The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-30
THE INTELLIGENCER AND MR.. WISE.

|
clared the Veto power engrafted in the Constr
party. Being very properly taken to task about
it in the House, by the Hon. Mr.. Wise, they
yesterday endeavored to make their escape from
the stigma, by of those adroit feats of leger-
demain for which they have for years been so
famous with all parties. A column and half
devoted to this subject by these excuse-manu
facturers, amounts 10 simple declaration that
they said aohat they did not mean and did not
mean phat they said.
| In speaking of the vote upon the Tariff BILL
| (No. ILL.,, and excusing the majority for voting
for any Tariff bill from which the land clause
had been stricken, they said
"Nor do gentlemen who voted thus sacrifice, in
our opinion, any principle. They yield nothing to
the President whose will, but for the constitutional
provision which confers him the Veto power,
would stand for nothing in the question They yield
only to the constitutional provision which odious
to it be to them but which neither our Opin-
ion nor theirs can change"
| Mr.. Wise based his answer to this bold de-
claration of hatred against the Constitution, on
the word "odious," as applied by the Inteli-
gencer; and proved most concusively that it
was intended as contemptuous slur on the
character of that sacred instrument-an instru
ment which is at once the pride of every honest
American, the glory of Republics, all over the
world and the admiration even of subjects Of
monarchies.
There is one other point, however, in the
above extract, that was not touched by Mr..
| Wise, but which we consider as bearing upon
it, and even yet stronger than the word odious.
| "They (the majority yield nothing" says the In
teligencer, sto the President whose will but for the
constitutional provision which confers ON him the
to power, would stand for nothing in the question"
| The President never asked them to yield
He merely expected Congress to do its duty,
and has not shrunk from perform ming his. But
the Intelligencer here positively declares almost
in so many words, that the majority care not
pin for the opinion of the President; and that,
had he not the power to veto their acts, they
would do just as they pleased with the Govern
ment, the country, and the People. Here is an
open declaration that the veto power is odious /;
and as ii is the sole power granted to the Presi-
dent for the protection of the minority conse-
quenty all measures, rules, constitutional pro-
visions which prevent the majority from enact
| ing obnoxious laws, are, in the sight of the In
teigencer and the majority of Congress, use
less and odious. Nor does the conclusion rest
here, for if the prerogative Of the President is
odious as inserted in the Constitution, then the
| Constitution is itself equally so.
| The sentence in the Intelgencer insinuates
map, declares, that the Veto power ex-
plunged, they would care nothing for the
opinion eff the President. In other words,
this is a positive assertion that the ma
jority, could they destroy the Veto power,
would concentrate all power in Congress. This
is simply the doctrine of consolidation, which
having transferred all power Of national legisla-
ton from the President to Congress, will next
attempt the same destruction of State sove-
reignty. Take the whole sentence together
and it is clear avowal of the principles of con-
solidation, and be it remembered, that his
tory furnishes innumerabe proofs of the sliding
of Republics into monarchies, through the adop
ton of precisely the same principles of consoli-
daton now so strongly advocated by the Intel
ligencer and the majority of Congress.
| We have said, more than once, that the In
/
but we did not expect that the editors would so
soon and so openly throw off the mask and con-
! TESS their secret motives.
! Were any further proof wanting, it is
found in that paper of yesterday, which de-
clares that for ten years the editors have advo-
Gated consolidation, and they even boast that
they were the first to start the notion of Destroy
| ing the Veto power. For ten years the lntelli-
gencer has considered the Veto power and
| the Constitution odious and now glories that
there is prospect of the latter being expunged,
| and the Government consolidated under the alb
solute will and caprice of Congress.
| We ask the People Of this country if they are
prepared for all this ?-f they are ready to make
| the President mere automaton, carrying in his
person title with none Of its appendages =?
| Far better would it be to abolish the office of
| President at once, and let the Government rest
entirely with Congress. They would then at
tain all their ends with some degree of fairness,
| though wo to the Peorle should that dark day
ever arrive when their fate is placed under
| the sole control of factious party majority.
| We connot conclude this article without ex-
pressing our regret that Mr.. Adams should have
been so grossly exposed by the lntelligencer.
The gentleman from Massac husetts, with all
his faults, has had the reputation of talents, the
name of writing his own articles, and of giving
in them transcript Of his own thoughts. We
have always considered him an original, but the
Intelligencer strips the veil from his fece and
informs us that he and his late Select Commit
tee are only borrowers of ideas, thoughts and