The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-09-16

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and supremacy. No, sir, no. The Presi.
dent never was meant TO be the mere tool
OF Legislative will.
Mr.. Clay here inierposed. am very
sure the honorable Senator cannot intend TO
present an erroneous statement of nv re.
marks; yet he IS under great misappre
henslon u them. did not say the Psesi.
dent ought TO resign. | said that there
we're before him two other alternatives be
sides the veto. said that when his con.
stitueucy in Virginia required hun 10 give
vote which was. 10 his view, incompatible
with The Constitution, sooner than comply
with such requisillon be resigned his seat /;
that, Eow, his constituency were The peo-
pie OF the Unned States, and he had good
evidence that II was their opinion he ought
10 sign such bill, and he could not Go il /;
Then, # he resigned rather thaO dlsobey the
people q one State, he ought upon his own
principle, vet more readily, 10 resign rather
than disobey the People Of twenty SIX
States
Nj Riyes. The argument of the Sena
tor, IS he now puts II, legs tle question:
In the case Of the Legislature Of Virginia
and Mr.. Tyler, es Senator, The lustruc
tons came from the true constituent cody
the Legislature Of the State. Bot where
are tie instructions, in tins case, from the
eoaS;i'ucts oil The President Win the
Senator tell me Ihat the TWO Houses Of
Congress are the constituents Of the Pses.
dent, to whom be IS responsible
Mr.. Clay. No. no; certainly not.
Wen, then, il the Presidents constltu.
enis are the whole People OF the United
States, to meke a case analogous TO the IN.
strucilons OF Slate Legislature 10 a Seua
tor chosen BY them, The Instructions 10 the
President must come from the original
source Of power, (ihe People BY whom he
IS chosen, and not from the Representatives
OF that power IA Congress. Congress may
enormously represen! the wishes OF the
People. The People themselves, and they
alone, are the constituents Of the President.
" hen Mr.. Madison, IN 1915, vetoed a bank
bill which had passed Congress by a vote
OF three 10 one, vas he 10 consider himself
as distracted BY the Representatives Of The
PcOP'e 10 Congress, and, il he could not
comply with their wishes, was he bound to
resign His very last public act was a
veto. Ii was his veto Of the bonus bill for
internal IMPROVEMENTS bill that vas car
rted BY Mr.. Madison own political friends.
\ ct, IN disregard Of the rule now &c, up
that President IS bound 10 obey the be
hests Of The party which pot him into pow.
er, Mr.. Madison vetoed The bill. He ought,
according 10 the modern doctrine, rather
70 have resigned his high office, with all its
solemn responsibilities. Mr.. Madison was
Of al men Tie most mild, moderate, and
self denying IN the exercise Of power, aud
yet he did not hesitate 10 apply the rorfec
tive Of the veto in half dozen instances
during his administration, aud that, ia sever
81 cases, when there were stimposlng una.
Joritles Of Congress 10 favor of Tie measure
be returned 10 them with objections. Gen
eral Harrison, under hose banner we all
rallied ln tie late political contest, declared
himself that the reto was the conservative
power OF tic Constitution provided for three
cases first, where there vas a violation Of
the Constitution; second, where the rights
Of the States are invaded and, third, v here
legislation has been has;y, and without due
elaboration. All these ibroe considerations
unite IN The case Of The Presen! bill. la the
President syiew, ryiJla,es The Constitution,
i disregarts The rights Of the States, and i
has been passed without allowing time for
a seficieat manifestation Of the popular
VIII. But | 70 further and ash, has the
bill received The sanction even of a Inajou
y Of the Representatives 10 Congress on
that Characteristic feature of the bill which
the President complains Oh say that, 50
Ear as that particular cause.-the dislln
gushing one of the msasurr--is concerned,
the Bit vas passed BY a minority of the
whole uufaber of members Of either House.
Now, Il other Presidents have been sustain.
Ell 10 rejecting measures which passed by
inlispItable aud overwhelming nlajorities,
shall President Tyler be Condemned for
ylt9.ag Z bill au.ch has 10, even tie ap
probation q majority oi ether House Of
Congress
trust have shown liza, there is no
ground FOR ImP1taiion or complaint against
the Presidea! 10 the high constitutional do.
" he hag performed. The Senator from
Kentucky thinks the President looked too
much into his own heart IN this case bot
where eise can an honest and conscientious
nan lcoa foF guidance in the discharge Of
duty. That good and gracious Beng il
whose na.ae he assumed the solemn rcspoa.
s5da,es Of ais office having gigen han that
internal monitor for his guidance, y hat OH
er Bas he TO consult The President un
der deep sense Of lis responsibility to the
cogliry 10 all Der great interests aud hopes
constitutional, political, moral, economt
ca!-has preferred to act painful and IN
welcome part rather than TO belray his d1
~ 70 the Constitution, which he had sworn
70 " preserve, project, and defend" Never
we're the motives Of a public servant, il
my humble JItgneut more worthy Of in
duigeace and respect, With this couyic.
,lyu rooted IN nv mind. |. for one. can uey