Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-03-23

ocralic principle that the majority should
govern, we must reject The idea that they
anticipated from it any benefit TO the ordI-
nary course of legislation. They knew
too well the high degree of Intelligence
WHICH existed among the people, and the
enlightened character Of the State Legisla.
lures, not TO have the fullest confidence
that the two bodies elected by them would
be worthy representatives ofSuch Constiiu.
ents, and of course, that they would re-
qulre no aid. in conceiying and maturing
the measures which the circumstances Of
the country might require. And it IS pre-
posterous to suppose that a thought could
tor moment have been entertained, that
the President, placed at the capital, in the
centre OF the country could better under
stand the wants and wisher o. the people
than their own Representatives. who speud
a part OF every year among them, often
Iaborlng with them, and bound to them By
the triple tie Ollnterest duty and affection
To assist or control Congress then in lis
ordinary Legislation, could not, | conceive,
have been the motive for comforting the
veto power on the President. This argument
acquires additional force from the fact
of lis never having been thus used by the
first six Presidents and two of them were
members Of that Convention, one presiding
over It's deliberations, and the other bear
ing larger share in concentrating the
labors Of that august body than any other
person. But if bills were never returned
to Congress by either of the Presidents
above referred to, upon the ground Of their
being lneXpcdlent, or not as well ada pied
as they might be to the wants Of the pco-
pie, the veto was applied upon that Of want
Of conformity to the constitution, or because
errors had been committed from too
hasty sanction.
There is another ground for the adoption the veto
principle which had probably influence in recon-
mendng 1t 20 the cons entlon than any othe refr to
the security which gives the just and equi able ac-
ton OF the legislature upon all parts of The Union
could not but have occurred 10 that convention tht IN
4 country extensive embracing grcata variety Of
soil and climate and consequently Of pro lucts and which
from The causes must exhibit great differ
cnca in the amount Of the popua of lis various sec
tons, calling Tor great diversity in the empo, mnnrs
Of the people, that the leG>7 ton of the mao might
not always Justly regard he rights and interests Iha
minority And th1' acts of this character might be
ass@ei, under express grant ~ thu or;s Of lie
ConstItu ion, and therefore no; within the COMPETENCY
of the jud ciary to declare void. That however en-
lghenad and patriotic they might suppose irom past
experience the Numbers of Congress might be- and
however largely plrtaking in the general IF the h5e
raj feelings of the pc pie, It Impossible to expect
That bodies so constituted should som tunes be- con
trUlIei by local interests an sectional feelings Twas
proper the fore pro. ide some Umpire from hose
situation and mode of appointment more independence
and freedom trcm such influences night be cxpau;aI
Such one was afforded hy he Executive Dcparm nj
constituted by the constitution 4 person e'ected 20
that high office. having his constituents in every sec
ton and subdivision of the onion must cogSi Ter
himscl bound by tho mo- solemn sl9ctlols To ouard
protect aud defend the rights If AL and Of every por
ton great small from the Injustice or 0nDrasson of
the rest | consider the veto power therefore given
~ the constitution TO the execut We of the United
States solely rs IA conservative power. TO be used
only. st. 10 prot ct the constitution from violation.
2y, the people from the effects of hasiy LEGISLATION
where their will has been prob bly, disrpgarde or not
we'll un4ersoOI SLY to prevent the effects of comb.
nations vloItive OF the rights of minor,es In refer
10 thesacond Of these objects may observe thai
consider II the right and privilege of the paop To de-
eide disputed points of the Constitution arising from,
the general grant OF power 10 Congress 10 carry INFO
effect the powers expressly given And believe with
Mr.. Madison that repeated recognons under vari-
cd circumstances IN acts The Legislative Executive
and Judicial branches of the Govcrnn mt acroaDauj
cd by inGicatons in different modes of the concurrcn
renee OF The general vii! Of the nation ai1rdinc 10
the President sufficient authority for his considering
such disputed points settled"
towards OF halta injury has elapsed since thealnD-
ii OF The present form of Government 1t would be
an object more ghly desirable than The qualification
OF the curiosity of speculative statesmen fits precise
situation Coald be asceTane1, fair hibif made at
the operations Of each Of lis Departments of The pow
crs which they pc"trely claim and exercise If Tho
collisions Which have occurred between them or he.
tween the whole government enI those of The states
or either OF them. We could then cuDu3re oar acfn,i
nditon after fifty years trial of orr system with
what was IN the comm eucement Of is operations
and Ascertain whether the predictions Of The ltrin
-i1 tim tI4a por,Fl
advocates hive been 81 realized. The great dread
of the former seems 10 have BEEN that The reserved
powers of h states would be absorbed by those of The
Federal Government and n cons lated nov Or csf9-
hshei leaving the states th shadow only of than in
dependent action for which they had 50 Z-agisiy con
tended and on the preservation OF which th@y relied
the last hope OF liberty. Without denying that the
result % Winch they looked with much apprehen-
on is in the way OF ing realized it is obyios they
did t clearly see the mode of lis ACCOMPLISHMENT
The General Government has seized Jpon none of the
reserved nights o the states. As far any open war
fare may have gone, he State authorities have amply
maintained their rights. To casual observer our
system presents appearance of discord between the
different members which compose IT, Even tho add
ton Of many ona, has produced 10 Earring They
their respective orbits IN perfect harmony with
the cent al head, and with each other. But there Is
still under current at work h. which if no scaso-
nablv checked, the orSt approximations OF our ami
deral patriots will be realized ana not oniv "a III the
state authorities be overshadowed BY the great increase
Of power IN the Executive Department of the General
Government, but the ch2ra~ of That Government #
not IFS desIgr alton. ne essentially and radically chan
rcd his state Of things has been effected in part hy
causes inherent in the Constitution and in parl by the
never failing tendency of political power 10 incres it.
salt BY making the President the sole distributor of
althe patronage Of The Government the trainers OF the
constitution do not appear have anticipated AZ how
short period II would becone formidable instrument
control the free operators Of Iha state governments
or riAng Importance al first il had early in Nr JEFF
frsons administration, become so powerful a. to Gre
great alarm IN the mDd OF that patriot rom the 20
influence might exert in controlling the freedom
| of the elective franchise. If such could have then
been he eli CTS of Is Influence how much greater
''si be The danger at this time quadFDp!ed IN amount
certainly is, and completely under the con