Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-02-07
, 4 IL T. q n q le r. y - 6.
SECOND SESSION.
MoNpAy, Jan. "a, 1912.
UNITED STATES SENATE
or THE CONS 1JTIJT TO.N

! HIVE. ND.NE~N IL Or The I1osN.
The resolutions submitted time since by Mr.,
CLAY. proposing to amend the Constitution in regard
to the veto aud other powers called up the spc
cial order of the day.
The resolution having been read
| Mr.. CLAY addressed the Senate. Whatever, he
said might be- the ultimate fate ol the amendment whc
had just been read. OF the other kindred amend
men,s which he had the honor OF offering at the same
tine with it. he should at least er-y the conscious
ness ofhavng discharged his duty in their presentation
lie must regret indeed, that the duty Of presenting
and vi advocating their adoption by the Senate. had
MT devovcd upon ADLER aud more skiliu hands still
however he considered the one he bound
IN conscience to present in his place fol the action Of this
body.
Nor had the duty ofihis performance been prompted.
AS some might suppose and as had been suggested IN
certain quarters by any of the power
winch the resolution had reference yet he free
confess that although the subject which had
long been IN his mind. and which he had thought
much and deeply Tor years past the course OF recent
vents had certainly not tended To weaken, II il had not
added much 10 the strength of his Impressions the gen
era subject. As far back seven years ago worthy
and amened friend of his from Maryland, more
had In concert with himself presented proposition. the
object OF which had been 10 modify, and further TO
strain the exercise by the Executive Of this veto power
The draughtng Of the resolution. lis presentations and
even the observations with which il was be accompa-
med all had been subjects of consultation aud consdera
ton between himself and that gentleman He adycrtcd
TO this fat tn no other purpose than To rcpe the idea If
were ente tanned in the mind of any who heard
him. that the amendment under consideration. and
the others which acc mpaned it, had been suggested by
recent occurrences far back as june lslO, on one
OF the most solemn occasions IN wich lie had ever been
called to address popular asscmby-hc alluded to the
tune when he enjoyed the opportunity on undressing ihr
friends oil his youth and the people OF his co"niy
Hanover. the subject OF the duties 10 he looked Tor Z"
the hands of the new Wing Administration which was
expected to come INTO power IN consequence of the Clio
rlous and UNIVERSAL triumph Of the Wing par " At the
tien approaching elcctionhe had placed cnphaticully
and front of them ALL that which formed the subject
of the preson, resolution. After speaking of tho
power generally and more particularly OF lis exercise
by late President of the United States, The speech pro
ceeded 10 say:
The first, and in my opinion, the most important OBJ
jec which should engage the serious attention OF new
Admnlsr ,tion is that of circumscrblng the Executive
power and throwing around it such limitations and sale
guards will render no longer dangerous TO the pub
lie liberties.
Whatever the work of man necessarily par,skes of
has imperiecons and TO be expected that,
with all the acknowledged wisdom and virtues of the fla
mers of our Constitution. they could have sent forth
plan Of Government ST. free from all defect, and full
u guarantees that II should not in the conflict OF eml
tered parties a1 excited pass ms, be perverted and
misnterprcicn Misconceptions erroneous ""rstruc
tons Of The powers granted N tnr Constitution would
probably have occurred after the lapse Of many years
IN Seasons OF entire cam and with Irregular and lem
perae administration Of the Government but during
tho last twelve years the machine. driven by
reckless charoteer with rghllul impeuoslty. has teen
greatly Jared and oed and II needs careful examination
and thorough repair
with the view therefore, to the Fundamental cha
racter OF the Government itself, aud especially OF the
Executive branch IT seems 10 me that, either by a
mendments Of the Constitution, when they ne
cessary. by remedial legislation, when the object
falls within the scope Of the powers OF Congress- there
should be,
list. 4 provision 10 render a person ineligible 10 the
office of President of the United States after service
OF one Much observation and deliberate reflection
have satisfied that too much of the time, the
thoughts and the exeton OF the incumbent, are occu
ped during his first term, in securing his reelection
The public business, consequently suffers md measures
proposed executed with less regard 10 the general
prosperity than to their influence upon the approach
ING election. II the limitation to term existed, the
President would be exclusively devoted to the discharge
Of his public dutes and he would endeavor TO sgnaze
his administration by the bonlfcencc and wisdom of its
resources.
..2d. That the veto power should he precisely
defined and be subjected further limitations and quail
fcatons.'
Thus il would be perceived bv the Senate that, what
truth soundness there might be in the opinion
which he had embodied IN the resolution submitted
to the Senate il opinion long since deliberately
formed aud expressed and which had otensnce been
considered and reviewed unprompted by any of those re
TO which it might otherwise have been
supposed To owe us origin
The particular amendment before the Senate for
its consderaon and which he should speak before he
more brief, adveried the others which accompanied H.
was that which related to the VEro POWER And while
on this subject Of redeemng the pledge which was, In
some sort given by him as OF the humblest member.
of that party which had long since sgnaly triumph
ed he hoped the Senate would allow him, in all truth and
sincerity 10 say that he desired to party when ii
came into power redeem the pledges and fulfil the prom
ses il made when out OF power; and not exhibit that
dlsrraceul spectacle so often witnessed In the political
history of other nations of protesting set Of prnc
PIES and employing them as means towards getting IN
to power and then when successful in obtaining their
Wishes turn round forget all they had said and promls
ed and 60 on administer the Government just their
predecessors had done He could gentlemen that,
on the questions of restraining and limiting Executive
power on the necessity of an economical administration
of the Government. on regulating the dismssng power
OF the President securing fair and Just responsibility
in all the Departments in word every great qnes
ton of national policy which the party to which he con
sidercd himself belonging pledged TO the People
and to the world, they would find him, on all occa
SONS during the short in which he expected to
remain member OF the body, heartily ready 10 co
operate in carrying out into practice all they had avowod
in principle
II was his rurp 10 90 but very briefly into the his
tory and origin tho power. II known 10 all 10
have originated In the institution OF the tbuniuan pow
ancient Rome that 1t was seized upon and pervor
ed purposes Of ambition when the empire was estab
lished under Augustus and that il had not been finally
abolished I'll the reign Of Constantine. There could
he doubt that il had been introduced from the practice
under the empire into the monarches of Europe, IN most
Of which, in form and under modification OF