Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-17
PATRIOT OF THE RIGHT STAMP

Some years ago, when the Hon. Secretary Up-
shur was angling for Wing votes to get to the u.
States Senate, he published a pamphlet entitled "A
Brief Inquiry into the nature and character of
the Federal Government" That parcr was almost
ultra Wing in many of its positions, and in reference
to the veto power-agansl the arbitrary exercise OF
which, the Wings had wased fierce war-he took
particular pains 10 deuounce it with great earnest
ness An extract from that pamphlet is suhjoined.
* is the more appropriate this iuncture, MS MIR
Upshur is supposed be the author of the last veto;
there being no other in the Cabinet capable of
the cool and srntuit1us insult to the Legislature, I'M
Piled IN IFS closing paragraph; or who was advised
of the fact, that majority Of two>ihrds could
| override the Vetoi
| Ono OF your Thoroughbred Patriots never shows
himself in his true colors, until he gets Office
"Ano,her striking mpe,fecton of the Constitu
ton. rs respects the Executive Department, is found
| in the Veto Power. The right 10 forbid he P,ople
10 pass WhGieuer LdioS Ty please is HE Tght 10 de-
/ prize them Of SELF gOrerlmtni IL is q power which
can never he entrusted 10 one man, or any number
OF men, short of the People themselves without the
certain destruction Of public liberty IL is true that
each department Of the Government should lie armed
with certain power Of selfprotection against the
assaults Of the other departments; and the Execu.
tve probably, stands most in need Of such protec-
i Nu"' Out tue felo ROVER, as u stands IN the Con-
stuton, goes lar beyond this object. II IT, in ef.
feet, power in the Executive Department TO forbid
/ oil action in any other. IL is true that notwith.
standing the Veto Of the President n law NAV sill
bc passed, provided fro thirds Of each House Of
Congress ngree therein; but IT is obvious that the
cases arc very rare in which such concurrences could
| be expected. In cases of plain necessity or policy
the Veto would no, he applied; and those of doubt
iu necessity or policy would rarely re carried by n
majority 50 large two thirds of each House And
yet IN these II may be just as important that the
public will should be carried out, in cases OF less
DOUBT and difficulty. Ii may be also Tint n
President may oppose the passage Of laws of
! rue rLAiNEsr AND MOST PKEssIEo NECESSITY
And IT no should do so, 1t would certainly give him
| a most improper power over the People, TO enable
him TO prevent the most necessary legislation with
only one third OF each House Of Congress in his
Iavor. There IS something homogeneous in this
union Of Legislative and Executive powers in the
same man. Perhaps it is proper that there should
| be power somewhere TO check hasiy and l con.
sidered legislation, and that power may ms well be
entrusted TO the President 10 any other authority
BUTT no. necessary that il should he great enough
prevent oil legislation u control in any respet
The ifeo exercise OF the legislative will. II would be
quito enough for the security OF tho rights Of the
| Executive, and quite enough to ensure temperate
and wise legislation, To authorize the President
merely to send back to the Legislature for recon.
sderation my law which he disapprovcd By
thus nffording TO that body time and opportunity
for r. Fiction with all the additional lights which
the President himself could throw upon the subject
We should have every reasonable security for the
due exercise II the legislative wisdom, and fair ex.
presson Of the public will. Buff after all this the
legislature in both branches should still adhere 10
their opinion, the theory and the sound practice o
oil our institutions require Ihat their decision should
be binding and fnalD