Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-10-22

desPotisn. a." In the same speech Mr.. Clay
used the following language
" On principle, certainly, the Executive
ought to have no agency in the formation
OF laws. Laws were the will of the nd
ton authoritively expressed. The carry
ing Of those laws into effect was the duty
which ought to be assigned to the Execu.
tive, and this ought TO be his sole dutv-
lor IL was an axiom in all free Govern
ments that the three great Departments, le-
g'Sia'lve, executive and judicial, should
ever be kept separate and distinct. And
government was the most perfect when
most IN conformity with this fundamental
principle. To give, then, to the Execu-
tive any agency in the ascertainment and
expression of the will of the nation, WAS
so far violation Of this great and leading
principle"
But our opponents protesting not to be
very sure they were right on this Darticu-
lar question, conclude their remarks by
saying "we know,at least, that you cannot
prove that he advocates the destruction of
the veto power. We think we have al
ready done so by the preceding quotations
from Mr.. C's. speech in Senate last win
ter-if more proofs required here it Isl
In the Senate U. S. 24th January 1912
Mr.. Clay introduced the following resoIu-
ton.
A." That when bill shall have passed
the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States shall be returned by
the President, with his objections to bis
appreciation and signature, it upon its re-
consideration, it shall again pass each
House by majority of all the members
belonging to such House, notwithstanding
the Presidents objections, il shall become
a law; and the requsition by the existing
Constitution of two-thirds OF each House
again to pass the bill in such case is here.
by annu led"
We leave it TO the intelligent reader TO
determine whether this is not in effect the
destruction of the veto power--whether
the power, after Mr.. Clay's amendment
shall have passed, will not be purely nom.
inal-all its substance gone. But admit
ting that we are wrong in this our opinion,
we yet have abundant evidence to prove
that Mr.. Clay holds the opinions attribut-
ed by us to him. In the before quoted
speech Mr.C. admitted that the "princi-
pies he had laid down would, if carried
fairly out, lead to the abolition of the veto
altogether, as inconsistent with the funda-
mental axiom of free government, yet he
was ofopinion that this, like other reforms,
should be introduced slowly and with cir
cumspection, without suddenly rushing
from one extreme to the other.n
This is a distinct admission that the We
to power is Inconsistent with the iuuda-
mental axioms of free Government" and
that his principles lead to its abolition
that tho in favor of its abolition, as being
inconsistent with those principles, he was
yet willing to try what he calls modif-
cation of the veto power. He wished its
abolition, slo,Dly, and not by "suddenly
rushing from one extreme to the other"
But something is said of Mr.. Calhoun's
supposed Inconsistency another new
and false issue. II we had charged Mr.Clay
with Inconsistency" then it would have
been fair 10 have retorted, by shelving
that our favorite was more so-We point
ed out not Mr.. Clay's Inconsistencies, but
those of the Southern Wings of 1910,
who are now abandoning their then pro-
fessed principles, to support Harry of the
West-If it can be shown that we have
abandoned any principle by the support
of Calhoun, it should have been done
such retort would have been proper
Mr.. Clay has doubtless changed on some
questionable bank question for instance.
Mr.. Calhoun denies that he has changed
We are willing to admit, for the argu-
ment, that Mr.. Calhoun has done the same
thing ;but if he has, there is this important
difference in the circumstances of their
changes.--Mr Clay always went over
the side Of power--while MIR. Calhoun
changed against power-the power and
influence of the banks. or their motives
for their political changes we shall not
ourselves, speak-on that question they :.
have well spoken for themselves, when 10
1888, in the Senate, Mr.. Clay said Mr.
Calhoun chad gone over, and left to time
to disclose his motive" Mr.. Calhoun re-
tnrted .-MWhnA tho Snnntn. chm rnna Oh