The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-12

Il is the balance wheel in the Constitution. Destroy
II aud the whole machinery Of our present Union
would become wreck.
And moi only 10 protection OF State rights, but Of
the People themselves, irrespective Of territorial
lines, is this Veto power To be exercised. IL Is mol
speculative reasoning, is experience teaches US mat
the exercise of this constitutional privilege oil the
President the country from the many disas-
trous consequences Of hasy and noonsiderale iegis
lation. The President Is the immediate representa-
tive OF the whole People, well as the sworn guar
dian Of State Independence. IL Is bis duty as Il Is
his interest," 10 watch over 10 Chef and to defend
the individual rights of the People regardless OF sec
tional divisions. As he is elected by the different
States without reference the place of his birth or
his residence, 50 in his delegated powers he repre-
senls not State, one section, but an union oil
twenty-six different soyeregntes; and to each indi-
yidusl OF these different soyeregntics he RESPONSE
BILE for the due exercise Of his constitutional priv
leges.
The Presidential Veto is the brcakwater between
the madness OF nasty .xced legislation and the az
grcgate interest Of the Peopie-it saves them from
the rashness of heated partsans--t affords them
time Tor the discussion OF measures, till their intro
duction into legislative halls, to them entirely new
and it gives them opportunity to declare their dis
sent to proposed laws which they feel would prove
noxious to their best interests.
The view we have taken of this saving power OF
the Constitution is neither unsound in theory, nor
unslsaned in pra, tice. Its theory is correct and so
will appeal, when reflect upon the different res
possibility motives of action and mode OF election
of the President and the legislative assemblies. He
can only be responsible to the wishes and opinions Of
the whole People, for they all his constituents
His attention to the greatest good Of the whole
country is the foundation of his popularity and the
source of his influence and when he consults Sec
tonal feeling, he arrays against him the force OF the
masses but the representative is elected by a COM
parative few, hemmed in by geographical line4 and
governed by strong local partaliles and interests
and in his conduct must pay due regard to the preju
dices as well as reasonable wishes, of his consti
ens. A majority Of an assembly thus constituted
may enact laws in derogation of the rights, certainly
in opposition TO the well-considered opinions of an
equally respectable majority and the President in
terposes with his Veto and refers the whole matter
to the country for more mature deliberation.
In practice, view of the question has been con-
cusively enforced for, to go farther back in the
history of our Government President Tyler himself
has placed beyond cavI the absolute necessity ofths
constitutional provision, protection against party
legislation. In the exercise Of the Veto, he has saw
ed the country from measures calculated to affect
mos, dsastrousy its well-beiag and which, but for
his manliness, would have been struggled upon the
People most felonousy. In lis veto of the Bank
bills, he determined no moneyed institution of ire
sponsibe power, should again be forced over State
lines and above the reach Of State soveregnties
that no central powers, Of inordinate privileges,
chievous to embrace within its constrotor-fods the
living energies of the People, for their ultimate des-
iruction and that no establi shment, swallowing up
the capital Of the country, and regulating its veal
and the rewards Of labor protesting allegiance and
submission to our State regulations should be apo-
Their time forced upon the people through foul deceit
and for legaIized sNndling.
And in his veto, too Of the Distribution act he
again forcibly exempfed the utility Of the Conse-
vative Veto; for he saved the country once more
A Bank and The twin monsters of Fede
mc,
much accession Of force the ccntrpetal tendency
OF the Government; and each year we might be ap-
preached with fearful increasing rapidity the fatal
point Of centralism; within the absorbing influence
of which all rights Of Ssies all guar antied piiviI-
eyes, all constitutional restrictions would be swal
lowed as within vortex! We have been saved, for
centuries from this, it may be- by the frmness of
one man.
And, State rights men Of Virginia, will you not
rally round chief whom Providence seems to have
promoted for the special purpose of saving State SOW
e.eigntyl And gentlemen Of the Caronas and Of
Georgia, friends of the Constitution everywhere, will
you not contribute your assistance in preservation of
the sacred instrument which guarantees YOU YOUR
8, parale iDdepeDd' nee
The old battle Of 1901 Is again to be fought. The
serpent Of Federalism has cast his old skin and has
assumed another 10 attract and fascInate the eve
The Constitution must now be amended because the
Constitution prevents the realization of the Conspra
tors schemes BE not deceived by the professions of
your old enemy, who would now come before you
with kindness on his lips, but with the ancient guile
at bis heart Trust not his assurances, believe not
hi, promises he is the same as ever, though his
name be changed. Rely upon the faith of your ia
tbes-act upon the teachings you have received from
their lips-and stand by the Constitution which they
perfected. For IL was matured by the wisdom Of
great statesmen, and il has confirmed by the expe
renee Of ages Nations have looked upon its provi.-
ions, and pronounced them good. II is enshrned in
the hearts Of the People, and II must be immortal as
the country Il protects.
THE ZOLL VEREIN TREATY