The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-10-01
TIE yETO--lTS ORIGIN WAS WITH
THE PEOPLE! AND is NOT A ROYAL
PREOGATEVE, As ASSERTED Tx HEN


THE PEOPLE AND is NOT A ROYAL
PREOGATiVE, As ASSERTED Tx HEN
RV CLAY.
The suporlaiye ignorance Of Henry Clay, in all
matters Of history, was the Meet Of nccssanl
ridirulc, on the part Of the ale John RandolPh.-
Eloquent but not prolound-Wilh some gcnlus
though bat iuc learning, Alr Clay frequently be-
trays The grosSrSt ah,urdcS. tie is at this timG
very highly inrcuscd against that part of the Con-
s'ilullnn which gives the Executive Il negative on
all laws that cannot command a vote Of two thirds
in c4"h branch of uu.,pSs. In a letter to certain
parliMars Of Baltimore, he saws with much pomp
and more ignorance, when speaking of the yGro;
" lei as sUpcrdH 10 the pfcrious dUiiCS Wh}ch ne
lag ua!cr 10 ou' oJ'ahy, mater Piurhi"g jicas
he constitution this sign Of oHdery fovc'; ru
O!'pGS Li Vly inic rcijgc n Eopoi prCrorciirc,
Similar statements have been made by the ,maIi-
cr cloS,rd Of cnusrts,ional slalcsmra and men who
talk wisely aud rmucdly on the science of govern
mcn,, utd the necessity Of creating corporation
or private iut,iduaIs 10 take charge Of the Treas
ury, and regulate the currency and exchanges Of
this extensive county. The tciO so far from he
ing an odious but obsolete vc,lgc Of ROYAL pre-
rogl,iyc,' rs asserted hv Mr Clay, is a 1'ribural
power aud one of the earliest memorials Of Roman
liberty Mr. Clay and his friends should know HAT
it was The " common people, who wruug from the
palrrlans Of Rome, the privilege Of appointing five
men 10 defend their rights. who should he called
T,huncs of the people. The persons Of the Irl-
bGncs were made sacred, and " their sole function
was to in'crpose in all grievances offered the puhi
ans hv their superiorS This inlcrpoSIng' we
quote from history, was called iRicrCCsSiO, and
was performed by standing mp and pronouncug the
single word Ic'1, forbid it," so lha, instead Of
being " ycsgc Of ROYAL prerogati,c," it is one
Of tina ourIv riiriiuips of npuilur libpr,v
Such, NIr Clay should know, was the origin Of
that negative nganSt abusive and tyrannicul lrgis-
lnlion. which, the iamrrs of the constitution wisely
incorporated into that instrument. This negative
has never been exercised except for the most useful
purposes. 1t has never prevented the passage Of
constitutional laws, or acts that were calculated to
promote the freedom and happiness of the people.
The complaint should he, that the Presidents have
not 81 frequently exercised this right as they
should have done, and we cannot but regret that
Wv TYLER should have failed TO place his veto on
the bankrupt law, the Distribution law and the
law for distributing the avas of the pubc lands.
1t would be well for iIr Clay and hisassociacs,
who 50 isnorauly talked about the rciO as Roy
al prcrogaivc, TO read that part Of Roman history
which gave rs it, oran. lie would learn that the
people tired of oppression after fighting the battles
Of their country, and returning victorious from the
SHOlne Matchmaking llldl lhc CONSUL dltTlUs OTohc
hi| prom scs. I" that the usurcrs made them no
Abatement, that the Senate pretended to remember
nothing of arguments, byt without any concern
saw them dragged to prison." &c, that the peo-
pie became dissatisfied. Hearing Of the popular
discomfort. the enemy invnded the Roman terrific
ries and laid them waste with fire and sword. Tho
common people, borne down by the pdtrcians, re-
fused 10 bear arms, and retiring from the city re-
paired TO the Sncred mount, declaring as they
went tina, % the rich had driven them from their
habtatcus-lhat lilly would supply them with air
and water, and place Of baria-that Rome alor-
drd them nothing else, but 10 bleed and die for
their wealthy oppressors." The Senate became
alarmed-scme thought that the poor should have
little indulgence, and they finally became recon-
cilcd, the paIriciahs conccdng 10 them liberty TO
choose liye persons ms Ttrhuncs. with power to
pnt rcio on all laws which the Senate might enact.
The first Tribune ever elected WAS Junius Bruus,
and to him and the Trlbunes of the people must
we trace the veto power. Nlr Clay's history and
Mr Claws tinrncial views, are discrrdh 10 one
who holds conspicuous a station. and IN attempt
Ing TO set up his wisdom against that Of the Faith
crs Of the Constitution, he will prove still Farther
his ignorance. Hartford Times.