The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-11
From the Globe.
MR.. CLAY'S AMENDMENTS TO THE CON
SpI'rITrION


ment, or alteration of the Constitution, proposed by
Mr.. Clay, will show at once that ii amounts to
complete subverson of the Veto power of the Presi-
dent. The resolution proposes " That when Dill
that shall have passed the Senate and House OF he
representatives. of the United States shall be returned
by the President with his objections to his approba-
ton and signature, II, upon its reconsideration, u
shall again pass each house by majority Of all the
members belonging to such house, Notwithstanding
the Presidents objections, II Shall become law, and
the requisition by the existing Constitution of two
thirds Of each Hause again TO pass the bill in such
case, is hereby annulled."
Passing by the excessive cumsness of this SEN
tence and its want of that clear and definite prec-
sion which should always distinguish every distinct,
substantial proposition, we would ask If it does
not amount to resolution for converting one OF the
most grave and important provisions Of the Consit-
ton into legislative farce 1t proposes the
absurdy of Congress first passing law and sending
il TO the President for approval; but if he should
withhold his appreciation, then the same Congress, by
simple majority may enact the law without it,
Now we would ask where IN case the proposed
alteration is adopted would be the use of sending
law to the President for his approval, If the body
which sends il may adopt and make il the law of the
land without his approval by the same majority
which was necessary in the first instance to pass the
law This virtually saying to the President, Sir,
we send you law we have just passed. for your APP
proval; If you approve it, well and good; if you do
not we will pass 1t again, and SO your most obcdi-
ent" As the Constitution now stands, the exercise
of the veto power throws back law upon Congress,
and renders new and stronger expression OF their
will necessary to It's passage AS Mr.. Clay would
have it, the majority that passed it before it sent
to the President for his approval may affirm the act
and make it obligatory as II 1t were approved by
that officer, except i'll accidental cases, such as the
Bankrupt law, when the measure passes without
ma ority voting for it, The veto power will thus be
substantially abolished, and the Transmission OF laws
from Congress to the n esident for his approval an
empty, una Gaming ceremony. The entire legislative
power will thus be lodged a single branch OF the
Government and the balance Of constitutional pow
completely overthrown.
Why not do this directly, manfully and above
board ? Why not offer direct proposition that the
Veto should be abolished, instead oil going about the
bush, and substantially attaining the same object by
circumlocution. Mr., CLAY may choose to call this
restricting the exercise of the Veto power" but
any body may at that proposition amounts
TO entire abrogaton, through sly, nsld Gus sub
terfuge, which annihlates the substance and leaves
nothing but the shadow 1t cannot be presumed that
the force of argument hich may be Embodied IN the
objections Of the President viii operate to the con-
version of sufficient number OF members to neutral
ize or overcome the majority by which the law was
first passed. For example, one believes that either
of MIR. TYLER's vetoes detached single member
from the support of the measures he repudiated.-
The objections he urged were met, on final consl-
deraton of the subject, by majority equal, II not
superior, to that by which the bills were originally
passed. So WIN the Netoes OF General Jackson, winch,
would have failed altogether in ARISING measures
which were found, on an appeal to the people, TO be
exceedingly unpopular With the constituents OF many
of the members who supported them.
. Executive influence is, however, the great wind
mill with when political Qulxoe has entered The
Isis with the avowed purpose OF diminishing
fuence Congress, which has resulted frequently
the extraordinary spectacle OF President III mi
nory in that body, while great IN Jorlly OF the peo-
pie sustained han. Mr.. Clay has coupled with his
N he Itloni al q
nator Representative shall during the term, or fac-
ton of a term for which he elected be appointed
to any civil office OF the United States. This is
something like the "sef-denying ordinance" OF the ia
nous Rump Parliament which, however, was limited
to military appointments, which MIR. Clay has not
deemed OF sufficient consequence 10 include In ms
seli denying ordinance; tor what reason we are at
loss decide. But, be this il may, we are fully
OF opinion that it, would from the implication
OF Mr. Clay the Senators and Representatives IN Con
gi,ss prone yield to the seductons OF Execu
tive patronage, that they require the restraint OF aw
if such is really the low standard OF representative
integrity and patriotism, still we doubt the efficacy OF
this specific for securing their conscences from temp
taton ought to go further.
There various avenues through which the hui
man heart may be successfully assalled There Is
direct well as indirect bribery: eeneht confer
red son. brother, or father; an office given TO
dear friend partner IN whose interests we are
deeply cuncerned the promise OF situation at some
definite period OF time; succession OF good dinners,
and repetition OF gratifying co0resles, are among
the inducements which sway the interests and passions
of poor human nature, and not untiequeny convert
enemies into friends. We therefore do not place I'M
plict reliance in Mr. Cays selt.denying ordnance
Nay will 90 farther, and say, that IT there is not
sufficient patriotism and integrity IN Congless 10 re-
SIS these temptations, why then throw physic to the
dogs for no prevent the rotten tree from fall
my without the agency of he funds. In fact the VIZ
tue which requires be forever guarded, is scarcely
worth the sentinel.
w hie wa ching with such solicitude the progress
of Executive Influence which OF late years, las adj
vanced like a crab, back wards, Mr.. Clay we think,
would do well to turn his attention TO other points, IN
our humble opinion, much more dangerous we re-
fer TO the and increasing influence OF Government
the aggregate exercised through system oil legls-
laton VIII ca renders the business the capital and the
labor OF the county, subseryent to Its capces, lis
passions, anu It's political interess TO the influence
of banks and corpoi ATOMS which Mr. Gay is laporlng
strengthen by every means in his power, and which
already controls the legislation of So large portion
of the States, # not that OF the Unon and, finally
we would point his patriotic efforts TO the alarming
progress OF that foreign influence, against which the
Father OF his Country warned his children with al
his last breath and which, reinforced by the le
gions ei Pluus, and of growing fana,icism, now
menaces, not only national rights, but our nation
al existence.
For our humble part and say il frankly II, as
most sincerely believe, Executive influence now
absolutely essential TO battle with legislative encToach
mems a National Bank, despcabie paper money oil |
garchy, add foreign enemy, aided BY all the CON
uIned OF the land ,hen say, tar from
wishing or duIhutiop hope TO see II increased
10y every constitutional meas, as to be fully com
pttenl resist those Formidable measures TO the re-
pose, The prosperity, ana the freedom Of the Union
The Pass IN SrAN-Accordng TO law of 1887,
any press in Spain may be suspended, if the mags-
rates have reason for thinking that the public tran
guilty is in danger
tremendous thunder storm passed over Syracuse,
~ Y and the adjoining towns on Friday night
SMALL NoTEs,--The Bank Of Tennessee has, by