Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-02-14
POLITICAL.
From the National InttHigencer.
SPEECH OF HON. MIR. CLAY,
ON THE VETO POWER.
U. s. SENATE, Monday, Jan. "a


the Distribution bill, and applying the proceeds Of
the public lands to the dcences of the country,
was passed by; when the next special order was
taken up, being the joint resolution proposing an
amendment TO the Constitution respecting the We
to.
The resolution having been read
Mr.. CLAY addressed the Senate. Whatever,
he said, might be the ultimate fate of the amend
nent which had just been read, or of the two 9th
or kindred amendments which he had the honor
of offering at the same time with it, he should ut
least enjoy the consciousness of h1ving dschurg.
cd his duty in their presentation lie must regret,
indeed that the duty of presenting aud Of ndvo-
eating their adoption by the Senate, had not de-
volved upon ADLER and moro skiliul hands; still,
however, he considered the measure MS one hc
was bound in conscience to present in his place
for the action of this body.
Nor had the performance of this duty been
prompted, as some might SUPPOSE, and as had been
suggested in certain quarters, by any recent exer-
else of the power TO which the resolution had re-
ference yet he was free to confess that although
the subject was one which had long been in his
mind, and OIL which he had thought much mud
deeply for years past, the Of recent events
had certainly not tended to weaken il it had not
added much to the strength of his impressions on
the general subject As far back as seven years
ago, worthy and amented friend of his from
Maryland, now no more, had, in concert with
HIMSELF presented proposition, the object of
which had been TO modify, and further restrain
the exercise by the Executive of this veto power.
The daughtng of the resolution, its presentation,
and even the observations with which it was to be
accompanied, all had been subjects OF Joint con-
sultaIion and consideration between himself and
that gentleman He adverted to this fact for no
other purpose than to repel the idea, lift
talned in the mind of any who now heard him,
that The amendment now under consideration and
the others which accompanied it, had been sug-
gesten by recent occurrences. As far back
m ma IF fIa tcnl lions
in which he had ever been called to address pop
ular assembly-hc alluded to the time when he
enjoyed the opportunity of addressing the friends
of his youth and the people of his native county
of Hanover, OH the subject Of the duties TO he
looked for at the hands of the new Wing Admin
israIon which was expected to come into power
in consequence OF the glorious aud universal tr-
umph of the Wing party at the then approaching
election-he had placed emphOtically and in front
OF them all, that which formed the subject Of the
! present resolution. After speaking of the veto
| power generally, 0nd more particularly OF It's ex
ercise by late President Of the U. S., the speech
proceeded TO say:
"The first, and in my opinion, the most mpor-
;ant object which should engage the serious alten-
! ton OF new Administration, is that of circum-
scrlbing the Executive power, and throwing
round it such limitations and safeguards will
render 1t no longer dangerous to the public liber-
| ties.
"Whatever is tho work of man necessarily par
takes of his imperiections and it was not TO be
| expected that with all the acknowledged wisdom
and virtues Of the trainers Of our Constitution,
they could have sent forth plan of Government,
so free from all defect, and full of guarantees,
that j! should not, in the conflict of embittered
| parties and of excited passions, be perverted and
misinerpreted. Misconceptions or erroneous con-
sructions OF the powers granted in the Constu-
ton would probably have occurred, after the lapse
Of many years. in of entire calm, and with
n regular and temperate administration of the
Government; but, during the last twelve years,
| the machine, driven by reckless charioteer with
frightlul impetuosily has been greatly Jared and
! jolted, and it needs careful examination and
| thorough repair.
"Wh the view, therefore, to the fundamental
character of the Government itself, aud especial
! y of the Executive branch, II seems 10 me thai,
either by amendments of the Constitution, when
they necessary or by remedial legislation,
| when the object falls within the scope oil The pow
ers of Congress- there should he,
list. A provision TO render person ineligible
to tile Office OF President of The United States If.
| ter Il service of one term. Much observation aud
! deliberate reflection have satisfied me that too
much of the lime, the thoughts, and the exeriions
! of the incumbent, are occupied during his first
term, in securing his re- election The public bu
I sness, consequently, suffers; and measures are
proposed or executed with less regard to the gen
eral prosperity than to their influence upon the ap.
preaching election. If the limitation to term
existed, the President would be exclusively dcvo-
ted TO the discharge of his public duties and he
would endeavor to signalize his administration by
the beneficence and wisdom Of It's measures.
"2d. That the veto power should be more pre-
cisely defined, and be subjected TO further nta-
tons aud qualifications"
Thus il would be perceived by the Senate that,
whatever truth soundness there might be in the
opinion which he had embodied in the resolution
now submitted to the Senate, it was an opinion
long since deliberately formed aud expressed and
nnn "a IN nIfpn lppn prpI nd
reviewed, unprompted by any OF those recent &C.
currences TO which it might otherwise have been
supposed TO owe its origin.
The particular amendment now before the SEN
ate lor its consideration, and 10 which he should
speak before he more briefly advered to the 9th
ers which accompanied it, was that which related
10 the VETo POWER. And while on this subject
of redeeming the plsdge which was, in some sort,
, given by him as one of the humbesl members of
that party which had not long since signally
, trlumphed, he hoped the Senate would allow him,
in all truth and sincerity TO say that he desired TO
= see a party, when il came into power, redeem the
pledges and fulfil the promises il made when out
of power; and not exhibit that disgraceiul spec
lacle often witnessed in the political history OF
other nations, of protesting one set of prime pies,
= and employing them as means towards getting
into power, and then, when successful in obtain
ing their wishes, turn round, forget all they had
snid and promised, and go on TO administer the
5 Government just as heir predecessors had done.
lie could assure gentlemen that, on the questions
| of restraining and limiting Executive power, on
the necessity of economical administration OF
tho Government, on regulating the dismssing
power ofthe President, on securing fair and Just
E responsibility in oil the Departments; in word,
4 on every great question Of national policy TO which
Q the party to which he considered himself as be-
e longing were pledged TO the people and 10 the
world, they would find him, on all occasions, dur
ing The short time in which he expected to remain
member. of The body, heartily ready 10 cooper
ate in carrying out into practice all they had avow-
. ed in principle.
the history and origin of the veto power. II was
known to all to have originated in the institution
of the Iribunitnn power in ancient Rome that il
seized upon and perverted TO purposes Of am