Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-02

Il
tor alleges that the Wings in Congress took the Fiscal
Corporation b letter FOR letter, it came from the
President to them, shall not pretend 10 decide II ~
net for me 10 compose such strites. leave this 10
their own 6le.leoders. Without entering upon this
pstion shall never fail, when tit opportunity Of
ieJs, express the gratitude which feel, in common
8 it'll the whole country, TO the President for having
vetoed those bills, which il appears ever received
te appreciation ofany person IL does asonish me- how
ever, that this proceeding between the President and
his party in Congress should have been made
argument in favor of abolishiug the veto power.
This argument if prove any thing at all, sets the
seal Of condemnation 10 the measures OF the late extra
session. and TO the extra session itself 1t is demon
of the basty and immature egis
,non Of that session. In the flush OF party triumph.
the Wings rushed into it, before passion had time to
cool down into that calm deliberation, essential TO
the wise and harmonious operation OF the different
branches Of the Government. They took little
to consult and 10 deliberate, 10 reconcile their conflict
ing opinions and interests, and above all to ascertain
ard fix their real political principles which they had 40
sedulousy concealed from the public eye throughout
the contest that but those no We've heated and
excited beyond the bounds Of reason anticipated
any result but DIVISION DISASTER and defeat, from the
extra session The party FIRST pursued course which
have inevitably led TO the defeat which they have
experienced, and would then revenge themselves tor
lheir own misconduct by assailIng the veto power.
The lesson which we have received will teach Con-
gress hereafter not to sacrifice its independence by
consulting the Executive will. Let them honestly
and firmly pass such acts as they believe the pubic
good requires. They will then have done their duty.
Afterwards let the Executive exercise the same ho-
ncsty and iirmness in approving these acts II he
any Of them, he is responsible 10 the Peo-
pie, and there lie ought to be left
Had this course been pursued at The Extra Session,
Congress oud have passed act 10 establish an old
fashioaed Bank of the United States, which would
have been vetoed by the President. TAR issue
would thus have been made for the decision Of their
common constituents There would then have been
frien do hiS OF
to submit the humiliation of justiiyng the mselves
before the people, the principle that they were
willing to accept something which they knew 10 be
very had, because they could not obtain that which
they thought the public good demanded.
This whole proceeding, Sir, presents no argument
against the veto power although 1t does present, IN
striking light, the subservlency of The Wing party IN
Congress to Executive dctat"n. We may, indeed, IT
nsensibe 10 rights and independence, give all
undue influence To the veto power; Gut we shall never
produce this effect confne ourselves TO our own
appropriate duties and leave the Executive to peifrm
his This example will never, think be initiated by
any party in the country and We shall Then never AGAIN
be tempted 10 make war on the veto power
To show that this power ought be abolished tie Sc
nato has referred to limitations given on this floor, du
ring The administration OF General Jackson, that such
aud such acts then pending would be vetoed, passed
Such limitations may have been III bad taste; but what
do they ppoye: The Senator does not and cannot say
that they changed single vote. in the instances
to which he refers, they the declaration OF Tact
which was known, or might have been known. to The
whole world. A President can only be elected by
majority Of the people of the several States Through
out the canvass his opinions end sentiments on every
leading measure of public policy, are known and dis.
cussed The last election was exception to this rule;
but another like will never again occur IN our day
H. under such circumstances, act should pass Con-
gress notoronsly in violation OF some principle OF vital
IMPORTANCE which was decided by the people at his
election the President would be fahess 10 the duty
which he owed both 10 them and TO himself, IT he did
not dsnpprove the measure. Any person might then
DECLARE in advance, that the PRESIDENT would veto
such bill. Let me imagine one or two cases winch
may readily Is it not known from one end OF
the Union 10 the other aud even IN every log CABIN
hrou chout its extent that the Senator from Missouri
Gar Be nton has unconquerabe nnupathy TO pa
per currency, and an equally unconquefaoie pfeaec
ton for hard money Now, fine should be candidate
for the Presidency-and much more unlikely events
have happened than that he should be successful
candidate would not his election be conclusive ev'-
dence that the people were III favor OF gold and sllVer
and against paper? Under such circumstances, what
else could Compress anticipate whilst c6ncocung an
old fashioned Bank Of the U. s., but that he would
inst antly veto the bill the day II was presented to
him, without taking time to SIT down IN ms fre-
sdenaI chair; (Great laughter, IN which Mr. Ben
ton and Mr. Clay both joined heartily Let me pre-.
sent reverse cuse. Suppose the distinguished Be.
nator from Kentucky should be elected President,
would he hesitate, or, with his OPINIONS ought ne 10
hesitate a moment in vetolHg an Independent lreu-
sur should
sure: And If !, as q member OF the Senate, Wereto
assert in the first case which have supposed, whilst
The bank bill pending, hat It would most certainly
be vetoed 10 what would this amount Would It be an
attempt bring Executive nilut nee to bear on Con-
gross; Certainly not Ii would only be the mere as
sertion of we'll known fact. Would il prove any
thing against the veto power: Certainly not; but d.
recy the reverse. it would prove that II ought 10 Dr.
exercsed-that the people had ~iIed, by the fresoen-
tial election, that it should De exerc's.o-ana 'a' ]"
hich al m nd
N authorization of the exercise OF the veto power IN
cases which had already been decided by the people,
ought exercise restraining influence over congress
Ii should admonsh them that they ought not 10 pace
themselves in hostile array against the Executive, and
,bus smborross The administration Of the Government
by the adoption of measure which had Decn previous
" condemned by the people II the measure be rght
in itself the people will at the subsf quent elections,
reverse their decision, and then, end not I'll men,
ouvh, Congress to act No, SIR; when We elect Pre-
sidcni we do in view Of his future course OF ACTON
inferred from his known opinions and We calculate,
with great accuracy what lie will and what he VIII not
do The people have never yet been deceived IN Ieia
ton TO this NATTER has been abundantly shown by
their appreciation of every important veto since The OIL
gin of the Government. -,
This veto power was conferred upon the President
to arrest unconstitutona nprovdent, and nasty ie'
pislat,on. Its intention, Gf may use word not
much according my tasteD was purely conferva-
tive To adept the language of the FedeIalist vi es'
abshcs a salutary check upon the legislative BODY
calculated TO guard the community against the ehec's
Of acon, preciptsncy, of any impulse unfriendly
to the public good, which may happen to influence a
majority Of that body, Congress Throughout the ne
whole book whenever the occasion offers, feeling oil
dread is expressed lest the legislative power might
ransce nd the limits prescribed 10 it by the Const'tu-
ton, and ultimately absorb :he other powers Of the
Government, From first to last, this fear is manifest
ed We ought to forget that the Representatives.
of the people are not the people themselves. me
practical neglect of this distinction has often led to
The overthrow of Republican Institutions Eternal Vi:
GLANCE i. The price Of liberty and the people should
regard with jealous eye, not only their Executive,
body proceeding from the people, snd clothed with
Their confidence naturally uls suspicion TO sleep; and
when disposed beay its trust, can execute ITS pur
pore slmos, before their constituents take the alarm:
Il must have been well founded aRprehensons OF