Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-06


caslon 70 tpefs the assurances have heretofore
sven OF my ce,ermination TO arrest the prcr,e~. NJ
.nst tendency, II IL really exists and restore the
osein'neni TO It's pristine health and vigor, as far
as TINS can be effected by any legitimate ex.,ci. os
the power placed in my hands
proceed 10 state. IN as summary a manner as I
can, my opinion OF the sources Of the evil, v hich
. nave ossn SO excessively complained Of. and the
coteeuses which may be applied. Some of the
| former are unques,ionably TO be found in IN, ds.
'eo's OF the Constitution; Others, in my iudsmeot
are attributable to misconstructon OF some of ~
provisions OF the former is the eligibility of the
FIN '' uo'nuaI 70 second term OF the Presidency.
me sagaeious mind OF Mr. Jefferson early saw and
amented TINS error, and attempts have been made.
nhnerto without success, TO apply the amendatory
power OF inc States TO ITS correction.
however, one mode OF correction is in the
power OF every President, and consequently In
1nine' II would be useless, and perhaps invidious.
70 enumerate the evils Of which in the opinion OF
many Of our fellow citizens this error of ,he sayes
80. ''n'eu me Constitution, may have been the
source, and the bitter fruits which we are still 10
gather LON It if it continues TO disfsure our svs
YEN. IL may be observed, however rs a general
| 'e"atk, that republics can commit no greater err
ot man 10 adopt or continue any feature in their
systems OF government which NAV be calculated a.
create or increase the love of power i'm the hoso,s
VI 'noSe 10 whom necessity obliges them To commit
me management OF their affairs And surely no.
.hIng more likely TO produce such state of mind
man the long continuance OF an Office of bisb TINS,
Nothing can be more corrup,ing notb;n, n,o,s a.
shuc'Ne OF all those noble feelings which helene
70 the character OF a devoted republican nntr;o,
men TINS eorrupting passion once takes posses
son OF the human mind, like the love of gold +, he
soues insauable. IL Is the never-dyins worm in
ms bosom, grows with his growth and siren stben.
WIN the declining years OF its victim. IL this il
uue, IS the part of wisdom for a republic to limit
ne service OF that officer, at least 10 whom she has
entrusted the management Of her foreign relations
tue execution OF her laws, and the command of he,
armies and naves TO period short as TO prevent
MS forgetting that he is the accountable asent NOT
Tue prineipai-the servant, not the master Until
an amendment TO the Constitution can be effected
Pu"Hc opinion may secure the desired object /
give my aud TO u by renewing the pledge beSetoG,re
gwen, that, under no circumstances will coosen,
TO serve n second term.
But II there is danger TO public liberty from m.
acknowledged defects of the Constitution, in the
want oil limit TO the continuance OF the Executive
power IN the. same hands, there is | apprehend
not much less from a miseonstruction of that in
strument, asliregacds the powers actually given. I
cannot conceive that, by fair construction any or
either OF us DIVISIONS would be found to cons;i
tute the President part Of the legislative mower
IL cannot be claimed from the power to reoon,mend
since' although enioned MS a duty upon him, il is
a privilege which he holds in common with every
other citizen. And although there may be sometime
more OF confidence in the propriety Of the measures
recommended IN the one case than in the other in
me oohgatlons OF ultimate decision there can be no
difference. In the language of the Const;tn,;on
"hll the legislative powersn which IL grants mr.,
vested IN the Congress Of the United Smtesp IL
would be solecsm IN language to say that apy
portion OF these is not included in the whole.
IL nay be SAID, indeed, that the Constitution has
gwen TO the Executive the power TO annu the ae,s
of the Legislative body by refusing TO them his IS
sent so similar power has necessarily resulted
from TINT instrument to the Judiciary: and vet The
JUDICIARY forms no part Of the Legislature. There
Is, IL Is true this difference between these grants Of
power: the Executive can put his negative upon the
acts OF the Legislature for other cause than thar f
want OF conformity TO the Constitution, whilst the
Judciiry can only declare void those which yio,,e
lhat instrument But the decision OF the Judiciary
Is mai IN such case, whereas, in every instance
where the veto of the Executive is applied IL mnv
oe overcome by vote OF two-thrds of both Hon.
ses OF Congress. The negative upon the , cts os
The legislative, by the Executive authority. and
that IN the hands OF one individual would sreu 10
be an incongruitY in our system. Like som. o,bsr,
oil similar character, however, il appears TO he
highly expedient: and If used only with the for
bearance and in the spirit which was intended bv
us authors, It may be productive Of great good and
he found one OF the best safeguards to the Union.
AT the period Of the formal on Of the Consttu,ion
the principle does not appetr to have enjoyed much
iavor IN the State Governments. IL existed but in
TWO, and IN one OF these there was a plural Exc
curve II we would search for the motives winch
operated upon the purely patriotic and enlightened
assembly which framed the Constitution for tbs
adoption oil provision so apparently repugnant 10
lhe leading democratic principle, that the majority
snouu govern, we must reject the idea that they an
tcipated from any benefit TO the ordinary course
oil legislation. They knew too well the hiyh de-
gree OF intelligence which existed among the people
and the enlightened character OF the State egisa
lures not 10 have the fullest confidence that the two
bodies elected by them would be wothy renresenta
tVes Of such constituents and Of course thai they
would require 10 aid in concevins and MATURING the
measures which the circumstances of the countr,,
might require. And il is prepos,erous to suppose
that tnoug ht could for moment have been enter
AT Iha nj. -
the centre of the country, could better understand
the wants and wishes Of the People than their own
immediate Representatives, who spend a part of
every year among them, living with them, often Ia.
boring with them, and bound 10 them by the triple
tie oil interest, duty and affection. To assist or
control Congress then, IN its ordinary leeis-
laton, could not, conceive, have been the motive
LOT conierrlng the veto power on the President
ms argument acquires additional force from the
iact o: s never h.g.n: been thus used bv the Il rat
SIX Presdents-and two Of them were members of
the Convention, one presiding over its deliberations
and the other having larger share in consummi.
ting the labors of that august body than any other
person. But il bills were never returned to Con
greSs by either Of the Presidents above referred TO-
upon the ground Of their being inexpedient or moi
as well.adapted as they might be TO the wants of
the People, the veto was applied upon that of want
OF conformity to the Constitution, or because errors
mad been committed from too hasty enactment
There IS another ground for the adoption of the |
veto principle, which had probably more influence
IN recommending II TO the convention than any
other. refer TO the security which il gives 10 the
Just and equitable action Of the Legislature upon
all parts OF the Union. itcoulj not but have oc |
CURED TO the convention that, IN a country so ex
tensve, embracing so great variety of soil and /
climate, and, consequently, OF products and which |
from the same causes, must ever exhibit a great /
difference IN the amount Of the population of lis
various sections cilIing for great diversity in the
empoyments OF the People, that the legislation OF
the majority might not always Justly Teratd the
rights and interests Of the minority; and that ac,s
OF this character might be pissed, under an express
granlby the words OF the Constitution, and there-
lore not within the competency of the Judiciary tn
declare void. That however enlightened and nat
ro,Ic they might suppose, from past experience the
Members OF Congress might be, and however
largely partial king, IN the general, Of the liberal feel
lngs OF the People, II was impossible to xpect thai
bodies so constituted should not sometimes be con.
trolled by local interests and sectional feelings II
was proper therefore. TO provide some umpire from
whose situation and mode OF appointment more in
dependence and freedom from such induence, mich,
be expected. Such a one was afforded by the Eye
eulve Department, constituted by tka Constitution
person elncted TO that high Office, having his con-
suluens m every section State, and subdivision Of
Tho Union, must consider himself bound bv tho |
most solemn sanctions, % guard, protect, and de-
lend the rights OF all and Of every portion great or
son III, from the injustice and oppression Of the rest
consider the veto power, therefore given by the
Constitution 70 the Executive Of the United States.
,oleiy asa oonssTygtye power TO be- used only.
ls 70 protect the Constitution from vi jlation 2dly
Inc People from the effects Of hasty legislation |
where their will has been nrohabtv -.