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

CONCLUDED
Mr. CHAIRMAN 1t must not be forgotten that the
Veto of the President is qualihed ana not absolute
If the American Executive possessed an unqualified
negotve upon the acts of Congress, there might be
some ground for that denunciation which has been
beaned upon this clause Of the Federal Constitution
II like the Roman Tribune, standing at the door OF
the Roman Senate, he could station himself IN the
Capitol and declare with single breath, every law
of Congress null and void, all parties would justly
demand curtailment of his despotic power. An abb
solute Veto the exercise OF harsh and unwecome
power which is apt to nourish pride and arrogance
on the part of the Executive and engender hatred
and faction in the Legislative Depart lent quail
fled Veto merely recalls the attention of Congress to
the subject; respectfully requests revision OF It IN
all its aspects and details states his objections 70 he
bill submitted to him. and requests re-examlnatioh
of the subject. The Veto power as it exists IN our
Constitutions is mild in its nature and salutary IN us
operation II is admirably calculated to prevent rash
and hasty legislation Ii cannot be denied that from
party spirit, popular excitement ana niI ;naIey
of which loudly demands the inerposition OF the Exc
cutiye do not say that the President will have more
virtue and wisdom than all Congress, but certainly
he is more aoof from factous comoinauohs ana rash
schemes than body which is too apt to lend Itself 10
the purposes of designing men. As he IS directly
responsible and Immediately amenabe to the people,
the guardianship of the Constitution may be safely M
trusted in his hands. When we look at our statute
book and see it filled with laws rashy passed, ire
quently amended often repealed and seldom free
from contradictions, must perceive the necessity
of check upon that spirit IN which they are CON
ceiyed. II is solid objection to the Veto that II
NAV prevent the passage of good laws The fact that
twothirds of Congress cannot be procured to their
support some evidence that they are not so plainly
expedient palpably necessary. IL, however, they
are loudly demanded by the public voice and the ma
tona interests, their enactment can only be delayed
for time until the people shall express their senti-
ments at the polls. The delay OF good law IS not
so mischievous the passage OF bad one II Is not
probable that this power will be exerted wantony or
frequently. The President being chosen by the peo-
pie is naturally soictous for personal popularity and
political influence He knows that before the nation
the contest is unequal between him and the assem-
bled representatives OF the people lie Is aware that
this power watched with Jealousy and dlstrs and
nothing would involve him sooner IN odlum than ITS
wanton or frequent exercise. That the Executive
will be slow to oppose the National Legislature to
arouse the attention and alarm the Jealousy OF the
nation by bringing forth this talent power and hid
den energy of the Constitution, the experience of the
Federal Government for fifty years fully attests.
Although many laws are unwisely passed, which, II
they had fallen under the blows OF the Executive
sceptre, the country would have experienced no loss
vet he remembers with Burke, that its repose is its
existence and its existence may be the means Of
ing the Constitution itself on occasion worthy of
bringing it forth. And | may hold up this stone in
our political fabric, which gentlemen are eager to
demoish to your admiration without subjecting my
self to the ridcule of him who in ancient times exh
bted single brick to give an idea OF house which
he wished to sell.
Mr. Chairman: They who are in favor of restrict
ing the Veto power have not disguised from the
ton the amendment which they desire adopted. A
distinguished member of Congress, from Kentucky,
Hon Carrot Davs) for whose talents and character
/ entertain the sncerest regard, announced through
the National Intelgencer that at the regular session
of Congress he would propose qualification of the
Executive negative. This proposition was to give
the President the power of returning bills with his
objections, and that this Veto should postpone any
ton upon them at the pending session OF Congress-
But at the next session majority should be in ia
yor of the measure, it should become law in spite
of the Presidents Veto. This idea is not new 1t is
borrowed from the French Constitution of 1871,
which the philosophers and statesmen of that Inflated
country laborcd in vain to perfect Every bill was
be presented to the King who might refuse his as
sent but II the two following legislatures were to pre-
sent the same bill in the same terms, it to be-
come a law | regret that they who are so eager to
refine and improve the Federal Constitution, should
be indebted for all their ideas to the dreamy theories
and Jacobin dogmas of Revolutionary France. i
shall not go into full anal yss of that abored and pom
derous SYSTEM the very worst features Of which,
they who have heretofore boosted of their principles
as conservative, are now striving to engraft upon
the Constitution of their country Its gross defects,
its papable absurdities, its enormous evils and
its short-ived existence have been exposed with
unrivalled ability by the greatest intellect which the
eighteenth century produced and long as the pro-
found reflections OF Edmund Burke shall be regarded
shoals upon which preceding nnovators have been
shipwIecked Let our Congress be clothed with the
power and inbued with the spirit OF the National As
sembly of France let our Presideut like their King
10 be the fountain OF honor and justice, and
stripped of his constitutional negative be nothing more
than ballff to the laws Of his country.
but the orders of hIs master and single revolution OF
the will bound the existence of our Consti-
tuition it did of theirs A nd we shall be subeced to
the snoniny of him who
Tranples brute like DER each flower
That tasks not laborous hour,
Nor claims the culture of his hand
To bloom along the fairy land
But springs to preclude his care,
And ,sweetly woos him but TO spare"
Mr.. Chairman trust the present age is not SC
oveIweenng its seltconceit with open
tempt the political sentiments of those ustrious sage,
whose bravery achieved our liberties, and whose pa
triotism foresight established our Republican Con
stlution. To trace the progress of the Veto powe
from its first proposal to its adoption by the Fedora
Conventions to compare the opinions of differen
members Who compose that august body to scan thu
arguments and reasons by which their respective
maintained will perhaps moderate our con
fJence in those who display greater zeal for the in
of the future than regard for The experience
the past, and influenced rather by the interested
dogmas of party leaders, than the enlightened views
of departed patriots and statesmen. The main bust
ness of the Federal Convention opened by Ed
Dund Randolph, who in fifteen propositions submitted
plan of government which formed the basis OF II.
deliberations, and which ultimately moulded into
the present Constitution Tie eighth resolution pro
posed that the Executive and a convenient number o
The judiciary should constitute council of revision
whose dissent should amount to rejection of the act
the National Legislature, and of the negative which
II may have passed upon the laws OF the particular
States, unless the act OF the National Legislature
should be again passed, that of particular Legs
lature be again negatved by - of the member
OF each branch. So jealous was Gov Randolph .
the encfoachments of the Legislature upon the othe
departments ofthe Government that Of his council o
revision part OF the judiciary, as well as the Execu
i've, members II was justly urged, however
by Mr. Gerry, that the Judiciary had suicien
check upon all encroachmenis upon this department
by their expo ition of the laws; the decision of tn
questions arising under the Constitution was in thei
branch and that il foreign from the nature 9