Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-07-20

oil almost every cline, and that country divided
too into number Of separate Governments in
mnny respects independent Of each other, & of the
common federal head left but little hope that til ~
could always he carried on in harmony. II could
not he doubted thnt sectional interests would al
times predominant in the bosom Of the immediate
Representatives ofthe people and the states, & com
bnations be formed, destructive to the public good
or unjust and oppressive TO n minority. Where
could power to check these local feelings and TO
destroy the effects ofunjust combinations, he bet
ter placed than in the hands OF departments
whose authority, being derived from the same
common sovereign, is coordinate with the rest,
and which enjoys the great distinction of being at
once the immediate representatives Of the VIII @
people, ms well us Of each particular State?
In the former character the interests Of the
whole community would be rightly supported, and
the latter, the right OF each member steadfastly
Misunderstanding representation from the author.
tiles in the Electoral Colleges, cosid5r one Of
the most felicious features in the Constitution. Ii
serves eternal memcnto TO the liel Mngls
tate Thai it is his duty guard the interests OF he
weak against he unjust aggression Of the strong
and powerful. From these premises, you will
conclude that consider the qualified veto upon
the acts of the Legislature, conferred 10y the Con-
stitntion upon the President, MS conservative pow
er, intended only to he used TO secure the insru'
nent itself nom violation, or III lines OF high par
~ excitement, 10 protect the rights Of the minority
and The interests Of the weaker members OF the
Union Such, indeed wns the opinion, of nearly
all the DISTINGUISHED men Who hove filed te exec
uive chair 81 ] were President Of the u. S. an
act wbirh did not involve eNher of the principles
above enumerated, mUSi have been passed under
very Dectliar circumstances OF pyeebphaney, or
opposition to the known public WILL to induce me
10 refuse ii my sanction
lfthe opinion have given Of the motive of the
iramers Of the Constitution, in giving the veto
power to the President, is correct, ii follows that
they never could have expected that he who was
cOns tinted Tie umpire between the coEieDjing
iac,ioDs SHOULD ever identify himself with The in
tereSts of one Of them, and voluntarily, him
self from the proud ennence OF leader of nation
to that Of q party. easily conceive state of
things by which the Chief Magsstrase Of II STAKE
may b. forced TO act npon party principles; but
such eourse ~ entirely opposed TO all the obi
gallons which The Consii:ution hpapOses the
President of the Uniteh States. The immense
influence he possesses will always give 10 bis par
ty the lxepOnderence, and the very circumstances
Ofits being M Executive party will be the cause
oi iiftsilg iaoye bitterness aud vmtle feelings
in these domestic contests. Under these circum-
stances the qualified veto given by the Constllu =
lion NAV, H the President should thiuk proper 10
change hs character, become as absolute in prac-
tice that possessed by tbe Kings Of England aud
France. From the great variety of local interests
acting upon the r,,einbers Of the two fionses OF
Congress, and from keeping all the individuals Of
lnrge lxsYty under the control of purity discipline,
verse to the interests Of the dominant party; but
IL the President should think proper to Use the
10 power for the a,rpOSe OF promoting the interests
Of bis larty, it will I've III vain TO expect ,hat
SFity la.ge two thirds in both Houses would
Ire found m oppos,OE to his wishes. b. The
Sonsti,utton woLid IN 'rn-,i-o he absolute.
On ETecutfre Power.
lhaye, DpOp other occasions, expressed my
views upon The danger Of dominant executive
b
magistrate will find it impossible to avoil tie in
Bnenee OF parry spiyit. Several OF our Chief Mag
strates, however, have been able 30 escape lis in
fuence or wlMt is The same thing, to oct us if
they did MOI feel n.-As Ole rpode Of avoiding il ,
il would he my aim 10 Interfere with the legisln-
hon 1i Congress MS little possible. The clause
IN the Constitution, which makes it the duty of
The President 10 give CongYess information of the
stale OF tfetnDn ,and present TO nher consideration
snch measHr, as he shall lil.e necessary and g, .
pe'lieh, could never he intended to make him The
souree of legislation. Information should he
frankly gwen, and recommendation upon such
matters sMore Immediately under his
cogDizisa tian theirs. Bat there il shuid end.
u he should undertake to prepaye the business Of
Legislation for the action oil Congress, or TO asstsne
the rharssiey Of co1lenlaker for the nation, the
personal interest which be will take in The sue
cess OF his measures VIII necessarily convert him
mo p,rtizan, will totally ncapaci,ae him from
performing the part ofthat impartial unpYer which
is the character that have Supposed the Constr
union Intends him 10 assume VIXEN the acts pas
sed by The Legislature submitted to bis ,iecs-
ion. do not ihink il by any means necessary
ihai he SHOULD lake the lead Tvs u refcrmer even
when reiorMation, is, in his opinion, necessary.
iteiurn,ers will never lie wanting when il is well
understood thai the power which Yields the whole
patronage oS hive nation will not oppose the refor-
naiOn.
l have the horror to Ire, with grea, consideration
| and sit h,,,.. ,la
WM. II. HARRISON.
To the Hon. SHERRoD WILLIAMS.
At aboot the same tirne Hon. Harmar Denny
Of Pa. addressed letter Of inquiries, TO which
Gen. Harrison fully repieA, and gave the folio ".
ing:
Among the principles proper to lie adop-
ted by any Executive, sincerely DESTROYS 10 restOi
the administration To its original simplicity and
purity, deem the following to be Of prominent
importance,
i. 10 confne his services 10 a singie term
q. To disclnim all right Of coHsYol over the pub.
lie treasure with the exception OF such pan OF il
az may he appropriaier' by law, 10 Gnmy on the
public s,rvices aud that to- he applied llnenisely rs
the law directs and iyawM gotM the tueasury agree
ably 10 the long established Ssns Oh iai depart
aient.
.. That he should Never attempt influence
the elections, either by tile people or state legls
iatures, suffer The htieFd o!iesrs under his
coutro to take any Olher part in them thanby Civ,
ing tieir own votes when they possess The right
OF v0tiag.
4. That in the exercise Of the veto bower he
should iiinit his rejeetou OF bills to: LIST, Such us
are 10 his opinion Unconstitutional. I'd, Such ms
tend to eacroach Oh Inc nights of HE Stnie onD
dividuais 3d, Such as i,sNolxng deep interests,
may in his opinion require more mature deibera'
ton or reference 10 ths will of the people, to be
nscertaued ut the suecs SEEDING citations
IS That he shOuh never suffer the influence OF
his office 10 he se. Aos purposes Ola purely party
character.
.6 Thu, in removals from Office Of those who
hold the appointments during the pleasure Of the
Ex..u,;ve The causes should, he stated, it, request.