Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-05-23


those who are subject to its operation.-
II is from the general prevalence OF such
feelings on the part ofOur citizens that
the constitution derives much, MOTTO say
most of its efficiency ;snd tits by doing all
in our power to increase and strengthen
them that we can alone hope to make its
existence perpetual. Although success
fuI beyond example, no one pretends that
it is perfect. Perfection is an attribute
which does not belong TO the works of
man. Defects must, therefore. be cor
rected as they show themselves, in the
practical working Of the system. 1t is 10
such, and it might perhaps be safely ad.
ded, to such only, that the hand of reform
can be usefulIy applied. That the pro-
vision of the constitution under consider
alton can be more easily rendered Obnox.
ious TO prejudice than others, is un'
doubtedly true. There is nevertheless
nothing in its structure inconsistent with
the general scope Of our peculiar sys-
TEN Of government, or anything which is
calculated to lead TO bad results. AL.
though absolute acquesceRce in the de.
cisiOn Of the majority, is, in the Ian
gHage of Mr. jefferson, a cardinal princi'
pie in republican government, il is yet TO
be remembered that it is to the will ofithe
ma jority expressed according to the forms
of the constitution, that he refers and
that there is no channel provided by our
] C constitution through which the sense Of
the people of the United States, in the
aggregate, may be taken. Such a pro.
vision was deemed incompatible with
full enjoyment by the States Of the righIS
Of sovereignty which they TeSevedtO
themselves, and with which it was nei-
ther the intention OF the farmers of that
instrument, nor of the people who adopt
ed it TO interfere. The qualification Of
the power Of the majority, and the re.
strctions upon the authority of the Fed
eral Government, which prevades the
constitution, are doubtless to be traced to
this source.
The right of the President to suspend
the operation ofEthe act of Congsess, by
Withholding his assent from it, and in
the absence of the requisite majority to
defeat it for the time being, is therefore
in harmony with the spirit and design Of
the entire system. / say for the time be-
ing, because all experience has shown
that objections to a public measure on
the part of any branch of the government
are in the end, always made to yield TO
the settled and we'll asce Ttained wishes
of the people, in whatever mode they
may be ELECTED; the effect Of the inter-
ference of the Executive being TO secure
fuller and more perfect reeonsidera.
ton OF the whole subject by the people.
Nor was this power bestowed upon the
Executive without adequate consideration
and full view Of the bene6ci al effects
it was capable of producing in the Gd-
ministration ofa government TO which
such various, momentous and not unfre.
quently contrary, interests were to be
entrusted. The President is, the only
efficient officer, and with the single ex-
ceptiOn Of the Vice President, the only
one in the Federal Government, in tho
election of whom all the States, and the
electors of each State, take part. all
others are comparatively local, as well in
respect to the constituencies by whom
they are chosen, as to their immediate
responsibilities. The President IS tho
only efficient representative in the Feder-
al system, between whom and the whole
cOnfedeFacy there exists that common
sympathy which arises from the relation
of elector and representative, and the obs
legation it imposes. II is to him, there
fore, more than any other fUnctionaTy OF
the Federal Government, that the peo-
pie ofall the States look, and have
right to look, for an impartial attention to
the interests of every section of our
greatly extended Union. To enable him
to perform his important duties, a por-
ton of the powers necessary to good gov-
ernment, is by the constitution vested in
the Executive department The veto
constitutes an importsnt, and, in my
opinion, very useful part of those pow
ers. It is part, also, which can sell
dom, if ever, be employed by the in.
cumbent of the Presidential chair TO pro.
mote personal objects. This censideFaH
ton cannot be too highly appreciated
It is the liability Of public trust TO be
thus abused, that has been the canker of
every public service. The occasion
would be srare one, indeed, upon which
the President could, by the exercise Of
the veto power, minister to his private
qualification, or TO that Of bis friends, or "
even to the Advancement Of his political
interests, except by means the most hon.
orable, and through channel in an emin-
ent degree free from exception. By
refusing his assent to a bill which has
4 passed both Houses. he is sure to ex.
cite at the outset the formidable opposi-
tion of those influential bodies, to offend
the particular interests which expect 10
he advanced by the measure, aud to ex-.
nose himself to the temporary odium Of
, running counter to what is properly re.