The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-09-17
THE SEGCO Nd
Veto NicSSagc Of President Tyler.
ESSEX County.
Concord, N. J. Graves.
:LjS Democrats in Nalics.

To the Horse Of Representatives. Of he u. States;
II is with extreme regret that feel myself con-
strained by the duty faithfully TO execute the office
of President of the United States and TO the best
of my ability "to preserve, protect, and defend the
| Constitution Of the United States" TO return TO
that House in which it originated, the Bill to
provide for the better collection safe keeping, and
disbursement of the public revenue by means of a
corporation to BE- styled the Fiscal Corporation OF
the United States" with my written objections.
In my message sent TO the Senate on the 10Th
day of August last returning the Bill "to incorpo-
rate the subscribers to the Fiscal Bank of the Uni
ted States" | distinctly declare that "my own
opinion has been uniformly proclaimed to be against
the exercise of the power of Congress 10 create Il
National Bank TO operate per Sc over the Union, "
and entertaining that opinion, my main objection to
that Bill was based upon the highest moral and
religious obligations Of conscience and the Constl-
/ tuition.
| readily admit, that, whilst the qualified Veto
with which the Chief Magistrate is invested, should
he regarded, and was intended by the wise men
who made it a part of the Constitution, as great
conservative principle Of our system, without the
exercise of which, on important occasions, mere
representative majority might urge the government,
in its legislation, beyond the limits fixed by its fra
mers, or nigh, exert its just powers too hastily or
opprcssiycy, yet, it is power which ought to be
most cautiously cxerted, and perhaps never, cx-
cept in case eminently involving the public in
erest, or one in which the oath of the President,
acting under his convictions both mental and moral
mpcriousy requires its exercise.
In such case he has no alternative. lie must
either exert the negative power entrusted TO him
by the Constitution chiefly for lis own preservation,
protection and defence, or commit an act of gross
moral turpi,ude. Mere regard to the will of a
majority, must not, in a Constitutional Republic
like ours, control this sacred and solemn duty Of a
sworn officer. The Constitution itself regard and
cherish as the embodied and written will of the
whole people of the United States. 1t is their fixed
and fundamental law, which they unanimously pre-
scribe to the public lunconares, their mere trus-
| tees and servants. This their will, and the law
winch they have given as the rule of our action,
has no guard, no guarantee Of preservatlon pro-
teclion & defence, but the oaihs which ii Drescrlbes
to public officers, the sancity with which they shall
regiousy observe those oalhs, and the patriotism
with which the people shall shield it by their own
sovereignty, which has made the Constitution SUI
preme. 1t must be exer.ed against the will ola mere
representative ma jorIly or not nj all. Ii is alone
in pursuance of that will that any measure can ever
reach the President; and IN say that because a ma
oriy in Congress have passed bill the President
should therefore sanction it, is TO abrogate the
mower altogether, and to render its insertion in the
constitution a work of absolute supererogaon.--
The duty is to guard the fundamental will Of the
people themselves ffoni--ln this case admit unln-