The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-19

rits il will revive the spirits Of the country il
will save the shaking, trembling credit of the
ton.
ANALYSIS OF THE INAUGURAL.
We proceed to continuation Of our remarks
on General Harrison's Inaugural 1
Detects and misconsfructions Of The Con-
stitution.
OF the defects the President notices only one,
the re-eligibiiity of the Chief Magistrate, which
we have before considered. The leading mis-
construction of the Constitution, TO which he
calls our attention, is stated as follows 81 can
not conceive, that, by fair construction, any or
either of its provisions would be found to const-
tute the President part of the legislative
power"
As matter of fact, the doctrine had got to be
practically established, under the Jackson Van
Buren, dynasty, that the prerogative of ''recom-
mending measures" to Congress, allowed and
made incumbent on the President, by the Con-
stitution in connexion with 'the information
he may have to give, is power Of originating
supervising, assisting, and controlling the legis
lation Of that body. 1t will be found that the
most important and momentous measures Of this
defunct dynasty, were Matched, brooded and
carried by the President and his confidential ad-
visers; and that, when Congress and the nation
have proved refractory, they have been pursued,
whipped, and worried into compliance, as for
example, the sub Treasury act, and others that
might be named.
II will be seen at once, that these are striking
and wide demonstrations Of Constitutional
grant not to say, naked usurpations Of power.
The duty Of recommending is connected with
that OF information, and supposed to be founded
upon it, as for example: The President has con-
cluded a treaty, and recommends the Senate to
ratify it; or is possessed of information, requi-
ring the action of Congress, which he CONVEYS
by message, and being conversant with the bust
ness, recommends what should be done, leaving
the rest to their independent action. This is,
manifestly, the whole scope of the power-a We
ry different thing from originating and con-
trolling legislation, and performing all along a
part Of the legislative functions by advice insn-
uated, and finally claiming the power of the We
TO- Such has been the system of things of late
IN the action Of the Federal Government an
swering exactly to i" the great danger" before
specified in the Inaugural, by "the dccunuld-
tion of power in one branch of the Government,
which, belongs to another" Every one will
see, that this is the true picture Of the Jackson
Van Buren, dynasty. Thanks 10 heaven, the
country is rescued, and a man put at the helm of
our affairs, who stands pledged to "arrest the
progress of this alarming usurpation, and who
has the strongest motives for doing SO.
So long as the President of the United States
claims or uses the right of interfering with the
legislation of Congress, or of trespassing on the
independent prerogatives of that body, there is
no safety. He is purely an Erecutire func
tionary, and there is no officer of the Govern
ment whom il is so important to keep within his
sphere, on account of his great power.
The Teto
o"rhe negative upon the acts of the legisla
ture, by the Executive authority, and that in
the hands of one indiuidudi, would seem to be
an ncongruity in our SYSTEM says the Presi-
dent, and well and truly said. II is bald, mo
narchical power, and the fact that it is rarely
used but for dissatisfaction and calamitous re-
suit, is sufficient evidence, that it is delicate
and dangerous power. In every case, it involves
responsibility, from which every true republi-
can might well shrink. II is an anti-republican,
and may be despotic power. That it is mo-
ndrchicai is undenable. Well might man,
whose mind has been formed and schooled like
Gen. Harrison's, pause over this ''incongruity
in our system"
Finding it, however, in the Constitution,
which he has sworn TO "preserve, protect, and
defend, TO the best of his ability he has ex-
pounded it in way that must be very satisfac-
tory 10 people ever jealous of republican rights:
Il consider the Veto power, given by the Con
stitution to the Executive Of the United States,
solely as conservative power, to be used, lst.
To protect the Constitution from violation. I'd.
The people from the effects of hasty Legislation
where their'wi has been probably disregarded
or not well understood. And Sd. To prevent
the effects of combinations vioative of the
rights Of minorites."