The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-06
From the Georgia Jaurnal-( Wing paper.)
VETO POWER.

In the hands Of one who is disposed to abuse his
high authority, the Veto power is indeed dangerous
one 1t so, too when he has the power Of eIercis-
ing it, who is weak enough to be led by unprinc-
Piled faction, whose advisers, not having the good
ofthe country at heart but with view alone to their
own elevation, misead and misdirect him who apart
from bad influences, might do that which is right. In
either Of these cases. this power is dangerous one
1t must be so admitted by all and yet we are among
those who do not hold with the doctrine that it should
be abolished, and that the voice of majority of Con-
gress shall prevail in all things. Let who will advo-
cate such doctrine, must dissent from it-for
hold that the constitutional exercise of the Veto pow
is of the best safeguards to Southern interests
and Southern rights, among all those secured to by
the Constitution Of the United States. For this and
other reasons its abolition object to. 1t is pow
er that Washington exercised on more than occa-
| sion. Madison on more than one occasion Mon
roe vetr ed the Cumberland Road bill. On ten sepa-
occasions Jackson exercised the power and the
eleventh he poeketed the Currency bill. Now, with
| the exception of General Jackson, whose Veto in
instances, did great harm to the country,
neither one Of our other Presidents at this time is
char ged with having abused this high and important
trust And althoug it is now question before the
people, as TO the good bad policy of President Ty
lers Vetnes, yet admitting that Mr. Tyler has done
wrong, still think that take his Vetoes in connec-
ton with General Jacksons and the argument is still
with us, that this power should not be abolished. In
deed, we regret to such doctrine advanced by
friend foe. The best guaranty for faithful per-
Torrance of duty by majority in Congress, accord
ing TO the constitutional compact is the constitutional
xccise of the Veto power reserved to the President
Without this, the time has been when the South
would have been made tributary 10 The balance of the
States ard hesitate say, would yet be made
were the President compelled to give his assent to
every at ~aIch saslVzny af CoaSptss should pass.
Agaiasa the ~rVRs0 exercise Of this power, will
40 mach aey eae, bot that 10 all, in relation to
ID, ~Asshsr Ia the State OF Federal Administration,
that We shall oppose But the abuse of is no argu-
meat against its utility.
Lss Us illustrate moment How many times, here,
at home, has the Veto power been exercised by our
Chief Magistrate Their name is legion" COM
paratively speaking Now, who heard the doc
trine seriously advanced, that this power should be
taken from the Executive of Georgia. We will take,
for instance, two occasions when the exercise of the
Veto in Georgia, created little excitement. The
first which We shall refer TO, is the Veto by Gov
Gilmer, in 1897, of an appropriation Of money
to General Nelson's Brigade then on its way to For.
da. This Veto created much angry feeling and I'M
usual excitement. Was the doctrine then preached
Of abolishng it here at home4
But let us refer to the other case. What question
has ever been before our State Legislature, that
cited much feeling as the Quara milne or Maine
Bill In the Representative branch of the Govern
ment, the majority for two years, was largely in its
favor. One year, it failed to pass the Senate: Last
year it did pass the Senate. Governor Mcdonald
vetoedit He exercised, no doubt, what he conceived
to be- his constitutional prerogative. So did Governor
Gmer. Both of these Governors disappointed the
wish of the peoples representatives and is there any
evidence that the people were dissatisfied with their
acts2 We approved Of Governor GmeI's course,
and disapproved of Gov. McDonad's, and, no doubt,
large portion of the people did the The Veto,
therefore, in the one instance acceptable to us;
in the other it was far from being So and SO it will
always be with the people. Sometimes, the exercise
of this power both in the State and Federal Govern
ment will meet the appreciation of the people; at
other times it may not meet with their APPRECIATION
The evil will be mixed with the good but the latter
WILL in the end, preponderate. If President Tyler
has disappointed the wishes of the people by the
cse recent two occasions the Veto power and
have doubt that such is the case, it is
that those in the South who think he has done wrong,
should "cut their threats to spite their faces" That
power may yet be called into both
their lives and fortunes. Let therefore against
its abuse, but let yield IL up to reckless
jorityin any Congress that may convene between
this and doomsday. These our views in relation
TO ths question. They can be sustained, too,
think by argument strong anddecsive to- least,
every Southern man.