Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-03-11

-, ,'.o 'oso VI tho Executive IS ap-
thirds of both Houses of Couuresse me
negative upon the acts Of the legislative. by
tho Executive authority, and that in tho
hands Of one individual, would seem IN be AN
incongfuity in our system. Like some others
OF Similar character, however, it appua.e to
oe higny expedient; and If used ONLY with
he ioroearance, and in the spirit which was
'ntended by Its authors, It may DO productive
VI great good, and be found one Of the best
Safeguards to the Union. At the period of
tne formation Of the Constitution, the prin-
cc'p'e goes not appear to have enjoyed much
,avor IN tbs State Governments. 1t existed
out In Two, and In one of these there was
piurai Executive. five would search for
ne motives which operated upon the purely
pauto:ic and enlightened assembly which
'fsmed the Constitution, for the adoption ola
provision SO apparently repugnant to the lea
ding democratic principle, that the majority
should govern, we must reject the idea that
tney anticipated from it any benefit to the or
binary course Of Legislation. They knew too
Well the high degree of intelligence which
existed among the People, and the enlighten-
ed character ofthe State Legislatures, not to
nave the fullest confidence that the two bod
les elected by them would be worthy repre-
sentatives OF such constituents, and of course,
mat they would require no aid in conceivinp&
maturing the measures which the circumstan-
ces oil the country might require. And it is
preposterous to suppose that thought could
LOT moment have been entertained, that the
PRESIDENT placed at the Capital, in the centre
OF the country, could better understand the
wants and wishes of the people than their
own immediate representatives., who spend n
part ofevery year among them, living with
them, often laboring with them, and bound
10 them by the triple tie ofintorcst, duty, and
affection. To assist or control Congress-.
then, In Its ordinary Legislation, could not,
conceive, have been the motive for conferring
the veto power on the President. This ar.
gument acquires additional free from the fact
OF Its never having been thusused by the first
Six Fresidents-and two of them were mem
Ders OIL The convention, enc presiding over its
deiberatlons, and the other having larger
share In consummating the abors Of that au-
gust body than any other person. But if bills
were never returned to Congress by either of
the Presidents above referred to, upon the
ground of their being inexpedent, or not as
well adapted as they might be to the wants
OF tho People, the veto was applied upon that
OF want OF conformity to the Constitution, or
because errors had been committed from
100 nasty enactment.
There is another ground for the adoption of
the veto principle, which had probably more
Influence in recommending it to the Conven-
ton than any other. l refer to the security
which it gives to the just and equitable action
OIL the Legislature upon all parts of the Union
1t could not but have occurred to the Conven-
lion that, in country so extensive, embra-
! cling so great variety of soil and climate,
and consequently, of products. and which,
| from lile same causes, must ever exhibit a
great difference in the amount OF the popula-
uon OF Its various sections, calling for great
diversity In the employments ofihe People,
that the legislation of the majority might not
Always Justly regard the rights and interests
of the minority. And that acts of this char.
acter might be passed, under an express grant
6y the words of the Constitution, and, there.
tore, not within the competency ofthe Judi
clary TO declare void. That however enliqht-
ehed and patriotic they might suppose, from
past experience, the members cf Congress
niight be, and however largely partaking in
The general, of the liberal feelings of the Peo-
pie, 1t was Impossible to expect that bodies
30 constituted should not sometimes be con-
troiled by local interests and sectional feel.
ihge' 1t was proper, therefore, to provide
some umpire, from whose situation and mode
OF appointment more independence and free
dom from such influences might be expected.
Such one was afforded by the Executive
department, constituted by the Constitution.
a person elected to that high office, having
ms constituents in every section, State. and
subdivision of tho 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. ] Con-
sider the veto power, therefore, given by the
Constitution to the Executive of the United
States, solely as conservative power. To
be used only, LIST. to protect the Constitution
from violation 2ndly. the People from the
effects OF hasty Legislation, where their will
has been probably disregarded or not well
understood and 3rdly, to prevent the effects
OF combinations violative Of the rights of mi
norities. In reference to the second of these
objects, may observe that, consider it the
right and privilege of the People 10 decide
disputed points Of the Constitution, arising
from the grant Of power to Congress to carry
into effect the powers expressly given. And
believe, with Mr.. Madison, repeated recop
nitlons under varied circumstances, in acts of
the Legislative, executiue, and judicial branch
es OF the government, accompanied by indi-
cations IN different modes of the concurrence
OF the general will of the nation, as affordinp
to the President sufficient authority for his
considering such disputed points as settled"
Upwards of half a century has elapsed
since the adoption Of our present form of gov
eminent. 1t would be an object more high
~ desirable than the qualification Of the curl
osity ofspeculative statesmen, if its precise
situation could be ascertained, fair exhibit
made OF the operations Of each of its Depart
men's' OF the powers which they respectively
claim and exercise, Of the collisions which
have occurred between them, or between the
whole Government and those of the States.
or either Of them. We could then compare
our actual condition, after fifty years. trial of
our system, with what it was in the COM