Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-26

..,,4n furnished 10 then would he found TO be 81
tho most . extraordinary character II would be t"unu
~, Wv ,..,, correspondence, that the British Govern.
- had tireale ned 10 come into our Territory, anu
,nrcc neutrality, II did not do u ourselves lie
lNr Liun> did not think that the publication oil the
-o,,nd.ncc III both these cases, could be al all IN
lions II III. interests Of The Government, and nc
wou,d cheeruly support the resolution, "heh Tue
question should up for its adoption
Ar ALLEN observed that his resolution was asking
, communication Of the correspondence relating TO
n,rcolar matter and incorporating with IT other sup
iects in relation TO which they had hearu ho,h'"g o
colly. would tend to produce confusion lie wouiu
cecrfny vote for resolution calling for Information
nnon Thai subject: hut lie desired that the vote mght
he taken upon his resolution as it now stood.
Mr. RIyES said il appeared to hiin 1t would be VIZ
,,aIlv ,nkius the department Of foreign affairs INTO
,hsir avn hands What was il the honorable Senator
Jos,,ed Not the facts connected with The case
These he was already III possession OF. 3u he wants
IN know in what The negotiation had been car
Rod IN between the two Governments. In what res
meet was the Constitution so impaired mat IL became
for the Senate Of the United States TO take
an, of the hands of the Executive the control OF
fre;cn nero,atiun' 1t said that the public inter
90, wos not likely sustain any detriment by the pub
caton Of these negotiations; but independently OF the
want of courtesy, and in delcacy towards the Execn
tive there were abundant reasons why all inquiry OF
his kind should not be made at this moment. The
very nature Of the remarks made by the Senator MI
Allen shows that nothing hut mischief could arise IRON
il The Senator talked ofsuspense and procrastinaton
and want of energy on the part OF the Government.
He MIR Rives) believed the present Administration
had these acts in terms OF great repro
ho,ion as did the preceding Where had the honorable
senator himself been during the four years that the
nrey;ous Administration had been sleeping over the
matter? Not, surely burning with the patriotism which
be now displayed. There no disposition during all
that time 10 inquire of The Executive regarding The pro-
oress of the negotiation. Every gentleman must see
that nj a moment like this, the true course would be TO
manifest ule trust in the Executive, and not press
forward motion of this kind, upon subject invoking
the question Of peace or war And he hoped the honof.
able Senator would view II III tins light
Mr. ALLEN replied. de said lie had complained
If The acts of no administration He thought he had
furnished satisfactory reason why lie desired That ths
resolution should be passed; and he wished the honor
able Senator from Virginia, also TO remember that
under sour" Administration the British Government
never took upon themselves the responsibility OF The
act but Immediately upon the "overthrow OF The De-
mocratc Administration, al least upon the announce
men, Of that fact the British Government changed It's
tone And the whole matter from that time assumed a
character which il had not previously borne.
Mr. CALHOUN remarked that IL If was thought by
those who were presumed TO represent the views OF
the Executive that floor, that the step proposed to
be taken might affect the Interests OF the country, OF
embarrass the pending negotiations, he should not
feel himself justified in voting for the resolution
He thought the Senate ought not 10 assume any re.
| suonsibty but leave it with those who were con.
Quoting the negotiation. He sincerely hoped such
negotiation would prove successful and honorable 10
the country In view Of the remarks Of the Chair
man OF Foreign Relations, he was unwilling to as
sumo any responsibility, and was compelled to vote to
| lay the resolution on the table.
I Mr. ALLEN demanded the yeas and nays on the
motion to lay the resolution the table, which were
ordered, and the question being put, was decided in
the affirmative, by yeas "a, nays l3
IN motion of MIR BENTON. his resolution instruct
ing the Committee on the Judiciary 10 report certain
amendments 10 the bankrupt law, was made the order
of the day for Friday.
The orders of The day brought up Mr.. CLAY'S re-
solutions 10 amend the Constltution-Alr WOODBu
RY being entitled to the floor.
The following is n outline Of the grounds main
tanned by Mr. WOODBURY.:
II Mr. WOODBURY. commenced by stating that ht
arguments advanced in support of one Of these reso
ulions that relating 10 the veto power, struck him will
surprise The very first cause set out in The Declare
ton of Independence was, that the King had refused
his assent to laws deemed wholesome and necessary
hut the complaint against King acting ~
rant, independent of the people and against their IN
terests, but had no reference TO an Executive powe
of the people themselves. As ours q revolution
against monarchical power arrayed against The PEG
pie it would be very natural, at the adoption Of h
Constitution, that strong prejudice should exist, no
only against the veto power but against the whole TX
ecu,ive power In the Constitution Of the States grea
anxiety wasevnced to limit those powers but after egh
wears Notwithstanding all the suferngs ofthe country
our fathers had the sagacity and wisdom to ncoporat
into the Constitution prudent veto power for the PEG
pie themselves and not others, and against their dele
gates and not themselves Some were in favor OF max
ing il an absolute power; but the mode now existing
was finally approved Of All the States then acquiesce
and approved; and after fifty years experience, it IS
matter not little remarkable that there has been n
proposition 10 establish or restrict the veto power
any convention Of the people or by any State Legsla
ture. The meeting Of Wing members Of Congress- con
vened last September, Immediately alter the extra ses
sion, not included his remarks for that was n
legislative power; it convention of the people
but partial though highly respectable legislative eau
Gus.
Even they smarting under disappointment, did NO
90 the length of destroying it, for they admitted, and
has ever since been admitted that The exercise of tn
power is occasionally wholesome and necessary. III
most that intended 10 be required in the manifest
before last June, was thaa voluntary abstinence OF In
power should be observed by the Executive, except
prevent has,y and unconstitutional legislation Wine
the veto power been useG except to avert has
ty and unconstitutional legislation But authorit
much relied on by the other side, is that of Genera
larrison; and what did he say, Was he not in iavo
of retaining the power for the same salutary pur
poses' In his inaugural address he says it is powe
highly expedent, and, if used in the spirit of the Con
stltution, may be productive of much good and be
safeguard Of the Union. He said it should be used t
} protect the Constitution from violation, and next t
Constitution have been dsregarded misunderstood.
: After this declaration, no longer than last March
: and the admissions Of the Wing Convention last Sep
TENDER, II seems strange that proposition should now
brought forward and started in this body to render thu
power imperative if not to abolish it. If The politica
party which Jealous at the time of granting h
power the party which now support it, have chan
ged their opinions, where is the evidence OF tia
change II was principle advocated by Hamilton
and are not the gentlemen the other side in favo
.4f al E,r thn hal
century during which this Government has been in
istence, acted uniformly in favor Of strong Govern
ment, TO warrant The assertion that if they held II
! their own principles they would not only support Il
its Utmost extent, The present veto power, butt if pos
sible render it absolute All their leading statesmen
and writers, then and since, strong authorities il
its favor But if the power right at the time of il
adoption i'll the Constitution, it is argued assumed
that it is longer so, because the executive power ha
been gradually increasing since, until now there il
danger Of its absorbing loo much power. lie held
was right then, and nothing had since occurred 10
4 hac al, II,