The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1846-09-26

1t is true that in one of these vetoes, that APP
piled to the Harbor Bill, he undertakes to place
his objection on constitutional grounds; but they
are such grounds as have been discussed, and
considered, and refuted, time and again. There
is no one provision in the Harbor Bill, thus neg
atived by the President the principle of which
has not been sanctioned by every predecessor in
the Office which he holds, from Washington time
to the time of James X. Polk. What certainty
can there be, or what stability in government, if
individual opinions or individual preferences, may
at any time be set up, not only against both
Houses of Congress, but against the constant prac-
tice of the government from its foundation.
In this veto of the Harbor bill we see eviden
ces of lf-respect such as in other cases would
surprise mankind. When nominated for the Pres
idency by party convention, to the surprise OF
a great portion of the party itself, as well as to
the establishment of the country, Mr. James X.
Polk was wholly unknown to great majority of
the people of the United States. He had never
been in mems minds for any such distinction.
He had been a member of Congress, respectable,
but not eminent or distinguished. He was
lawyer in Tennessee, OF respectable practice, no
doubt, but wholly unknown in the National
Courts, and having had no habits nor principles
fitting him. in any high degree, tor the discussion
or decision of great Constitutional questions, yet
in the strength of his own opinion, and tor rea-
to the dignity of respectable argument, he mega
tives solemn acts, passed by both Houses OF Con-
gress, containing no principle nor any constitu-
tiona construction, which had not been approved
by Washington and Jefferson, Marshall and Mad
ison, and sanctioned and acted on by all preced-
ing administrations.
Now what can more seriously impair the value
of the National Constitution, or diminish the re-
gard which good men are disposed to feel for it,
tho a, tn ha nbl tn at
no length of practical Interpretation, no series of
acts of legislation, no authority of judcature, and
no general sense and understanding of the coun-
try can preserve its provisions against the inno-
vations of merely personal opinions and rash dis
regard of all authority, all precedents, and all
other mems judgments
Mr. Folks second veto was imposed upon the
bill for indemnfying those of our citizens, who
were supposed to have just claims upon the gov
ernment founded in this, viz that having had
just claims for spoliations on the government of
France, the government of the United States, by
agreement with France, released her from all
these claims, on condition that France, on her
part, would release the government OF the United
States from certain burdensome treaty sdpula-
tons, which had been at early day entered
into Congress thought this clear case OF TAX
ing private property for public use, and therefore
clear case for indemnity to the owners OF the
property. they therefore passed Dill lof tlls
purpose, and this bill Mr. James X. Polk negativ-
ed Itwould be useless TO consider his reasons /;
thew are all either unfounded in fact or incOnclu-
sive. and some of them friovlous in argument.
his message shows that he did not understand
the case-yet he put his veto on the bill, not on
anv constitutional ground, but merely on his own
oninion OF the policy and prosperity of the mea-
SIRE. Such is the President, whom party, in its
reckessness, has placed at the head of the gov
eminent of the United States?
To be Concluded