Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-02
TwENTY-sEYENTH CoNGREss--2d. Session.
SPEECH OF T1nE Hox. JAMES BUCHANAN, OF
PEsssYLvAsis, in supper, IF Ms Veto p0usr, and IN
reply TO the Hom II. Clay, Of KfntHehy-D Delivered
in the United States Senale, Wednesday, February

reply TO the Hom H. Clay, of Kentaehy-Dsiveret
in the United States senale, Wednesday, Februar,
2, 1872 COnciudedf
Thus, Sir you perceive that to deprive the fresden
of the veto wer would afford no remedy against Exc
cutive Influence in Congress- if the President were dis
posed TO exertit Nay, more-it would encourage hin
10 interfere secrecy with legislative functions, be
cause deprived-0 the veto power, his only resource
would be To intrigue with members of Congress oI tho
purpose OF preventing the passage of measures which
he might disapproye. AT present this power enables
him TO act openl.and boldly and 10 state his reason
to the country for refusing his assent TO any act passet
by Congress. :
Apan does not the Senator perceive that this argu
is direct attack upon the character OF Congress
Docs he not feel that The whole weight OF his
in favor Of abolshng The veto power rests upon thu
wisdom, integrity, and independence of that body
And vet told that in order to Prsuent the appit
cation of the veto shall become so subserveht
the Executive that in the passage OF laws we will con
suit his wishes rather than own independent JuGg
ment The venaty and baseness of Congress are the
only foundations on which such argument can rest
and vet it is the presumption OF Their integrity ana WIS
dom oil which the Senator relies for the purpose o
proving that the veto power is wholly unnecessary, ane
| ought 10 he abolished
i In regard to this thing Of Executive influence
Congress, have few words 10 say. Sir, have beer
an attentive observer OF Congressional proceedings fol
the last twenty years. and have watched its operation:
with observing eye. shall not pretend to say that
it does not xist extent; but its power has been
greatly overrated II never become dangerous to
liberty unless the patronage of the Government shou!c
be enormously increased by the passage OF such nncon
situtional and encroachng laws as have hitherto taller
under The blow Of the veto power
/ The Executive indeed, will always have persona
friends well ardent political supporters OF his al
| ninisruon in Congress, who will strongly incline tt
view his measures with a favorable eye He will, also
have both aud out of Congress, expectants who look
to him for share of the patronage at his disposal But
| after all, TO what does this amount
/ Whilst the is proceeding previous to his
election, the expectations of candidates for Office will
array around him host OF ardent and active frenos
But what is his condition after the election has passed
and the patronage has been distributed Let me ap
peal TO the scene which we all witnessed in this city, al
and after the nau uraton of the late lame nled fres
dent IL is almos, impossible that office seeker ~
fifty could have been gratihed What IS the natura
and necessary result Of such numerous
Ii is 10 irrate the feelings and sour The minds OF The
unsuccc sful applicants. They make comparisons be-
tween themselves and those who have been successful
and self love always exaggeates their own merits ana
dcpreciaes those of their successful rivals, 10 such en-
extent that they believe themselves TO have been IN
iured. The President thus often makes inactive
friend because he feels himself III office, and
twenty secret enemies awaiting the opportunity 10 give
him stab whenever favorable occasion may offer
The Senator greatly overraies the power OF Executive
influence either among the people or IN Congress
By the time the offices have been all distributed, which
is usually done between the inauguration and the first
regular meeting of Congress thereafter, the President
| has but few boons to offer.
Again: il is always odious exercise oil Executive
power to confer Offices members Of Congress- un
less under peculiar circumstances, where The tihce
seeks The man rather than the the office. In point
of fact but fe members receive appointments and
those soliciting them always detected by their con
duct They are Immediately noted for their snbser-
yrency; and from that moment, their influence with
their fellow members is gone
ri NH
nconire over Congress- reflected influence from The
people upon their Representatives This is dependent
upon the personal popularity of the President, and can
never be powerful unless from The force oil his cha
ractpr, and the value of his past services, lie has IN
snired the ne ope with enthusiastic attachment
remarkable example of this reflected influence pre-
scented in the Of Gen Jackson; and yet IT high
compliment TO the ndepe ndence, if not 10 the wisdom
ofConrress that even he could rarely command ma
ority in both its branches Still is certain, n"lwh
standing tina, he presented most striking example OF
powerful Executive; and this chiefly because he was
descrvedly strong in the affections of the people.
In the yicissitude Of human events, we shall some
times have Presidents who can, if they please, exercise
too much and those who possess too little influence
over Congress- IL we witnessed the one extreme dur
inp General JAG son 8 administration, now have The
other before our For The sake Of the contrast and
without the slightest disrespect towards the worthy
and amiabe individual who now occupies the PresIden
,ia chair would say TINT if General Jackson present.
ed an example Of the strength, the present frtsoen'
nts an equally striking example OF the ieeoeness,
of Executive influence. ask what has all the patron
are of his high office done for him? How many friends
has it secured, most sincerely wsh Tor Inc gooo OF
the country md for the success OF his Administration
TINT he had much greater degree oil influence IN Con
oress than he possesses Ii for this reason that was
Glad to observe lew days ago, some symptoms OF re-
turning favor on this he Whg) side OF The House 10
wards John Tyler II better, much better, even thus
late that they should come forward and extend to HIM
helping hand than wishing to do So still Keep oil
distance merely TO preserve appearance OF consist
encv am sorry 10 see that from this mere afclatlon,
thew should appear coy, and leave the country TO
suffer all the embo which result from weak
Administration Here several oil the Wing Senators
asked iocosely why the Democrats dd not Volun,fei
their services 10 strengthen the Government On:
sa;d Mr. B noe cannot do that. What is merely an
onporent inconsistency in the Wings, would be real
Inconsistency in u.s. We cannot go for the Wing mea
sures which were approved by President Tyler al Inc
extra session. We cannot support the great Govern
ment Excbeouer Bank Of discount and exchange, WIN
,ts three for one paper currency think, however,
with all Difference, that my Wing friends on tins sce
of the House ought not to be sueamish on that SUD
iect | think my friend from Georgia Mr. Berren
n,oh, 10 90 heart and hand for the Exchcquer Bank
II p in substance his own scheme Of "Fscal Corpo.
rotion transferred into the Treasury OF the w. ana
Invested of private stockholders Let me assure gen
tlemen that their character Tor consistency VIII mol
suffer By supporting this measure.
| And yet, with the example OF this Administrator
before their eyes, the Wings dread Executive influence
40 much that they wish to abolish the veto power lest
the President, may be able to draw within its vortex all
the legislative powers of Congress! What world we
live in!
This authentic history is the best answer TO anohe
position of the Senator. Whilst ne believes that there
have been no encroachmens of the General Govern
meut OH the rights Of the States, but on the contrary
that il is fas, sinking into the weakness and 'moecy
of the Confedera,ion he complains OF the eneroach-
ments which he alleges 10 have been made oy e RE
sden the Legitimate powers OF Congress a'ne &C.,
from him entirely in both these propositions ana am
only sorry that the subject Of the veto power one 50
yasl tina, time will no, permit me to discuss them ..
present, This shall, however say mat tue saong
tendency of the Federal Government has IN my OPP
nion ever been encroach upon Tue I'gh.s o. 'ae
tow 70 establish The position Every violent struggle
threatening the existence ohe Union, which has e!'s.
cd in this country from the beginning, has arisen IRON