Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-19

The Report of the Select Committee on the Veto
Message was yesterday laid before our city read
ers; and to-day it is spread abroad through the
State.
Ii were superogatory to ask attention 10 that
which wIlI' OF itself, and on account Of the grave
matters Of which it discusses, attract universal
consideration. IL is document OF great power.
No candid man can read the vihdicaton Of the Wing
party, and contemplate the gross treachery to which
II has been exposed-and the systematic efforts
made to render all its exeTtions for the public good
Neutrality-suspicious. aequitling /, of all blame for the
present deplorable condition Of the country. Com
ing into power at time when the energies OF the
people were exhausted by twelve years of mi.rule
when the Federal Treasury was millions in mr..
rears, and the accruing revenue was wholly made.
qnaIe TO meet the appropriations authorized by the
preceding Administration; went to work with
the spirit OF devoted patriots, to repair past mis-
chief, and revive the lost prosperity Of the country
But a. the very outset they were met by an obsta
Gle which they had no right to expect. The ind
vidual who had worned himself into their conf
dence, and thereby into the Executive Chair,
prompted by selfish ambition or stupid vanity, or
the mllignln, passions OF FAvourile, or all com.
Dlueu-NOOh u upon himself 10 tnWnrt, az every
turn, the party which had elevated him to power
AL the important measures which they could devise
for the relief Of bankrupt Government and
distressed people. he annued by the exercise OF
ths Veto; and even when they stopped TO solicit
him to furnish them with such a bill as he could
approve, after correcting il even to the title, he
threw j, back into their faces with every mark of
coniompt-miking tho title OF his own choosing the
subject Of rdieule. But this ia an old tale and
must by this time be known 10 every reading man
in tho confederacy. II is point, nevertheless, of
great consequence, and serves 10 demonstrate, that
while the Locos aRsusrabe for the origin OF the
national disorders, the continuance and nggrayation
Of them is referabe 70 their ally and coadiutor in
the Executive Chair. The Wings, although in
vested with power, have been rendered powerless
by the trcachery, duplicity and meanness Of the
acting President. They were in possession of DOW
er only 30 days-and during that time Congress
In session. and Of course no legislation could
be adopted for the bsneh, Of the country. They
have never had a majority Of two.thirds-s so as to
enact laws in defiance Of the Veto.
But this whole subject j, briefly and cogenlly dis,
cus'oJ in the Repon-and to that the reader is re-
! ferred.
but INC question OF heBponsiointy, OF Distribu-
ton, Of Tarf, aod all other mere questions OF ex
podsney, dwindls into nigni6eancc, in eompiri.
son with the great and momonlous question OF Exc
cu,ivo supremacy and popular freedom. This is
now brought directly in issue by the extraordinary
assumptions by the Chief Executive fune,ionary,
and the actual exercise, on bis part, Of poVev-st
war with q Republican system Of Government
We use no, the language Of exaggeralion, when We
say, that il is our solemn conviction that this is
conles. in which is involved all that's most precious
in free institutions. II the Executive, as he is
now doing, can exact taxes Of tho people, without
Wauan, Of lAw-Wilhout the consent Of the people
themselves, through their Representatives, it be
permitted, that he shall dictate the provisions oil
every law-oven TO the inhibition Of this clause or
Ihat-on the ground thati,Is inoongruous and often
svc TO his fastidous tase;-we may call our system
Of Government wha. we will, but il 10 in truth and n
substance, to all inlenis and purposes, grinding
despo,isn. Arc the people prepared TO ucquiese,
IN this construction Of their Constitution, by which
hey are dvased OF all the essential attributes Of
free Pooplsl Are they willing to surrender 10 ao,
ono man, the righ. Of pxing them al pleasure, pnt