Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-23
Gen. TAYLOR and his Principles.

| huch lhni hah uccn ipuha ul our olfi iontft-r
and by the Wing party, .iiat on all the political
questions of the day, Gen. Taylor has not gircn
opinions and pledges. Previous to his Allison
letter, published last week these compH nts were
well founded, bat in that communicat on, thy
were, as it seems to us, met and remo ed; and
il Gen. Taylor adhercs, as he doubtless win. to
the sentiments expressed in that letter. the Wing
party ought to be satisfied Indeed, w. are bet
ter pleased with the position Gen. TAYLOR oeeu-
pies under that letter, than by the ave we'd priv
cpes Of any other statesman Of the Wing party
no, because his opinions on political questions
are expressed more definitely than theirs, for
they are less so, but because he refe - all these
questions to the action Of Cengrcs. TO whom
they properly belong On matters of ,eislsiS4,
involving no ,palpabe violation of TIE Cons,i,u-
ton, he declares he viii ooq,aiesce ia the action
Of Congress. We hold This to be tbs true Wing
principle. We have been accustomed to look
too much 10 the opinions of the Pres dent on
matters of legislation, and this has arisen from
the abuse Of the Veto power. Its mons,rous
abuse has concentrated almost the whole Legs
la,ive, as well rs Executive power, in the hands
Of the President. BY its exercise be makes his
individual opinions equal, in effect. 10 the opin-
ions Of hso-lirtis Of all the repr .sentatives Of
both branches Of Congress. H. can, and ac-
corling to the doctrines of the Iocoioco party
ought to defeat any law passed by Congress
which he does not approve, uu'css majority Of
1 two.,hirds shall vote for it. Is no, this mon
s,rous? Is il not one of the VT X. features Of an
odious dcspo,ism? We ask our reader, 10 re-
feet upon it. The President is made by the
Constitution an ',Ezecuiire" iIicer. He is plac-
ed nj the head of the Govern meht to carry out
and execute the laws and this is so exclusively
his duty, that he derives his official name from
it, and is styled the Executive department"
The Veto power was given him, from mistaken
idea that the Executive was the weakest depart
ment, and that such power was necessary to pre-
serve IN equilibrium. 1t was intended as high
conservative power, to guari against any palpa.
bic violation Of the Constitution but il is used
to control ordinary questions Of legislation.
The people of each Congressional district in
the Union elect Representative. lie is elect
ed with special reference TO the prominent mat
tiers of legislation that agitaic the country. ThesC
/ Representatives, so elected from all parts of tn,
country, assemble at Washington, and they en-
body the opinions and wishes of their consiitu
A ents. The opinions of a majority of the Repre-
c sentatiyes, expresses the opinions Of majorit,
J. ef the people. The opini' ms of majority of tn
l. senate, expresses the opinions OF majority O
. the State Legislatures Yet, according to tn
= creed of the Democratic" party, the Presden
n may and should interpose his Veto upon Ia,
= passed by both these bodica il he dsapproves il
n and in such case, it cannot become law, un
L less by majority of two-tlirtis. This is in Ct
feet making the opinions Of the President supe
"a rior to the opinions Of any thing hess than two
IS thirds of the electors of the United States.
'r Are the people prepared TO uphold such
power as this in The Executive? so, what hC
4 comes of the republican doctrine that the major
P ity ought to govern? Gen. Taylor says, that
S shall carry ont, not defeat the legislative actio
Of Congress-n other words, that he will fail
m fully execute the laws passed by Congress.
" the people, through their Representative, de
n mand an increase of the tariff, the improvement
of rivers and barbors, the distribution of tn
y proceeds Of the public lands among Tie State
- or the repeal of the sub-treasury humbug,
will not defeat their wishes. Is not this iru
y republicanism
- Gen. Cass, on these questions, stands pledge
to defeat the wishes of the people, unless The
'g accord with his own opinions. Is this true rC
n publicanism? We hold that it is not. The Ii
cofoco party uphold the Veto power as it is-w
join issue with them, and dcnounce it, us one {
- y the most odious and detestable usurpations
e, despotism. We go for modification Of the Vet
tn power so that it shall not defeat the clearly el
pressed wishes of the people, and limiting il I
in aedged violations of the Constitution, in case
re not settled by the Judiciary, or by long aequ
p essence of the Government. The HiaskingtO
rs - Union has already taken bold ground in suppoI
Of the Veto power We shall see whether tn
Locoioco press of this State will dare to stan
!. up in its justification or defence.
al But we are told Gen. Taylor is a Shareholder
to and in supporting him, we abandon the Wilma
Proyiso principle. Not so. So long as SLAYER