Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-30

mower has never been exercised in France II is true
believe that il has never been exerted by the Co.
yernment of Louis Philippe; but his Government IL
as vet nothing but mere experiment IL has now e1-
ised less than twelve years, and during is snort Pc
Rod there have been nineteen different cabinets saw
list Of them few days ago, in one oil the public Jour
nails 70 cite the example of such Government as
authority here is 10 prove that Senator IS hard run
for arguments. The unfortunate Lonis the Sixteenth
used the susrcnsivr veto power conferred upon hun ny
The first French Constitution upon more Than one &c
cnson: but he used il not 10 enforce the will Of The
neooIe as our Presidents have done u, against pubic
opn on which at that time omnipotent in France
These vctoes proved but feeble barrier against TIE
tremendous torren, Of the Revolution which was at
that time overwhelming all the corrupt and tyrannca
institutions of the ancient monarchy.
The Senator has referred TO the Declaration Of lnde
pcndeuce 10 show that the exercise Of this veto power
by the King the acts Of the colonial legislatures
was one OF the causes Of the Revolution. In that in
strumenl he is charged with having "refuscd his as
sent 10 laws the most wholesome and necessary for the
public good In those days douceur was present
cd in Pennsylvania, 10 the Proprietary Governor, with
every act of Assembly in which the people felt deep
interest. ! state this fact On the authority of DR.
franklin. After the act was approved by the Govern
or il had then 10 be sent three thousand miles across
the Atlantic for the appreciation of hereditary
reign in manner responsible to the people OF this
country. 1t would have been strange, indeed, had not
this power been abused under such circumst; lces.-
THIS was like the veto of Augustus rfter he had usurp
ed The Liberties OF the Roman people, and made HIM
self sole trbunc-not like that of the r;bunes annual
II elected by the Roman people. This was not the
veto of James Madison, Andrew Jackson, or John
TYLER not the veto of freeman, responsible to his
freemen for the faithful and honest exercise of
his important This power is either democratic or
arbitrary the authority exercising may be depend
ent on the people or independent Of them.
But Sir, this veto power, which humby apprehend
to be useful in every State Government, becomes ao
souely necessary under the peculiar and complex
form of the Federal Government To this point de-
sire esDecialy 10 direct the attention of the Senate
The Federal Constitution was work OF mutual COM
promise and ncesson; and the States which became
partes TO it, must take the evil with The good ma
iory of the people within each OF the several States
have the inherent right to change MODIFY and amend
their Constitution at pleasure Not with respect TO
the Federal Constitution. In regard TO H. majority
of the people ofhe U. s. can exercise no such power
And why, Simply because they have solemnly sur
rendered H. in consideration OF obtaining ny TINS sur
render all the blessings md benefits OF our glorious
IJnon Il requires two.thirds of the representatives, Of
the States in the Senate, and wothlrds OF the repre-
senatves Of the people in the House, even TO propose
an endmeu to the Constitutions and THIS must be ra-
tiled BY three fours OF the Suites before can take
effect Even if twenty five of the twenty-six States
Of which the Union is composed should determine to
deprive "litte Delaware OF her equal representation
IN the SENATE she could defy them all, whilst this Con
siilu.ion shu endure. 1t declares that emo State,
without its consent shall be deprived OF lis equal sui.
irage IN the Senate
cept by majority OF the people i'll every State of the
Union the members of the convention believed that il
would be reasonable and just TO require that three
fourhs of the States should concur IN changing that
which all had adopted, and 10 which all had become
parties To give il binding force upon he conscience
of eyery public functonary, each Senator and Repre-.
sentative whether in Congress or the several State
Legislatures and every executive and judicial officer
y heher State or Federal is bound soemnly 10 swear
or affirm that he will support the Constitution
Now Sir, II has been sad, and said truly, BY the Be.
nator that the viii OF the maj orty ought to prevail
This is an axiom the science OF liberty which nobo
dy wi. at the present day dispute Under the Federal
Cops:itulion this will mus, lie declared in the manner
which it has prescribed; and or later, the ma
iory must and viii be obeyed in the enactment OF
laws. Bu, what is this majority 10 winch we are all
bound TO yield: Is it the ina jor:y OF Senators and
Represen in Congress, msjnry Of the peo-
pie themselves: The f.llacy of the Senator'S argu.
ment, from beginning 10 end consists in the assunp-
ton that Congress, in every situation and under every
circumstance truly represent the deliberate will OF the
people The trainers Of the Constitution believed il
n rht be otherwise and therefore they imposed the re.
strction Of TIE qualified veto of the President upon the
legislative action o! Congress.
What is The most glorious and useful invention OF
modern times in the science OF free Government un-
GouhedIy written Constitutions. Fer want Of these,
the auce nj Republics were Of turbulence, vo
lence and disorder, and ended in self destruction And
what are all our constitutions, but restraints imposed
not by arbitrary authority but BY the people upon them
selves and their own Representatives: Such through
out is the character Of the Federal Constitution. And
it is this Constitution, thus restricted, which has SC
long secured liberty and prosperity and has endear
ed itself to the heart oil every good citizen
This system Of self-imposed restraints IS necessary
element Of social condition Every wise and var
tuous man adopts resolutions by which he regulates his
! hp of cDuueIactfnu
penses ofhs nature, and preventing INN from yield
ing under the impulses of sudden and strong tcmpta
ton Is such man the less free-the less ncePend
emit because he chooses to submit TO these sell imposed
restraints; In like manner, is the majority oil the peo
pie less free and less independent because il has chosen
to impose constitutional restrictions upon itself and lis
Representatives? Is this any abridgmcnt oil popnlal
liberty The true philosophy Of Republican Govern
mens, as the history cf the world has demonstrated
consists in the establishment of such counseracting
powers-powers always created by the people them
selves-as shall render it morally certain that no Ia"
cnu be passed by their which shall not be ir
accordance with their will, and calculated 10 promote
their good
II is for this reason that Senate has been establish
ed in every State fthe Union to control the House OF
Repressntatyes: and presume there is now scarcely
individual in the country who rs not convinced OF II:
necessity Fifty years ago, opinions were inuch ciVldee
upon this subject, and nothing but experience mas set
tied the question. In France the National Assembly, al
| though lbty tue NlHs VIZ
arlsocrac, and own Franklin opposed TO IT, he
thought that The popular branch was alone necessary
10 reflect the will Of the people, aud that Senate
would he but mere ncumbrance. HIS influence pre-
vailed in the Convention which framed the lirst Con
stitution for Pennsy vania, and we had no Senate
The Doctor argument against it contained III one
Of his homcly but striking illustrations. why, said
he, will you placea horse in front of cart to draw
forward, and another behind 10 pull IT back Expe
rence, which is the wises teacher has demonstrated
the faIlacy of this and all other similar arguments ant
public opinion is unanimous on the SUBJECT
Where is the man who does not now feel ihat the
control of Senate is necessary to restrain and modify
the action OF the popular branch
of the people of this Union through the agency o.
the State Legislatures, can send majority into th:
chamber A bull may pass the House of Representa-
tves by unanimous vote and yet be defeated mere oJ
majority Of Senators representing but one.iourth o.
the people of the United States. Why does not the
Senator from Kentucky propose to abolish the Senate