Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-02-21
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4 - SNs sSs VI Vi 0Dgev~ =
have expressed the opinion that ;s aaea
stability and efficiency. Thai IN S'Ats
conferred BY il, were too ehhs 0sA
their nature, and that its constan, -.
would be towards anarchy. uano'ay
opinion, was based the strong hons ~ !, "
could continue in existence but 20. 'as
time. Since experience has .I, slot
fallacy Of their reasoning, and d. V
ted that man is capable Of self sossrnan''a
a strong desire has been nsn;I.1 ases
push the experiment far beyond n. 4, y
prescribed in the federal Co,s' s hna
and TO make the tenure ofoiics v ~.
uncertain. This, to some e,,.a. 10y ns
prove salutary in its effects: H.. Aas
remarked in my former Communist"
may be carried too far. We ma, suon,a
much Of agood thing. In n: a M.'eln
election Of all the officers Of ,he e, usnaAl
department, we certainly in m, . ..
ton, 60 beyond what is required !. ssaAa.
faithful and honest discharge y d" "seees
somuch as 10 destroy, to som. ., ,",; IN
object Of that department If ,h neil, The
ment; and 70 take from the system s NV,
the stability and efficiency, which y ' ,' o.
be desirable for il to possess, tn "MSad
Of the State would be fluctnat;ne :. =. p0ney
certain. Il is a fact now universaI l y. ~
m'''ed' that too much lesi.la. ion ;s -.
great evil; and that our Statute, h.. -" -
changed too frequently, for the LII, Jca
good. 30 ~ like manner will The poGcy :
the Naie change too often under .".h
system. II all The officers Of that d.a. .
ment are elected by direct vote i , \.
people, they should, in my opinion I y
elected for the term OF four wears. IT,,
the people are capable Of eieding III. Tr.,. !.
nrer, Secretary Of State Sc, no one Min
disposed to doubt, and few. If any, xil !,
that as good men will not be selected
But, by restricting the term Of seryirs !,
two years, we lessen the importance INA.
trust conferred. and in proportiunate Il,
gree, lessen the chances Of eneapino Il.
services Of competent and good men i,
low salary. And again, by the lreuu.m
recurrence Of elections, the public mind
is kept in state Of excitement, M ~ /.
given, and The heart burnines and bick.,.
ings which are engendered during warn
political contest, aye MT permitted 10 suh.
side. 1t has been supposed, that il V.
better that harmony should be secured n
the cabinet ofthe State, and with hi, new
power 10 remove at will the subordinate
officers Of the State Department, b., been
given 70 The executive Of the federal GOV.
eminent and several Of the States Of N.
Union. This power seems 10 have been
conferred, under The supposition tLa, III.
responsibility Of the government rested
upon the executive; and that having /,
sustain the responsibility, il was necesss.
~ to give him The pouer TO carry into Il.
feet, the various measures Of his admins.
traiion. How far this restriction s,ay be
beneficial, or whether il is beucfsisl 4
all, l am not fully prepared 10 say, Lu.
since the election of those officers ia sew.
eral Of the States, has been productive Of
but little il any evil, ] can see no perma.
nem objection to il. With regard to III.
distribution Of powers, perhaps could
not better explain my opinion, than BY n.
fering TO the plan the federal government
as the wIsest and the best that the power
and ingenuity Of man can devise. Bit
there are those who are unwilling that
the salntary provisions of the Federal
Constitution upon that subject, should be
continued in our case; who will make The
will ola bare majority, even for day, The
supreme law Of the land; and destroy tha,
nice balance Of power among the several
departments Of government, by which
each must operate as check upon The
others, and yet each maintain lis full and
perfect independence; who would shear
the executive Of all discretionary powers,
AMI make him mere puppet in the hands
Of the other departments. Nseems 70 me,
that those who take this view Of the sub
ject, forget that the Governor is - muck
the representative Of the people, % Is
member Of either branch Of the Legisla-
ture; that he is the Representatives Of d.
whole people, and as such must be held
amenable to the whole; that although i
may be his peculiar duty 10 carry into q.
feet the enac,menis Of the Legislature, and
in some cases the adjudicaiions 81 the ju.
dietary; yet he should be permitted 70 e..
ercise his own judgement, as 70 the con-
slitu.ionality and expcdiency Of measure
brought before him; and 10 check any ,en'
dency to excess BY the Legislature. hths
negative control over the Legislature
were absolute, there would then be siroal
reasons for Withholding il; but % i
only Of temporary character, and mus
yield to strong demonstration Of popular
feeling, it must have salutary effect, y
causing review Of the whole groun'
and recourse 10 that sober secon
thought il which the people are seldom.
ever wrong. Il is argued 70 be sure, INA
the veto power sets up the will Of one ma
in opposition, and makes it superior to,
majority Of the people or their Representa-
tives; and that consequently, i cannot .
democratic. However plausible this We,
Of the subject may seem, i must be adnii
ted 10 Be bad when reduced 10 pracsics
for if the will Of . majority Tor tho time,i
to be the supreme law Of ,ho land, frrss
pec,ive Of some salutary restraint, | wouS
ask where is the necessity for any other
Why not rest there, and let the scrsmbl
for power be decisive for the time. tx
perience has shown the fallacy Of this, 10
asmuch as all simple democracies hav
been Of short duration, and have failed
give that protection and security. for wh'e'
u0ver nynenfa swers deesOr>l Thu Yenocl