Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-08-11

DruDdTe, ~ dJtHce Qf Ldchury lay
Tor, in the " s. Senate, July 5, 1913.
REPUBLICAN OPINIONS ON THE VETO POWER.
During this session of Congress, we have
heard the Honorable Senator from Ohiu
Mr. Allen) utter very strong denunciallons
against Colonel Hamilton as the intention.
Of advocate of kingly and monarchal doc.
irlnes, aud traitor T. the cause of liberty
do not stand here tor the purpose OF
branding one of The greatest men the coun-
try ever produced with lgnoniinious charp.
es; but desire 10 show that the great lead
er OF the Federal party, when this subject
was first presented to the consideration of
the old Continental Congress, was the very
man to press this veto power upon the Con.
vehlion, aud to insist upon its being made
absolute and unqualified
Mr. Gerry's proposition being now be-
fore the committee, Mr. Wilson, (then call.
ed Consolation Federalist, y and Mr.
Hamilton moved that the las, part Of il be
struck out, so as 10 give the Executive an
absolute negdtire on the iaios. There was
no danger, they thought, of such power
being too much exercised Ii was mem
toned by Col, Hamilton, that the King of
Great Britain had not exerted his negative
since the Revolution" e. e. l6SS)
That is the argument in favor of the ab.
soute veto made by one who has been rep.
resented in this chamber, as the great aris-
Iocrai and monarchist of the day Mr. Ger.
ry, a Democrat Of that day
Mr. MANGUN, lin his seai) Republican
Mr. Clayton. thank my friend for the
e L.
"Mr Gerry said he saw no necessity for
so great a control over the legislature. as
the best men in the country would be com.
prised in the two branches of ii.
DR. Franklin said, he was sorry 10 differ
from his colleague, for whom he had very
great respect on any occasion, but he could
not help it on this. lie had had some ex.
perlence Of this check in the executive on
the legislature, under the~proprietary gov
eminent of Pennsylvania. The negative OF
the Governor was constantly made use OF
to extort money. No good law whatever
could be passed without private bargain
from him. - If the executive was to have
council, such power would be less OBJ
jectionable. 1t was true, the King of Great
Britain had not, as was said, exerted his
negative since the revolution but that
matter was easily explained. The brides
and emoluments now given to the members
of Parliament rendered il unnecessary, ev.
cry thing being done according TO the will
Of the ministers. He was afraid, if neg
alive should be given as proposed, the more
power and money would be demanded, ill
at last enough would be got to influence
and bride the legislature into a complete
subsection TO the will Of the executive"
Then comes the Republican shoemaker,
Roger Sherman. What did he say!
"Mr Sherman was against enabling any
one man to stop the will Of the whole. No
one man could be fonnd 50 far above all
the rest in wisdom. lie thought we ought
to avail ourselves of his wisdom in revising
The laws, but not permit him to override The
decided and cool opinions Of the legisla-
ture."
Mr. Wilson said in his spe oh for the We.
to, There might be tempestuous moments
in which animosiies may run high between
the executive and legislative branches. and
IN phieh The former ought to be able 10 de-
fend itself"
"Mr Butler had been in favor of single
executive magistrate; but could he have
entertained an idea that a complete mega.
tive on the laws was TO be given him, he
certainly should have acted very differently.
II had been observed, that in all countries
the executive power is in a constant course
of increase. This was certainly the case
in Great Britain. Gentlemen seemed TO
think that we had nothing to apprehcnd
nm nh If al
But why might not Catalina or Crom-
well arise in this country as well as in 9TH
ers p
"Mr Bredford, of Delaware, was opposed
TO every check on the legislature, even the
council of revision first proposed. He
thought il would be sufficient to mark out
in the Constitution the boundaries TO the
legislative authority which would give all
the requisite security 10 the rights of the
other departments. The representatives Of
the people were the best judges Of what was
for their interest, and ought TO be under
no external control whatever. The two
branches would produce sufficient control
within the legislature itself"
"Col Mason observed, that a vote had all
ready passed, he Gound-he was out at the
time-for vesling the executive powers in
a single person. Among these powers was
that Of appointing to Office in certain cases.
The probable abuses Of negative had been
well explained by DR. franklin, as proved
by experience, the best Of all tests. Will
not the same door be opened here The
executive may refuse its assen; to necessa.
ry measures, ill new appointments shall be
referred TO him; and, having by degrees
engrossed all these into his own hands, the
American executive, like the British. will,
by bribery. aud influence, save himself the
trouble aud odinm Of exerling his negative
afterwards. We are, Mr. Chairman. going
very far in this business. We are not in
deed constituting a British government, but
a more dangerous monarchy-an elective
one. We are introducing a new principle
into our system. and not necessary, as in
the British Government, where the execu.
tive has greater rights to defend Do gen.
llemen mean to pave the way to hereditary
monarchy? Do they nailer themselves
that The people will ever consent TO such an
innovation If they do, | venture 10 tell
them they are mistaken. The people new