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

Inc evils WINCH nave DeeH 50 SAteUSIfCiS
complained OF, and the correctives which
may be applied. Some of the former are
unquestonably 10 be found in the detects
of the Constitution; others, in my Judg-
ment, are attributable to mlsconstructIon
of some Of lis provisions. OF the former
IS the eligibility Of the same individual to
a second term Of the Presidency. The
sagacious miEd Of Mr.. Jefle rson early saw
and lamented the error, and attempts have
been made, hitherto without success, TO APP
ply the amcndatory power of the States to
its correction. AS however, oue mode OF
correction is in the power of every Presi-
dent, and consequently in mine, Ii would
be useless and perhaps invidlous, 10 ehu-
mcrate the evils OF which, in the opinion
of our fellow citizens this error Of the sa-
ges who framed the Constitution may have
been the source, and the bitter fruits which
we are still TO gather from it. if it contin-
ues 10 dishgure our system. 1t may be OBJ
serve J, however, as generairemark that
Republics can commit no greater error
than 20 adopt or continue any feature III
their systems Of Government when may
be calculated to caeate or increase the love
of power in the bosoms of those to whom
necessity obIl6as them TO commit the ma
nagement of their affairs. And, surely
nothing is more likely TO produce such
state OF mind than The long continuance Of
an Office of high trust. Nothing can be
more destructive Of all those noble feeling
which belong to the character Of devoted
republican patriot. When this corrupting
passion once takes possession Of the hui
man mind, like the love Of gold, 1t becomes
Unsuitable. 1t is the never dying worm IN
his bosom. grows with his growth, and
strengthens with the declining years Of his
victim. If his is true it is the part OF wis
dom for a Republic to limit the service of
that officer, at least TO whom she has en-
trusted the management of her foreign re-
lations, the execution of her laws, and the
command Of her armies and navieS, 10 a
period SO short as to prevent his forgetting
that he is the accountable agent not the
principal, the servant not the master. I'm
til an amendment of the Constitution can
be effected, public opinion may secure the
desired object. give my aid to it, by re-
moving the pledge heretofore given, that,
under no circumstances, viii | consent TO
serve a second term.
But if there il danger 10 public liberty
from the acknowledged defects Of the con-
silution, in the want OF limit to the conf
nuance of the Executive power IN the same
hands, there is, apprehend, not much less
from misconsruction Of that instrument,
as it regards the powers actually given. =
| cannot conceive that, By a fair cOnstIuc-
ton. any or either AT its provisions would
he found to constitute the Pres ident a part
Of the Legislative power. 1t cannot be
claimed from the power 10 recommend,
since although cnioined as a duty upon him
it is a privilege which he holds in common
with every citizen. And although there
may be something more Of confidence in
the propriety of the measures recommend
cd in the one case than in the other, in the
Obligations Of ultimate decision there can
be no difference. In the language Of the
Constitution, "aIl the legislative powers"
which it grants "are vested in the Con-
creSs of the United States" 1t would be
a solcci>m in language to say thatany poF-
ton OF these is not included in the whole
1t may be said. indeed. that the Consti-
tuition has given to the Executive the pow
er to annuI the acts OF the legislative body
by refusing to them his assent 50 ST
milar power has necessarily resulted from
that instrument TO the Judiciary forms no
part Of the Legislature. There is, it is
true, that difference between these grants
Of power, the Executive can put his mega
tiys upon the acts Of The Legislature Tor
other cause than that Of want of conform
ity to the Constitution, while the judiciary
can only declare void those which violate
that instrument. But the decision OF the
Judiciary is final in such a case, whereas
in every instance where the veto Of the
Executive is applied, it may be overcome
hv a vote Of tWo-thirdS Of both houses OF
Congress. The negative upon the acts Of
the Legislative, by the Executive authori-
". and that in the hands Of one individual
would seem to be an incongruity in our
system. Like some others Of 4 similar
character, however. il appears u be high
Is eXped,eut, and if used only with the for
belrance, and in the spirit which was in
tended by its authors, il may be produc-
tive af much good, and be found one of
the best safeguards 10 the Union. At the
period Of the formation of the Constitution
the principle does not appear TO have en-
loved much favor in the State Govern
ments. 1t existed but into, and in one of
these there was plural Executive. II
we would search Tor the motives which
operated upon the purely patriot: and en-.
ightened assembly which framed the con-
st;uton, for the adoption Of provision So