Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1841-09-16
The Second Veto Message.
To The House Of Representatives.,
of the Initial Sfoies !:

81 Mc thoe0 SIoteS:
II is with extreme regret thar feel myself con.
strained by the dn!v faithfully to execute the Office OF
President Of the United States and the hest of my
ability TO preserve protect and defend the constit.l'
which it originated the Bill TO provide tor the better
collection, safe keeping and disbursement Of the pub
lie revenue by means Of corporation to be styled the
Fiscal Corporation Of the United States" with my
written Obi elections.
In my message sent to the Senate on the 10th day
OF August last, returning the Bill to incorporate the
subscribers to the Fiscal Bank of the United States,
distinctly declared that "nlv opinion has been
uniformly proclaimed to be against the exercise OF the
power OF Congress to create National Bank to ope-
opinlOn. my main objection TO that Bill was based up
ON the highest moral and religious obligations OF
science and the Constitution.
readily admit. that willis. The qualified Veto with
which the Chief Magistrate ia invested, should he
garded. and was intended by the wise men who made
I'a part of the Constitution, IA great conservative
principle OF our system, without the exercise al which.
ON important occasions mere representative major
ify might the government in it's legislation, be-
yond the limits fixed by its trainers might exert ts
lusi powers too hastily or opprcssiycly. is power
which ought to he most cautiously expr'ed and per-
haps never, except in case eminen!ly involving
the public interest, in which the oath Of the
President; acting under his convictions both mental
and moral mprrousy requires its exercise. In such
case he has no alternative.
He must either exert the negative power entrusted
10 hun by the Constitution chiefly for i1s own preser.
walton, prote cton and defence, or commit an OF
gross moral tur2itude Mere regard the will Of a
majority, must not, in Constitutional Republic like
ours. control this sacred and solemn duty Of sworn
the embodied and written will Of the whole people
Of the United States 1t is their fixed and fundnment.
al law, which they unanimously prescribe to the pub
lie fnnctionares their mere trustees and servants.
This their will, and the law which thew have given
us as the rule of action has no guard, no gnaran'
tee Of preservation protection. and defence, but the
tty with which they shall religiousy observe those
oaths. and the patriotism with which the people sha
shield il by sher own sovereignty, which has made
IN" constitution supreme II must I've exered against
the will OF q representative majority or not al
all. Ii is alone in pursuance vt that will that any
measure reach the President; and TO saw
that because majority in Congress have passed a
bill. the President should therefore sanction II. IA
nhrogate the power altogether, and 10 render its in
ser'"n in the constitution work Of absolute supcre
rOeAtion.
people themselves from-in this case sdn, uninien
lional-change infracton nv a majority in Con
gress; and in that light alone do regard the consttu
tOna dutv which now most reluctantly discharge.
Is this bill. now presented for my APPROVAL or disap
proval. such bill as have already declared could
not receive sanction? Ii it such bill as CALI
for the exercise Of the negative power under the con
stiiution? Docs it violate the constitution by crea
ting National Bank TO operate per sc over the Tn
ion? Its title. in the first place, describes Its genera
character.
1t is "An act to provide for the better collection
safe keeping and disbursement Of the public revenue
nv means Of Cooperation. to he styled the Fisca
Corporation Of the United States" II style them !. i
tons and duties are those pertaining to the collecting
keeping. and dishnrsng the public revenue. Th'
means BY which these I are 70 he exsrted i Corp?
ted States. 1t is Corporation created bv the Con
eress ofthe United States. in its character Of nation
al egslature for the whole Union. to perform the s
cal purposes to meet the fiscal wants and exigencies
supply the fsca uses, and exert the fiscal agencies
the treasury Of the United States. Such Is it's de
description Of itself Do its provisions contradict ID