Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-03-17

errors had been committed from a too has
y enactment
There Is. another ground torthe adoption
Of the veto principle, which had probably I
more influence in recommending it to the /
than any other. refer to the |
security which It gives to the JUST and eq-
uilable action of the Legislature upon all
paris Of the Union. Ii could not but have
occurred to the convention that in coun-
try 50 extensive. embracing so great va
riety of soil and climate, and consequently.
Of products, and which, from the same
causes, must exhibit great difference in
the amount Of the population OF its yarl-
Gus sections, calling for a great diversity
IN the employments of the People, that the
Legislation fthe majority might not al
ways Justly regard the rights and interests
of the minority; and that acts OF this char
acter might be passed, under an express
grant by the words of the Constitution,
and therefore, not within the competency
Of the Judiciary 10 declare void.
That however enlightened and patriotic
they might suppose, from past experience.
the Members Of Congress might be, and
however largely partaking, in the gener-
al, Of the liberal feelings ofthe People, il
was impossible to expect that bodies SO
constituted should not sometimes be con-
trolled by local interests and sectional
feelings. 1t was proper, therefore, to pro-
vide some umpire, from whose situation
and mode of appointment more independ-
ence and freedom from such influences
might be expected. Such a one was af.
forded by the Executive Department, con.
stituled by the Constitution. A person
elected to that high Office, having his con.
stituents in every section, State, and sub
division of the Union, must consider him
self bound By the most solemn sanctions.
TO guard, protect. and defend the rights OF
all, and Of every portion, great or small
from the injustice and oppression of the
rest. | consider the veto power, therefore
given by the Constitution to the Execu-
tive of the United States. solely as con.
sentative power to be used only, LIST. to
protect the Constitution from violation
IDLY, the People from the effects Of has.
~ legislation, where their will has been
probably disregarded or not well under
stood and 3dly, to prevent the effects oil
combinations violative of the rights Of mi.
norities.
In reference to the second of these OBJ
jects, | may observe that consider it the
right and privilege Of the People to decide
disputed points Of the Constitution, arising
from the general grant of power to Con-
gress to carry into effect the powers ex,
pressly given. And believe, with Mr..
Madison, "that repeated recognitions I'M
der various circumstances. in acts of the
Legislative, .executive. and judicial branch
es ofthe Government, accompanied by in
dications in different modes of the concur.
renee Of the general will Of the nation, a.
affording in the President sufficient au
thority for his considering such disputed
points as settled"
Upwards of half a century has elapsed
since the adoption Of our present form o
government. II would be an object NOR,
highly desirable than the grati6cation 0
the curiosity OF speculative statesmen, i
its precise situation could be ascertained
q fair exhibit made Of the operations oil
each OF its Departments, of the power
which they respectively claim and exer
else. Of the collisions which have occurret
between them, or between the whole Gov
eminent and those Of the States. or eithe
of them. We could then compare on
actual condition after fifty years trial Q
our system, with what It was in the com
mencement of its operations. and ascertain
whether the predictions Of the patriots VIII
opposed its adoption, or the confiden
hopes of its advocates have been best real
lied.
The great dread Of the former seems i
have been, that the reserved powers Of th
States would be absorbed by those Of th
Federal Government, and a consolidate
power established. leaving to the State
the shadow, only, of that independent a,
aion for which they had so zealously cor
tended, and on the preservation Of whic
they relied as the last hope of liberty
Without denying that the result to whic
they looked with so much apprehension
in the way Of being realized, it is obviol
that they did not clearly see the mode
its accomplishment The General Co
eminent has seized upon none of the r
served rights of the States. As far as ar
open warfare may have gone, the Sta
authorities have amply maintained the
rights To casual observer, our syste
presents no appearance of discord betwe'
the different members which compose
Even the addition of many new ones b
produced no jarring. They move in the
respective orbits in perfect harmony wi
the central head. and with each other.
But there is still an under current at wo
by which. If not seasonably checked, I
worst apprehensions Of cur anti-fede
patriots will be realized. And not or
will the Slate authorities be ovefshado
al hu the great in raasa Of r,n,r,a. - .