The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-08-26

POWER.
During this session of Congress, we have
heard The Honorable Senator from Ohio, Mr.
Allen. utter very strong denunciations against
CoIonel Hamilton as the intentional advocate
oFtinglv and monarchal doctrines, and a tra-
orto The cause of liberty. do not stand here
far the purpose of branding one of the greatest
mon the country ever produced with ignomn-
;ouo charpes: but desire 20 show that the
oroot LEADER of the Federal party, when this
subiect was first presented to the consideration
of the old Continental Congress, was the very
man to press this veto power upon the Conyen'
ton, and to insist upon us oel"S "''"o "'''
Lutte and unqualified.
tsMr Gerry's proposition being now before
Abe committee, MIR Wilson, Chen called
CONSOLIDATION Federalist,O and Mr. Hamilton
moved that the last part of 1t be struck OUT so
as to girc the ETecuttDe an absolute "eS@t'00 ."
The lars There was mo danger, they thought,
of such n power being too much exercised
It was mentioned by Col. Hamilton, that the
KING of Great Britain had not eNcrted MS
negative since the Revelation q. C. looo.)
THAT ia the argument in favor of the abso-
lutte veto made by one who has been represent,
oh in this Chamber, as the great arstocrat and
pIonarcbist of the duy-Mr Gerry, Democrat
ofthnt day
MIR Mangum, Gin his seat Republican.
Mr. CLAYTON thank my friend for the
word. Republican is a much better name
"Mr Gerry said he saw no necessity for so
treat control over the Legislature, as the best
men in the country would De comprised III tHe
two branches of il"
Dr. Franklin said he was sarry to differ rom
his colleague, for whom he had very great
respect on any occasion, but he could not helP
i on this. He had had some experience on
this check in the executive on the legislature,
under the proprietary government OF Pennsyl-
vania. The negative of the Governor was
constantly made use Of TO cXtort money. No
rood law whatever could be passed without
private bargain from him. If the exec
utivc was to have council, such n power
would be less Objectionable. 1t was true, the
King of Great Britain, had not, as it was said,
cXerted his negative since the revolution, but
that matter was easily explained. The brides
and emoluments now given 10 the members OF
Parliament rendered it unnecessary, every
thing being done according to the will OF the
ministers He was afraid, if negative should
be given as proposed, the more power and
money would be demanded, till at last enough
would be got to influence and bride the lrgis-
laturr INTO complete subsection to the will
ofthc executive.
Then comes the Republican shoemaker,
Roger Sherman. what did he say?
"Mr Sherman was against enabling any one
man to stop the will of the whole. No one
man could be found far above the rest in
wisdom He thought we ought to avail our
selves of his wisdom in revising the laws, but
not permit him to overrule the decided and
corl opinions of the lcgislatnrc.'
MIR Wilson said in his spCecGh for the veto,
"lhcrc might be tcmpcstuous moments in
which 0nmositics may run high between the
executive ana legislative branches, and in
,rhich tic. former ought 10 be able to d9cnd it,
SCT,'
''Mr Butler had been in favor Of a single
executive magistrate; but could he have en-
tcrtained an idea that complete negative on
The laws was to b. given him, he certainly
should have acted very differently. 1t had
been observed, that in all countries the exec
utve power is in u constant course OF increase.
This was certainly the case in Great Britain
Gentlemen seemed to think that we had moth
ing to apprehend frouE the abuse the cxecu-
tive power. But why miIEt not a Catalina or
Il Cromwell arise in this country well as in
others"
"MF Bedford, of Delaware, was opposed to
every check on the Legislature, even the coun-
Gil of revision first proposed He thought it
would be sufficient to mark out in the Consti-
tuition the boundaries to the legislative author
ity which would give all the requisite securi-
ty TO the rights of the other departments. The
representatives. ofthe people were the best
Judges Of what was for their interest, and ought
TO be under external control whate YER
Ehe two branches would produce sufficient
control within the Legislature itself"
"Col. Mason observed, that a vote had al
ready passed, he fnund-he was out at the
time-for vesting the executive powers in
single person. Among these powers was that
of appointing to office in certain cases. The
probable abuses Of a negative had been we'll
explained by DR.. Franklin, as proved by expe-
rcnce, the best of all tests. Will not the same
door be opened here? The executive may re-
iuse ITS assent to necessary measures, till new
appointments shall be referred to him; and ,
having by degrees engrossed all these into his
oWp hands, the American executive, like the
ISrltlSh. hrbnru md ina,
himself the trouble and odium of exertino his
negative afterwards. We are, Mr. Chairman,
going very far in this business. We are not
indeed constituting British government, but
more dangerous monarchy-an elective one
We are introducing new principle into our
system, and not necessary, as in the British
Government, where the executive has greater
rights to defend. Do gentlemen mean to pave
the way to hereditary monarchy? Do they
flatter themselves that the people will ever
consent to such an Innovation IF they do,
venture to tell them that they are mistaken.
The people never will consent. And do gen
tlemen consider the danger of delay, and the
still greater danger of rejection, not for n mo-
ment but forever; of the plan which shall be
proposed to them? Notwithstanding the op.
preston and injustice experienced among us
from democracy, the genius of the people must
be consulted He could not consider the fed.
.erdl system as in effect dissolved by the ap-
pointment of this convention to devise a bet
ter one. And do gentlemen look forward to
the dangerous interval between the extinction
OF an old, and the establishment of new gov.
eminent, and to the scenes of confusion which
may ensue2 He hoped that nothing like
monarchy would ever be attempted in this
country. hatred to its expressions had car
RED the people through the late revolution
Will it not be enough to enable the executive
to suspend offensive laws, till they shall be
coolly revised, and the objections to them ov-
.erruled by greater minority than was rennir.