew
could not-what broader assumption of power
could there be manifested than for this 6 over.
nor, like the Gar of Russia, thus to issue his
proclamation Did the Legislature grant hin
any such authority! No! Does the constitu.
ton authorize it! 1t does not No where is
any authority to be found for it. 1t was ar
assumption without authority either direct Oh
implied blythe cons ituion or laws of the state
Legislative instruction or whatnot. And the
ground which he has taken sthat his oath re.
qures HIM to zee that all the laws are faithful
y executed is wholly untennable. For the
laws contemplated by said oath are evidently
those of a judicial nature-(and he declares
bank charters are noD--and so declared the
Legislature themselves by the resolution thai
the Legislature had the right to repeal banE
charters, which, if they had, takes the matter
out of the hands of the Executive awav from