Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-05

,,a ,nemoral was referred 10 the Committee of Com
merce Then,
On motion OF Mr.. Linn,
The Senate took up the special orders ct the day,
heinz the Joint resolutions of Mr.. CLAY 10 amend
The Constitution: Isl. To render Senator'S and Repre-
senta,ives ineligible to any civil appointment under
the authority Of the u S the term or fractional
s5% 1o ot ~ o the @ To vest The appoint
on %Fa the u States IN the two of Congress eseu
| svely.
dressed the Senate for about hour and half, eSa-
mining in detail the arguments advanced by the mo-
yer of The resolutions support of abdging If not an
uullinn the veto power. Mr. Il. viewed snc! propo-
ston as of the most dangerous character and not
doubtiuu the purity or patriotism Of the Senator Mr..
Cavl who had embodied that proposition into the eso.
buttons under discussion, lie was led 10 believe It had
lis orirn in an erroneous impression To the nature
Of the veto power existing IN the Executive OF TINS
Government. The Senator, under this misconcep-
ton had identified the veto power given by the Con-
sntop 10 the President of the u. 5. with that given
bv the Constitution Of Great Britain TO the King OF
| ENGLAND Now he (AIr Is contended that nothing
could be more erroneous than this Impressions and the
Senator himself mir. Clay] would see that so
when he came reject upon the fact that the veto
power given 10 the King of Eng land was expressly for
the protection Of the prcrogailves of the Crown against
the other two powers OF the Governmen-those OF the
barons and the commons: whereas the veto power CIV
on TO the President of the United States is only
power placed in the hands Of citizen by his fellow
citizens, for the protection Of his personal pre-
rouaves but for the protection OF the peoples rights
anaInst hasy, immature, or dangerous legislation
The veto power the hands Of monarch, is for the
| preservation OF whatever portion of despotism that
| monarchy may have been able 10 MAINTAIN; the veto
power in the hands Of the Chief Magistrate Of this Re-
public, himself plain citizen, is to guard against any
poftion whatever OF de.potism any usurpaton on
The part OF the Representatives. Of The people, and their
separate sovereigntes, OF powers extending beyond
those intended they should exercise, or contrary to the
wishes of the people. And IN proof OF thus he need
but refer 10 the limitations of the power itself If the
President vetoes bill 10 him by both Houses of
Congress- it is returned for reconsideration and If two
thirds of each House pass II again. It becomes law,
and in relation that bill, the veto power of
avail. II The BILL when returned, fails to secure ma
orty of two.thrds of each House, It cannot become
law then but the delay, if it should be necessary
law is Of only short DURATION for the people, at the
next election of delegates 10 Congress, always within
two years may send sufficient majority 10 Congress
in favor OF the measure satisfy the President of their
decision; and If he will not conform 10 that demonstra
ton they will be sure, within four years at fathes
to convince himself by refusing TO reelect him to the
Office in which he had exercised the veto power contra
~ 10 their wishes.
i Mr. buchanan then went at large into the subject Of
the exercise Of the power this Government, showing
that although between six and seven thousand laws
had been passed since lis foundation, only twenty
toes had interposed and of these vetoes, leaving out
those on important subjects the major part had refer
ence TO three measures Of policy repudaed by the peo
pie as shown by tie reelection Of those Presidents
who had exercised the power lie alluded 10 the
toes on the Bank Of the IT, s.; the interference of the
General Government with the internal improvements
Of the States; and the distribution OF the public lands
He enue these instances and dwet at some length
and in detail, the consequent action Of Congress in
reconsiderng those measures, the maortes always de-
creasng with sober second thoughts and the appreciation
ofe people every instance being slgnally manifested
Mr.. Buchanan next showed that the only Execu
tive officer Of this Government coming directly from
the whole body the people the President, and that
he is necessarily dependent the whole of the
people than the representatives IN the national lie
nisature. lie denied that the representative bodies
truly represented tic majority Of the people, for one
fourth If the people could send orty Of Senators
into this chamber; and in The other branch the ire
guen instances in which the voice Of the people had
decided against the voice Of its or,ty, sufficient
evidences Of the fact that majority there could not be
i considered as speaking the sentiments Of majority
Of the people recent and remarkable proof OF this
had been given in the late elections, through which
y tire country had pronounced Judgment against the
Of the Extra Session, carried By maorites IN
. both Houses Of Congress That public Judgment, be-
: sides condemning the Of the representative ma
iorties had sustained the exercise Of the power
By which the President had appealed 10 the decision oil
II the people Mr. B. next drew parallel between the
rs power Of the Roman trbunes and that vested in
the President OF the L. S, deducng that the ndlsputa
bic intention for the protection Of the people from
the encroachmentso other governmental powers the
hands Of those prone TO accumulate power Tor strong
d rule of the people.
= In a mere ANALYSIS of Il speech of such length and
. interest as that made By Mr. Buchanan to-day, il is i'm
r possible do than TO sketch outline of lead
!, ing arguments. The speech in full will be given in
g succeeding number Of our paper.
. When Mr.. BUCHANAN concluded,
> Mr. ARCHER obtained the floor, and, at lis desire,
the subject for the present passed informally
. Some resolutions then offered, which lie
r one day and, on motion Of Mr. Merrck the Senate
. went into Executive session, and shortly after adjourned
}. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
: Alessrs. CoLQUlTr and COOPER, two Of the
newly elected members from Georgia. took their seats
d TO day, having qualified yesterday.
= Mr.. GAMBLE asked leave TO present certain reso-
g lutions of the Legislature Of Georgia relation to mail
u routes.
e Mr.. ADAMS said he would consent 10 the presenta
ton OF these resolutions, provided the House would take
o up and adopt the resolutions lie had submitted, calling
q for information necessary for his defence.
Mr.. HOPklNS called for the order of the dny, and
IS accordingly the resolution offered by Mr. Marshall Of
Kentucky, to Mr.. Adams for presenting petit
ton to dissolve the Union, taken up
Z MIR. ADAMS then called for the adoption of the
solutions submitted by him. and supported his call by
l. some remarks
r. MIR. GILAlER moved 10 lay the resolutions the
: table.
:. Mr.. JONES of Maryland, moved to lay the whole
n subject on the table.
y Mr.. HOPKINS moved call of the House, which
agreed 10, and the roll was called ever, lSo
n bcrs answering 10 their names.
The abscnees then called and appca red that
/. POI members were present; when
is Mr.. LEWIS WILLIAMS moved that further pro
ceedngs under the call be dispensed Will which motion
% having been agreed to
IT The question taken Mr.. JONES'S motion
J. to lay the whole subject the table, and resulted
e yeas 81, nays ~
e The question then taken on Mr. Gilmer's mo-
= ton to lay Mr. Adams res buttons on the table, and
II lost, yeas -, nays l07.
n The question coming up the adoption Of the first
d resolution submitted by Mr.. Adams, as follows:
Rcsorfd That The President United Slncs he requested
10 cause I" be communicated 10 this House, if incompatible
with the pubic interest Of the correspondence
Department of State and The Minister Biain
the Governor OF the Stale o South Carolina
William Johnson, Judge II the Supreme United
states relating 10 M act acts Of Tie Legislature South Caro-
- ns directing the imprisonment c oocd persons from
abroad in r ports OF that
selves, and Of official opinions Judge John