The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-09-03
THE VETO POWER:

We are much gratifed with the satisfac-
tory action of The Convention upon the Pro-
position to weaken ihe veto power Of the
Governor--or 10 speak moro properly, the
veto power Of the people. We were not al
together free from apprehension that the
clamor heretofore raised on various occasions
against what was falsely d qominated the
" one man power might have some influence
in causing the Convention to sIacken this
most important check upon the Legislative
power. i was wihno little uneasiness that
we read the report Of the committee recon-
mending such action. But the Convention
has given another proof Of the soundness Of
is principles by promptly refusing to inter
fere with the veto power, except for tho .pnr-
pose Of strengthening instead Of weakening,
II, and changing it only so as TO require two.
thirds Of all the members elected instead
Of two-thrds Of the members present To-
overrule IL x q u.
There is no one feature Of our Constitu-
tions, State and National, the wisdom of
which has been more thoroughly proved by
experience than this qualified negatiyeof'the
Executive upon the acts Of Congress and the
Legislature. AT first sight we know il ap-
pears like an arbitrary power over the legis-
lative representatives Of the people, and
hence the theughtless and unreasonable
clamors which have been raised against it. !.
A moments reflection will convince any
candid man that however arbitrary the power
may seem 10 be, there is no danger Of its
being used in an oppressive manner. And,
moreover, our experience has taught us that
we have more 10 approhond from the reluc-
tancc Of Executives to use the power when
il ought 10 be used than from any wanton
abuse Of il. Under most governments the
Executive has an absolute negative upon the
acts Of tho Legislature, and may preventany
bill from becoming law by refusing to sane
tion it, even though il may have been pissed
unanimously. This is upon the principle
that the Executive Department is co-or-
dinate branchof the law.making power. But
ia this county the principle has been modi-
fed and popularized by making thenegative
of the President or Governor qualified in
stead uf absolute. He may withhold his
sanction but still If thirds of the Legis-
laturo arc Of opinion that the bill oughtto
pass it will become law in spite Of hisvei
This must be an efectnal protection against
any arbitrary and oppressive use Of the veto
power, for il cannot DO supposed that so
many ms one-third of each house Of the
Legislature would sustain the Executive ils,
any such tyrannical conduct. Il is also tho
nature Of man TO desire to avoid the respen-4
sibility OF acts for which he is likely 10 DO
censurod by his fellow men. An Executive
wlltherefore be always inclnedt to sign every
bill that passes the Legislature and leave she
responsibility with that body unless impelled
to veto il by strong sense of duty and n
decided conviction that the people whose
representative he is, will approve and sustain
his negative.
How clearly and enlphatically does our
whole history demonstrate this position
The veto has been rarely nterposed, and
whenever Il has been by either Presidentor
Governor, it has invariably been triumphantly
sustained by tho people. And but for the
use Of this power on certain grave occasions,
what would now be the condition Of our
country? Had not the Maysvillc road Lill
been thus arrested by the immortal JACKSON
the whole nation wauld have been embarked
ina career Of wastefnl, unconstitutional and
conupiing expenditures for internal improve.
ments. Had not the same heroic hand ar
rested in the same manner the United States
Bank charter, the county wouldn't this mo-
ment be under the government and at the
mercy of souIlass aud corrupt moneyed
corporation. A similar act constitutes tho
one bright page which adorns the history of
Tylerisni, and which gave 10 that extraor-
dinary administration its only hold upon tho
affections Of the people. In our own State
we have recent evidence 10 sustain both
sidos Of our position. When the famous
stop and pay law Of le42 was passed.. lit
struck down to the very earth the favorite
and cherished policy Of Gov. Seward and
his " new impulsen friends, yet he dared not
veto it, satisfied as he was that the people
would not sustain him. He therefore cast
the responsibility from his own shoulders
upon the Legislature, and, With a protest,
signed the death warrant Of his own policy.
When, on the other hand, in l645, a com
bination Of local interests had obtained the
passage Of an act infringing upon The Law Of
| 1912, and calculated to revive in o stealthy
way the extravagant internal improvement
heresies Of Sowardism, the great and pure
statesman now occupying the gubernatorial
chair, did not hesitate to discharge his duty
fearlessly by intcrposing the veto, and throw
ing himself uponthe judgment oftbe people,
who at the succeeding election, most eIn-s
phaiically pronounced the sentence Of we'll
done good and faithful servant.o