The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-17

tiyes, and to patriotic ends. We have, IN these
tho best of human securities tnat
this negative power will be but seldom exercised
and never when there is not good reason to believe
that the Legislature has, for the moment, through
inadvertence, error of opinion, or other causes,
placed itself in opposition to the interests and wish
es ofthc people This inference is fully sustained
by experience The administration OF the elder
Adams. of Mr. Jefferson, and of that over which
had the honor to preside, did not believe, pro-
duce single veto The whole number since the
establishment Of the government is very small ;
and those who make war upon the principle, may
be safely challenged to produce single instance
in which the Presidential veto failed to be sustain
ed by the people.
The most important, by far, Of the occasions up
on which it has been interposed, were in regard
to National Bank, and to Internal improvement
by the General Government. To repeat my own
convictions of the dangerous character of such an
Institution, or the public evils which experience
has shown to be inseparable from IFS existence,
would be superhuous
Resistance, through the instrumentality of the
system devised for making Internal Improvements
in The States under the authority and at the ex-
pense of the Federal Government, was commenced
by Mr. Madison the occasion of his veto to the
Bonus BilI-continued by Mr.. Monroe on that OF
his veto to the bill for the collection of tolls on the
Cumberland Road and the whole scheme, with
the exception of limited appropriations for the inn
provement Of certain harbors, and the removal of
temporary distractions in certain rivers, was final
y overthrown under that of Gen. Jackson, by his
celebrated MaysYille veto, and other acts OF KIN
dred character 1t would, with the mass of facts
we have before US, all tending to the same conclu-
sion, be but poor compliment to the intelligence
of the people, to enlarge upon the benefits which
the country has derived from the overthrow OF this
mischievous and dangerous policy. From the
greater tendency of legislation by Congress, upon
such subjects, to what is called log-rollng, than
that of the States, it is quite certain that the two
hundred millions of debt incurred by the latter for
these and similar purposes, would have been vast
ly enhanced, ifsuch objects had been undertaken
by the Federal Government. Indeed, there can
be but little ifany doubt, in the mind of any calm
and intelligent observer that but for the Maysvlle
veo and the subsequent adherence to its principles
and policy, the General Government would at this
moment have been sadded with a debt of some
three or four hundred millions, without having E.
ven as much to show for it as have the embarrass
ed States When our present condition, in these
respects, is contrasted with what it would have
been under the grinding oppression ofsuch debt,
and the corrupting and destructive operation of a
National Bank, we may form some idea OF the ad-
vantages which the country has derived from the
exercise of the Presidential veto The best effects
have also followed Its exercise in respect to its in
fuence upon public opinion. Although that pol
icy has now but few if any advocates, no one can
have forgotten how deeply the public mind, in
many parts efthe country elected in its favor.
The necessary limits to communication of this
character render it impossible TO do Justice to the
various other aspects in which this power may be
uSefully employed in the administration ofthe 60
vernment AS shield which mav in the exer-
else of sound discretion, be thrown over weak
er department of the government, or over the in
terests ola less powerful section of the Union,
when they are, in the opinion of the Executive,
unjustly invaded it may become of the greatest
importance. Political power, as it respects differ
ent portions ofthe republic is constantly changing
hands, and no particular party count with safe
ty upon its perpetual exemption from the effects of
such alterations. When the Federal Constitu-
tion was adopted, Massachusetts, and Virginia were
decidedly the most powerful States in the confed-
eracy. New York was classed among, and par
took Of the feelings which were common to the
small States; and the territory which now consti-
tutes the western States, for the most part the
abode OF savages Although still strong in the
virtue spirii enterprise, intelligence and patriot
ism OF their citizens and respectable in all things
it is we'll known that those venerable States have
already, in numerical strength, fallen behind some
OF their coemporaries and the great west, if not
already, is destined soon to become the of Fed
eral power. No portion Of the Union can there
course of time and events, become useful, if not
necessary to invoke the exercise of this salutary
power for the protection of its rights and interests
The control of the President overthe dispense
tion of Federal patronage, presents subject far
more deserving Of the watchful vigilance of the |
people. Charged by the constitution with the ex-
ecution of the laws, it was altogether proper to
confer upon him an important share in the selec-
ton ofthe agents through whose instrumentality
that great duty is to be performed The power
which lie possesses in this respect is also wisely
restricted by the checks upon it which placed
in other branches of the government, viz: in the
Senate, by an absolute veto upon the most impor-
tant of his selections and in each branch ofhe e-
gislature, by an equally absolute negative upon
the appropriations necessary to their compensation
1t is nevertheless true that this control over the
distribution of public patronage is, in its tendency,
adverse to pure administration of the important
trusts which the people have committed to their a.
gents. Experience has shown that there is temp
tation in the possession ofthis power, to its abuse
which cannot be efectualy guarded against by
human laws, and against the influence of which |
even honest and patriotic men not unfrequently
find it difficult to guard themselves. With aIlthe
restraints imposed upon its exercise it may still
be welded by the Executive to influence widely