Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1841-10-28
h'lDl.IEIl Al.
From Me Baiiimore Ameriean.


THE VETO PoWER.-When the Ve,o power
was granted 10 the Roman rnbunes the question
vi supremacy winch had tong aguatej the { ,n,en d.
,ng parties oi that republic gv,ng use TO many in
ieinal COMMISSIONS. was virtually settled The Sen.
ate. by ono compromise ai,cr another, had yielded
much al the power vested IN them by the original
constitution OF the Rom gave,naent; Aetsovcr.
e,gny IN the last resort remained wil that body un-
III the veto p,ctogase was granted 10 another an-
lhoriy.
All historians from the time OF Ivy agreed IN da-
ting from tins epoch the transfer al sovereign pow
81 ~ the republic and the ftue equilibrium beng
,hns destroyed, the progress Of confusion was RAPID
through the snbverson al ancient Laws 10 the cW,l
wars at MARUs aud SyLLa. winch resulted finally
IN the absniplion ol all po"ei IN The hands oi sn-
gle man.
|, was no, that the veto power in itself possessed
u lalal tendency. Il II had always b.en exercised
dIsctretly aud ~ moderation no bad effects would
have followed. Bun how rarely las IT happened IN
the history Of mankind that controlling power was
~, used lor the sake OF ns own strengthening 10,
the advaoeemen, oil n" bnleus vie"s-ai ior pefsoh-
al or party aggfandizr ment.
The power OF saying What shall not be done re-
qnucs not much change III the mode OF exercise "a
be converted to the iowef oi debating What shal
be done. Ii Is ~ ia.t only HE sane power showing
itself Two different ways, aud ~ boh II bears an
imperial aspect.
Pauo,ism itself IN the hearts OF honest men f e
atqulcscence To the bt hcsts o this usutp
ine power the least OF the evils winch The 'm'f-
gency admits OF For instance, II II should happen,
IN !, has bai pened, that measure al great phblic
utility should incur the io,b,ddng detiee II an IA
.cuive pateniate rather Than RISK the utiet loas oi
the measure, how many we'll meaning persons are
here who woi.ld be wiling 10 accept ana salciioh
n less useful aud in many respects an cx,epnonable
law, devised and dictated by the Executive Will
Thus III, powet grows; II advances tom one step
10 another the pubic m nd bt,on,es accustomed 10
ita q ~ n "A
encroa, hntnl reaches such vantage g'ound that
resistance Is out oi The queslon. lie sheep nave
given up the dogs another 10 pro iiaie the
wolf aud then they find themselves not OILY with
out Iroectnis ~ the i,be, but ihel' vtt. guar
dams united "llhbe cuemy. ua'ned ~ ms ranks,
aud adding Strength aud consoailon 10 ms Po"cr
The plea OF conscience, OF oi adr p stnse oi pup
lac duty, wiil never be wanting 10 u President, let
hlm exercise the Veto power as oiten ~ he vii.
u facl such excellent ,easons have al"nys been a.
buudant on thc tongues at those patiiotic nd'idualS
Who have IA, var'ou, times IN the wo'lds history az
snmcd absolute pow.t ioi the good OF iheu county
What but ,ions soie,lude i"r the distracted
realm Of England induced the genie RIcnAnp, the
illd oi that name. Ia Iotceo In, ease, 10 Ut the
pleasant company Il slud,ous churcl,men, and ali
the de lip Its Of books aud oil calm ie'c AT INTO
bandou all lhls 10, the oi state aud the heavy
load winch fortune eoatd bu, klc on his shoulders
Who ~ moi f,nll NJ wan the tact that many pres
sing aud long continued e"ueaties "eie requisite Do
Ioir the ptOus CROMWELL Iftsd'tu
10 Lake The burden III government "a on himseli--
but ,hc CLAIMS ol hls country could not DC with
st cd
II Is n lutte curious 10 compare ihis county VITA
Great Buao ~ respect 10 HE use Il The Ne'o io"
rr Ia tue monarchy II is exercised =" seldom lhat
one almost ceases remember that II Is royal pei
ugalVe; The repabtic Is getting IL be an every
da, ALTAR, aud one oi the important consdera.
ions wan Congress framing bdl Is whc,he, II Is
likely 10 be vetoed o, not. II things go on ~ TINS
wa, long, the two Houses wi be likely Ia Le,ome
the most doeile bod,es thai have ,ne sInte The irr
Of the Parliament oi Pans use duty II was 10 re-
g,ster the Kegs edels.
Gen. JA,KsoN had strong noi u ol q sample
Gov. roneDi his idea OF uatfy was a very p,oni-
neni one-and hls tam vi argument seems 10 have
son. ewl,at thus:
'lf powers coordinate in n nation reign
" ho shall the action oi those powers restrain
Each rqual, each u sepufn motive
lokcd back aud pulling different Ways
Hall move not 10 some superior VII,
The course zlg Eng, the shnds STILL
Ii Is no doubt WY paIiloiic III chez magistrate
to take ! The responsblll and trouble OF Hpvein-
mcpt upon himself when he finds The iunutlous oi
working we'll together. In should ever happen
l Il su.h an absolute assumption should take place,
there rs question bu, the whole transaction Will
be aons u,nnaed under the Influence OF the
motives that can be imagined, and bJ the
imperative iotce 81 sense I'll public duiy WIFI,
good paIiloi uld possible Withstand 1t viii be.
.boud 1t happeu sanotnonIo"s altar mol! C,om-
weiau.