The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-04

al the nag head OF many OF TIE wing presses Us c pat
form OF Gen Taylor's creed. 1t becomes, therefore, OF
some consequence" (n the language OF Mr. Toots to
anayze and expose the gross errors which pervade IT.
This is done completely the following preamble and
resolutions, that resist the desire OF laying
them before readers. They adopted on Friday
9th ult, by the Democratic Association OF the city of
Richmond, we find them in the Richmond Enquirer:
THE RALLY
OF the Democratic Association on Friday night was
large and animated President Patteson made few OBJ
seryaions zeaousy urging the committees and all our
friends TO do their whole Duty and bring every voter TO
the polls and appealing to the South to stand by our
northern friends, who stand by us.
Vice President Thomas H. Ellis introduced with APP
proprae remarks and read to the association the follow
ing admirable preamble and resolutions We cordially
commend them to the earnest attention OF wings and
democrats They contain in the language of Mr.. Wash.
ingon ''masterly analysis of that shifting, deceptive
wing platform, the Allison letter: 49,.
The Democratic Association of the city of Richmond
having looked in vain for declaration of principles from
the wing party, whether proceeding from their CONVEX
lions, primary assemblies or Rough and Ready Clubs
and having been often referred by the orators OF that
party the letter of General Taylor addressed to Captain
Allison, under date of the 22d OF April last containing
the exposition of his and their principles have calmly
considered It's contents and now proceed to expose what
in their opnon, constitute its Inconsistencies, its use
essness and lis departure from some OF the wisest
provisions OF the constitution
Gen. Taylor in his letter announces as his first prlnci
party; would endeavor to act independent OF party dom
nation should feel bound to administer the govern
men untrammelled by party schemes"
This principle is directly contradlced by another In the
same letter and in no perhaps, could be carried
into effect even If not thus contr ldcted.
The Executive of this country is bound by the const
tuition 10 administer the government IN obedience TO the
laws OF the land. Under our institutions parties must
exist They necessary to watch and restrain each
other All parties will have peculiar schemes and plans
for the management Of national affairs based upon
their peculiar principles One must be IN the ascendant
and whichever So will pass laws based upon its pecu
liar schemes Thus the acts Of Congress, having po-
ca character, must necessarily be the results OF party
schemes. And Executive which would a administer
our government "unrammeed by party schemes must
administer it "untrammeed' by the acts OF Congress
also.
Gen. Taylor afhrms that he will veto act of Con-
gress unless be in OF clear violation OF the con-
stluon, manifest haste and want of consideration by
Congress When party scheme assumes the shape OF
of Congress winch is embraced within neither OF
these contingencies, how is he to arrest without apply
ing the veto? and unless he does he manacled by
that act lranmeed by that party scheme, and bound to
execute the law. II
Resoped therefore, That the first position assumed by
General TayoI in his s,er p Captain am Allison is dscep
country and impossible TO be enforced under our political
SYSTEM
General Taylor announces as his second principle:
"The power given by the constitution to the Executive
nerpose his veto is high conservative power, but
in my opinion should be exercised except in
of clear violation of the constitution, manifest haste
and want of consideration by Congress"
According to this doctrine, II Congress rs to be the
Judge of what constitutes clear violation OF the const
ution what is manifest haste and want of considera
ton, the power be exercised at all, and thus
the clause of the constitution which grants the power
destroyed if the President is to be the sole Judge,
then he may exercise it whenever he peases and thus
destroyed the principle by which he would limit the
power. ..-.s. s.e
Every member OF Congress takes an oath to support
the constitution Under the sanction of that oath, when
he for measure he afirms that in his opinion
is constitutional The majority who pass the law equally
affirm the same thing The President on the contrary,
atirms il to be unconstitutional. Then, in this difference
of opinion, the case is proved TO be doubtful one-not
clear" AS these circumstances exist in the passage of
every law, and he will not exercise the power OF veto
except in clear case it manifest that he cannot
else II at all
What possible criterion can there be to determine
of manifest haste and rant Of consideration3 The
words Elusive. II they mean anything, they mean
that the members of Congress who passed the bill did
not allow themselves sufficient time to form their judg-
ments Who can judge OF that but the members them
selves? When measure progresses through the ordi-
nary forms of legislation, when ii has been passed by
one house and sent to the other when IT has passed
through the prescribed forms there and received the as
sent OF that house, is plain that the majority think they
have had time enough for If they had not, having the
power, they could take the time and what is there,
them impress upon il the stamp of manifest haste and
rant of constderatiOu2 ShOness OF time from its
ception to its consummaon? 1t may have been agtated
the public mind for years. and the people in their pri
mary assemblies may have instructed their representa-
lives TO vote for it. The representatives may have con-
silered it Individually though had never been intro
duced into the halls of legislation. Again: some
act promptly and with decision others slowly, deliberate
y, cautiously and yet the judgment is exercised in the
one case well in the other There is certain
criterion for deciding when haste is manifest what is
want of consideration What criterion them can there
be for the application of this veto principe' And if
cannot be applied because OF the improper principle
ablished then clause of the constitution is abrogated,
and OF the most sagaclous provisions OF that vaua
BILE instrument is destroyed 4.
On the other hand, suppose the President to be the
Judge of what is clear violation OF the constitution
k,.t
ration: what is to restrain him from exercising the pow
err whenever he chooses 10 say it is the or the
oher And if he does, who is the true exponent of the
"monstrous one-man power" at which the wing party
dreadfully shudder' Suppose measure passes both
houses of Congress- what is to restrain bad President,
who is disposed disregard the rights and liberties of
The people, from saying II Is clear violation OF the
stiiuton He is the Judge What is to prevent his in
terposing this high conservative power, Gen. Taylor
with manifest haste and want of consideration The
doctrine would give him the preext and be subter-
uge for exercising the power whenever he thinks proper
2 Resolesa therefore, That the second position assumed
by Gen. Taylor his letter Capt Allison,
OF the spirit letter. and meaning the constitution in
of its grants OF the exercise OF which heretofore has
been well approved, and tue excellence OF which is be-
coming each day more apparent
The third principle advanced by General Taylor is in
these words upon the subject of the tariff the curren-
Cyl the Improvement of great ways rivers lakes
their representatives in Congress- ought to be respected
and carried out by the Executive"
Our government Is one OF limited powers Consttu-
tons Instituted with restrictions and limitations, to
protect mnortes anst the misue and abuse of un.
restrained malorlteso protect the people OF section