Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-07
IcnSrINuEp |

found to work, had no claim To vindicnton, in tho
nspect OF check on the usurpaton or overacton of
the Legislature. The remarks which were to follow
would have for their object to show that this power
IRON a check had been transformed into an engine
formidable the indep sndent action OF the Legsla
ture THIS view had been opened in the cument of
his friend from kentucky, (Mr Clay,) in The outset
oftho discussion but not conducted TO its full and for
cible conclusion, as was common IN ms dscusSions.
lie ha6 said that, by OF the exercise OF this
power, the Executive might at ain an initiative IN
our legislation. An initiative ON our legislation
exclaimed MIR Arcter. The Executive, by the c1-
orcise of this power may attain an initiative What
he (Mr AZ would undertake to demonstrate was,
That 1t control, no, imitation, which might bo
attained, and thit this control had been already
reached, as respected very important department
Of legislation. lie would give the reasoning. and
the facts too, to sustain there allegations fully and
beyond dispute. Let us suppose (shid Me- A.) con.
lunetures of circumstances, ami subjects of leasll-
iion, in which, and on which, legislation is very
strongly demanded by the public exisencies, or 10y
the public voice, These cxgencies, this voice. can
not I've condemned by the legislative bodies. They
mix with the people, and know the eXgency To h,
np,rative-hear the voice, and know that it viii
not BROOK inacion. Congress convenes in thes,
circumstances, under the influence Of the tempe
they nave inspired. They present, wish TO pre-
scnt the subject OF the desired legislation in tht
form which communication with the people, fnmii
arity with the crcu instances, instructs them 10 b.
tia aji pied TO the oNIsency, most approved
desired by tho people. Bu, the President has some
Ih,ory some commitment to oppose-sonle win
a Give feeling. it may be TO indulge party to tlwar;
os scourge, WHICH has obStrucled, or denounced or
renowned hun, or which lac thinks prepared or
prcpaing, TO obstcuct, or denounco or renourcr
'..t. q having lost the favor OF his proper parry,
Lc may have another to consulate and win; or hay
IN, no putty. which may vol happen 10 a inds.
e.. cst man, giving disgust by perNersenSsS. or n
,v.lii nan, become President Ivy accident or , Va
man. Ia, head turned by elevation, he has a party
o. make, which person in either Of these caic,o-
,s will never be found dslrusting his capacity To
10. Suppose a PIES iIent IN any ol these positions
~ app.i : the veto 10 the measure which public
eS'srnrY demands, or an imperlous public senti
ri.ut ~ apprehension Is indulscd Of his doing SOL
what is the CONDITION OF tie Legislature, decpIy
.ivo 90 the eysency of the crisis strongly mpe,lsj
g. lui the means ofaction IN some form, by nopu
l,r ins,sauon, 10y patriotic feeling. by party com-
u".meH', party policy What may be looked for
us 'Le course at us proceedns1 Legislation must
be bod. VIII the inquiry DC, what Is best That
by tie terms OF the supposIton would be vain. The
!n4Iry must he. what wall the Executive except ?
* hlt are tie modes 10y which hc cnn be most sue
o.ssiu.iy approached BY what forms and degree
u' 81 omission can he he coneiiialcd2 BY what
tcrTs o. bargain and composition may lac be wr0ueh;
10 yield portion oi the desired legislation Let
us .I-p',c him 20 he 4 vain mamie tNacls u large
co., s;iln 10 his vanity; vacilatins mamie re
% Hres the Ob,aiion 10 he tctqu-nily renewed; an
"..unttc man, (Which he may toe nj the same time
iIi.t he IS vlcnalns) lie shapes his own Terms.
20 be- played ioE his own ends. Experiments are |
first made - ascertain the extent OF his own OPT |
u'1as o. determination in the ordinary forms OF e
o's axiom. These fail, then the approach must be
ry .nq1rns what Will satisfy. Next, by latina
tons thli notifications OF Terms will lie accepte,l
l1s', 10y Direct requc-t lhat the lee Station matter
aUd form, my lie supplied. Tine es i,la,ive bodies
a.c hrst ah-sct, then eVic,eI OF their Office. The
r-7ssty Of he popular representation, the dignity
90 The State soyetesn'ies, IRE brought 10 the foot
Loo. OF Executive tenaciy ~ policy, pas, ION or
p,.ie end 5sai 10 receive ihc Iw whi.h the Const
triton lepuird ;hem tie authority to give.
THIS pi-;ure Of the submission ard subservienco !
10 WHICH, on exciting OCCASIONS Of the exercise or /
apprehension OF exercise Of the veto power the lie.
ature may, will probably be reduced, was no, |
painted from fancy uniaithiul IN the outline ex-
lsser-,e IN tie proportions IL was 10 more than
@. transcript OF the exhibition OF the last eNtra ses-
lion OF Congress, not yet perhaps terminated, in
relation 10 the ATTEMPTED legislation on the great
.IJNct OF .he currency. Congress had come 10
."'hcr IN strongly excited state OF The public
ua.li, after party struggle Of unexlmpicd Mica
Si.y, attended with the most complete Triumph
Ills subject OF the currency, the most usiiaiins
topic Of the controversy-Ihe legislation 10 result |
from, IL, looked TO tic most valued .ui, Of the
succcss-Ihe condition OF the country us,ifyiug the
'D.icitudc, demanding the legislation. The popular |
feeling was fully Fadnkcn, the public cNigency !
justly appreciated 10y Congress. The two Houses /
eNluced themselves eager 20 enter on the task of /
duty assigned them, and mature with speed the |
is't which was expected. They were met at the |
outset however, with intimations OF obstacle 20 be
appTehended from the veto Of tic President The
oygcncy undoub;ed, the sol citudc intense that
legislation should not be frustrated. What was the
fret step taken7 To begin tic exercise Of our
rnper fuucLon-tO digest a scheme Of lc,iet,tion3
NJ; In send TO the President for his scheme, in the
face oi the first canon Oi legislative Independence
tn,t thc opinions OF the Executive IRE not even 10
he known, much less consulted, on the subjects of
action. The President was compliant. The pro
IL s.r.F a...as ~.
of tic majority. IN the Senate we proceeded To
venture on the exercise OF our proper office, md
digest bill for ourselves. The project Of the E1-
ecI'Ivc was presented, n substitute ard sustained
tsaye by the mover) not on the ground that it was
hcter-its inieuoriiy was cOnccleI-rcpugnunc
In its acceptance avOwcd-but that we were in the
power OF the veto, and, In discretion, must oct as
men who lad shncklc5 on our hands.
lie lad no purpose, MIR a. SAID, in referring TO
these measures, to discuss or 10 compare their 70
spectIve merits or dement's. What lac had IN view
was the illustration Of his proper argument and
position, Of the control which might grow from the
veto over the popular wishes and legislative action.
lie owed It TO himself 10 say that lac had signalzcd
animpacabe resistance on the OCCASION referred t.:
OF the earliest in which his voice had been heard
IN this hll-tO the principle OF action invoked and
the cOnccssii ~ which IL demanded. A majority
thought wish him. The concession did not prevail.
The substitute proposed 10 tie bill prepared by the
committee of the Senate, and which embT,ced the
views Of the majority, was rejected. But did the
hiIl OF the m,lOuty therefore find ncccptanccl Not
~ ALI Othcr modification was found unavoidable,
10 conform u to the Executive requirement, o. the
only means 10 passiL The modification was made;
the famous clause Of compromise introduced; the
concession cNiortcd to the views Of the Executive
4 uj what was this concession the character Of
thlF clause Of compromise thus forced on adoption?
A n1ndcscrpt altogether 10 impossible to
give, because impossible 20 get, Ineligible cOncep-
ton OF a.. The purpose seemed TO b. to mystity
iac connection purpoutd 10 be made, 81 as 70 rem.
"'r b. Objectionable or null, 90 crafty l,ut bt the
flnc 90 Illustrate; ITO keep the word of promise 10
iic cor, yet break it 20 thc hope" The MONT IN
contest was allowed, then jsnliow e.. granted itut
tupcu.dcJi taking shape like Death IN Milton
dat shape WINS none" which "subs,nnce rni,h,
Doe called, that shadow seemed" "for each seemed
neither" a laugh
And TIE bill Of which tbs anomalous rroys,on
was Ihc leading Characteristic formeI the frYit of
the mntutcd fluctuations Of ITO scnntc tre,en,. ID
10 thc Growing lmpouuuiiias o. the courtrv, And
presented ~ whomi sliI Nlr Archer. po-.ore oLo
dd not comprehend nnd arpre ,ete ,t4 T,tiitv7
T.. 's.iors prone 10 undue clfnp'mnrct In NtTyt,,-
'o. Legislators WHO held tho slmo e.ttm,te d
the compromise provision, and Mr. Tyler'.scfuule.
who
- in c1usf s-sles in air.
weighed tis mems vita aFfiu.t flo lHi.a. haifr
The weights proved unequal, howev,r, ni of wore
Tic "it5 mount w, tho hairs subs.do." IN
trfupcs prevailed. The till " compromise wa
rejected by the President The bill had II bccom
'IwI Boo itq improved FORM could no., (said MrA.
h'vr commanded dollar Of subsruptln g. M
Tank which % prouosrI Cvrn 90 fLa resitz4tio