Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-09-18
M f s 8 AG e
President Of the United States

F"ey" "e oefT coHecHOH, sdye htepiHg uHH
disbursement offhe public revenue, BY means Of
Corporation, TO be styled the Fiscal Copper
alton Of he United .Siafes." September 0.
lsfI.
10 tue House. OF REraKsrSrArivKs OF rur
UNITED STATES:
Il is with extreme regret that feel myself con-
rained by tho duty faithfully to execute the Of,
icc of President OF the United States, and to the
hcs of my ability to preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States TO return TO
that House in which il originated the bill 40 pro-
jc for the collection, safe-keeping, and jsburse-
'nent OF the public T. venue by means Of corpora.
ION to be styled the Fiscal Corporation of the Uni
tel States, with my written objections.
In my message sent to the Senate on the 9th
dy of August last, returning the bill "to incorpor-
the subscribers to the Fiscal Bank Of the United
states. distinctly declared that my own opinion
ird been uniformly proclaimed to be against the
'ycrcise "of the power of Congress to create
National Bank to operate per sc over the Union !"
and entertaining that opinion, my main objection
10 that bill was based upon the highes, moral and
',lgous obligations ofconscience and the Constilu-
'im. | readily admit, tha, willis, the qualified pe,o
with which the Chief Ma sstrate is invested, should
hr regarded and was intended by the wise men
h, made it part of the Constitution, as a grea;
Conservative principle of our system, without the
Scrcse of which, on important occasions, mere
riacsentatve majority may urge the Government,
IA it's legislation beyond the limits fixed by its fam
- might exert just powers too hastily or op.
ire-sively; yet, it is power which ought TO be
most cautiously exerted and perhaps never, except
case immnenily involving the public interest,
81 one in which the oath the President, acting
nodcr his convictions, both mental and moral, inn
p,riously requires i,s exercise. In such he
ins no alternative.
He must either exert the negative power inrus.
l' to him by the Constitution chiefly for its own
reservation, protection, and defence, or commit
of gross moral turpi,ude. Mere regard to the
'riil of majority must not, in constitutions! re-
'.blic like ouis control this sacred and solemn du-
y Of 4 sworn officer. The Constitution itself, re-
'rd and cherish, as the embodied and written will
the whole people of the United States. 1t is
IN cu>ly prescribe to the public functionarits--
e.r mere trustees and servants. This, their will,
the law which they have given us as the rule
"' our sction, has no guard, no guarantee Of pres
vaiion, protection, and defence, but the oath
hich it prescribes to public officers, the sanctty
which they shall rclgiously observe the oatbs,
.,i the patriotism with which the people shall
A,ll i. by their sovereign will, which has made
&c Constitution supreme. 1t must DO exerted a.
,tns, the will Of a mere representative majority
not at all. 1t is alone in pursuance Of that will
:, any measure can reach the President !;
n to say that because majority in Congress have
.rscd bill the President should therefore sanc-
n it, is TO abrogate the power altogether, and to
,der its insertion in the Constitution a work of
.-rlute supererogaton. The duty is to guard the
ndamen,al will of the people themselves from lin
Is case admit unintentionaD change or inirac.
"a by q m ,jority in Congress. And in that lgbt
.,nr, do regard the constitutional duty which
.,N most reluctantly discharge.
In this bill, now presested for my approval or
approval, such bill as have already declared
.auIJ no, receive my sanction Is it such bill as
Ills for the exercise of the negative power under
Constitution Does il violate the Constitution,
creating a national bank, to operate per sc over
Il, Union Its title. in the first place, Describes its
cncra character, II is "An act to provide for the
'Iter collection, safe.keeping, and disbursement of
g public revenue, by means Of corporation, to
styled the Fiscal Corporation OF the United
'oes. In style then, it is plainly national in its
raracer. It's powers, functions, and duties, are
lose which pertain to the collecting, keeping and
sbWsing the public revenue. The means by
hich these are to be excrted is a corporation, to
styled the Fiscal Corporation Of the United
|Gtes. II isa corporation created by the Cong
IS Of the United States, in the character of Ma
r'nal Legislature for the whole Union, TO perform
he fiscal purposes meet the fiscal wants and exi-
5cnci,s, supply the fiscal uses snl exert the fiscal
lcncies of the Treasury Of the United States.
'uch is it's own description of itself, Do lis pro-
,sions contradict its title They do not. 1t is
ne, that by its first section, it provides that it shall
established in the District of Columbia, but the
mount Of its cspi;sl-the manner in which its
.ock is 10 be subscribed for and hed-the persons
''jies, corporate and polite, by whom its stock
ny be held-hs appointment of its directors, ana
eir powers and duties--its Fundamental articles
e-pecially that to establish agencies in any part o.
'Ae Union--ths corporate powers and business o.
sch sgencies-ihe prohibition of Congress to eslab
IA any other corporation with similar powers 70,
senty years, with express reservation in the same