Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-05

'ernnent We'll, the design aud Once OF the We To
Was check on the violent action OF the pre-
| dominating influence OF the STATE the will Of the
numerical majority. IL was to be placed on that
| department OF the Government, which was suppos
ed TO repre- sent this influence, and convey its action
to the Government, and with that other Depart.
ment, which was supposed a weaker representative
OF the same influence, TO lie exempt from II. This
was the theory, and the Just theory. This was
tue arrangement, and the proper arrangement,
| mode by the Constitution.
| But now stood the fact now, ~ ascettaincd by
the progressive development of the action of the
government Which was the organ now, which
carried the dangerous overweenng influence, which
poured the lmpeiuous torrent OF the will OF the
majority, chaied by obstruction, swollen to inunda-
ZION, on the machinery OF the Government Which
was the department that was made strong by this
poweti And which was the department that was
100 weak TO oppose resistance to it with effect1
mere were facts, said Mr. A., in recent history,
which spoke with melancholy, but conclusive de-
nonsuauveness on this point. lie referred TO the
memorable period OF the removal OF the dcpostes of
he pubic money from the place Of their lawful
Custody, 10y the order vi Gen. jackson. Ii was a
period aud an net Of which he well retained, aud
should always RETAIN all the Incidents in memory;
Tor he regarded the period and the act as pregnant
beyond all others IN history, with consequ ences
winch were TO give tone, perhaps destiny, to this
Government.
IIae fonie, dcrivata claics,
In paitiam populumquc hunt
IL was from this salient point that the phiesophic
Spectator the ruin OF our fedcratve system in
future time, would have the progress of that
disorder, IN the balances OF the system which was
Taught with this result, whether by constellation
or dissolution. | was at that time, (said Mr. Az
member OF the other House OF Congress, and well
remember the impression which, on assembling.
shortly after the act, members brought with them
OF ITS chaTaeter l drer, that IN the largest and
f'cest communication, | met with no one member
who dd not give expression TO apprehension. The
grounds OF this apprehension were various indeed
oy some, myself m the number,l the proceedn,
was arrasned as an outrage on primary and es.
senua guarantee OF limited government. BY others
as ca!cu ated TO operate inlgriousy on the credit
system OF the country, as il did most destructiyeIv
By others, as involving gross circumstances Of in.
suit to the legislative body indepc ndently OF the
usurpaiion OF IT'S jurisdiction. BY some, as an IN
discretion, which threatened shock To party ascen
daney. All blamed, none eNteuuatct-etiort was
made IN ono branch of the Legislature TO apply
REDRESS, 10 procure reinstatement of the deposi,es
IN the legal depository. In the other branch cen-
sure was proposed vindicatory OF the law and Con-
sntuion. With what results 10 these attempts
The proposition 10 redress the admitted wrong f,i.
ed, and 10 have been aiding 10 1t, put a political
brand, by the end Of the session, on the ab.ttor
equivalent 10 Pnce set upon his head. The pro
position OF cenSure prevailed in the Senate, the
| real checking department OF the Government How
short the time before this interpositlon even OF the
milo check OF oensure, by the appropriate checking
body, came 10 be treated audacious an oct not To-
be annu'led merely, but s!isaaiiEsd toh oppro.
brum Of our history by its cxpuneton from The
records of the body.
And was II the department of authority which
was OF force 10 achieve this triumph over the sense
OF the whole Legislature, TO tread down the really
checking department Tor preSumns 20 cxere - ne
checking office ? Was this the func,ion,rv which
required TO be armed with a veto on the legislative
oocyi Tor the counterscion OF It's excuses? The
ONCE o. patriotism (said Mr. \. } IN constitutional
Government, IS lot - lie down supine adherence
\ he MS,
have appeared at one time the weakest. and therc.
fore requiring support. What II demands is the
preservation OF the balance established beiseen
lhose members and powers, IN which the essence OF
me Constitution and the realization Of its benef,
consist. Does the weak department become strong
the strong weak, the support be tFansposei for
the maintenance OF equipoise. This was the lust
ineory. This subject Of the veto power offorcei
the Just eNcmpIheaton. The Legislature had been
the strong power prone overact for itself reprs.
seniing that influence in the State which was prone
10 overact on the Government. The check OF the
veto power had therefore been advisedly placed on
II. The Executive had been supposed 10 be tie
weak power Demanding guard for itself, and in us
han1 ior the balance Of the Constitution. The
guard OF the veto had therefore been properly nut
INTO Us hand But, IN the working Of the system
the Executive had come TO rep esent the overscting
lnhaenee, had become the tyre and eonsubs,an,a-
ton OF That influence, enabling II 10 in;tu5 on the
other departments rendering Il irresponsible for in
trusIon. Ii no longer required this quad Of the veto
po~er Tor It's own defence This guari could no
longer be uused with il, for the defence OF the
Constitution. The power mad los, rs character OF
guard, had become an engine IN the hand, from
which aggression and disturbance must come n
they were TO visit the Constitution. What was the
conclusion Were not institutions held 20 dsfeas-
anee with the failure Of the Tor their sstab
lishmen'; and yet more IN the perycrsion OF their
designi Ought they not, III any event, when they
iaad been found IN departure from that design 10 be
7 reformed into subsection TO it, Now this was the
purpose OF the amendment of his honorable friend
~ relation 10 this veto power; 10 abolish but 10
abri9gs the power; to reform II from an absolute
impairment 10 legislation, which It has undoubtedly
become, 10 a qualified obstruction for which alone
It was eoniessedy designed by the Constitution.
TO BE CONTINUED