The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-02-10
COSGREssIONAL.
SENATE-J&NUARY "a.
Rei-arls OF VIZ. Clay, OF Nv.

Of the Constitution relative 10 the Veto.
Mr.. CLAY addressed the sruate. -
Whatever. be said, might be Tue ultimate
fate The Amendment winch had ilst been
read, OF Of tho two other kindred amend.
merits, winch he lad the honor Of Offering
at the same tIme with il. 10 should a. least
e9loy the Consciousness Of having dischatg.
ed lis doty 10 their presentation. lie must
regret, Indeed, that the duty OF presenting
and If advocating their adoption BY the
Senate, had not deyolyed upon adler aud
mere skJliDl hands slili, however, lie con-
sldoEed the measure as Que he aas bound
- conscience to present ~ lis place lor he
uciol of l0ls b9dy.
Nor bad tho performance of tbs duty
been prompted, rs some might suppose, ami
as had been suggested 10 CERTAIN quarters,
BY any rcccu! oxerc.se OF the power TO
winch the resolution bad reference yet he
vas free 10 confess that although the sub
ject vas one which had long been IN his
nino, aud ca which be had thought much
aad deeply for years past, the course OF re.
cent eyeuls bud certainly not tented 10
weaken, If II had not added much to the
strength Of his iGprssaous on the general
subject. As ia' lack as seven years ago,
a worthy aud iameuied friend Vi bis from
MarylaaJ, now TO more, had, 10 concert
With himself presented proposition, tbs
ouiect OF Which had bees to modify, and
further 10 restrain the exercise by the tx.
ccu.yo Of this veto poser. The draugh,.
ing OF the resolution, rs presentation, aud
even ide observations vita which !. uas 10
be accompanied, all bad been sutlee Of
JOIN, consolation aud consolidation Jeisecu
blmsclf aui lasi aea,Iemsn. tie adyericd
to this TACT iof 40 ol5c, purpose lhau 70 re-
pa the idea, Il /; were cn.cilaInej 10 lie
ulud u any who no@ heard him, hat The
amcudueai no8 uGder consideration, and
the others which accompanied Il, bad been
suggested by recent occurrences. As far
back is luoe, 10, 90 one Of tho most
soloulu qccaslans 10 ahich he had ever been
called to addtess 4 popular assembly he
alluded 10 tic nmo when be enjoyed the
opportunity VI addressing the friends Of bis
youth aud the people Of hts native county
u Hanover, OF the subject @. the duties TO
be looked Tor at the hands @, the new Wing
Administration which was expected to
come into poser 10 consequence OF tie
glorious and universal triumph 81 the Wing
patty al tie then approaching election be
hud placed emphailcalIy aud 10 font Of
them all that which formed the sul ieoi OF
tie present resolution. After speaking Of
tho yoio power generally, and more patio
uiarly of its exercise by L late President OF
.he unhcd Suites. the speech proceeded to
say
The 6's., and, 10 ny opinion, lilo mos.
important otlecl which should engage the
serious attention Ct now Administration.
Is that Of elrcumscnbipg the Executive
power, and throwing around it such hniia
tons aud safeguards Us will render Il no
longer dangerous 10 The public liberties.
Whatever is the work Of man necessa
riiy pariakes Of his lmperiections; ard II
was 10; 10 30 expected that, with all the
acknowledged wisdom aud virtues Of tho
trainers Of our Constitution they could
have sent forib plan Of Government, so
free from all defect, and so full of guaran.
ties, that II should not, ~ the couii;ct Of
ombiuered parties and Of excited passions,
be perverted and rnsin!erpre,ed. Mlscon
ccpiions or erroneous constructions Of the
powers granted IN the Constitution would
probably have occurred, offer tho lapse OF
many years, IN seasons Of entire calm, and
with q regular and temperate admins!ra.
lion of the Government; but, durng the
last twelve years, the machine, driven by
a reckless chario,eer with fighlful mpeiu
osly has been greatly jsrrsd and ioIied,
and /, needs careful examination and tho
rough repair.
With tho view, therefore, TO tho fGrda
mental character Of the Government ITSELF
and especially of the Executive branch, it
seems TO me that, either by amendments Of
the Constitution, whea they are necessary,
or by remedial legislation, when the object
falls within the scope Of the power Of Con
gress, there should be,
list. A provision to render person
ineligible TO the urice Of President Of the
[ anrd States after a service of one term
/ Much observation and deliberate rejection
have satisfied me that too much Of The time,
the thoughts, and the cyerions Of the IN
cumbeut, are occupied, during his first
term, IN securing his reelection. The
public business, consequently, suffers aud
mea p'res are proposed or executed with
less regard to the general prosperity than
TO their influence upon the approaching
election. 1.-THE limitation TO one term ex'
listed, the President would be exclusively
devoted to the discharge of his public du
ties and he wouId cndeayor to signaze
his administration by the bencdcence and
wisdom Of its measures.
"2d. Tha, the veto power should be
more precisely defined, aud be subjected TO
further limitations and qualifications"
Thus i, would be perceived by tho Sen
ale that, whatever truth or soundness there
might bo in The opinion which no had en-.
Il ht,.. ind In