Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-08

, th,t they really controlled the Senate, the only
remnant 81 republican institutions and affected &c
rulc the State. The tribuni;ian occupied lhe same
grade in the civil department Of power the inn
perial IN the military, 10 which alone the name inn
peIlal was originally appropriate.
Welll well what is the inference, said MIR Ar.
ehor, draw from this historical re;erence1 What
the use 10 which | apply in To derive evidence
OF the important truth in political science, that
whilst they preserve their name and even aspect,
Institutions may not only change, but reverse their
character, employment and operation that as the
I'll bunltian veto IN the Roman Republic passed this
process OF transformation, and ended appendsge
OF despo,ism and instrument Of power, the veto
power in our Government is in similar transition to
the result OF armng the Executive authority with
| new weapon against legislative independence and
| liberty. An absolute Veto and such ours has be-
come, or IS becoming, makes, IN time, an absolute
| Executive.
! His friend from Pennsy lvania had been as little
successful, (f he might be allowed to say SOY in
the support he had sought for his argument from
English as from Roman history. The argument he
had TO meet, rested on the I'M lie and injurious
force which II was the tendency OF the veto pow or
to give to the Executive authority. Now, in what
way did he derive counerpoise 10 this argument
from English history Why, he repealed the inn
puiations on the power, from the fact which he al
legged, that the exercisc-attrbule as It was OF
Royal authority in Englaud-had been forbosne Tor
an hundred and my years, with the exception OF
two instances, which he specified. Aud he insist
ed on the inference from this non user against the
liability to abuse, OF any dangerous character of the
power.
Now the inference OF others from this non user
hau oeen exactly the reverse OF that of his honora
Die friend, that 1t was power OF character So in.
viiious IN the exercise that IL had been deemed mo.e
eNpedent TO introduce and have recourse TO prac.
ueo OF coruptins the Legislature, to obtain 4 con-
trol on legislation; that this engine Of control even
IN That strong Government. an aspect Of yiCor
100 imposing 10 warrant the continuance OF its en-
ploymen' IN that liberty loving land, amid that
people ever Jealous OF their legislative safeguards
how curious, too, were the examples which his
friend had introduced in aid Of IN argument i'm
DENIAL OF liability OF this veto power to mischief or
DANGER
The first o. these examples had been the rejection
/ OF tho sc piennial act by William l.I Now what
was the character of this exAmp!o7 The Enrltsb
people, enjoying only the scmbincc OF n popular
representation, (ior septennia tenure created little
more than semblance,) achieved q great politica,
revolution, oveTtuTninS lors established DYNASTY
-convulsng their state IN vinjcaion of their hber
ties Amid the fruits of ihs successful effort thew
desire 10 have included the beneficial realitv or IN
approach to II, OF the only effective guaranty for
hoerty-an effective representation. Bot a foreign.
er who, as the instrument OF their triumph, thew
had placed upon their throne makes the discovery
mat 100 immediate control of the people over tic
government not convenient OF pleasant arrarse.
mont oil the authorities OF Government TO the mon.
arch, on whom It puts bride in favor of the pso-
pe. n brave though not had man, he EMPLOYS
the repei!ant energy Of the veto power, and the
people are RENTED by It's exercise tn their original
condition, Of partial IN place OF effective control
over their government. And this was one OF the
instances which his friend had to adduce in favor of
the innocuous character of this power-onc OF the
proofs 10 testify IN its vindication!
Inc other example was no less pregnant of in.
Sruetlon. Ai;er an age OF bisoted and -sbhorrent
dlVcstture OF hve or six millions Of usoDe N Ire.
land OF the first right OF conscience anj n,,ure-tb
freedom OF religious opinon-a dvessiture enforced
IN Al the most shocking modes Of the mos, ds,esta
oe 'ori o. oivi' dominaiion-lt appears from this
authority Tor his argument, said Nj A. Of my hono
rao'e TREND, that the conscience OF the British lie
sisaiuFe became enlightened 10 the atrcsi,y Of tbis
od'ous suoJusauon OF their fellow subjects, ana
produced proposition no, 20 susscnter-ikat
was ho1 me import OF the measure Prop-scd-but
somewhat 10 relax ITS riscr and a5aie It's osiouspess
MS measure O Just ai0aer7sn sn5 - e: ercour-
tereo, u seems, oy the siaiemcul Of my hono-abi.
iTienc Inc cd not, Mr. y. ,.t rs-,er6s- The fs-.l
me Ne'o O. me contac-e- s-5 islo-an; 3 -. yvho
sax Al NE tine On TIE St,-sn itro-s. And this !.
Me iuriheF instance vhich ny fsis1- tas p-o5r,ss
from British history O. ne a-ie sss ss,s: 49,
inis veto PoSes - hat Government mast e re---s
e.
NJ Baeh.n.a hsEs rose to eI7Ai-- z. Aa5
-l.s1 t5ess -nx-sn-ss. n0s O. s-oE lie
;ne PosFs- " lie Br,iss Taro-s IL 80 80.
Woft-y, ~ or IL cc--lry % c1r-.s. IS er.-c =
y ~ esre11-zry severe 3, - - n Ers--..v.
s.sstec - tIs Pe5--
NJ Ar-as. res-ns5. e --,s--e t5--..--- q
g.
shoS ne c-e-s-51 ~ c1--1--sr . as 80 :
a. Axecc'lEe lnstr-1s1t- zts-. 80 srs---ss rs
IN AZ -ne FoEs: osJ o1- c1-.-o n :: rs -r-zs
Oy i1e b----s1 Co-s.- -isoc, an vas osao1 - L
pra-'lcs uzas- or oEr- Nr A. KS =: szs-s q
9--s' r5ir--s g IS e-e-ciss, u lscsr: B-:ss -
toy. Isess were EuS-isl; 70 c5rvlct tie -o-s-
.n0-=h s oerins, o. oeins p-rlo-s, a-d u-Et .
&c r-ts.nso un2Gs Led = = f,ee Co-s:s:-ts--.
Eese last.t-es e1-ep;e-, ne po=sf rad nct besr
exertec N EnglaLc f1r ar hrncrsc slt fsy v-s-s
Wei, Uh1i was i5s eonc as5ni In 81 he 80.
icoes, mutations, ard disorders o. parry cou;sr.5
and changing ministries, (snl they have 5s..ssr-.
cani,l 10 hat kingdom, thus pczsr g rsgsr5si n
character which 10 party dare invoke s-d n No.
isi-r Convenient as the rszor must f-srgsrt, 80
oeen) may presume % exercise Wos.d his to,o.
r-o.e if!end draw the Observation-Disclosures the dr.
itine 20 ne country, that the power which Wa too
strong Tor he Eng 50 Constitution was weak epooS
Tor ours' II 50, with OH respect he Iss eoc5.rnrs5
10 onerenee from his friend, IL inference and OBI.
mon, on the subject.
Would any Be led 20 suppose, from tie earnest,
ness Y N which he advocated the pfooosition n
CORRECTION o. tbs veto power, tia, he had any ina.
presson Of the Success Of the amendnlsn, ,irs, r-
l5eratloni For ihsi as would be ser r,.s.,tIy d
re CD no; look 10 vote himself he had an amend.
'nent % suggest 70 u. But would any slDrss tts,
ne mad anticipated the success Of the proposition in
sitheriorm7 Not Of all. lie was aware fylIy
tnai ihere was no prospect, scarcely possibility Of
ne adoption, ever OF any amendmeni 70 the cor,ti.
tuton-tIls now proposed, or any other. A'tbougb
re "es N iavOur Of an amendment on this subect Of
the veto power, and II the Office were confaed 10
him, o. introducing amendments would, PERHAPS.
nave some others n suggest, he wss entirely willing
nay, uuy pleased 70 COMPOUND for the loss Of these
IN the glsd conviction the loss was more than com
pensated by the fact that tie Constitution was
almost certainly placed beyond the reach Of change
or modification. Thank Heaven that il was 20
IL was not relevant 20 the discussion 70 20 into the
reasons, but tie proposition the subject Of IN
almost genera conviction, and the preva of this
cohVi-uon "ouIo have strong tendency 70 confirm
the auspicious conscq fence.
lie thought that the spirit OF the time raw o,,,
that were amendment available 10 the Con.li,ut on
3, would be the delCierous only which would hive
prospect oil success and that they might be expected
successfully 70 open the way FOR others OF the .arns
character we had cOnfrmatory evidence Of thus
supposiion ~ the successive Constitutions Of our
new states "a they had seeded 10 the Union
1 here was small danger IN affirming, Of each. In
the series OF the past, and would be as small IN
predicting Of the series which was 10 foloy. that
every one would be more deeply irnJusd with he
spirit OF DsmOcucy-ihat was 70 say. would be
less RepubIcnn-aitord less effective punrantie. IN
minority interests, and a sound civil order than the
predecessor. The case would be like thut Of Sot,n
passing 70 .ight-the first progress attended with
extreme difficulty; bot this trOd, prepared the path
over which the whole fraternity Of the damned
iound ready passage thereafter, ard always. "a
Why, then, i, would naturally be asked, had he
exhibited 50 earnest zeal IN tho discussion and re.
commcndaton Of TIC present proposition or aroeG,l.
/ nenU lie had very strong reason 10 innel--to
sus'ain-to animate him in this eoure. ours " q
| country IN which Opinion reigncd mistress. AZ
ter the contentious md the distrorfions- cell,