Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-30
THE vEro PoweR-irs nIsroRY.

The Veto powss originated With the aneisa, Ro
mans, and YES the first essay Of the common people
OF The Republic towards ths securing OF their proper
hbe''ies The PIebeians, having long been Cypress
ed by the Patrieans, at the instsation Of Sienius
geo years after the founding Of the city, made .eees.
SION TO mountain, miles distant from Rome, lever
amer termed Mons Saser,) and would not return 20
the city until they had received from the Pa,rcsns
compliance with their demand, and the solemn as
suranee, that the common people should elect ma
gua'es' whose persons should be sacred and invio-
iaoe, TO whom they could commit the protection OF
their rights. These magistrates wore called T,i.
DANES; name given by Romuu, TO the three mill.
tary officers in chief selected from the three tribes,
into which he had divided the city. The civic Fri
Dunes wero originally chosen from the Plebians and
no PatIiclan could hold the Office, unless he had
hTst been adopted into Plebian family. The ir
power was at hrst limited, but at the same time ex
traordinary. II was prepenrs, rather than cnforcins
1t was TO interpose and protect the people from the
expressions and tyranny of their superiors; TO assist
them IN redressins their wrongs, and in maintain.
ing thelr hoernes; and consisted in the uuennee
OF but one word, and that one, VETO" / fo,bid.
lheSe officers could prevent the discussion Of any
question, the dssssge Of any law, the execution Of
any sentence, the evyiug Ut any taxes the enlist
ing OF any troops, and almost arrest the entire ma.
ehinery of Government, by standing up and speak
lns that one word, VETO. No reasons were REQ uir.
| ed OF them no one dared oppose them their veto
was suprsme As originally designed, It was
pies profession; the necessary balance wheel to
equalize the powers OF the Government, which
had hitherto been encrossed by the rich, and give
me people that intsrposins check which the
alarming tyranny of the Pausians made neces-
sary. IL was the hrst attempt at a democratic l. a
people ruling institution, aud in all It's features
save that OF unlimited power, showed the humility
OF It's origin The Tribunes must be not only of the
fIeolan order, but they had no insignia Of Office
save kind OF beadse, who went before them; were
not allowed to use carriage, had tribunal, but
sat on benches. Their doors were open night and /
day Tor the people to prefer their REQ usss os som-
plants. They were not allowed TO enter the Sen.
ate, and were not dignifed with the name Of |
magistrates as designed by Sicinius it was the mere
unHoorned majesty OF the peoples voice, as,iuilat-
ed 10 the o~y professions of the people tie visible
exponent Of their will. These popular traits did
no', however, long remain. The grasping ambition
OF some, the resieSSness for change in others soon
abused the power; the Tribunes became themselye,
greater evil than they remedied, and their au-
thorty was more Iyrannous than the edicts Of those
they were created TO oppose.
NEro became word OF Gespole rover, Ia. |
dscTees OF the Senate, the ordinances Of the people,
the entire Arrangements of Government bow ed 10
IT'S supremacy; and such was the force o, the word |
that not Only could II stop the proceedings Of ali
the magistrates which Cesar well calls sexirsnura
Jus tT'eHHorIr but whoever, Senator or Consul,
Patrlcan or PiebIan, dared oppose Il, was immedi.
ntely led 20 prIson 10 answer for his crime, And
80 slcred were tbs persons OF the Tribunes that
whoever hurt them was held accursed, and his
SoOts were cCunScatec. SyliA was inst who
resisted the gross encroachmen;s OF the Trbuues:
but on hrs death they reganei their influence and
hencctorth II became but the tool of ambitious men
who used II to the almost ruin of the State. Such
was its abuse, that, IS Cicero says the popular as
sembies became the scenes Of violence anu tpass..
ere, IN which the most caring and niquitous always
prevailed.
The perTersiou OF the original design of the veto
was now completed by the arts Of the Emperor
Augustus, who got the tribuuitian conferred on
himself, which ooncentrsled IN his person the entire
and uncontrolled disposition of the State This
was the INST instance Of the com bnation Of royal
and veto power, and us assumption was all that
was wanting TO make the King a tyrant. From this
time u was conferred upon the Emperor though
the Inbunes still continued TO be elected without
however, the exercise Of trib unitian power, until
the tune OF Constantine, when the Office was abOl-
ished
The early operation OF the ve;o power in Rome
was good, the subsequent disastrous. At first II
protected the pe0ps, gave them a voice in the Ie-
siSaiTe assemblies aud secured their liberties: ul-
timate II oppressed the lover orders, excl uded
them from the councils Of the nation and made
them tie passive instruments Of poWer-lustns DEM
asosues- The hrsl ciVI. biOod shed al Rome was
the blood OF IIceTiOus; the Tribune battling, i'm
pr1denuy indeed, against the expressions Of The no.
biliy. The last out closed the sanguinary series
OF intestine wars, created continued, and trasicaly
ended by the very perVersron Of that power which
as CO hrs designed 10 give peace and unity TO the
Roman nation So true has u ever been that the
delegated power Of the people, when abused, has
always reverted 20 Iheir own destruction. ,
Savannah Georgian.