The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-06
REMARKS OF MR.. PAYNE ON THE VETO
MESSAGE.

| Mr. PAYNE referred to the debate which had
taken place on this message and regarded it as most
| extraordinary. Every anathema which 1t was pos
sble for gentleman who were opposed to the veto 70
select from the vocabulary had been used The Pres
dent had been denounced without measure as II gull
| ~ of treason or some other outrageous act Why
had these denuncations been heaped on the Presl-
dent? Simply because in the exercise OF his official
dny he had vetoed bill, the purpose OF which was
to repeal the provso of the act OF last session. which
declared that distribution should not take place when
the duties exceeded 20 per cent This was the com
promise of the bill of last session, without which 1t
could not have passed. The President had signed 1t
on that consideration and now, for faithfully carry
ing out he had been denounced here, and was to be
denounced throughout the Union. But those who
were DESTROYS of making political capital from this
would be disappointed; the President had thrown
himself on the side of the People by saying that they
should not be taxed to carry out the distribution
The Constitution not only gave the President the
power to do this but it expressly declared If he did
not approve bill that he should veto it--not on
grounds of constitutionay expediency, but simply
on the ground Of his non-approval If he did not APP
prove the BILL and failed to veto it, he would have
violated his oath to support the Constitution and been
Justly subject to those denunciaons which had been
heaped on him. But Mr.. p commended that this con-
duct towards the President was not incompatible
with the course of the Wing party. No person had
thought proper to give the slightest intimaton of what
their principles during the memorable canvass
of 1870; "log cabins, hard cider, coonskins," sc.
were the principles that he had been able to learn
from them There were indeed one or two princi-
pies that governed that party; one was to prescribe
prescription, and that, according to the confessions
of gentlemen themselves this floor, had been grossly
violated.
Mr. P. proceeded to say that the war waged on this
question rose far above the President of the United
States it reached him, but the principles involved
went far beyond that, and were change in the Con-
stitution of the country. Suppose the party now in
the ascendant here succeeded in this war on the Con-
stitutlon what would be the consequence The hrst
resistance to Executive power, but the very r a.
soning which, founded popular will, enabled them
to triumph over the President, would enable them to
triumph over the Senate also. The Senate were not
the representatives of the popular will not as much
so as the President. Would it stop here' No The
Judiciary department, which was vested with the IN
depreciation of laws, would also become obnoxious,
and be Frustrated under tho hypocrcal cant of re-
fleeing the popular will, and then this House would
have undsputed sway-contro every thing, and be
vested with power the life, liberty, and property
of the People.
What would be the conseq ence Of thus carrying
OUT their principles of popular w9 MIR. p. referred
to the history Of the FRI nch republic and to its Legis-
alye Assembly, which, under the pretext oil reflect
ing the popular WILL committed excuses, destruction
of life and enacted scenes of blood carnage, and de-
vastaton, at which humanity would shrink back with
CONSERVATION. This the fearful action OF Gov
eminent when controlled alone by one legislative
body These were to be the consequences, ii they
succeeded in their war on the Constitution But,
gloomy the anticipation, he had an abiding
confidence in the purity and patriotism of the Peo-
pie. All that necessary was to expose the IN
sidious designs of the present dominant party, and
they would be driven from power and others would
be put in who would be faithful to their interests.
Mr. P. concluded by saying that he would not &c
into an examination of the compromise act; that had
been ably done by the gentleman who preceded HIM
and having given his views on the veto, he would
yield the floor