The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-11-26
Tbe spirit Of Tbs Age.
FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 26, ls4l.
LIE GRAND DANCECR IN HOT WATER.

LIE GRAND DANCECR IN HOT WATER.
1t is really humaling for VeImonler 10 read
the remarks of the press upon that most lily COLI
cocted and school boy production, Gov. Pane's
Message. 1t is too bad too bad
We give last week few extracts from the pa
pers on this subject. We give another this week
from the Philadelphia National Ga:etie, not a
democratic paper.
Governor Paine, Of Vermont, in his late mes
sage 10 the legislature of that State calls its aten
ton to the Feto power, us feature in the Federal
Constitution which nperlously requires alteration
tie says, 1t Is the only monarchcal feature in our
form of Government, and it is difficult to UNDER
stand how it should ever have been ingra1ed upon
republican Institutions lie adds, that ii WAS
probably taken without much reflection, from the
Brush Constitution, which vests similar power
III the King, but only 10 protect his own prerogu-
| tive from encrouchment.' He adds tina, even
| Tor this purpose it has not been exercised by
| INN Tor more than two centuries Again he SAYS
that : the early settlers of Vermont were 10
Jealous of Liberty TO allow such power any place
in their constitution He adds, that to form
just notion of the magnitude of the veto power, MS
It may be exercised by the president, we must
keep constantly IN view that TO prevent the pas
sage of wholesome and necessary laws, is as bad
us to pass those which are mischeveous. The
power TO make all laws might be as properly en-
trusted to the president, the power To prevent all
laws, The history Of all legislation proves that
ma orily Of two-thirds can seldom be obtained on
disputed questions ; and to allow the president
| to resist the enactment of such laws as he
p'enses. unless passed by so large a mujori-
! ~, Is IN effect TO reposc in one man almost
| the entire power Oreglsutlon. But the president
not only claims the right to exercise the veto pow
er whenever he penses, but to exercise it as he
| understands the constitution without any regard
! to the decisions Of the supreme Court, or to the
| prrrnhnn's oe'"h'i'hod hy bio predecessors, lie
appears to be uncontrolled in lis exercise, either
by law or precedent and to have nothing to con-
suit but his own conscience, and nothing to re-
gard but his own character for consistency lie
adds, IT he is right, we may bid farewell 10 all
stability in our institutions. Every four years the
laws Of the country may be changed, and lis bust
ness may he wasted aud destroyed by the consti-
tutonal scrup'es Of new president The tariff,
the bank, the distribution of the revenue fom the
public lands, internal improvement, all the great
measures for the welfare Of the country, will be
constitutional or unconstitutional, us as the presl-
dent may happen TO be elected from one part of
the mon or the other
| W Ht'Ntl lllc WIN power, Us tsIHDlsIpu Dy tnc
Federal Constitution be useful OF not, we are
title surprised in finding such views as these of its
origin and oppeation, expressed by governor of
a State; for we head supposed that any man who
would reach that exalted station IN any one Of the
twenty-six States, would be too wen acquainted
with constitutional law TO express opinions SO I'M
tcnable. lie says that this power is the only mo-
narchlcal feature in our constitution. According
TO the ordinary uccep,non Of The term monarchv,
it signifies the existence Of all governmental power
IL one individual, which constitutes an absolute
monarchy, or the inyesllure Of executive power
| IN one individual in hereditary succession, which
constitutes limited monarchy. lfihis definition be
correct, we cannot Imagine how Governor Paine
can call the veto power monaIchical feuture.-
II certainly does not render the president absolute
for it gives him neither legislative nor iudicml
powers. III does not enable him To repeal its laws,
enact new laws, or interpret any laws. II is
therefore no feature Of absolute monarchy. Neih-
or does it render the succession TO the presidency
hereditary, and therefore il is no feature Of limit
cd monarchy. But perhaps Governor Paine will
say that the union, in amy degree, Of legislative
and executive power constitutes II limited mon
archy. Even the Republic Of the United States Of
Holland was a monaIChv, for under their const-
tuition, both The Stakeholder and the Grand PEN
sionary, had some share in legislation. We know
/
limited monarchy, than the distinction between
an executive, And al European writers UPON Gov
eminent have recognized this as the proper dis.
iinciion between them; for they called Poland n
repubHc before the partition Of that country by
The three robber powers Of Nolhcn Europe, be-
canse It's executive was elective, though invested
win crown and the title of u king. IL tins be
The true distinction, we know not how Governor
Fame can discover any thing monarchical in the |
PRESIDENT veto power, for 1t does not render the
Presidency Hereditary.
But if we admit it to be a monarchical Ceo,ure
Governor Paine i, wrong in pronouncipr !, The nm
iy one: FOR if il be so at ALL it is not more So tina,
several others. Does he mean that il l. monarch.
cal because isas reasonable as the veto power of
the British CROWN The appointing power, and
the power Of commanding the military and naval
forces OF the Union, bear a reasonable balance
equally 10 the appointing and military power of
The king. Cndcr the British Constitution the KIM
- the inunlaln Of honor In other words bo
makes all appointments. So does the presiden,
lie is commander of all the Naval and M;I;,,r,
forces, power that was personally exercised he
William | H. and George |. so Is the President
Tie signs al bills. So does the President. Nov
II the veto power be monnrchical feature. 60 nrs
these; nnd therefore Governor Paine is WRONG in
sayn' that II IL the only such feature in the con.
s'tuilon u his assertion proves any thing ii proyes
loo much aud therefore must be erroneous: far vo
lake II Tor granted That even he would not regard
these last mentioned features as mopnrcbicaI
lie says that II y dihcull 10 understand how i.
should ever have been ingrnfied upon repr,,can
institutions With due delerence y. Co,..-a
Paine's profound knowledge Of constitutional law.
and the science Of government generally, this il
n IN f,v III Il.