Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-26
TwENTY-sEYENTH coNGREss--2d Session

!, TwENTY-sEvENTH CoNGREss--2d Session.
SPEECH OF rnE Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN, OF
PENNSYLVANIA, in support Of The ptfo p0'sT' ana ~
reply to the Hon. H. Clay Of Ksntueky-Drivered
in the United States Senate, Wednesday, February
g 1912.
MIR. BUCHANAN being entitled TO the floor, ad-
dressed the Senate as follows:
| Mr.. President: | am now sorry that ever committed
myself TO make speech upon this subject, assure you
that il hrs hecGme extremely cold; emo ,n'hk never
shall again pledge myself 10 address the Senate al The
end Of week or ten days, 10 be occupied IN Tile as
cussion of intervening ard different question Soid
the subject had become it is now still colder, AFTER
having waited for hour hear debate on The mere re-
ference Of memorial TO the Committee on Commerce.
But although the subject may have los! its freshness to
my mind and may not be able to reply TO the Sena'
tor from Kentucky [Mr. Clay with as much ehect as
If the discussion the Bankrupt bill bad not inter-
vened yet has lost of its intrinsic Importance
i Before | commence the discussion, however, let me
clearly and distinctly state the question to be decided
by the Senate.
Under The Constitution Of the U. States, it now
exists
every bill which shall have passed the House Of
Representatives and the Senate, shall, before II become
law, lie presented 10 The President Of the u 5; II he
approve he shall sign it, but not he shall return IT,
with his objections 10 that House in which it shall have
originated who shall their objections at large on
their journal and proceed TO reconsider H. u after
such reconsideration ro thirds Of that House shall agree
to pass The ill., shall be sent, together niM Mc oclte
lions TO the other House. by nhich IL shall iketcse be
rtconsidred and 1npprored by co thirds cfh0t House,
IL shall become ialo But, all such cases. the votes
of both Houses shall he determined by yeas and nays,
and The Of the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered the Journal OF each House re-
snecyely If any bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days Sunday excepted) after it
shall have been presented 10 him, the same shall be
law in ike manner if he had signed it, unless The
Congress- by their adjournment, prevent It's eturh' III
v hirh case it shall not be 4 law
The same constitutional rule IS applicable 10 "every
order resolution vote TO which the concurrence OF
the Senate and House of Representatives may be ne
cessary, except on question OF adjournment
Tic oint resolution offered by the Senator proposed
to change the existing Constitution, SO as to require
but hare msiory of all the members belonging TO
ench House 10 pass any bill into law, notwithstanding
the Presidents objections.
The question then is, whether the Constitution ought
TO be SO amended to require but bare majority OF
all The members of each House. instead of two thirds OF
each House, overrule the Presidents veto; and, IN
my opinion there ne yer important question
presented TO the Senate Is il WISE or is 1t republican,
10 mike this fundamental change IN our institutions:
The great Wing party q the country have identified
themselves in tie most solemn manner, with this pro
posed amendment, Feeling sensihiy, by sad 'xper'.
ence that they had suffered Stree the late Presidential
election from not having pre- rous'y presented clear
exposition Of their principles ITO the public eye thty
determined no longer 10 suffer from tins cause. Ac.
codinqly the conscpt fuhers Of the church assembled
in convention at the city Of Washington, the 18Th
Scptember ast-at the close oil the ever memorable
Extra Sesson-and adopted an address to the people OF
The u S. This manifesto contains distinct avowa oil
the articles of their creed and first and foremost among
them all is Pronunciation Of the veto power shall
refer very briefly this address; although, TO use the
language Of my friend, the present Governor OF Ken
lucky, !, contains much good reading So exasperated
were feelings Of the party then, and so deeply were
l H. ,~Ttl ,ar That
thry sc!.mnIy and formally read John Tyler out Of the
Wing church, because he had exercised il agalnst tie
bills 10 establish "a fiscal agent and "fsca corpora
ton of the IT, s. The form Of accommodation bears
u resemblance 10 the Declaration of Independence
which severed this country forever from Great Britain
.bsll give il in their emphatic language. They
declare that John Tyler
"By the course he has adopted in respect 10 the ap
plcation Of the veto power 10 two successive bank
charters each Of which there was just reason 10 be.
irvc would meet his appreciation; by the withdrawal OF
confidence from his real friends in Congress and from
the members of his Cabinet by the bestowa OF IT upon
Others notwithstanding their notorious opposition TO
lending measures Of his Administration, has volun,ar
~ separacd himself from those hy whose exertlons and
suiFrcges he elevated 10 that nihce through which
lie reached his present exalted station" &c, &c.
After long preamble, they proceed to specify the
duties which the Wing party are bound to perform 10
the country, ard the very head Of these duties, the
destruction OF the veto power contained in the Con-
stitUtion STANDS prominently conspicuous.
inr is the nguage which they have employed:
"First A reduction of The Executive power, by
further Limitation OF the veto so as to secure ODE
dicnce 10 the public WILL as that shall be oppressed W
the immediate Representatives, Of the people and ne
STATES with no other control than that which is lnds
pensablc 10 avert hssly legislation
Mark me, Sir the object is not to secure obedience
To- Ike putlic will IS expressed by the people thcm-
selves, the source of all political pswer, but as ex-
pounded Icy their Senators and Repre- senatlves in
Congress.
.o the ctec,uation Of these objects, ought the
t;ons of The Wings TO be hereafter directed? Z" And
thpv make direct appeal 10 the people, by announcing
that "ihose only should he chosen members OF Con-
ure.s who are willing cordially to cooperate in the ac
| complishment Of them. Twenty thousand copies oil
This manifesto were ordered TO be printed and crcula
ted among the people Of the United States.
This appeal 10 the people, Sir, was vain one. The
avowa Of their principles destroyed them. The people
did not come to the rescue never was there more
disastrous defeat than theirs at the last Fail elections
Immediately after their triumphant victory THINK lea
vsn the ppnpe have not thus far responded 10 this APP
peal and trust they may never consent TO abolish te
veto power Sir, the Democratic party in regard to
This pow er in lie language Of the Gousby BaTons ol
England centuries ago. are not wiling that Inc caf
ter of Their Liberties shall be changed We shall hold
nm TO this veto power of the mos efiectual safe
guards of the Uncn, and one OF the suFest means Oh
Carving into effect the will OF the people.
In MY humble JUDGMENT we wise s'a'esmah 'oe"'
ecu,v IN yuid foolish ncraun for oncien lnslilu.
lions on The one hand, and restless desire for change
IN The ether In this respect, the middle is the safer
course. Too grea, vcneraton for antiquity would
have kept mankind in bondage and the plea of desr"ts
and tyrans in every age, has been, that the wisdom OF
past generations has established nstitutios which The
ocnpp ought moi TO touch with sacrieg!ous hand
Our ancestors were great innovators and, had they
not been So the darkness and The desPotsm hch ex
,sed thousand years ago would have continued un-
Ill The present moment. For my part, believe
HAT the human race, from generation to genera
lion. has in the nam heen advancing, and will con-
tnue to advance, in wisdom and knowledge; and
whenever experience shall demonstrate that change
even in the Federal Constitution will promote the hap
pness and prosperity Of the people, shall not hesitate
to vote in favor uf such change Still, there are cr'
cums,nnccs which surround THIS ms runrnt with pecu
| Ii, .,.u h. " .se and as