The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-10
SPEECH
ROBERT WIcKLIFEE. JR.,
ON THE VETO POWER,

ROBERT WICKLIFFE, JR.,
ON THE VETO POWER,
Delivered in the House Of Representatives 81 Kentucky
on the 26th Janu@y lo42.
Mr.. W,cxL,rrE, after speaking at some length
against any change of the Constitution by which the
appointment Of the Secretary of the Treasury would
be transferred to Congress- addressed the House in
substance as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN OF all the epochs that marked the
progress of Democracy IN ancient Rome, none was
more interesting in ITSELF more important In Its
consequences than the institution Of the Tribunes
When the people ground to the dust by the re-
entless tyranny of naughty Senate; when they
who fought the battles of their country were forced
into slavery or dragged into warehouses and prisons
when private right and public liberty were SAFER
abroad than at home and amongst the enemies OF inc
Republic than their own fellow-citizens the Consu
tuition afforded no hope of relief no prospect o. re-
dress To rescue themselves from .hc uos Su aas
and misery into which they were daily plunged deep
err and deeper the poor plebians Withdrew mem
selves from the city, and encamped on the Anio On
the banks of that river and almost wthn sght OF the
eternal city, they remained for days IN perfect qule'
without destroying the property threatening the
life of single From the hill upon which they
had pitched their tents, they returned until
their voice was declared potential in the Senate.
Two officers were chosen, who, by single WORD,
could forbid the passage OF any law. The mount
upon which this concession to liberty exacted,
the people regarded sacred; the law by which 1t
was secured was revered holy Here an institu-
ton which was created for the Defence and not for the
punishment of the citizen. Here were officers who,
without aspiring to the name OF maglstrates-who,
although not covered with the toga or accompanied
by ictors were yet for ages the only shield that pro-
teced the liberties Of the Republic. FULLY will tell
YOU that the Roman Senate often attempted to cir
cumscrbe the power of the Tribunes, and the same
spirit of usurpaon, and the same eagerness to break
down the barriers of the Federal Constitution, have
of late seized the American Congress. Not even the
power and popularity of the Gracchi could check
the expressions of the nobility, and restore the iber-
ties of the Republic. The people, animated by the
bold eloquence of Memmus, did indeed gain tenn
porary ascendancy but being msled by the fathless
Marus their liberties and the power Of the Trbunes
were swept away at one and the same blow by the
merciless tyranny of Sylla The history OF nations
vary facts which they record but agree IN the les
sons which they teach. The same principles which
have protected the liberties of other Republics must
shield those of our own. The same calamties which
have elsewhere attended every encroachment upon
the true Democracy, cannot hope to escape
Born in the of the people and rocked IN the era
die of public liberty, the Veto power stands on the
portals of the Government the safest champion OF
popular rights and the truest defender OF the Con-
stituton.
Mr. Speaker That the vices of the present age ART
impatient of the restraints imposed by the virtues Of
the past and that the selfish schemes OF designing
men, and the blind fury Of needless partisans, were
foreseen and guarded against by the sages of the Re-
public, the present rage to tinker with the Federal
Constitution affords conclusive evidence Does any
think-will the member from Jefferson (Mr
Thomason) himself pretend that this is favorable
time to NEEDLE with machine composed OF such va
rious and delicate instruments, and of which de-
rangement of a part will produce disorder OF the
whole, Does he see throughout the country such
absence of party spirit such freedom from local and
personal selshness, and such enlightened regard
for the interests and liberal devotion to the liberties
of the whole Union as distinguished the trainers OF
the Constitution and indispensable requisites in
those who change as in those who form the funda-
mental law? Never were the statesmen OF Ameri
completely engrossed by plots and intrigue:
for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and political power
never was the country more thoroughly imbuet
with political sophstry ridiculous vagaries and dan
gerous radicasm and never were the people more
universally debauched by the patronage of the
Federal Government, by the corruptions OF mo
neyed corporations and the baleful arts by which
elections have of late been carried. Was thi
scheme of changing the organic law conceive
with the leisure and calmness OF cool elaboration
Was it put forth from sole regard for the safety
the Republic and with no view to the success of am
faction or the elevation of any man Where, when
and by VIII ON this startling proposition to tear ~
the Constitution by its roots first promulged AT thu
late session of Congress, portion, representing
themselves to be majority of the Wing Senators anc
Representatives in Congress- assembled in caucu
and issued a manifesto to the people of the Unite'
States. A more unfortunate meeting never was con
vened-a more ill-timed document never was publish
ed have high regard for the gentlemen who's
names are attached to this document, but when tn
cause assigned for its publication is the blight which
single of the Executive has cast upon the frui
of their twelve years long and arduous political strug
gle must remind Mr. Tallmadge, of New York
and Mr. Berrien, of Georgia, that it is not quite St
long since they belonged to the very same party ane
espoused the very same measures which they now de-
nounce OF the aniable and excellent gentleman
who is the repu,ed author Of this address, Mr. Ken
needy, Of Mary land,) shall only say that would ra
Their read his novels than subscribe to his political B
ble If this manifesto be intended as Tevelat on o
the ancient creed of the w big party deny its au
thenticity, and pronounce it Apocryphal. If it be
published as the basis of new party, wipe m,
hands of all such political heresies. l shall not sufe
myself to be msled by names, or whipt into the trace
by men who fancy that they hold the party lash il
their hands. Whatever may be the consequences,
am resolved to maintain the broad Republican grount
upon which the civil revolution of 1910 accom-
piished know that the Bank question no
made issue before the people of the United States
Although believe that national currency is indis
pensable for the encouragement of national industry
and the development of national resources, yet shall
not join the enemies of the President in denouncn
him for an act which in exact accordance will
the whole tenor fhis pol tica life, and which, what
ever we might have hoped, we must have expected
In the folly of those who, because they differ from
their Chief Magistrate single question, abandon
ed Wing President to the mercy of political oppo
nens, and declared to the world that they would n,
longer be responsible for the acts of Wing Admin
istration, Heaven forbid that should join TIL,
senseess camor of noisy politicians and the vile abus
of confederated press, have greater weight will
me than they have had with the people at the polls
indebted to servility and compliance with tn
purposes great for the confidence reposed in mi
by the freemen of Fayete. l hold my seat in this
House by high and honorable tenure. My leas
was executed by the selfapponted guardians ant
trustees of the people, but drawn out at length by
bold constituency, signed with their own hands ant
sealed with their seals. l am Constitution
breaker, nor my constituents Constitution break
era | nav dread the power Of q single Executive