Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-12

VINO approached his person and surrounded
him by their sycophancy. Cries of dis
tress might reach his ears, but they would be
neutralized by those who were around his
person, aad perhaps these plaintive strains
might he attributed to some factious spirit
throughout the land. And was President
thus surrounded more likely to know the
wants and wishes, and the dislresses Of his
country, than two hundred and forty-two
members of the House Of Representatives
and titty-two members of "this body. who
came from the bosom of the people, and
I who knew their very desire? He thought
therefore that if they looked to the situation
OF the Prcsident-he did not speak Of this
or that incumbent-they would perceive
that the responsibility conferred upon that
officer was great and momentous. With
regard to another of these amendments.
viz the investment Of the appointment Of
the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Treasurer in Congress, it belonged 10 that
class of measures TO which the Wing party
stood pledged to support. The other reso-
luton related to the appointment of men,
bers of Congress, and was only carrying
out the Constitution as they found it; but
the amendment which he had proposed
went one step farther, and it appeared to
him that, when man occupied an office
bestowed upon him by the people of his
State, he ought not TO resign it. unless under
extraordinary circumstances. He remar-
ked that, without examining further into
these subjects, he would take his seat, as he
was physically unable to proceed.
Mr.. PRESTON said that, during the late
Presidential contest this subject had been
brought before the people; and as he could
not coincide in the views in reference 10
the Veto power, expressed by the great lea
der of the party TO which he was attached.
he felt bound to state his views upon the
resolution now before the Senate. The
substantial usurpation of power had been
IN the hands OF Congress, who had taken up
on themselves the prerogatlve OF regulating
the industry of the country, thereby affect
! ing even the spinning wheels west of the
mountains. and they had also constructed
roads and canals, which had been convert.
ed into means Of increasing the pewer Of
the Executive. Whatever might be the
moral truth that "the majority did and must
govern, II was not true as applied TO this
Government. This was not Government
of majority, but restrictive Government
of checks and balances. The who repre-
sented the smaller States must maintain this
argument and, if it were not for these
checks, they could not continue as Union.
! That ma lority must rule was not true with
regard to this body; they were not elected
by the people. but by the States, and elect
ed far beyond the term Of service of the
President of the United States; and he con-
sidered this as one of the beaut e, Of this
Government, and a wise consideration and
one of the lucky hits Of our ancestors The
Senator had tendency towards the pubic
will, for the purpose Of CONT olling improp-
err Influence; the House of Representatives
was constituted with reference to State dis
tinctions. In truth, there was only one De-
pariment Of the Government! that was truly
| ID mocratlC; and that was the Executive
So far from the President being in posi-
ton t. contravena the popular Will, lie was
the only officer that came in on the broad
basis of the whole Union. and seemed O e
the only solitary exception. lie, them was
elected by The people Of the tG.:l States;
and was the only repre- 'ulttativc that was
not. in the nature and design of the C0nsti-
tuition, elected with regard to any particu-
lar section. The delegation of the other
ii >use were sectional; the President was
not, and, in one sense, was voted for by the
whole people, and as q coordinate branch
# the Government. TAc President was
elected for four years, the Senators for six.
He was respons:ble; they were not. He
was impeachable; they were not. In order
to make up his mind. he (Mr. PEEsroy)
would look back TO the Convention, and see
what were their feelings then with regard
to the Veto power. 1t was acque ced in
as thing almost Indispensable, except as 10
the extent Of the Limitation. Those who
were called upon 10 frame the Constitution
acquiesced in il; and in all the debates in
the States where conventions We're called
10 discuss the Constitution, there seemed
to be silence or an acquiescence, that the
Veto power was necessary N many cases.
What said the eloquent Patrick Iienry!-
He scarcely devoted word 10 it, and of al!
the powers in the Constitution. this one
seemed to pass the least contested. He held
the period to be past when they could
amend the Constitution, except for gross
evils which could not be avoided by Incl
dental legislation, and that instrument
should not be touched Ia; with the greatest
caution. Let the Constitution stand where
it was; it was sacred and valuable irstru-
ment and was consccra,ed by the Iotticst
emotions and the Purest patriotism, and for
II he had a surerstitiOus regard. But did
evils exist in the Constitution! Had the
workings of il shoWn that there were pro-
visions in il which had tendency to pros
trate the prosperity Of the country
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