The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-15
From the New Orleans Delta, Oct a.
SPEECH OF JOHN G. LARUE,
HI the Democratic Mass Meeting, at ST. Marys Mar
ket, Septembef 30

sPEECH OF JOHN o. LAKUE,
HI the Democratic Mass Meeting, at ST. Marys Mar
ket, September 30
My FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS: This large assem-
blage such night shows that the people awake to
the Importance OF the canvass IN which we are now en-
gagged that they anxious to hear, discuss and duly
consider the issues involved and then to decide with the
camness and independence of freemen having great inter-
ests at stake, upon the proper mode OF acuon IN the
coming election The next President of the United
States not TO be elevated TO that high post by shout
and song and maddenng revelry; no blind excitement
wild enthusiasm Is TO determine the event OF the con-
test Even our opponents, who calculated largely on
such MEANS have given up the hope of making them
available, and have condescended, in their manner, to
enter into discussion before the people.
II is for the purpose OF such discussion that appear
before you, under every disadvantage, this evening II
my fortune, good bad, about three weeks ago to
address the people OF the parish OF Jefferson II was
thought proper by our opponents TO engage two OF their
most eloquent and learned champions to address the peo
pie of the vicinity in what generally under
Stood if not publicly proclaimed as an answer to my re-
marks. These distinguished knights had some advan-
tages over me- They did not waste their sweetness
the desert arheir eloquence did not vanish with the
evanescent sounds of oral delvery--but happily for
themselves and perhaps for their cause seized upon
by the and spread far and wide thought by
some that their speeches needed reply read them at
entively The one was a compound of flowers and fig
ures, flash and fancy, filled with bold metaphors, high
sounding words and werounded periods, and might
properly be designated as
GO A fine example, the whole,
OF what the learned call rigmarole y
but furnished food unsubstanal to the nqurng mind
bowl of whipped syllabub would be to the stomach
of famished man The other, however, with less
torical pretensons, had in something tangible,
thing that could be seized upon something that might be
understood, and would merit reply To review OF the
positions assumed, and the doctrines advanced in this
speech, shall mainly conne the few observations have
to make to you
The gentleman in the commencement of his speech,
and in other places, remarks very severely
upon those of the self-syed democracy, those
denagogues who for their selfish purposes, abuse
and demo all who do not think with Them traitors,
vagaDonds and unprncipled men, Every right feeling
must concur with him in his censures Abuse can effect
nothing of good And those who indulge IN It should be
frowned down by all men of all parties The little poll
tcian who revies and raduces his opponents, only
enkinde heart burnngs among the members of the
munity and bring shame and disgrace upon himself and
the cause or party that he seeks to serve we DO not
differ here it TO me- however that this evil Is not
confined to the selfsyled democracy as the gentleman
fit TO call due share OF it may be found in the
opposite ranks.
But why are we designated as the sef- styled democ-
racy?" Have opponents any desire to hlch from
our good name!' 1t would seem SO. For my part, |
have great objection TO letting them it if they de-
sire, although it must be confessed that name which
has been ennobled by much OF generous eXertlon, Illus
traed by many glorious trumphs and connected so
with the great events OF our history, is de-
serving of better fate than to be adopted by party
which has rendered every respectable name which has
assumed from federast to whg term of reproach with
the great majority of the people But if that party can
indicate its title to the name, why, let II It, But
how this title made out By showing that the Taylor
party the bitter enemy of the constitution OF the United
Sates-o that sacred charter Of our Liberties to which,
in the eloquent words of Gen Cass. eve will if not
struck with judicial blindness cling as the mariner clngs
10 his last plank, when night and tempest gathering
around him" Under the pretence OF friendship to the
constitution, under the appearance of desire to preserve
it nvioabe, an attack is made upon one OF Its essential
parts. "The aw-making power" says the gentleman,
resides in the representatives OF the peoPle-he Con-
gress composed of the Senate and House of Representa-
lives. There rests the great power OF enactng laws to
govern the people, and there the wings desire to keep it,
No one wishes that know Of TO transfer the legislative
frou | peVp
doctrine asserted by any one. But this warmth in de-
fence of what no one has attacked is intended TO cover
zealously defend The constitution, at the same time
that it gives to Congress Legislative power, provides
that the laws which may be passed shall be approved
by the President, and if he do not approve of any of
HEM he shall send the same back the House which
it originated, with his reasons, in writing, when if the
bill be passed by majority of twothirds of both
houses, it shall become law, notwithstanding his OBJ
econs. This is the great veto power, and this the ex
lent to which it may be exercised. l am not called
upon to show the wisdom of this provision in the
constuon-to show how it is calculated to protect mi
norities against the overbearng tyranny OF temporary
najortes-how it tends to give stability and moderation
to our legislaton-how it never be exercised for
The defeat of laws which the great majority of the peo
pie require, but only delay their passage until the
Der second thought OF the people has had time to FORM
md to express itself in new congressional eecons-how
has heretofore always been wisely used and every use
Of it has been ratified by the people themselves is suf
cent that is part of the constitution Every Presi
lent is sworn TO observe every part OF that instrument
come before the people, with words of resPectf
stituon their lips and yet advocate the election of
candidate the ground that he will not exercise the
rights given him by the consttutontha he will not per-
form the duty which imposes upon himbut that he will
approve every law, whether IN reality, IN his heart and
conscience, he approves not The President who thus
advance, lays down rule of action, must the risk
Of violating his obligations to his country, his conscience
and his God He in daily danger of being false to his
oath to his pledges and professions. can hardly
hnk that gentlemen serious in their professions the
veto. They are doubt annoyed that II should have
been used in times past, to the overthrow OF some of
heir favore schemes, and act now more IN spite than
rom reflection They have run mad, apparently, with
he idea that the majority should govern and wish to
overthrow all barriers TO its control H they base their
claim to the title of true democrats upon this notion
hey have yet much to learn of democracy. That for
purposes of convenience the rule of the majority has
been adopted the democratic creed, is admitted But
why has it been adopted Simply because it was bet
Ter expression of the general will than the minority
would be- 1t comes to the opinion of the mass
But no one ever imagined, in the democratic ranks that
fifty lone out OF hundred and one had right to
any laws they pleased, that the remaining fifty
had no rights and should have powers either OF ac
lion or of resistance Your constitutions, national and
State made expressly to restrict restrain, and direct
The action of malorities and protect the rights OF mlnor
ties; and if the rule that the majority should govern is
good reason for aboshng the veto preventing 1t from
being exercised it is equally good reason Tor abolish
ing all constitutions and constitutional forms whatever
Away with them-they serve but to cramp the divine
right of majorites Ii misfortune OF our opponents
that they understand so little of democratic principles that
they take up idea founded upon those principles AMI
carry it to absurd extremes under the VAN notion that
hey are thereby asserting their CLAIMS to democracy
This particularly the case with TINS war on the veto
But the ge neman opposes not only the exercise of the
veto but that exraneous, dangerous, and overbeang
influence exercised by the President of this Union over
he deliberations of Congress- 1t has been the habit of