Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-12-11
VISIONS with the views

2 Al .
mnnica.ion "of the state VI the Jnon Il II Hot deem
ed inappropriate to REVIEW hc principles and conSlde
ratlons which have governed my seton. deem this
the more necessary because after the lapse Of nearly
sixty years since the adoption Of the constitution N7
proprety of the exercise of this un0uied
al power by the President has for the first time been
drawn seriously in question by portion Of my fellow
citizens
The constitution provides that "cvcry Til which
shall have passed the House OF REPRESENTATIVES and
the Senate shall bcforeit becomes law be r~,scncJ
to the President eff the United States if he AZ proyche
shall sign it, but ifnot, he shall return it with lis oil
lcctions to that house in which ii shall have uri natcd
who shall enter tho objections at large their Journal
and proceed to reconsider it =
The preservation Of the constitution from nfracon
+ the Presidents highest duty. lie is bound to dis
charge that duty at whatever hazard Of mourning tie
di>lcasure of those who may differ from him in opin-
ion. He is bound to discharge it. as well by lis obya
lions to the people who have clothed him with his ex
allied trust by his oath of Office, which he nav not
disregard. Nor the Obligations of the President in
any degree lessencd by the prevalence Of views differ
ent from his own in or both houses of Congress
1t is rot alone hasty and inconsidcrate legislation
that he is required 10 check Int II At any time Cun.
Gress SHALL after apparently full deliberations, rcshc
on measure switch he deems suhycrsive of the Cost-
tuition, or vital interests Of the country, it is lis
solemn duty to stand in the breach and resist Tie
President bound to approve disaI prove every II
which passes Congress and is presented him for his
signature. The constitution makes this his DUTY and
ho cannot escape ho would lLc has no election
IN deciding upon any ll presented " him. Io -
crclac his own best judgment.
FIJI hc cannot approve tile constitution commands
ann to return the 1-l to the house III which it Original
ted,Wlth his OF ccuOns auu il he ia 10 o t is Hitiil
Ten days lauhlay5 cNccptll,i 1t sui, become law
without his sl.,uGt0re. II u1 o. u.uughc m buo,,l-
ruled by Il Vote ot |" Ghros OF each house. and in
that event the bill becomes law without his sanction
II his objections be not thus uyc4gued lie subject
y only postponed and IL referred w tle States ana tia
people tJr their consideration ara decision The pr,
idcnts power is negative merely una not erl.aiiy.
lie can enact no law.
HE only effect therefore, Of his Withholding his an
ProNd oi aDi passed by Congrea Is rulo' the ex
lsthS laws 70 remain unchanged, and tue delay occl-
stoned IS only that required to enable the States and
the people to consider and upon the subject in the
election oil public agents who will carry their wish
ana instructions Any attempt to force the Pres d:t
10 Yield his sanction to which he cannot A.
prove would be violation Of the spirit Of the cons THU
nof paipable and hagrant and if successful would
break down the indeendcnceof tho Executive depart
ment, and make the President, elected by tie pcuplc
ami clothed by the constitution with rcwer to defend
their rl5hs,thc mere inst umcnt of majority Of Con,
gress.
a surrender On bis part, Of thc powers v;tb ,Iicr
the constltntiln has invested hil uh.e would en,ct
PRACTICAL alteration 81 that Instruments without resort
ing to the prescribed process ~ amendment.
with the motives or considerations which may Induce
Congress pass any BILL the President can have no
thing to do. lie must presume them to be us pure rs
his own, and look only to the practical effect Of their
measures when compared with the constitution or tile
public good.
But it has been urged by those 10 object 10 tile cx-
ercise Of this undoubted constitutional power. that it
assab the representative principle ard the capacity Of
the people to govern themselves that there greater
safety in numerous representative body than IN the
single executive created by the co5ti;tlo and that
the Executive veto is cone man power ceSpotlc III
its character 10 expose tie tallacT q u o. eetlt
+ ls only necessary to consider the lramt .- t'A.
character OF our system. Ours IS not c"hslI VI =,
empire, p'lt c9nedcl lto lon Inc states, 't1'tc
the Adoption OF the Constitution were co-ordnate GO
equal and separate, inlc e. so'ercIxntleS, and hy
ITS adoption they dId not los' character.
Iney clothed the federal GOV Ament with certain
powers and reseT7eo all cite mcuaI"g thcir oNh
sovereignty, TO thcmse-'2S iAcF @uaF'co thcir own
rsits as o'a!c: ana Z l.a " 'ne p:oIe,.! 'lc ssy
mutations "ich lney m'"rPSi mo tnt ieupll
coe1it , WHEREBY 'ic u.not ~ II 80
~ .' - WY vn'oHa I'LL" Hill.
in't 'lc ln;.ority Shoo govern eearai lIiii'l
ups coiioNelle" ~ nohc ."t u'et nlu' ~ ~ az
Gotl' 10 ,iic NOV ~ an u''
otleo anu "''ies''i''cu eisc1e0n' "n1ie"''9 may
opRRluSe ''e 'n'noiity. ,c.,r
me people Oh Tue htcd NtIlcs are lot oh1o '"t'o
Iico 'h"I tcy may ne te'Polny isieu, hu 'i;V 'ce
!; ! i'll l,S u
n ..lueicca y 'ci' :9.ol
l5tt i1,o oaou
70 ".'u Wy =" "iiic TIP ~ y 'ie fu
~ io'lts va lou9 Az .Ill 90
anu III INCL iop ~
Cl 70 " '7el'',o 'lu " 49, " .No
states. Inc people can &c thtir own 0rece agency
make no law nor can lhe licuSc Oh Representatives,