Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-12-13


mcnt in them without stopping calculate the incv
bic consequences This branch Of the system so in
timatcly combined and linked with the others that
surely as AN effect is produced by adequate cause,
II be rcsusitated and revived, and firmly established,
requires no sayacity TO forcsec that Will Bccessarl
ana speedy draw after il the establishment OF ma
oh oank the revival Of the protective tariff the dis
trbu''on OF the land money and not only the postpone
mcnt to the distant future OF the pay the prcsen
naiional debt, but ITS annual increase.
entertain the solemn fiction that if the iDtcrua
improvement branch of the "Anerican SYSTEM be
hrlnly resisted at this time, the whole series of meas
ures composing II will be speedily rcestablishcd and
the country be thrown back from its present high
oi prosperity which the existing policy has produced
and be destined again witness all the evils
cia rcvulsions depression Of prices and pccuniary
oarrassmcnts through which have passed during the
last twenty five ycrs.
To guard against so runous is an object
OF h'sa national Importance, involving, in my Judgment
Tue contrued PROSPERITY of the country.
nave icit II 10 be imperative obligation TO with
hou my constitutional sanction from two bills which had
passed the two Houses of Congress- involving the princi
PIC oil the internal Impgov branch of the Amcri
ga. STEM aud conflicting IN their provisions with the
view here expressed
This power, conf .rrcd upon the Prsidcn, by the
suuuo" have ON three occasions, during my admits
'ration OF the Executive Department OF the Govern
incnt, deemed il my duty 10 exercise; and this last
occasion OF making to Congress AN annual communca-
ton "of the state ofthc Unon 1t is not deemed map
proprate To review the principles and considc
which have governed my action. deem this the
necessary because after lapse fncary 90 years
the adoption oi the constitution the proprcty of the
ercise OF this undoub,ed constitutional power by the
question by portion of my fellow citizens.
The constitution provides that 'cvcry bill which shall
have passed the House OF Representatives and Senate
shall, before II becomes law be presented to the Pres
dent OF the United States he approve he shau sign
it, but ii not, he shall returo it, with his objections,
that House in which shall have originated who shall
enter the objections at large their Journal and pro-
coed TO reconsider it,"
The OF the constitution from niraction is
the Presidents highest duty. lie is bound TO discharge
that duty whatever hazard OF mourning the displcas
urc OF those who may differ with hun in opinion. lie
ltssI
the people who have clothed him with his exalted trust,
as by his cath OF office, which he may not dsrcgard.
Nor are the obligations oil the President in any degree
lesscncd by the prevalence OF views different from his
own in boln houses OF Congress. Ii is alone
hasy and inconsdcrac Legislation that he is required
TO check but il at any time Congress shall, after appa
renly iall dclbcratIon, resolve measures whcu nc
deets subvcrsivc OF the constitution, OF the vital in
tcrcsts of the country, his solemn duty stand
the breach and resist them The President is bound
approve, or dsappovc every bill which passes Con-
gross is presented 10 him for his signature. The
constitution makes this his duty and he cannot escape
it he would. He has election In deciding upon
any bill presented to him. he exercise his best
Judgment IL he cannot approve, the constitution
nands HIM 10 return the b to the House in which it
originated with his objections and il he fail 10 do this
within ten days, Sundays c%ceptcd) it shall become
alaw without his Signature Right or wrong, he may
be ovcrrulcd by avoc OF two-thirds of each House;
and IN that event the bill becomes law without his
sanction III his objections be not thus ovcrrulcd, the
subject only postponed, and Is referred 10 the States
ana the people for their consid Grafton and decision
The Presidents power is negative merely and not at
hrnatiyc. He enact no law. The only effect there
fore, OF his Withholding hi, approval oil bill passed by
Congress is sucr the existing laws remain unchang
cd, and the delay occasoncd only that required
enable the States and the people to consider and
upon ethe subject in the election OF public agents who
will carry their wishes and instructions. Any
tempt TO the President 10 yield hls
measures which he cannot approve would be violation
OF the spirit of the constitution. papabc and fragrant
and, il sncsessiu would break down the Independence
OF the executive department. and make the President,
elected by the people, and clothed by The constitution
with power 10 defend their rights the mere instrument
OF majority OF Congress. surrender his part, of
the powers wh which the constitution has his
office, would effect practical alteration OF that
mcnt without rcsorng to the prescribed process OF
amendment
With the motives or considerations which may induce
Congress to pass any bill the President have moth
ing 10 do Tic must presume them TO be pure
his own and look only the practical effect OF their
measures whom compared with the constitution or pub
lie good.
But it has been urged by those who object to the
crcse OF this undou6ted constitutional power that il
sails the representative principle and the capacity of
the people to themselves; that there greater
safety IN numerous representative body than in the
single Executive created by the constitution, and that
the executive veto is the Zone powcr' dcspotc
in its character. Tocxpose the iaacy ofths Objection
1t Is only necessary TO consider the frame and char
accr OF our system, Ours is consolidated empire,
but confederate Union The States before the adop-
ton of the constitutions ordinate CO. equal and
separate independent sovercgntics its adoption
they did not lose that character They clothed the |
Federal Government with certain powers, and rcscry
cd all Others including their sovereignty, them
selves. They guarded their own rights States and
the rights OF the people by the very limitations which
the different departments OF the General Government
checks upon each other. That the MAJORITY should
govern is general principle conroyerled by none; bu
they must govern according TO the constitution and
according TO underlined and unrcsrancd discretion
whereby they may Cypress the minority
The people Of the United States not blind to the
fact that they may be temporarily msled and that their
representatives, legislative and executive may be mis-
taken or influenced in their action by improper motiycs
They have therefore inerposcd between themselves |
and the laws which be passed by their public agents
various representations, such assemblies senacS and
governors III their several Stats; House OF Repre-
sentaiivcs, Senate, and President of the United
States. The people by their direct agency
make no law the House OF Representatives i'm
mcdiatcy elected by them no' can the Senate;
both together, without tina of the President
or a vote OF two thirds of both Houses
Happily for Themselves the people, in framing our
admirable system OF government were conscious of the
n!IrmIties OF their representatives and i'll dclegating
them the power OF cgsiaon they have fenced then,
around with checks, toguard against the effects of hasty
action ofcrrOr OF combination, and OF possible corru
ton Error scliishncss and faction have often sought
to rend asumdcr this web of checks and subject fh.
Government TO the control of fanatic aud sinister pilu-
cncrs but these Efforts have only satisfied the people
OF the wisdom OF the checks which they have imposed
and OF the necessity OF preserving them unimpaircd
The true theory OF system not to govern by the
acts or dccress OF any set OF representatives. Ths
constitution mterroscs checks upon all branches of the
Government in order TO give time for cor.
rcctcd and dcusion to pass away but il the people
settle down firm convict ION different from that of
their representatives. they give effect to their opinions
by changing their public The checks which
the people imposed their public the aIop
tion OF the constitution the best evidence of their
capacity for self-goYernmcnt. They know that the
men whom they elect TO public stations of like
firm and passions with themselves and not to trust
cd without being restricted by ordinate authorities and
constitutional limitations. Who that has witnessed the
legislation OF Congress for the last thirty years will say
that he knows of instance in which measures not
manded by the public good have been carried w no
VIII deny that III the State Governments by combna
tons OF individuals aud sections in dcrogatiou OF the
general interest banks have been chartered stems OF
internal improvement adopted, and debts cnalcd upon
The people depressing their growth, and importing their
energies for years TO