Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-06

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dreaded |, cannot create it can originate no measure
il can chanre no existing law IT can destroy no exist
np institution 1t is mere power 10 arrest nasty 4
iuconsidcra,e changes, until The voice OF Inc people,
who are alike the masters oil the SENATOR, hePieSeha
,yes and President shall be heard. When It speaks,
I'VE nus, all bow with Difference 10 the decree Public
oonion is irresistible IN this country IL VIII accom-
p,ish its purpose by the removal OF senators, epr
sentatiyes or President who may stand IN lis way
The President might as well attempt 10 s'ay Tue uo'
OF The an by erecting mounds oi sanc as 70 ,hS q
controlling the will of the people by The veto power
The mounting waves Of popular opinion would soon
nros,ra,c such feeble barrier. The veto power IS
every thing when sustained by public OPINION; out no
thing without 1t.
VIVA, il this Constitution under which we live, and
wbat are we? Are we not the most prosperous, the
mos, free and amongst the most poweriui hsuohs oh
the face of the earth, Have not attained TINS pre-
eminence in period brief beyond any example re-
corded in history under the benign influence OF tins
Constitutions and the laws which have been passed IN
der its authority, Why, then, should we, WIN ruoe
hands, tear away OF The cords from this wisely pa
lanced instrument and thus incur The danger OF impair.
nr or DESTROYING the harmony and vigorous acton OF
the whole; The Senator from Kentucky has not, IN
nv opinion, furnished with any sufficient reasons
! And after all what harm this veto power ever
do, 1t can delay the passage oil great public
measure, demanded by the people, more IMAM Two, or
At the most four years il it not better, them 10 sub.
nit 10 this possible or has never yet
occurred0 than destroy the power altogether, II
is not probable that il will occur, because u The
President should disregard the will OF the people on
apy important constitutional measure winch they de-
sired, he would Sign his own political death warrant
No President will ever knowingly attempt to do It; and
his means of knowledge, from the ordeal through when
he must have passed previous to his election are supe
ror TO those of any other individual de will never,
unless in cases scarcely 10 be nag ned resist The pun
lac will when fairly expressed. 1t is beyond the ma.
ture Of things TO believe otherwise The veto power 10
that featureof Constitution which is most conser'
yaye of the rights of The States and the rights OF the
people. May ii be perpetual
ADDRESS or TIE DEMOCRATIC MEMgERs RS. OF TIE
| OHIO LEGISLATURE TO TIE PEOPLE OF THE sIAIE
| psoyie of Oaio-A series Of most extraordinary
events which have resulted in the overthrow and an
inhalation of Representative Government ~ ONO, I'M
pose upon The duty to acqualnt you with Inc iasts
which mark this startling epoch IN the annals OF our
Commonwealth.
Nv law. the General Assembly Of the State, was
convened and assembled at the Capitol, on the 10Th
of July last. Business of great public moment, and
general interest and importance, demanded and was
receiving the careful and deliberate consideration oil
your representative servants, when on the morning OF
the Ilh inst, twenty eight members OF the House OF
Representatives and thirteen Senator's by concert oil
action and under the preext Of resgning their seats,
retired from the Halls of Legislation, and left both
Houses of the General Assembly without that number
Of members which the Constitution requires Tor the
transaction of business
Every effort made on our part IN either iouse,
10 compel the attendance Of the absentees but the pro-
cess of the law was disobeyed-contemned, and the
public officers, charged with It's execution 'nsuted ana
menaced The Executive Chief Magistrate of the
State whose duty it is made by the Constitution and
the laws TO provide for the filling Of vacancies in the
LEGISLATURE as in other Offices, was then appealed TO
to perform his duty. Your Representatives were an
swered by that officer, that he could have no Official
communication with the remaining fragment OF The
law making power-that neither the Constitution the
laws his official OATH the responsibilities of his high
station imposed any duty upon him IN the emergency
Thus, was every peaceful, legal, constitutional means
on our part exhausted, unavangly, to preserve the
INTEGRITY of the Legislature, and TO vndIcate the su-
nremacy of the Constitution and the laws; and thus
were we compelled to the law.making power stop
ned in the full career Of its progress, literally annlhi
lated-you- government stabbed in the vital part by
successful insurgents against It's organic law
Fellow citizens The more immediate consequences
of this revolutionary act, the part of portion OF
vour public servants will be found in the almost total
abrogaton Of the entire legislation OF the session 1t
avas the people Of the State nothing that their Legs
laure had been seventeen days IN session, al an e1'
pense of thousands of dollars, and that measures OF an
al .pcryading interest TO the community measures
which would have been creditable TO the abors OF a
three months session on the point ofconsumma-
tion and The Legislature itself apon the eve of FORM
al and constitutional adjournment--a resolution fixing
on Monday the 18th inst, for adjournment, having
passed one branch Of The Legislature unanimously.
This &C, of the nsurgent members, which we cannot
gard less than predetermined and organized con-
spracy against the Government has arrested and pros
traied every thing.
The State has not been divided into congressional
districts although the bill for that purpose had passed
one branch of the Legislature and therefore, you can
not cleo, your representatives to Congress al the usual
and proper time.
The bin to provide relief for the suffering contract.
ors and aborers upon the public works, although had
passed one and reached It's second reading IN the other
branch, has failed.
The bill to provide for the appraiscment Of personal
property be sold execution, although had passed
both Houses and only awaited the signature of the
Speakers of the respective Houses 10 become law,
has failed.
The bill to tax brokers and prohibit fraudulent
rency, has failed
The bill extending the corporate existence Of the SOL
vent and specepaying banks of the State, under the
restrictive provisions of the act 10 regulate banking has
failed.
The bill 10 give mechanics lien upon the labor Of
their own hands, has failed.
These and many other Of absorbing interest
and imperious necessity, prayed for by
sttuency, have been defeated by this bold attempt TO
su5vert all government and law.
| But fellow Citizens, all these consequences Will be
l. in that much graver and weightier consideration
which arrest your attention-What is your duty
in this crisis.
By revol, from constitutional duty and legal obliga-
ton your Legislature has been completely paralyzed,
bereft of The power to constltutonaly adjourn
and terminate its existence This nsurgent procedure,
we feel called upon now in the exercise OF our best
judgments, pronounce act OF overt treason NOW,
il is TREASON: if you condemn il, coming generations
will pronounce TREASON, and these folled architects
of anarchy TRAITORS! IL you approve it, it will rank
as high precedent sustained and sanctioned by the
popular verdict containing all the virtue and validity
of the positive law and giving perennial vitality 10
the prerogutive Of minority TO ann'hate the law max
ing power in the Government, whenever the majority
shall moi obey their behests in lis exercise.
Fellow ciiizens this is The great issue in which oil
others lost presented TO y"u at this perous emer-
eency The momentous consequences that hang upon
lis decision, with you. The facts before yon.
You the only righ,iul triers. Your judgment is
final and rreversble
We humbly hope and confidently believe, that in this
extraordinary conjuncture, lovers of law and order
nay, as the supporters OF the Constitution of
Your Government We have fully acquitted ourselves
Of all our obligations.
Assuming responsibility imposed upon US by un-
comfortable circumstances, we have Informally sepa