Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-19

the trainers OF the Constitution to distribute thu
powers Of our government as they have done, ant
to confer the particular power in question on the
Executive, and without reviewing the actual ex
perienee OF the Government as to what (lrom 9
supposed analogy not ut all obvious TO certain
powers in other Conveniently Is commony calico
the Veto power, H is natural that the Ioind should
approve OF condemn the exercise OF this po~er, nc
cording 10 Its interests opinions preludees on me
subjec 70 which it applied. This is true, not only
as to this but as TO all other powers of government
Zeal IN the pursuit OF cherished OBJECT OF III
terest or ambition, induces some men, not only TO
complain when thoy are thwarted by what they
easily believe DO improper exercise OF power,
but to make war on the tabshed forms Of govern.
ment, and to seek by revolution or radical charge
what they cannot lawfully obtain. The disposi.
ton which has been recently manifested, TO some
extent, to disturb the well adjusted checks Of the
constitution by claiming powers for Congress which
that instrument dos not confer, or by denying TO
Coordinate branch Of the Government powers which
does confer, IN order to establish particular
system Of party policy or carry an election, must DO
regarded with deep regret and serious apprehensons
by the People, those whose province II Is 10 judge
and who, free from bias, of mere party politics car
think. and feel and act. under the superior lnhaen'
ces OF patriotism, and Government has survived the
shock OF many severe political contests. because
hitherto these contests involved only difference oil
opinion as to the principles and policy of the CO.
vernment as organized. IL has been deemed I'M
wise, rs well as dangerous, to exasperate local or
general preludices against the acknowled sed iorms
of the Government, and TO ens, the spirit oil revo
luton as an auxiliary TO the spirit oil party. IL
has been lately proposed to abolish the powers re.
sulting to the Executive from the clause Of the
Constitution already cited. There is no evidence
OF any disposition TO second this purpose, either
on the part Of Congress itself, or on the part
OF the States. Despsrng OF any peaceful change,
il is, however, proclaimed that this power is
so dangerous to liberty to justify an appeal to
arms This is urged by those Who desire to secure
the enactment of measures believed, probably, by a
majority OF the people of the United States, and
certainly by the present Executive, TO be either I'M
constitutional grossly inexpedient and injurious.
To obtain the charter Tor National Bank, when
there few bold enough 10 believe that any pru
dent man would hazard his capital, or his conf
dence under the charter, or still farther 10 impover-
ish an slresdy empty and indebted Treasury, 1t Is
proposed TO abolish by amending the Constitution,
or by revolution, one OF the checks by which the
Executive department is author zed 10 arrest the
unconstitutional measures OF Congress. double
innovation is meditated against the Constitution. and
violence is invoked 10 nnnul one OF its Executive
barriers, because il is obstacle TO the cncroach
menis OF the Legislature. Ii the veto power, as it
is called. were abolished in the Executive, il would
remain IN the judiciary, Unconstitutional legislation
might still be arrested there, and it would ne, be in
the power OF twothirds TO control the decisions Of
the Supreme Court. Hence Il is, perhaps, that dis
trust has been recently so emphatieay expressed
10 the competency of that Court to decide on ques
tons which have, unfortunately, arisen as TO the
authority Of the Government TO collect any revenue
since the 30th OF June last The object Of those
who believe that certain measures of party policy
are OF more Consequence than the present organzi-
ton Of our Government, can OILY be partially ac-
compished by abrognting the veto of the Executive.
There remains, besides the veto Of the Judiciary,
the veto OF the People. AL the powers Of our Go
vernment, into whatever hands they may be distr.
buted, must be exercised under responsibility to the
her N
returns bill to either House Of Congress with his
objections, he is responsible TO the law, to all its
penalties; and, like every Representative Of State
or district, he is responsible also 10 the People.
These are the great checks of our system and they
are serving the most important end Tor which they
have been established, when they restrain the Ii
centious ambition which is chafed only by Consti-
tuilons, by laws, or by tile popular will.
For the FIRST time IN the history Of institutions,
they are exposed 10 novel experiment. |, is,
nevertheless one contemplated by the Constitution.
II IS 10 be tried under very peculiar Circumstances
IL remains 10 be seen whether Vice President,
called in the regular order of events to the Chief
Executive ofhce, can administer the Government
without party pledged in advance 10 approve TO
oppose his Administration; in other words, wheth
cr the vgor and security of our Government abdes
in the Constitution and laws or in mere party.
With regard TO the constitutional convictions OF the
present incumbent OF the Executive office on some
Of the subjects TO which they have been applied, il
- Undoubtedly ltue mat tncy were well Known 10
those by whom he vas nominated and elected the
second office OF the Government, and by many Of
whom he is now bitterly denounced for being what
they, in the election, proclaimed him 10 be. With
regard TO tho exercise OF the power in this in
stance, recurrence 10 q few facts OF public nolo-
-iety and recent date, will enable an impartial public
10 decide.
Before the death Of the late President, his procla
nation had issued converting Congress IN Extra
Session. The necessity for this alleged to exist
IN the state OF our finances. Congress assembled on
The 3lst May, 1871. IL has been in session, with
The interval OF rather more than two months, ever
slnee. Various expsdients were resoriei TO during
he Extra Session, TO enable the Government TO
meet us engagements and defray its ordinary cur
s"' expenses Suce that ported che n-y of.s Army,
The Navy, and tue civil lis' have been frequently
suspended from the utter dest,ulon ofthe Treasury
Loans authorized 5y Congress have failed 10 be me-
goliated on any terms. Treasury notes OF overn,
ment have deprecated and been returned Ivy the
needy public creditor under protest. Every device
10 sustain the sinking credit of the Government.
short OF direct tax has failed, and this at period
when our Foreign Relations were eninenty pre-
,arious.
The distribution Of the proceeds Of the public lands
rom the Treasury OF the United States to the Trea-
surers OF The States was among the earliest measures
urged at the extra session. loan OF Sl2 600 900
had been authorized for the relief OF the National
Treasury, but not negotiated, when bill dsiTibu
ting the proceeds Of the puolic lands passed both
Houses Of Congress, and with the appreciation OF
the Executive, became a Inv. IL contained cause
without which II could never have obtained either
the Legislative or Executive sanction, providing in
view Of the embarrassed condition of the Treasury
that whenever the duty on any article Of foreign
importation exceeded twenty per cent. the ds,rbu-
ton to the States should cease, and the proceeds Of
the lands should again lie applied 70 pay the debts
and deiray the expenses Of The Federal Govern |
ment revenue bill also passed at the extra ses-
SION, raising the duties articles which were
rec under the Compromise act OF 1888. 10 twenty |
per cent. This bill was framed with the design 10
'yod any conflict with the twenty per cent princi
PIC Of the Compromise of 1888. or with the twenty
per cent condition in the Distribution ac'.
AT the commencement of the pres.n. session. the |
President, in his Annual Message, apprised Con. |
srsss that there would be deficit in the Treasury
on the first of January, 1912, OF SG27 5j7 90. At |
subsequent period ofthis session. he urged on Con.
.ress, in a special Message, the inability Of the
Treasury TO meet the demands created against II by
which Congress had made the ne
,essity OF providing adequate means 10 sustain the |
Government, by an increase Of duties on imports
ina every other means within their power lie also
Z comm nded the repeal OF the Distribuion act and
pledge OF The land fund fJr the rcd mp.ion Of the
public debt. Though less than half Of the s12 600.
700 loan authorizes by the act Of lslI had been
nken and though Congress foun Itself OF an curly
,srio OF this session, under the NJ costly OF autho
zing an issue Of 50 100000 Of Treasury notes in |
dJilion 10 the loan OF si2 600 600 yet o r,venus
'lll was reported until the 80 day Of Jure 1872. |
ifter Congress had been in session months and /
"hen the country was looking anxously Tor an id %
ournment. Congress had eono on meanwhile 10 1
appropriate many millions Of dollars VIII eh The Go.
VeInment did no. possess, and which il could not /
OBTAIN without the agency Of the legislative de
partmeni. The Revenue bill was Reported on The /
80 Of June, and taken up for the first time in Com /