Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-07
TIE VETO.

"I,s strides ought long ago 10 have alarmed al
reaec,inq persons: We; habit aud The public &C
| ouiescence are clothing our Executive with des
ps,,c power, and men, in Congress ana ON OF II
sit in quiet submission 10 IL, as IL speii oouho,-
Truly has it been said that the most aos0falc des
po.ism may exist under republican forms; ana
would really seem that our Government IS JaM &C
generating into mere quadrenntal elcctare aespoS
ISM"
The Richmond Republican is surprised 10 SET
the "Democra,s" CONTINUALLY invoking The TX
ecu,ive 10 defeat by his veto The popular voice
| and to transform himself into r,Tsnat mionaTe'
whose single will shall give law 10 The nalioh.
Alter saying il does not make these remarks VIII
reference 10 The particular bill which has beer
vetoed, il adds:
| 81, is sufficient that large magnify " o0,l
branches Of Congress hare passed. lae measure.
is possible that they understand me suo)ec' y.
lis bearings just as well as the rresioen' ae =
events, the law making power has been piaceu =
their hands by the Constitution, and It IS mere
mockerv TO invest them with any egisia,,iVeC a.
,r;butes if the Executive Department OF lhe 20
vernment NAV, at his pleasure, nulhly 'ne,i &c
ton. The veto was given him for very diner
emf purpose. than 10 thwaTl the DEGREES OF Con
ere>s; as Shield to defend, and not sworn
assail The debates which ended III MS auoi'!io :,
| will show the great hesitation with when II "as ~
corporated in our Constitutional ne wiz.
was only removed BY reference 10 the inrequehcy
| of lis use. even in England, and arguments u
show Ina, il could scarcely be used, except
| great intervals OF time aud on cx;raofaihaiJ
emergencies in our own country. The iuliiilv o
| this reasoning has been shown b. The practica
operation of our system, and men have learned
that change the name of King 10 President
| and Republican Chief Magistrate will venture
upon stretch Of prerogalive which a crowned
head would tremble 10 attempt"
We can imagine no stronger case ior The IN
,erposi,ion OF the Veto, than The recent partial
and unjust River and Harbor Bill. II clearly
violates the Constitution, and, il carried ou''
would involve the country in wasetul and cor
luplins system, and transform our iederaIiVe form
OF government into The worst species oil consolioa-
ton. These views have always been entertain
ed by Mr.. Polk. He was elected with the KNOW
ledge ofthe people that such were his principles
and he would have been recreant 10 his pledges,
and false 10 his solemn oath 10 support The Consl-
tuition, had he failed TO check the measureby his
veto.
Bya wise provision OF the Constitution, no
measure can become law Till il passes the or
deal ofthe Executive veto. When this bill came
10 The Presden, for his signature, he was bound
10 look TO the Constitution alone. It's adoption
by both Houses would have been no excuse tor
the neglect Of lbs duty. Impressed with lis I'M
consltutionalily, injustice and dangerous len
denotes, he had 10 alternative but 10 assume The
deep responsibility of defeating it, He could mol
do less without violating his oath, and iorieling
The respect Of every yirtuous citizen. Lei mol,
then, The Wing press denounce the President Tor
doing his du,y-let them turn their assaults upon
the venerable trainers of the Constitution, Who
AFTER mature deiberation, engrailed this wise and
salulary provision in the charter of our rights
Often before has il been used to check unconst-
tu,ional and destructive legislation. The people
have always sustained it, and will cordially dose
on The present occasion, because i, was never
more wisely and properly exercised.
As an evidence OF the saluary influence Of the
Tsoher second thought" and as confirmation OF
the propriety OF the veto, we refer 10 the diu!nu-
ton Of the majority upon the bill, when, after
the veto, it was put upon its second passage.
When The bill passed the House on the 10Th
March, the majority was 10. Now, ii IS only D.
The Union says:
"There is no doubt if the House had been as
full as il was on the former occasion, the veto
would have obtained majority OF The wnole
body. There were seven Democrats who voted
for The bill in March. who now voted against Il,
besides some who declined 10 vote. Oh The
Wings. seven only voted against the bill before;
and among these were FIVE Wing representatives
from Tennessee-Mr. Folks own Stale. Oi
these five. but one (Mr. CTozier) voted today on
Tho side of The veto: but in addition 10 the Demo
Gratis who changed their vote, our eye caiches
some few Wings who voted against Inc OIL 10,
day; among whom we md MT. Dockelv oi
North Carolina, who had voted for The bill be-
fore, and Mr.. Graham Of North Carolina, VINO
did not vote in March last"
Had the four Wings from Tennessee voted as
they did before, the veto would have been sane
toned by a majority Of The House. As il is,
however, sit is compliment due 10 the princi-
pies and frmness of Mr.. Polk, who like An
drew Jackson, has he nerve 10 stand up TO his
duty, and support the Constitution oil his country"
And here we would congratulate the country
that at this early period o. the present Admins
ration, two questions, sources Of angry excite
men, are eifrc,ualy quoted for nearly Tour years
10 come As long as Mr.. Polk occupies the Pre-
si,ienlial chair the dangerous system OF lnIerna
| improvements can never rear its head. For th'
same period, Protective Tariff must share The
same late. The acce.sions TO the Democratic
Party in the Senate, will prevent the encroach
men,s of "Proteclon' if that body fails il
lis duty, the Presdcn. i'll stand reaty to do hi:
duty, and vindicale The equal rights Of all classes
| Whigeery, 10 suit lis purposes, can assume al
the shapes Of Proteus. When The necessity o
reduction of tie Tariff Of 1912 was aeaed
the Democrats declared that i; operated with grea
| hardship upon articles Of first necessity 10 hi
L In. LL.a llal..