Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-15
MONTPELIER, MARCH IL, Is41.

Legislation, could not | conceive, have been the
motive for comforting the veto power on the Pres-
dent. This argument acquires additional force
from the fact of its not having been thus used by
the first six Presidents-and two of them were
members OF the convention, one presiding over its
deliberations, and the other having larger share
In consummating the abors of that august body
than any other person. But if bills were never re-
turned to Congress by either of the presidents :
bove referred to, upon the ground of their being
lneXpedicnt, not wei adapted as they might
be to the wants Of the people, the veto applied
upon that of want of conformity to the constitution,
or because errors had been committed from too
hasty enactment
There is another ground for the adoption of the
veto principle, which had probably more influence
III recommending it to the convention than any
other; refer to the security which it gives to the
just and equitable action Of the Legislature upon
all parts Of the Union 1t could not but have &C.
cured to the convention, that-in a country 30 eX-
tensiye, embracing great variety of soil aud
climate and consequently Of products, and which,
from the same cnusesSmust ever exhibit great
difference in the amount of the population of its
various sections, calling for great diversity in the
employments of the peoplo,-the legislation of
the majority might not always Justly regard the
rights and interests Of the minority and that
OF this character might be passed, under express
grant by the words of the constitution, and there
fore not within the competency Of the judiciary to
declare void.
suppose, from past experience, the members of
Congress might be, and however largely partak
ing i'll the general, of the liberal feelings of 'hc
people, it was impossible to expect that bodies
constituted should not sometimes be controlled by
local interests and sectional feelings. 1t prop
er, therefore, to provide umpire from whose
situation and mode of appointment, more indepen-
dence and freedom from such influences might be
expected. Such was afforded by the Exec
utive Department, constituted by the constitution
| person elected to that high Office, having his
constituents in every section state and subdivision
of the Union, must consider himself bound by the
most solemn sanctions, to guard, protect and de-
fend the rights of all, and Of every portion great
or small, from the injustice and oppression Of the
! rest
| consider the veto power, therefore, given by
the Constitution to the Executive Of the United
States solely a conservative power. To he used
only, lst to protect the constitution from violation
2dly, the people from the effects Of hasty legsla-
| ton, where their will has probably been disregard
ed not well understood and 3dly, to prevent the
effects of combinations violatiye Of the rights Of
! minorities. In reference to the second of these
objects, may observe that | consider il the right
and privilege of the people to decide disputed points
of the Constitution arising from the general grant
OF power given to Congress to carry into effect the
powers expressly given. And believe, with MIR.
Madison, that the repeated rocogntions under
varied circumstances III acts of the Legislative, eX-
ecutive, and Judicial branches of the government,
accompanied by indications in different modes OF
the concurrence Of the general viii of the nation,
affording to the President sufficient authority
for his considering such disputed points set
tied"
Upward of half century has elapsed since the
| adoption of our present form OF government. 1t
would be object more highly desirable than the
qualification of the curiosity of speculative states
men, if its precise situation could be ascerained n
fair exhibit made of the operations of each Of its
thar tix,a1t,
claim and exercise, of the collisions which have
occurred between thern between the whole
! Government and those of the States or either of
them. We could then compare actual condi-
tion after fifty years trial of system, with what
it was in the commencement of its operations, and
ascertain whether the predictions of the patriots
who opposed its adoption, the confident hopes OF
its advocates, have been realized The great dread
of the former to have been, that the reserved
powers of the States would be absorbed by those Of
the Federal Government, and consolidated power
established leaving to the States the shadow only
of that independent action for which they had SC
zealously commended, and the preservation Of
which they relied as the last hope of liberty.
Without denying that the result, to which they
looked with much apprehension is in the way Of
being realized, it is obvious that they did not clear
ly see the mode of its accomplishment The gen
eral government has sezed upon none OF tie re-
served rights of the States. As far any oper
warfare may have gone, the State authorities have
amply maintained their rights. To casual OBJ
!, server, system presents no appearance Of dis
cord between the different members which COM
, pose it. Even the addition of many new ones has
produced no Earring. They move on in their res
pective orbits in perfect harmony with the centra
2 head and with each other. But there is still al
undercurrent at work, by which, if not seasonably
checked the worst apprehensions of our anti-eler
al patriots will be realized. And not only will the
State authorities be overshadowed by the great in
crease of power in the Executive Department 0
the General Government, but the character of tina
Government if not its designation, be essential,
and radically changed This state of things ha
been in part effected by inherent in the con
sttuton, and in part by the neverfailing tendenc,
s of political power to increase itself.
BY making the President the sole distributor o
4 all the patronage of the government the trainers o
the constitution do not appear to have anticipated
e at how short period it would become formda
BILE instrument to control the free operations of tn
e State governments. OF rifling Importance at first
y it had early in Mr. Jefiersons administration be
e come so powerful as to create great alarm IN tn
# mind of that patriot from the potent influence
might exert in controlling the freedom of the elec
S tive franchise. If such could then have been In
S effects Of its influence, how much greater mus
n be the danger at this time, quadruped in amount
+ it certainly is, and more completely under tn
!, control of the Executive WILL than their consruc
a. ton Of their powers allowed, or the iorbearin
r, characters of all the early Presidents permitte
y them to make? But it is not by the extent of 1t
patronage alone that the Executive Department la
If become dangerous but by the which it appear
Is may be made of the appointing power to brin
under its control the whole revenues of the coun
., try
h The constitution has declared it to be the dut
n of the President to that the laws executed
l. and it makes him the COMMANDMENTS Chief of til
= Armies and Navy Of the United States. If the @
d pnion of the most approved writers upon that spe
l. cics Of mixed Government which, in modern Eu
% rope is termed Monarchy, in contradistinction t
y Despotisn, is correct there was wanting no othe
y addition TO the powers Of our Chief Magistrate t
y stamp monarchical character our Governner
e but the control of the public finances And to me
g appears strange, indeed that any one should dout
that the entire control which the President possess