The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-20
THE VETO POWER.

ally poured out upon the head OF the PRESIDENT
of the United States by the ultra Federal press
and from the anathemas, both cloud and Deep"
Illuminated against him from the Hall of Repre-
sentatives, on the occasion of his returning, un-
signed the mongreI protection bill, stranger
TO our institutions would be led to suppose. that
Mr.. Tyler had in that act trampled upon the SUI
preme law of the land, and set at naught the
known will of large majority Of the People,
whose servant he is. Such an individual might
be surprised at the anomalous statement, that
being so abject, so impotent, as they describe
'shis accidency' to be, had seized upon some
mysterious and energetic power hitherto un-
known and unheard Of in the history of free go
vernments, and in the very wantonness of des-
polism welded it for the purpose of aggravating
the distress which already pervades the land,
and of grinding in the dust a People already
bruised and suffering from bad government;
but he would not think it strange that the Rep
resentatives of this abused People, should
threaten impeachment, nor could he be very
much astonished that in the OverhOwings OF
their patriotic indignation, they should make
pointed illusions to the tyrant Charles, the
block, and the headsman.
Surprising such to be the impressions pro-
duced on the mind of the unsuspicious inquirer
after truth, who should seek information Of the
public affairs Of this country from the sources
alluded to. how great would be his asonish-
ment when the veil of falsehood should be
lifted, and the simple truth should stand forth
from the obscurty in which it is the policy of
III IN
by distorting, and classifying each act and motive
of the Executive!
1t is one Of the evils Of party despotism, that
its votares seldom take the pains to think or to
judge for themselves, even in respect to ques-
tons involving vital constitutional principles,
but adopt the opinions which are dictated by in
teresIed party leaders. Hence it is that among
honest well meaning men, there very few
who denounce what they term the abuse of the
Veto power, without having ever referred TO the
Constitution from which that power is derived,
and where its nature and extent is clearly de-
fined. What says that venerable and sacred
Instruments
every bill which shall have passed the House of
Representatives and the Senate, SHALL before it be-
law, be presented to the President of the Uni
ted States he approve he shall sign it, but i not,
he shall return with his objections the House In
which it shall have originated" &c.
Is the question of approval here confined to
cases of constitutional doubt? Is it not rather
imperatively required OF the Presidents to re-
turn, in the mode prescribed, every bill which
he cannot conscientiously approve, whether his
scrupe relate to its constitutionality or expedi-
ency :? Having sworn to support the Constitu-
ton, and TO conform to all its requirements, has
believes is calculated to operate injuriously even
though its constitutionality were unquestioned,
and though majority of three-fourths of the
People and of their Representatives approved
it2 If not, how much less could he have been
excused, if to shelter himself from the storm of
wrath and fury to which he knew he would be
exposed he had-conlrary to his clear and
settled convictions of right and duty-signed
the bill of denominations which has recently been
presented to him,
The wisdom and forethought of the patriots
and sages who formed the Constitution, in no
thing appear more strikingy than in the crea-
ton of this truly conservative power; and there
has been no period il the history of our Gov
eminent when its value could have been as
clearly illustrated as in its application at the
present crisis. But for it mere majority in
Congress, in violation of all the pledges under
which they came into power, laughing to scorn
the wishes of the People whom they had de-
ceived, would, by nefarious system of bargain
have foised upon the country series of mea-
sures, no one of which they dared to defend
before their constituents when canyassing for
their votes Thanks to the wisdom of our ia
theirs, and to the unblenching irmness of pa
triotic Executive, their unrighteous plans have
been defeated; and though they may illuminate
their impotent wrath against the President in
reports and manifestoes, and though they may
attempt through venal press, to make ia, Sc
issue before the nation, striving to conceal their
own deep disgrace by casting opprobrium upon
his conduct and motives, and upon what they
delight to style the ''one-man power" which
he has interposed between them and their un-
hallowed purposes-they will not deceive the
People, who will decide justly in regard to the
whole matter, and to their judgment we cheer
fully leave it.
HThe one. man power!" That there is a
power extensively and mischevously felt in
the affairs of this nation, which well deserves
to be thus designated, no calm observer will de-
ny. 1t is power unknown to the Constitu-
ton, subtle, despotic, and rresponsibe-a power
which would fain rule or ruin, and delights to
mar everything which it is not permitted to
make. None are more sensible of the extent of
this mower than manv of The majority in Com