The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-11


cpes and grants ofmoney iom the Legislature IN IA
vor of their masters. In drawing parallel between
colonial governor, appointed by foreign proprieiors,
| and Republican Chief Magistrate elected by the
people, this gentleman manifested lack ot dscrnlna-
iion and in attrbuting the dlsuse of the veto power
in England, not to the increase of power in the Com
mons but the bribery and corruption OF the Exscu-
tive, which had rendered il unnecessary he displayed
an ignorance of history. Mr. Sherman thought they
ought 10 avail themselves of the wisdom OF the fres
dent TO revise the acts of Congress but that he oug
not 10 have power to override the cool and deeueu
opinion Of the Legislature.
Mr.. Madison advocated qualified negative, nut
Mr.. Butler protested against making u absolute
George Mason Than whom the Federal Convention
did not contain a Republican more thor9ugh OF
statesman more sensible while he admitted .ha'
great injustice and oppression hau no"'' 49,
Democracy, We, coniended that the genus
of the people was in favor OF 1t while ne De
nounced an absolute negative tending To establish
an elective monarchy, more odlous IMAM the bini'h,
and Jus ly aimed that the people never woui con-
sent 10 such dangerous innovation yet, even George
Mason one of the apostles Of democracy IN Virginia,
was in favor of giving the Executive the power to
suspend laws until his objections were overrued IN
the first instance. And sir when the vote was taken
what was the result Upon the resolution TO confer
upon the President absolute negative, ten States
voted against il, and none IN lis favor. The motion
to gipehim that poioer, to suspend The iIrs Of Con
gress the repeal Of iohich is ciamorousiy de-
mdnded met with the same fate by the same pofe
The question of requiring The concurrence OF two
thirds OF both Houses of Congress to override the
objections of the Presiden' passed the Affirmative
sub siientio Connecticut and Mar, land We're IN
favor of extending this reyslonary control oven the
laws To convenient number OF the judiciary, anu
this motion made by Mr.. Nelson was seconded ty
Mr.. Madison. Aud here | cannot but pause and won
der that in that ilustous assembly patriots states
and orators not single member discovered tue
slightest change manifested the least opposition 10
that Ex, power which is now held up to public
oiium, and which il is ioreboded will soon swallow
the liberties of this nation. | cannot but wonder
that this inonarchicai feature of our Constitution, and
this zone man power, escaped the vigilant eyes OF
those judicous friends of States rights grain oil
whose Repubcansm IS worth a bushel oil tnat de-
moe acy which would raze the Federal Constitution
TO the grou I'd and build upon its ruins the most obi
Gus olga chy that cursed mankind Where
The limid doubs and States rights principles OF
Dickerson and Patterson Where the Republican
politics o. the calm and phiosophlc Madison} And
where the manly mind and downright Democracy OF
George Mason With most questionable reve-
for the perience of the past they all thought
we'll balanced Republic could not be formed without
division of powers, and separation OF departments
Alas! their minds were never lllumed by that revea-
lion which has lately taught US that true Democracy
consists in the concentration of all power into the
hands of a single Assembly,
Mr.. Chairman the history of the Federal Govern
ment and Of State, furnishes three memora-
BILE noes in which each of the three Departments
has been assailed by of the Others, and when If
had not been provided with the power to sustain IT.
self, the country might have been ruined. during
the administration OF Gen. Jackson, Executive power
certainly ran high. When by the frequent exercise
of the Veto, of the power Of appointment by the
rem wal of the dep sites and other acts whcn the
Wings denounced arbnrary--he alarmed the
friends OF treedom-what saved the Liberties OF the
country but the firmness and independence OF the Sc
nate? When at the lae extra session, Congress en-
deavored to arrogae to itself all power, and denounce
and ride the President because he presumed to
differ from them upon single point, what protected
the integrity of the Constitution, and rcpressed the
insolent dictaon of Congressional caucuses but the
frmness and integrity of the Executive When the
Legislature of Kentucky unrestrained by the fear Of
a Gubernatoral veto, passed unconstitutional laws,
broke down the Judges who dared to pronounce them
such abolished the Old Court and established the
New one, where would have been the character, the
constitution and the liberties OF Kentucky, but Tor the
purity and uprightness of independent Judiciary
Tho e men who would establish Congressional oil
garchy of the political stamp with those who,
by oveturning the Judiciary would break the Judges,
or those who by enarging the powers of the Execu-
tive would establish energetic desposm The doc
trnes OF all of them are equally dangerous and dsor-
ganizing They can be regarded in no other light
than radicals, who, to accomplish their individual ends
the purposes OF party, would destroy the insiitu-
tons of their country however honored by time or
approved by custom. So far from feeling any sympa-
thy or holding any communion with any sucn poit-
cal adventurers, | despise the crudeness of their
thoughts,
OPPOSED TO UNION OF THE PURSE AND THE SWORD,
WHETHER IN THE HANDS OF THE PRESIDENT OR OF
CONGRESS.
Mr. Chairman When gentlemen mourn over the
dangerous and destructive effects of the Veto power
they seem to forget its nature and indulge themselves
in vain complaints, and idle lamentaton. The Pres-
dent cannot enact bad laws he can only prevent the
passage of those that are good aud that too in quail
ed manner and for limited time. Because lower
has been and may again be abused shall therefore be
Its abuse in their own hands? Does not the power
of the President, at the expiration Of every four
years deyove to the nation, and if he has betrayed
his trust or forfeited their confidence may not bet
ter man be chosen the organ of the popular will
Would it not be better to restrain the Executive by
the voice of the people at the polls than to strip and
disarm him by destruction of his constitutional pow
ers? If the President veto salutary measure, it
may still be passed in few years by the choice of
his successor If Congress pass rlinous and I'M
constitutional law, especially where charter is
cerned the country WILL perhaps, be unable to re-
lieve itself from the grievance for whole genera
ton Would you not rather be deprived occasionally
of wholesome enactments for few years, than be
cursed with the infection of arbitrary and yranni-
cal policy for an age When look at the party by
which this radical change in the constitution is pro-
posed the men by whom the proposition is drawn,
and those by whom it IS endorsed, regard the
scheme in other light than expedient to meet
the emergency of the hour This midnight manifes-
| to party has been rebuked, and must be rebuked
again. The disorganizing spirit which conceived,
and the presumptuous rashness which published such
startling and unhalowed doctrines neither founded
in sense or redeemed by patriotism must and ought
to be put down. | will not only say with Mr.. Cush-
ing that these alarming dogmas remind of the
codicils to the will of Caesar which Mark Anthony
was continually finding or the additional chapters Of
pretended revelation which Mahomit was in the ha-
bit of producing but will go farther, and say that
those men who struck the broad pennant of the Wing
party and raised the black flag of Innovation embark
ed upon pratcal cruise against the Constitution Of
their country for which they have not yet received
their condign punishment which the enormity of the
offence so richly deserves
While gentlemen are endeavoring to array the Pre-
sdent against the people; while some loudly exclain,
and others pathetically lament that every is but
another instance in which the caprice Of the Pres
dent overrues the will of the people, it is matter Of
oln ha dra,u