The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-23

|
esens const utona difficulties, that wou'o ho'
for they differ only in degree-in princiPie 'hsy az
the same. Would not the President owe IL 10 MS d
nee and the country refuse his sig nature 10 sue"
| bIill Even my colleague, think, wouid assent ~
the proprety OF such a refusal. But 1t is also aunt
ted that the veto granted for the purpose Oh az
resting hasty and improvident legislation NOW, 10 "
not probable such Instances would most frequent
ly be found in which present no CONSTITUTIONAL
difficulty land might no, these questions OF expedi- |
ency involve the highest interests of the coun,ryf
need not pause To illustrate this by supposed cases
they easily conceived hatlt would DC neeuiess
~ suggest them.
But, Mr.. Speaker, there is another reason, higher
than all the rest which has been assigned Tor vesting
his power in the Executive. The extent OF our
ounry and its diverstes of soil, climate and int
rests rendered impossible to vest the entire powers
Of Government in grand national Institution Ia
he moved bs simple majority of people who e pur
suits and character were SO lar from being homegene-
The distance of the representative from his
constituents and these dverstes required that there
should be means of regulating the action {" this
Government by the sober second thought OF the peo-
PIE, and of 'egislang upon such principles that It's
laws should not be the result OF the Will OF some grea
Jredominatng interest; but compromise, which
should command the assent of many of these con
hictng interests il possible to combine IN Elm
clen action. When its efficiency was secured, 1t was
manifest that the wills II combined IN Its action
the more beloved, the more popular 1t would become
la the tederative system, the sectional or centrifugal
tendencies were supposed TO predomnate 100 much
la the national form, the oentnpedal power was De-
eved to be great for interests SO diversified as ours
In the rush Of many conflicting interests TO the
centre, their collisions might destroy, or at least en-
danger the entire system. 1t necessary 10 devise
some means which might make the movement OF TINS
q vernment the resultant OF these two opposing
forces which, If possinle should prescribe the
orbit in which each State should move apart, ana ye
regulate their notion that there should be harmo
nious action and progress in the whole 10 say that
thi, end has been completely attained would De to
claim degree OF perfection whichls not to De reached
by human means but it has been approached TO
degree which to be almost MIRACULOUS
The national and tederative systems are al
most exactly balanced under form OF re
| neral government; 1t cannot move without ma
Jority both of the whole people and OF the States;
Is movement is the result of both of these mpelling
powers. The House of Represen aves represents
the whole peop @; the Senate represents the States;
and the President elected upon compound ratio OF
both But, as nu nbers constitute the chief element
in the constituency of President feared he
night lean much to the national part OF the sys-
| tem The steady action of his powers, united WIN
those of this House, might entirely overpower the fed
erative action III the Government. To remedy this,
| another check introduced. The Senate was al
lowed negative upon the of his patronage Still,
however to be feared hat, without some parti-
cpatlon of the President in the legislation OF the
country, there might be improper combinations OF Sec
ions or of interests which would lead to partial and
unjust legislation The House of Represent atIves
took he of the whole people, but by Parts--each
member looking only to his own dctrict, and mol to
he whole The Senate took the OF the States,
by parts--each Senator looking to his own State, and
| not to the whole contederacy. But the Preslden',
who represented the entire constituency or moving
power of the Government would take the sense OF
The people, and of the contederacy, as lohoie dc
look for his popularity not to part, but 10 all
| Now measure winch might combine improperly the
particular in,s rests OF majority OF the parts, mghi
YET be opposed to the common good and general well
fare of the whole Inls the precise effect OF what
III, iltprc 1,F Iaufs
ION. To remedy this far as possible the assent OF
The President who represents the people as whole,
was req red to all laws. According, then, to the
theory of our Government the passage OF law sup
poses the assent of najores OF the whole nation, by
parts of majority of the whole contederacy, by
parts; and as may be- OF the entire nation
and of the conederacy, as integers The exist
ny state of the cannot therefore, be changed,
except by concurrence of these three MAJ 'rtles,
whose differently aken or else by concur
f renee of tw thin DIS in each Houe Of Congress Eve
e nv people who are satisfied with their Government,
presume existing state OF thngsto be 4ood and l-
pose checks up sudden rapid changes otea
dness the action Of the democratic principle IL essen
lia To the permanence OF popular Government Every
4 wise and free people have adopted some checks
upon the spirit OF change, Indispensable to the
steady action of the great moving spring OF democra-
s tic power. In proportion 10 the extent OF the power
so is the cessi,v that all changes In Its direction
should he prog resslve and slow L. is as true OF the
d moral as of t mechanical powers, that, what WE
is no instance ancient modern, IN which there has
y been either happy or permanent form OF popular
4. government unless It's moving power consisted o
" more than bare maj orty. When efficiency has
been secured the next great object must always De
ID unite many wills possible IN the action Of tha
0. government. constitution which requires an alb
solute surrender of the will of minority to mere
ID, mafity when there but little difference between
W. them in point of strength and numbers, almost In
III viles he afbirament o the sword III que ut Igt
and exciting difference And 1t may be SAID t. be
long the uivner part ofpotcal science SO to nst
government that Its actIon may be the result
of compromise of many wills as may be compatl
bic with efficiency. Sill this great principle nf com
to pron lies the bottom of all societies. and ough
re to be the basis of all social 1t prescribed II
" the divine balmonies of the laws which govern thu
physical world that ali motion -hal feel to some ex
n tent the influence of every force W iich hnpes IT.
To And the moral action of human society harmon
and steadily progressive, in the precise pIopooi
e. as il combines of the Influences which give i'm
ny pulse to It's movements May not say that thi
e. great this divine problem IN government has been al
to most completely solved in the great experiment whic
st our fathers instituled2 The efficiency of our Gov
a. ernment has been demonstrated; and the harm ny
rs its people, have to hope, has been secures
~ by those wise provisions which require the prevou
er assent OF more than majority to its action
e- this last respect that our system was supposed
lp to be weakest; and shall We voluntarily throw dow
We any of those defences which guard it, where 1t /
be most vulnerable When we have secured the socla
1d shall we destroy any of those provisions which ex
b. tend the Individual liberty of The citizen Whei
d. we object to power in the Government
he object the right of majority OF the whole PEG
lie Ile to be represented whole, through the Pres
u dent in the legislation of the country Are we pre-
IN pared to say that This precise majority shall have
i'll representation in making laws z? for that would b
h. the effect of destruction of the veto which he exer
s. Sir this has been treated matter OF perso
a. nal privilege in the Executive But it is not his pow
I'd err but that of those whom he represents, and VIII
,e have right to the exercise of this power Whe
this House. the Senate the President act IN lie
IS pislaon the power exercised not much by them
n, solves as ly those whom they represent. OF all