The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-11-19
THE VETO pOiVER--AGAIN.

j.
Democrat:
GOV. PAINE AND THE VETO POWER.
We have already informed our readers of the
important fact that Governor Paine is opposed TO
the Veto Power. We now lay before them bIel
extract of his message, touching this subject. He
SAYS
"But the President not only claims the righ, to
exercise the veto power whenever he picdScS, but
TO exercise it as he understands The Constitution,
piihout any regard TO the decisions Of The Su-
preme Court, or TO the precedenls established by
his predecessors. He appears to be uncontrolled
in its exercise, either by law or precedent and TO
have nothing to consult but his orR conscience and
nothing TO regard but his orn character for con-
siSicacp.
elf he is right, we lhuy bid farewell TO all sta
bty to our institutions. Erery four yeurs the
lars Of the country may be changed, and its bust
ness embarrassed and destroyed by the coaStiiu-
| fOnHl scrupleS of II new President, The tariff
the bank--he distribution of the revenue from the
public lands-nternal mprovement--alI the great
measures for the welfare of the country, will be
constitutional or unconstitutional, Just as the prcsi-
dent may happen to lie selected from one part OF
| the Union or the other"
The Governor here laws down three important
positions, which are worthy Of being made mat
ter of separate record.
|, lie maintains that the President is bound to
understand the Constitution, precisely rs the Su-
prcme Court understands it,
| 2. He is indignant that the President should
consult his own conscience in regulating his official
conduct.
3. He maintains that the Veto Power, enables
the President 10 change-that is alier or repeal
the lars Of the country
We wilt look at these positions, very briefly, in
the same order as they are laid down.
FtrSt--As to the construction of the cOnstitu-
ton On this point, we are aware that the Gov
crnor's views are the well established doctrines Of
the wings generally. They have long maintained
that The President has no right to entertain an opin-
ion, contrary 10 a decision of the United States
Supreme Court. But what is the oath, which the
the President Of the United States is bound 10 take
when he enters upon the discharge Of the duties of
that high office He is sworn TO Support The
Constitution Of the United States And yet ac-
cordlng TO the rule which the wings contend for,
he may be compelled by the decision of Court,
having no legislative powers granted to it by the
Constitution, 10 do legislative act, by which ac-
cordlng TO his own conscience the Constitution
shall be violated and DESTROYED! why not amend
the oath ut once, and swear the President TO sup
port the Constitution, ms it is understood BY the
supreme Court? If the President is to be n mere
machine in the hands Of the Judiciary, why not
make hun so, in form rs well as in fact Euro
pean monnrchs have usually one reverend confess
Sor, who ofiicmics ms the keeper Of the king
conscience. The wings propose that we shall
hive whole bench Of Judges to Keep the con-
science ofun American President! viii the Peo-
pie consent 10 be governed by this judicial ariStoc
rncl, consisting of nine men, who hold their offices
during )iie' $50 they might us well have follow
ed the advice of Alexander Hamilton and at once
established President for life. Such doctrines
will not 90 down with the American people. Like
John Randolph, they can never forget thu, in their
bibles the book Of Judges stands merit to The book
Qf Kings.
Position second, in the Governors Message, we
leave TO honest men, vino have conscience in
Their own breasts, 10 pass upon. ltneeds no COM
u,ent
a few words us TO position Mi,d. From villa,
source does the Governor derive the idea. that the
Veto Power, enables the President TO rcpeai lar,
or rs he has it all the laws of the country i Let
him look into the ConSuon--or if there is no
JUdgG at hand TO explain il--le, him look into the
Political Glass Book work prepared for the use
or common schools, by Juige Sullivan Of Boston.
Ills nlann will possibly subsdc, when he finds,
hat this power, instead Of being used to repeal
avs, can be employed only to p'Crcnt their re-
'CW. Instead of operating to change the laws of
he country every four years i, Is only Il safe
guard 10 prevent their being changed, by hasly and
arorsideraie legislation.
We congratulate the democrats Of Vermont, that
he wings have placed such sample oither intel
iacnce, before the people, in station so con-
pruous. Is this an illustration cf the idea the
Governor conveys in his message, that poor men
annot drunk ut the fountains Of knowledge -
The Governor il rich. Many IN Eastern Ra>haw,
n the midst of his hnrcm, is moi provided with ,hc
,ood things Of life half so ahundanlly. And yet
where is the poor man, who has not drunk in this
natter, quite us deeply as the Governor himself;
\gain we say, his ExceIlency should remember
hat knowledge is not champagne. If it was, no
nan in Vermont could compare in erudllion with
msclC lie would doubtless deserve the most
Vailed honors, from every college Of hard drink
RS on the globe
The second extract is from the Boston Daily '
Time', neutral paper:
THE VETO POWER.
Governor Paine saws that the veto power was
eriyed from the British Cons'i,n,ian, which vests
similar power in the King, but only to protect his n
wn prerogltve from encroachment. But
'e deny that in the British constitution i, is lin I
ed as Governor Paine describes. By showing |
hat it was derived from England, and that It's OBJ 5
,ct there WAS to protect royal prerogaiye, he 4,
could probably have us understand that it has a
character, even among us. BY con-
ntng Blackstone, writer familiar to every law /
or, hr will find find that the British veto power is
ct restrained by this, or any other theoretical lin
p, but may be Used TO protect popular right, as O
'el as royal prcrogaiyc. In theory, the King of q
treat Britain is sovereign, and consequently pos u
,sses all governmental powers which have moi been g
expressly, or by necessary impca-
on Th'n if no limit be prescribed to the veto
over, in any document which is regarded as evil
ence of the British constitution, it has ne limit,
nd may be used in all cases, for all purposes n
'e will thank Governor Paine for showing US any II
ypress limitation in magma charia, the Petition Of Fl
igh, the Declaration Of Right or amy act of Par Of
Iment Of general character We have been una :,
e to find any. BY the Norman Conquest, Eng hi
nd became an absolute monarchy; for though g,
blackstone denies that it was Il conquest, vet the nj
,n1ncror and his successor treated the English h,
iiion like slaves; fact sufficiently proved by the "a
..Yat 4 a., A..