The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-12
fcoNcLUDED.I

coNcluDEp.l
Mr. CH.nn.x Ii must not he forgotten that the
Veto of the President qualified and not absolute
Ii the American Executive possessed an unquaiihed
negative upon the acts of Congress, there might be
some ground for that denunciaton which has been
heaped upon this clause Of the Federal Constitution.
Ii, like the Roman Tribune, standing at the door of
the Roman Senate, he could station himself IN the
Capitol and declare with sing lie breath, every law
Of Congress null and void all parties would justly
demand a curtailment of his despotic power An alb
solute Veto the exercise of harsh and unwelcome
power which is apt to nourish pride and arrogance
the part of the Executive, and engender hatred
and faction in the Legislative Depart nent quail
fed Veto merely recalls the attention of Congress to
the subject; respectfully requests revision OF 1t IN
all its aspects and details states his objections to the
bill submitted to him, and requests re-examination
of the subject The Veto power as II exists IN our
Constitution is mild in its nature and sauary IN its
operation 1t is admirably calculated to prevent rash
and hasty legislation. 1t cannot be denied that from
party spirit popular excitement, and momentary
passion Congress will often pass laws, the impolicy
of which loudly demands the interpostion Of the Exc
cutve do not say that the President will have more
virtue and wisdom than all Congress, but certainly
he is aloof from factious combinations and rash
schemes than body which is too apt to lend itself to
the purposes Of designing men. AS he Is directly
responsible, and Immediately amenable to the people,
the guardianship of the Constitution may be safely in
trusted in his hands When we look at our statute
book, and it filled with laws rashly passed. fire.
from contradictions must perceive the necessity
of check upon that spirit which they are con-
ceived 1t is solid objection to the Veto that 1t
may prevent the passage of good laws The fact that
wo-thirds of Congress cannot be procured to their
support is evidence that they not plainly
expedient papably necessary II, however, they
are loudly demanded Dy the public voice and the ma
onal interests, their enactment only be delayed
for time until the people shall express their senti-
ments at the polls. The delay of a good law is not
az mi iey az he al a IA
probable that this power will be exerted wantonly
frequently. The President being chosen by the peo
pie is naturally solcous for personal popularity and
political influence. He knows that before the nation
the contest is unequal between him and the assem-
bled representatives of the people. He is aware that
this power is watched with jealousy and dstrust and
nothing would involve him sooner in odium than its
wanton or frequent exercise. That the Executive
will be slow to oppose the National Legislature to
arouse the attention and alarm the jealousy of the
nation, by bringing forth this talent power and hid
den energy of the Constitution the experience of the
Federal Government for fifty years fully attests.-
Although many laws are unwisely passed. which, if
they had fallen under the blows Of the Executive
sceptre the country would have experienced loss
vet he remembers with Burke, that its repose its
existence and its existence may be the means of
ing the Constitution itself on occasion worthy of
bringing it forth. And | may hold up this stone in
our political fabric, which gentlemen eager to
demolish to your admiration, without subecting nv
self to the ridcule Of him who in ancient times exhi-
bted single brick to give an idea OF house which
he wished to sell.
Mr. Chairman: They who are in favor of restrict
ing the Veto power have not disguised from the ma
ton the amendment which they desire adopted A
distinguished member of Congress, from Kentucky
(Hon Carrot Davs) for whose talents and character
entertain the sncerest regard, announced through
the National Intelligencer that at the regular session
of Congress he would propose qualification of the
Executive negative This proposition was to give
the President the power of returning bills with his
Al AZ ~
ton upon them at the pending session of Congress-
But if at the next session majority should be In IA
yor of the measure, it should become law in spite
of the Presidents Veto This idea is not 1t is
borrowed from the French Constitution of l791
which the philosophers and statesmen of that Inflated
country labored in vain to perfect. Every bill was
to be presented to the King who might refuse his
SENT but if the two following Legislatures were pre-
sent the same bill in the same terms it to be-
come law. l regret that they who are eager to
refine and improve the Federal Constitution should
be indebted for all their ideas to the dreamy theories
and Jacobin dogmas of Revolutionary France. |
shall not go into full analysis of that abored and pom
derous system, the very worst features OF which,
they who have heretofore boosted Of their principles
as conservative, now striving to engraft upon
the Constitution of their country Its gross defects
its palpable absurdities, its enormous evils and
its short-lived existence have been exposed with
unrivailed ability by the greatest intellect which the
eighteenth century produced and as long the pro-
found reflections OF Edmund Burke shall be regarded
by mankind, it will stand beacon to point out the
shoals upon which preceding innovators have been
shipwrecked. Let our Congress be clothed with the
power and imbued with the spirit of the National As
sembIy Of France let our President like their King,
cease 10 be the fountain of honor and justice, and
stripped of his constitutional negative be nothing more
than bailif, TO execute not the laws of his country.
but the orders Of his MASTER and single revolution of
the seasons will bound the existence of Consti-
tuition as did of theirs. And shall be subjected to
the ignominy of him who
Trampes brute like DER each flower,
That tasks not laborious hour,
Nor claims the culture of his hand,
To bloom along the larry land,
But springs as TO preclude his care,
And.sweetly woos him but to spare"
Mr.. Chairman trust the present age is not SO
overweening its seconceit treat with open
tempt the political sentiments of those ustrious
whose bravery achieved our liberties, and whose pa
trotism oresig hit established Republican Con-
stuton. To trace the progress of the Veto power
from its first proposal to its adoption by the Federal
Convention; to compare the opinions of different
members Who compose that august body to scan the
arguments and reasons by which their respective
maintained, will perhaps moderate
hdence IN those who display greater zeal for the in
teress of the future than regard for the experience of
the past and influenced rather by the interested
dogmas Of party leaders, ahan the enlightened views
of departed patriots and statesmen. The main bust
ness of the Federal Convention opened by Ed
mund Randolph who in fifteen propositions submitted
a plan of government which formed the basis of its
deliberations, and which ultimately moulded into
the present Constitution The eighth resolution pro-
posed that the Executive and convenient number of
the judiciary should constitute council Of revision,
whose dissent should amount rejection of the acts
of the National Legislature, and of the negative which
it may have passed upon the laws of the particular
States, unless the act OF the National Legislature
should be again passed, that Of particular Legs
lature be again negaved by - of the members
OF each branch. SO jealous was Gov Randolph of
the encroachments of the Legislature upon the other
departments vfthe Government that Of his council of
revision part of the judiciary, as well as the Execu
tive ther~