The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-05
rh. pre.idsnt being Of opinion, as Mr. Mad

proper 10 take part, IN THIS iofIns IN the ihiuao
OF bill, declined TO do so.
But in this way, as well as in various others,
il became known TO the President, that the puf-
pose 10 pass new Bank bill was entertained
by Congress.
Hence il would seem, the consultation OF 'he
President with the members Of his Cabinet on
this subject.
AT this time there was pending in the House
in Committee Of the Whole, the bill TO establish
Fiscal Agent, reported BY Mr.. Sergeant on
the 2lst day OF July. For the bill winch the
House had passed was the Senate biil the
House bill remaining in Committee Of the
Whole not acted upon. !.
On THURSDAY, the 18th Of August, the obJec-
Mons Of the President to the Fiscal Agent bill
were considered in the Senate, and thai bill was
rejected on that day for the want Of the requisite
constitutional majority OF two-thirds.
On Friday, the 20th of August, MIR. Sergeant,
ia the House Of Representatives, moved The
House 10 resolve itself into Committee oil the
Whole on the state of the Union; and then, the
House being in Committee Of the Whole on
the state Of the Union, and having, al his mo-
ton. taken UP the old pending House bill 10 IN
corporate the Fiscal Bank, he moved TO amend
the same by striking out all after the enacnng
words. and inserting, IN lieu thereof, the Fiscal
Corporation bill.
On SATURDAY, the 2lst Of August. the House
having again resolved itself into Committee OF
the Whole. and taken up the Fiscal Bank bill,
Mr.. Sergeant's amendment was adopted alter
some hours debate and thus, without even
having been committed 10 any standing or select
committee Of The House, and with disregard
Of the means and forms Of dellberanye examina-
ton most unexampled, the Fiscal Corporation
bill was forced through the COMMITTEE oil Tue
Whole.
On Monday, the 23d Of August, the Fiscal
Corporation bill, as reported from the Commit
tee Of the Whole, was taken up IN The House,
and, under the previous question, and rhhoui
debate, passed
In the Senate the bill was referred 10 Select
Committee, briefly debated, and on the Sd day
Of September, passed that body.
II appears BY published erter Of the Secre-
tary OF State, addressed BY him TO the Senators
from Massachusetts,, on the 25th OF August
that the President regretted the introduction Of
the Fiscal Corporation bill in the House, that he
wished the whole subject might have been post
poned 10 the regular session OF Congress, 10 al
| ford time for information and reflection before
calling on him TO form an opinion on another
plan for Bank, and TO enable him to act with
out the restraint or embarrassment TO which lie
was al the present time, by collateral facts sub
| iectcd and for these reasons expressing II as
| his (the Secretary Of State's) opinion, that II
ing the Bank bill further at the present session
Of Congress.
For the same or similar reasons II was fel
from the beginning, by many, that the action Of
| Congress in the matter of the Fiscal Corporation
bill was ilEadvised hasty, hazardous OF much
evil, and promising no good.
| But other counsels prevailed; the bill was
passed through both Houses, submitted TO the
| President, and by him returned 10 the House
with his objections, on the 9Th day OF Septem-
Der, and IN the House, by vote according 10
| the constitutional form Of reconsideration, II
was lost.
| This act of the President has subjected him
10 new allegations of censure in addition to, and
other than, those which followed the first Veto.
The President, il is charged, trihed with one
or more of the retiring Secretaries. OF what
occurred at Cabinet meetings, the Public knows
and can know nothing. But as to the main
point, whether he initiated the Fiscal Corpora
ton BILL
This idea is Incompatible with Tie dates and
facts above stated, which show that the consid-
Grafton OF new bill was forced on the Presl-
dent by members Of Congress.
Ii is further said that the President ought TO
approve whatever the Party in Congress do.
That would be to abolish at once all the con-
stitutional functions and duties of the President
Of the United States,-to render him eventually
the mere puppet Of iaction,-to transform him
into a simple countersigning clerk,-and 10
transfer all the substantive power Of the Govern
ment into the hands of Congress.
Though President through the votes of par
ty, represented by majority in Congress, yet,
as President, HE, not Congress, is 10 execute
that Office and, to the best OF HIS ability, pre-
serve, protect, and defend the Constitution.
To say that whatever bill majority of Con
gress passes that the President is, regardless OF
his own convictions, bound 10 sign, is to destroy
the Constitution. To say that the voice Of a
bare majority of Congress is, as against the
President, the final and conclusive pronuncia-
lion Of the popular will, Is 10 destroy the Con
sitution. For the Constitution expressly pro
vides that, not a bare majority of the Houses,
but a Two-THIRDs vote against the Presidents
objections, and that dlcne, is TO be considered
as the authoritative declaration Of the will OF the
people.
The exercise Of the Veto, il is said, is an obi
Gus act If So the more certain is it that il will
be rarely exercised by any President, and that
when he does exercise il, he does so from pro
found convictions of conscience, and overpower.
| ing sense Of public duty.
The President, il is said, has defeated the
wishes of the Wing party in Congress and the
country, and by his mere will, deprived the ma
ton of what il so much needs, to wit, Nation
al Bank.
1t is true that the President is responsible
solely, or in any reprehensible sense, for the fail
ure Of Congress, al the late session, to establish
a Bank? To answer this question let US lool
at facts and dates.
On the I'd of June the Senate called on thu
Secretary of the Treasury topresent TO them 6
plan of a Bank and Fiscal Agent, which h,
communicated on the 18th of June
To similar call made by the House on The
| ~ e ~. ipbi in hp op,f
way on the 23d Of June.
In each House this plan was committed to {
Select Committee on the Currency.
II was known generally, and il was known
particularly to those members of Congress, who
hy their experience and political position, haC