Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-12-22

: @HeartmeGt OF the government. deemed it my
to exercise: and on this last occasion az
fling to Congress az annual communication
o6the state OF the Union. it is not deemed
inappropriate TO review the pririple which
1ye governed my actions deem this the
q IRE necessary, because after the lapse OF
s;&ty years since the adoption of the consti-
t7tion, the propriefy of the exercise OF this
doabted constitutional power of the Presi-
. nt has Tor the first time been drawn serious
II into question by a portion of my fellow
u liens.
81 The constitution provides that ,.egery bill
which shall have passed the House of Repre-
Initiatives and the Senate. shall, before It be
esmes law, be presented to the President
~ fhe 7 nlted States; II he approves it, then
M skqA sign Il, but If not he Shall return i
Nil his ohjectlons, 70 the House in wFicl, i
ofigiuaed, who shall enter the objections at
lsrge in their Journal, and proceed to recon-
81 The preservation Of a constitution fro.,
ATTRACTION IS the Presidents highest 6ufv.-
u IS bound to discharge that dlfv at what
: ser hazard OF mourning the dis,sieasnre of
hose who may differ with him ia opinion
e : bound TO discharge II as well By ebIiga
foas to the people who have clothei aim
Z rltn ms exalted trust. as by his oath Of Of
fce which he may not disregard. Nor i
prevalence OF views different from his o.n IN
0ne or both Houses Of Congress. r. il not
alone nasty and inconsilerate legislation
4hat lie i required 80 check but If nj any
4 fime Congress shall, after apparently faH de-
liberation, pass measure which he deems
subVersive OF the constitution CIR OF the vital
lnterests Of the country, it IS ms solemn duty
10 stand ~ the breach and resist them. The
II resident : bound 10 approve er disapproye
Ugh 5pf.
seuted TO him Tor his signature. The consti-
BUTTON makes this his duty. and he cannot es-
<<ape lt II he would. lie has 40 election of
bleeding upon bills presented to him; he
must exercise his owa best judgment. aud IF
h cannot approve it, the constitution com
~ tnis him To return the bii to the source i'm
w1ich it originated, with his objections: and
II he fails % DO this Within ten dags-SuntIavs
excepted-'t should become law without his
signature, right or wrong. lie may be over
ruled b. two thirds Of each House, aud In
Athat event the bin becomes law without his
sanction. II ms objections be then overruled
the subject IS ouly postponed Or is referred TO
the States or the people far their cOnsidera-
ton and decision. The cousi erafioa is.
however negative, merely, and NOS affirna-
tive. aud can enact no law. The only effect
therefore, Of hts Withholding his appreciation
81 the bin passed by Congress, is to suffer the
sleiay occasioned is ouly that required to eua
bic tie Suites and the people 10 consider aud
act uP3n the subject II the election of pG5lIc
agents. who shall show their wishes and Ia
structious. AHy attempt 10 Weld his sanction
90 measures winch he cannot approve. would
b. violation Of the spirit OF tue constitution.
palpshie and aasrant, and If successful, would
break down the independence OF the Execu- I
tive Department. and make the President
al, Il IL, s. y 4 a. n I.
stitutou with power ~ defend their rights
the mere instrument Of the m jority OF Con
gress, and would Be surrender on his part Of
She power with which the constitution has
invested him-his Office would effect a prac-
tical alteration Of that instrument without re
sorting to the prescribed process Of anoGd-
meut.
With the motives or considerations which
may induce Congress TO pass any b.lI, the
President can have n0lhiug TO DO. he must
'resu ne them 70 be as pare as his own, aud /
look only to the practical effect of their Insa-
sures, when compared with the constitution Il
or the public good.
Bat it has been urged by those who ohiectt
10 the exercise of this Caiaubled constitution
al power, that i assaiis TIE representative
principle aui the capacity Of tie people I'd
govern themselves, that there IS greater safety
in a numerous representative body. than Id
the single ExecutsFe, created b. the coast,tu+ /
ton; aud thar The Executive IS a ..oue man I
power" despeilc in is character. To expost. /
the ttllacy Of this objection, 1t IS only ueces- I
sary to consider the frame aud rrue cbaIacter
: our system. Ours is nor CONSOLIDATED !
Empire, but coniederated Union. Tie f.
States before the adoption of the coustitufidu I
we're 50 ordained CO equal separate aud Iude- /
pendent sovreigaties and by It's adoption tlty- +
dat not lose that character; they clothed the +
federal government with such certain poyvers. +
and reserved all others including their od u (
sovereignty, to themselves. They guarded /
their own rights as States, and the rights ef
the people, by the very limitations which hey !
incorporated into the federal constitution =
whereby the different departments OF the /
general government are checks upon each
other. That the majority should govern. Is !
general principle coutroverted by none, bur
they must govern according to the constitu-
ton, aud not according to an underlined and
unrestrained discretion, whereby they may
Cypress the minority.
The people Of the United States are not
hliad to the fact that they may be teIaporari-
II miSled, and that their representative IegIs-
iafures and executives may be mistakea or
tufiusnced IA their action By Improper mo I
ttyes. They have heretofore intertered be- (
tween themselves, which may be caused by +
their public agents--variouS representatives I
such as Assemblies, Senates, Governors in Z
their several States, and House of Represen- T
tatIves, Senate and President of the United
States. The people can BY their own direct
agency make no laws, nor can the House of
Representatives Immediately elected BY Ithem /.
-nor can the Senate, nor cam both together (
without the concurrence of the President or /
vote Of two thirds OF both Houses
Happily Tor themselves. the people nj forFa- +
Ans our admirable system Of government, I
were conscious OF the inhrmity of their rep