The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-07-14
INTERESTING DEBATE ON THE VETO-RE'
MARKS OF A TYLER WTlIG-A CLAY WflIG
AND A DEMOCRAT ING THE HAR
MONY OF TIE "UNlVERsAL WING PARTY

MARKS OF A TYLER WIllG-A CLAY WtlG
AND A DEMOCRAT WING THE HAR
MONY OF THE "UNlVERsAL WING PARTY
CONGRESS.
House of Representatives, June &c. ls42 On the mos
tion To- have the Presidents Veto Message entered
on the Journal and printed
Mr.. PRoFFIr Tyler Whigl congratulated the
House on the camness which had marked the discuss
sons of this day, end which contrasted much with
the debate OF yesterday, when example was set by
the older and moro experienced members of the House
which was calculated to prove pernicous 10 The yOuns
ger and more inexperienced members. II was not his
intention 10 occupy even The time which the rules ofthe
House allotted him; but to offer few remarks the
veto power and on the circumstances attending its re-
cent exercise; and he asked the gentlemen who conten
ded against the veto to make fair aud pupable issue
before the people of The country, that the question
might be knowa and decided ut the Presidential cleo
ton. He was made awaLe--by paper sOme time
since issued by portion ofths IIousethat this ques,
ton would be brought before the country But he hos
ped it wuuldnot be deemed unkindn him, if he said
that those gentlemen making the veto power un-
popuarb forcing upon the President bills which they
knew he could not sanction. Was that their objec2
lie trusted in God it not. But really to the peo-
pie of the country, who looked these things with an
unjuaniiced eye. itso appeared There was not
gentleman on this floor who did not know that this ve>
to would come; and if the great tariff bill, as it was CAL
led should be passed with the clause in il whchit
contained in reference 10 distribution, they knew well
what would be its fate. Was there gentleman on this
floor who did not know thnll "a voice cried out;-
"We'll give it him.] They had the power to do it.
CA voice: "And we will do it, He had no doubt
such was their intention But lie (Nlr. Profirl hoped
wise and prudent counses would prevail. He hopes.
they would act with proper regard fur the interess OF
the laborer the farmer the mechanic and not, in
spirit of partisan warfare, send 10 the President meas.
ures which they knew he could not sanction.
He did not consider that they had now the propri
ETY. ofthe veto power legitmately before thom on this
bill or whether il originally placed in the Con-
stution in spirit Divisions; but if gentlemen would
argue 1t they must be answered. The FEpERALIsT
gave reasons for that power which covered the whole
ground; and at the last Presidential election General
Harrison on different occasions, when las WIS sadl
he addressed 90 QUO, 40, ,000 50,000-ay. even 100;
600 people, declared favor ofthis, as, in the Ian
guage of Mr.. Madison, conservative power to guard
against hasly legislation and to prevent unjust and cor
rupt combinations in the Legislature. With such prin,
cipes, and ths avowal of such doctrines, the Wing
party took General llarrsoni and his language had
been quoted again and again. and by him (hr. Profit
that doctrine had been and ever would he. aCknowl-
edged and received Ele went for the veto power as it
now existed without qualification as he believed it TO
be a power wisely intended and calculated TO produce
good good to the country,
There was no analogy between the stale of things
here and in Great Britain and therefore, gentlemen
erred when they pointed to England on this subject.
The veto power was not exercised in England, they
were told Why, the minister never introduced bill
into the British Parliament without an assurance that it
would receive the royal sanction
But if bill should pass the Commons House ofPar-
lament in opposition to the wishes the occupant of
the throne and the ministerial officers OF the Govern
ment gentlemen forgot that, ere could reach the reign
ing monarch, creation of peers-which was an unlm-
tied power which the determine
lis Fate in the other House Of Parliament But ur,her
still the crown had the power 10 prorogue the Parlia-
p,ent, which was power that did not exist in this
county; nor did the practice prevail here, as there OF
resignation Of The ministry defeat of one Of their
important measures There then, no analogy and
gentlemen erred greatly in their reference to the absence
OF the exercise of the veto power in England.
The gentleman from Virginia GAlr Stuarl told them
that the people opposed to the exercise OF the We
TO power by the President. Who was the President
The representative of the people, But what was the
state of things in this Hoi>e9 The Wing party had
there majority offory. and vet they could only, on
pome divisions of this bIll show minority of four.
Why it evident then, that large fraction of their
own party dissentsd from the majority; and. in the
Senate the proviso ofths bill did not receive the vote
even of majority Of the Senators present; but was
retained in Tie BILL because the motion being 10 strike
out and The votes being equa-2l 10 2l-the affirma-
tive did prevail, And as the majority ofth. house
differed amongst themselves, wast not possible that
thoy might also differ from the people? He knew ls
out oi26 States had expressed their opinions l"tey and
ono branch of the Legislature fone of the States which
gave its support to General Harison had declared that
i would not receive its share of the proceeds Of the
public lands II was alleged, as one cause Of com.
plaint that the President had deceived hs party, and
that he had not gone with his party Why, had the
gentlemen forgotten that prominent ground taken
by General Harrison, their great chief, was, that he
would not be the President Of party, but of the coun
tyl And yet they complained that The Rro'ldent wo
not be exclusively the President Of party. They com
planed too of The veto; but ifever country requi-
led such a power, it was this, in which was foundev
cry variety Of climate from extreme to the other,
with their varied and diversified interests. Their do
mestc institutions themselves differed far as the poles
usunder and as the veto originally instituted to
guard the interests ofthe people against the acts or en-
croachments ofihelr select assemblies, so here also II
was conservative power 10 guard against the evil com
binalions ofvaryng interests for the accomplishment
particular designs. .-,
lie would say boldly, that there never was Rrput
lie the face othc earth that did not possess the veto
power When Cromwell was raised to the protecto
rate Of England, that power not taken awav from
Inn; and il was exercised in Holland under the Dewt'
There was showever, he shou'd say one exception
and that was the Republic Of France. That Republic
passed its laws directly without any supervisory pow
er; and lie world ask gentlemen what was The result
We're they governed with anything like the wisdom
intelligence and patriotism which distinguished tn
government nf CromwelIl No. On the CONTRARY the
had all the power which the Whig party in Congress
now wished 10 exercise A decree was sometimes pas
sed in as short time as fifteen minutes; that formin
the revoutio onary tribunal in seventeen miEutes an
before few short weeks or m 1nlhs had passed over