Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-12-11
prrs,nr,rs Observation-Disclosures

\
PASSES the House Of Representatives may be rejected
pv The Senate and so bill passed by the Senate may
lie rejected by the House In each case the respective
House exercise the veto power on the other
Congress- and each House Of Congress, hold under
the constitution check upon the President, and me-
hv the power of the qualified veto, check upon con-
.sress When the President recommends measures TO
Congress he avows in the most solemn form, his opn-
IONS gives his voice in their favor, and pledges hmse
in advance to approve them if passed by Congress il
he acts without due consideration or has been n1u-
eaced by improper or corrupt motlves-or il from Il
nv other cause Congress- either House OF Congress-
shall differ with him in opinion, they EXERCISE THEIR
VETO upon his recommendations. and reject them ana
there is no appeal from their decision but 70 the PEG
pie at the ballot box.
These are proper checks upon the Executive, wisely
intcrposed by the constitution. None will be found
20 object to them. or to wish them removed. 1t is
equally important that the constitutional checks OF the
Executive upon the Legislative branch should be pre-
served.
fit be said that the representatives in the popular
branch of Congress chosen directly by the people,
i: is answered, the people elect the President. II both
Houses represent the State and the peopleso does the
President. The President represents in the Execn-
i've Department the whole people Of the l. States, as
each member Of the legislative department represents
portions OF them.
The doctrine ofresricton upon legislative and exc
cutve power while well settled public opinion is en-
qbtcd within a reasonable time accomplish its ends
has made country what it Island has opened 20 US
Of glory and happiness to which all other nations
have been strangers.
IN the exercise Of the power of the Veto the Presi
dent responsible not only to enlightened public
opino but to the people of the whole Unonwho elec
tea him. as the representatives in the legislative bran
,hes who differ with him opinion are responsible
u the people of particular States districts who
pose their respective constituencies
TO deny to the President the exercise of this power
would be to repeal that provision Of the constitution
which confers it upon him. 10 charge that its excr-
else unduly controls the legislative WILL is to complain
If the constitution itself.
II the Presidential veto be objected to upon the
Ground that it checks ami thwarts the public wupon
the same principle the equality Of representation OF
the States the Senate should DC stricken out OF the
constitution. The vote Of Il Senator from Delaware
has equal weight in deciding upon the most important
measures with the vote Of Senator from New ork;
ami yet the represents State containing, accor
ding to the existing apportionment of representatives
in the House Of Representatives but thirty fourth
part Of the population ofthe other.
By the constitutional composition of the Senate, a
majority of that body from the smaller States represent
less than fourth of the people OF the Union. There
are thirty States ant under the existing appOrton-
lnent Of representatives, there two hundred and
thirty members in the House of Representatives Six
teen Of the smaller States represented that House
Nv but fifty members and yet the Senators from the
States constitute majority OF the Senate.
So that the President may recommend measure to
Congress and it may receive the sanction and approval
Of more than three fourhs OF the House Of Represent
tatives and of all the Senators from the large States
containing more than three fourths Of the whole pop
uaton of the Unted States and yet the measure may
be DEFEATED by the Of the Senators from the small
Ter states None, it is presumed be found ready
10 change the organization of the Senate on this
count or strike that body practically out Of exis
,ence by requiring that its action shall be conformed
TO the will Of the more numerous branch.
Upon the same principle that the veto of the Pres-
dent should be practically abolished, the power of the
Vice President to give the casting vote upon equal
division of the Senate should be abolished also. The
Wee President exercises the veto power etfectuay
by rejecting bill by his casting vote the President
does by refusing to approve and sign it. This power
has been exercised BY the Vice President in a few in
stances the most important of which was the rejection
Of the bill to re-charter the Bank Of the Unite States
inISll.
1t may happen that a bill may be passed by large
majority of the House of Representatives and may be
supported by the Senators from the larger States and
the Vice President may reject by giving his vote with
the Senators from the smaller States and yet none
it is presumed prepared to deny him the exercise
N this power under the Constitution.
But it is in point of fact untrue that act passed
bv Congress conclusive evidence that emana
Of the popular will,
A majority of the whole number elected to each
House of Congress- constitutes quorum and major
itv Of that quorum is competent to pass laws. II
might happen that quorum OF the House of Repre-.
sentatives consisting of single member more than
half of the whole number elected to that House. might
pass bill by majority of sing vote and in that
case fraction than one-fourth Of the people Of
the United States would be represented by those who
voted for it.
1t might happen that the same bill might be passed