The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-03

be OF the main pillars in the temple of liberty,
which, II removed, would It's beauty and so weak
its strength rs TO cause it to tumble into mass Of
ruins IL was true, as stated by the Senator that he
opposed the veto power in his speech Hanover Court
House, Virginia, in the year 1870 but, his wis
dom was 10 be suspected after suffering much de-
feat during the last summer. IL known that the
President and the Senator were then at 10
certain measures; and this being the case, he
did not think that the Constitution should be
changed in consequence of disappointed hopes
relative TO particular course oil pollcy. ne veto
IoWer il was known, originated at Rome, when Tho
people, oppressed by the Patrcians retired TO the sa-
cred Mount, and refused to return UNTIL by the APP
pontment of tribune TO guard their interests IN the
Senate their rights asserted and their property
protected But could it be imagined that Presi-
dent Of the United States would exercise this power
except in extreme cases; No he was dependent
the people for reelection and was more depend
ent upon Congress than Congress upon him and
il he had not the motive Of reelection, he
had the desire to conform his action to the
popular WILL and by honest course secure "A
honorable in history The Senator from Ken
lucky spoke of the seclusion the President and said
that he could hear the cries of distress OF the peo-
pie This might be true so far related to the
reigns of Europe but, in this country he is assailed
by the press and party and the thunders OF the eo-
qenee Of the Senator often reached the White House
before the Executive retired to his pillow therefore,
the ntmation that the President was like monarch
of Europe, existed only in imagination, and not III re-
atty From the origin Of the Government to the pre-
sent time, there had been enacted six seven thou
sand laws and in this whole range Of time there had
been vetoes three subjects only viz four vetoes
of Bank bills-one by Madison, one by Jackson, and
two by Tyler; there had been six vetoes OF internal
improvement bs-one by Madison, one by Monroe
and four by Jackson and veto bill to distrb
ute the proceeds Of the sales Of the public lands.
That this power had not been abused, was
papable and he appealed to Senators to say whe-
Their the American people had not sanctioned every
one of these vetoes What had taken place since the
extra session plain as the sun, and wherever
elections had been held the people had sustained the
yetoes of President Tyler The Senator from Ken
lucky asked Them the other day, whether the Pres-
dent equal to nine Senators and forty Represen-
tatiyes. He was not but any man in the SEN
ate equal to thirty members of the House of Repre-
sentatives' The Bankrupt bill was repealed in the
House by majority Of thrty-two; but by MAORI
ty of only one vote in the Senate, the bill was reject
ed He then replied at length, to the Senator from
Kentucky, and concluded by expressing hope that
the veto power would not only be preserved but that
the vote of the Senate the resolutions would put the
question to rest for this whole generation. The veto
power could only postpone the legislation OF Congress
upon particular measure for two four years and
in the meantime it could be brought before the peo
pie for their discussion That was the whole of the
power; it could neither create nor destroy and, in
his opinion, it that fea ure of the Constitution
which the most conservative of the rights Of the
States and the rights of the people.
Mr.. ARCHER suggested that the subject, for the
present, be passed over; which was agreed to.
On the motion Of Mr.. SIMMONS, it was resolved
that the Presdentpro tenn Of the Senate be requested
to inform the Executive Of the State of Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations of the death OF
the Hon. N. f. Dixon, late Senator from that
State.
The Senate went into an Executive session, and,
after some time spent therein the doors opened
And the Senate adjourned.