Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-09-15
MESSAGE
President of The United States,
FROM THE

means OF COTp0TGtl0a, 10 be styled the FaS-
cal Corporation Of the United States"
To the House of Representatives of the u States:
1t is with extreme regret that feel myself
constrained, by the duty faithfully TO execute
the Office of President of the United States,
and 10 the best of my ability TO preserve, pro-
,ect, and defend the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, TO return TO that House in which
il originated, the bill 40 provide for the bet.
Ter collection, safe-keeping and disbursement
of the public revenune, by means of corpor-
alton 10 be styled the Fiscal Corporation of
The United States" with my written objec-
lions.
In my message sent TO the Senate on the
9th day of August last returning the bin "to
incorporate the subscribers to the Fiscal Bank
of the United Stales." distinctly declared
that my own opinion had been uniformly pro-
claimed 10 be against the exercise "of the
power of Congress TO create National Bank
10 operate per Sc over the Union;" and enter
tanning that opinion, my main objection 10
that bin was based upon the highest moral
and religious obligations of conscience and
the Constitution. readily admit, that whilst
ttlG Qu1ilitN DCtO WIFI WHICH NilS SiIlSl MD
gislrate is invested, should be regarded, and
was intended by The wise men who made it
part of the Constitution, as great conser-
vative principle of our SYSTEM, without the
exercise of which, on important occasions,
mere epreseniatlreNmaJOrity might urge the
Government in lis legislation beyond the linn
It's fixed by It's framers, or might exert It's just
powers 100 hastily or oppressiyely; yet it is
power which ought 10 be most cautiously
exerted, and perhaps never, except in case
imminently involving The public interest, or
one in which the oath of the President, act
ing under his convictions, both mental and
moral, imperiously requires lis exercise. In
such case he has no alternative.
He must either exert the negative power
inirusted TO him by the Constitution chiefly
for lis own preservation, protection, and de-
fence, or commit an act of gross moral turpi-
tude. Mere regard TO the will Of a majority
must not, in a constitutional republic like ours,
control this sacred and solemn duty of d
sworn officer The Constitution itself, | re-
gard and cherish, as the embodied and writ
ten will of the whole People OF the United
States Ii is their fixed and fundamental
law, which they unanimously prescribe 10 the
public functionaries--their mere trustees and
servants This, their WILL and the law which
ihey have given us as the rule of our action,
has no guard, no guarantee of preservation,
protection, and defence, but the oaths which
it prescribes 10 the public officers, the sane
iliy with which they shall religiously observe
those oaths, and the patriotism with which
The people shall shield 1t by their own sove-
reign will, which has made the Constitution
supreme. Il must be exerted against the will
oi mere representative majority, or not at
all. II is alone IN pursuance Of that will
that any measure can ever reach the Presl-
dent; and TO say that because majority in
Congress have passed bill The President
should therefore sanction 1t, is to abrogate the
power altogether, and 10 render It's insertion
in the Constitution a work Of absolute su-
pererogaiion The duty is 10 guard the funda-
mental will Of the people themselves from (n
this case ! admit unmtenlional) change or
infraciion by majority in Congress And
in thai light alone, do regard the constilu-
iional duly which now most reluctantly dis
charge.
Is this bill, now presented for my approval
or disapproval, such bill as have already
declared could not receive my sanction! Is
II such bill as calls for the exercise of The
negative power under the Constitution? Does
1t violate the Constitution, by creating a ma
iional bank, 10 operate per Sc over Union!
Us title, in the first place, describes It's gen.
erai character. II is "An act 10 provide ior
The better collection, Safe-keeping and dis
bursement of the pubic revenue, by means
OF a corporation, TO be styled the Fiscal Cor.
porqtion of the United States. In style, then
It's plainly national in lis character. It's
powers, functions, and duties, are those
which pertain to the collecting, keeping. and
dtsEarstng the public revenue. The means
bv which these are 10 be exerted is corpor-
alton, 10 be styled the Fiscal Corporation o
the United States II is corporation crea
ted by the Congress of the United States, il
the character of National Legislature TO
the whole Union, to perform the fiscal purPo
ses, meet the fiscal wants and exgencies
supply the fiscal uses, and exert the FSca
agencies ofthe Treasury Of the United States
Such is lis own description of itself DO IT
provisions contradict its title? They do moi
Il is true, that by its first section, it provide