Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-02-03
Il II % u d R T. - - 4.
SECOND SESSION
WAsniNoroN Jan u, 1872
UNITED STATES SENATE

NIIED STATES SENATE.
The Senate Chamber this morning was immensely
crowded The door ways lined with ladies', and
the ladies gallery was filled To its utmost capacity
he attraction was an expected speech from Mr. Clay
ul"nihe proposed amendments Of the Constitution
MORNING BUSINESS.
The morning commenced with the reception of memo
rails MI KALAMAZOO presented memorial from
iioN sgn'd by citizens formerly opposed the Bank
rnpt Law, but the friends Of the mcasurc-Also
ten memorials irom New York city, the proceedings of
large meeting, and several from the country all remon
sra,lng against the repeal
| MIR. IAl.LMAD,E. in presenting the New York
proceedings, remarked that whatever the efforts Of men
might be to prevent 1t the poop of New York had abo
lshed party feeling and united in defence oi this
measure. The Resolution. of the New York meeting
were read. and referred 10 the Committee ON III, judi
ciafy
Like memorials were presented by several Senators,
including Nlessrs. YOUNG. BERRIEN CALHOUN
MANGlM EVANS and WRIGHT \ number of
circumstances were also presented by Nv WALKER
and Alr. BENTON.
Mr. MouTON. in presenting his memorial took
occasion 10 that he WAS opposed To the lIankmm
Law, but holding himself instructed he should vote
galns' the repeal, pos'ponement amendment, Of the
Law
The petitions ALL except one or two in opposition
TO any interference with the Bankrup, Law They
came from all sections OF the country.
ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS-
MI KING Of Ala. introduced Resolution fixing
Monday the 3Oth of May day OF adjournment Of
the two Houses of Congress The resolution lies over
Mr. King hoped would meet with the favor of Con
gross
SPECIAL. ORDER
The special orders for this day were called On. be
ing Mr. CLAY : proposed amendments to the Cons
tuition.
! Mir CLAY spoke in defence of hi, Resolutions. II,
SAID that IN introducing them he had acted in the consc
cntions discharge Of public duty tie regretted that
some ADLER aud more sLnlnl Senator had moved in
tins matter, but ~ seemed likely do 81 he had
though proper 10 bring the subject before the Sspate He
had not been prompted to upon this subject by recent
events though recent events certainly had manifested no
change 10 call for neg ec oi action reference To this
great object
Seven years since, Mr.. {. continued a lanencd
iiend OF his now more but then repr,sentlno the
State Of Maryland, had moved in this matter mud in
conjunction aud and operation with him In his flan
o,er speech, before change of Administration he had
argued that of the first the poyernmcn, should
be a crcumscrbiug of the Executive Power in pen
eral, and of the Veto Power in particular He was
therefore, but redecmlng pledge Of his when acting
thus.
Mr. Clay then said thai in all truth and snccrity he
"as IN favor ot seeing party coming power re-
decm'ng all It's pledges, and opposed To- allowing any
party IL aSandon their principles by their precepsIhc
Veto power winch WAS begun by Agusn was abolished
said Mr. Clay IN the rein Of Constantine and beginning
here he glanced mNo', at seNercse from tune time
III the different Governments o the Old World Its ex
orese by the Colonial Power was also re-, rcd TO be
np III The tofm OF double Noto, veto hy the >tcnpI
and setoby the Crown. The veto po,cr was warmly
discussed at tins time. The Of ia insertion a
mong the articles of the Constitution was discussed hr.
" As we'll as the relative power n the States and OF the
General Government.
II commended that the States had made moro on
croaehments upon the General Government than the
Government had upon them 1t with the nc
ton OF Congress. In reference to the treaty making
power there could be no doubt that the farmers Of the
Constitution designed that the Senate should be consult
ed In all the lnltatory steps of treaty Yet this
not done and how often il that the Senate as
scented to treaties to which would have assencd
had II had the framing of them. so of removals
from Office. The officer held his office upon Execu
tive and Senatorial tenure, but upon the will and breath
of one man.
The assumption Of the purse, Mr. {. said by the
Executive was an exercise of tins interference upon the
rights OF Congress and the People The Removal OF
the Deposltes was cited as high handed example
which had placed the purse OF the nation the foot Of
the Executive Secretaries of the Treasury had been
removed from office by the Executive Of the United
States, and countless officers had gone with them for
refusing To obey the will of man. The Executive
had imposed his arm, in the Of the Florida Sc
dentary Volunteers when Congress had refused To
grant his requests. He would tell gentlemen who
were now engaged IN dcylslng plan for the safe
custody OF the public money, that they would fail in
any effort to separate the Executive power from the
ton.
Mr. Clay then went back the design Of the trainers
OF the Constitution IN the establishment of form Of Coy
eminent which separated into the Judicial. Legsa-
tive and Executive branches of the Government Why
should the Executive have the of the Veto pow
err Why was tnot as necessary 10 the Judiciary
the Exccntive} Why should there be apprehension
that there would be hasty legislaton}
MIR. Clay then referred to the State Constitutions to
show the exercise Of the Veto Power among theln.-
Nine Of them had the Veto Power with power as un-
der the Constitution of the United States
by vote Of two thirds of the Legislature. Eight OF
them had the Veto Power he proposed in his Rcso-
luton, TO be resisted and finally by a MAORI
ty of the Legislature Nine of them did not have the
Veto Power Incorporated with their Constitutions and
if their had been any evil resulting from this, should
have heard of it.
nder the two-thlrds principle, said Mr. Clay.
President had power equal to nine Senators and forty
Representatives. Six OF our Presidents had had
this body and by transferring them the other end of
the Avenue you gave each OF them power equal to nine
Senators and forty Representatives Was it not enough
that the President surrounded with the glitter and
power of the office without adding this the many pow
ers which he otherwise possessed
Mr. Clay said he would ask if it right and proper
that executive coming from State, as he did and
feeling as he always would prediction for his own
State should have thispowerl So long human nature
what was. this feeling would be the controlling
one. MIR. Clay commended, too that theVeto Power un,
der the requisition of two thirds overcome was tam
amount to absolute Veto Power
The effect of this Power next considered II drew
after 1t the legislation OF the country 1t arrested the leg
sation in its 1t submitted legislation the Ex
ocutive. 1t kept tht Legislature in doubt to the ac