The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-30
The following judicious article is from the
Philadelphia North American

The following judcous article is from the
Philadelphia North American:
The NETo PowER-The disappointment and
displeasure created by the recent exercise Of
this power, has induced some of our political
friends TO propose that it be materially abridged
or abolished. The reasons for this measure,
succincty stated, are these:
l. II is contended that this power is ant-de
mocratic, and that Jefferson, the father Of Anne
rican democracy, on this account opposed lis
Introduction into our Constitution grant this
q II is contended that this power is arbitrary
in its nature, that il was derived from the spirit
OF the British Constitution-that its primary OBJ
Ject there was TO protect the crown from legisa-
tive encroachments grant this
g. 1t is contended that the exercise of this
power with us may come in conflict with the
will OF the people, as expressed through their
representatives, and that the will Of the people,
under the action Of our free institutions, should
be the supreme law Of the land grant this
Grant all these objections TO be real all these
allegations TO be true, the question then arises,
shall we expunge this veto power from our
Constitutions Would such on obteration be
an act OF sound patriotic wisdom Would the
benefits likely to accrue more than counteryail
the probable evils consequent upon such mea-
sure 4 We think they would not, and we think
the act OF obteratlon, even could il be achieved,
would be unwise. Our reasons, or some of them,
are these:
]. The veto power, rightly regarded. is CON
sentative feature in our Constitution. Its OBJ
lect IS salutary check upon hasly or injurious
legislation. To its exercise for this purpose,
and in cases where this effect only can be rea-
llZed, there can be no reasonable objection
The objection hes in its abuse or its misappli-
cation And what checks have we against
this We have the aoiHof the people? Against
the power of the elective franchise no Execu-
tive can stand. This power will and must in
evtaby prevail. II will assert ITSELF and achieve
It's object; il not through the requisite MAJOR
ties In Congress, yet through the election of
new incumbent TO the Executive chair. A great
measure, therefore lying at the heart of the ma.
ton, though il may possibly for a brieftime be
delayed, yet II must assuredly be achieved, and
as soon, too, perhaps, as the public welfare may
require
2. The history of the Veto power is not such
as to warrant its abolition 1t has been ex-
ercised, since the formation of our present Go
yernment, only in fourteen instances. And in
the meantime, eight or ten thousand acts of our
national Legislature, have passed into laws
under the official appreciation Of the Executive.
Only one, then, 10 some seven or eight hundred
OF these acts, has been defeated. deferred, or
embarrassed, by the exercise of the Victor power
49," Si"HS ~ you PledSt, tndl us exercise IN
a majority OF these cases was inexpedient, still
1t may have more than atoned for this, in the
checks which 1t has imposed, and in the re-
straint which ITS very existence, without its
exercise, may have silently exertcd. The
evils which il has done are known and felt, but
the evils that it has presented, and which may
vastly outweigh these, are left out of the ac-
count. The wisdom of law IS found as well
IN the injuries which it prevents, as the bene
w III ii N I'm H.
power, and there is nothing to prevent a tran
slent majority in our National Legislature, from
carrying out, al any time, measures in which
in which the country is forgotten.
g. An abolition or abridgement of the Veto
power would involve change Of the Consti-
tuition. The reasons must be Of the most CO.
gent character and the evils rTemediable, as well
as vast that can justify an invasion of this
great organic law of the land. We should be
slow to adopt any measure trenchng on its
provisions, or calculated, in the
slightest degree, TO diminish the respect and
reverence in which it is held In this attach
ment and veneration lies the surest, and, we
may say, the only pledge of our continued ex-
istence as united and happy people. Let the
Constitution be orce invaded, and one OF its
provisions be removed the spirit Of innova-
ton would soon follow this measure with
others of more destructive character
change in the Veto power should be followed
by an attempt to abolish the independence Of
the judiciary. This feature in our social state
has always been regarded by portion of the
with extreme Jealousy The ex-
ample Of innovation once established, it will
become the prime object of attack; it would
survive, if at all, as by moral miracle. This
pillar in our political temple swept away, others
would follow, till at last only the ruins of the ia
brio would remain. Better, then, TO remain as
WE are better that the Constitution remain
as it is:
- Better TO bear the ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not Of.