The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06

Mr. Madison, In yielding his signature to the charter OF
1916 did upon the ground of the respect due Pfeee
dents and he subsequently declared The BANK oil the
United States, though the original question: neg 70 DC
unconstitutional, received the Executive signature"
probable that neither the bank OF Is nor thaI oil
1916 would have been chartered but for the embarass
ments OF the government n its finances the arrangement
Of the currency and the pecunay which existed
the first the consequence OF the OF the revolution and
resored 10 in the deusve hope that they would restore
public credit and Afford relief 10 the government ana 10
the business OF the country -
Those Of our public opposed the whole Gamer
lean system al It's commencement and throughout It's
caloulable mischiefs and in serious injury
the best interests OF the country For series OF years their
counsels UNDECIDED, aud the system estab
lished. 1t apparent its practical operation
unequal and unjust different portions oil the coun
equally entitled the and protection OF the gov
eminent. II ostered and elevated the money power and
enriched the favored few by taxing abor and expense
of the many. It's effect make the rich richer, and
the poor poorer It's tendency TO create distinctions
in society based wealth. and to the favored classes
undue control and sway In our government was an or
ganized money power, which resisted the popular WILL
Under the pernicous workings OF this combined system
of measures the country witnessed alternate seasons OF
temporary apparent prosperity; OF sudden and disastrous
commercial revulsions; OF unprecedented hucmiuon oil
bankru pcy thousand After struggle
OF more than quarter OF century, the system was over
The bank has been succeeded by practical of
finance conducted and controlled solely by the government
The constitutional currency has been restored te Puoc
credit maintained unlmPaired, even IN period oil foreign
national State necessary fiscal agents OF the
Revenue duties have taken the place OF the
protective tariff Tue distribution of the money derived
iron sale of the public lands has been abandoned,
and the corruPing system OF internal improvements It is
hoped, has been efecualy checked.
# is doubted that If this whole train OF measures
designed take wealth from the many, and bestow
upon the few, to prevail, the effect would be TO
change the enrc character OF the government One only
danger remains 1t Is the seductons oil thar branch OF the
system, which consists internal improvements holding
OUT does inducements 10 the people OF particular sec
tons and localities TO embark the government In ten
VIII Ia
This branch OF the system is intimately combined and
duccd by adequate cause il be resuscIed and re-
vved, and firmly established, 1t reques no sa2acy 10
foresee that it will necessarily and speedily draw after 1t
the establishment national bank the revival OF
protective tariff, the distribution of the land money and
only the poponemen to the distant future oil the pay
OF present national debt but its annual Increase
entertain the solemn conviction, that me in'ei.
ly resisted this time, the whole series OF com
posing viii be speedily reestablished, and the country
which the existing policy has Produced and be destined
again witness all the evils, commercial reyuons, de-
which have passed during the last twenty live years
To guard against consequences runou is an object
OF high national importance, involving in my judgment
the continued prosperity OF the country. 49, ;,
have felt be imperative obi cation 70 withhold
my constitutional sanction from two bills which had passed
the houses OF Congress- involving the prime pie OF NE
internal improvement branch OF the American system,
and conflicting IN their provisions with the views mere eA
pressed.
This power conferred upon the President by the constu
ton, three occasions, during administration
of the executive department of the government, deemed
and this last occasion oil
Congress annual communication 'o the state OF the
Uuion is not deemed inappropriate TO review the Pfn'
cpes and considerations which have governed my action
deem this the more necessary because aier the lapse Oh
nearly since the adoption OF the constitution the
lrety of the exercise of this undoubed constitutional
power by the President for first time been drawn
seriously in question by portion OF my elowcilzcns
The constitution provides that every bill which shall
passed tue Representa- and the
SHALL before become law, be presented 10 the President
not he shall return his objections, that house in
which shall have ignacd shall enter the obJec.
The preservation oil the constitution from nfraction is the
Presidents highest duty lie bound discharge thai
those who may differ with him in opinion. He bound
TO discharge it, well by his obligations to the people
Office which he may not disregard Nor are the oblga-
lions of the dent in degree essened by the peva
ence OF views different from his in or both honses
Of Congress is not alone hasty and nconsiderate egis
aton that he is required check but time Con-
which deems subversive of the constitution,
OF the vital interests OF the county, is his solemn duty
bound approve, disapprove every bill which passes
Congress and presented him for his signature The
constitution makes this his Duty and he cannot escape
be would. He has election. In deciding upon any bill
presented to him. he must exercise his own best
Ii he approve, the constitution commands him
to return the bill the House in which II originated,
with his objections and ii he fail to do this within
ten days, Sundays excepted,) it shall become law
without his signature Right or wrons he may be over
a event Dy the bill IL beeomes law Without his sanction
Ii his objections be thus overrued the subject only
postponed and Is referred the States and the people Tor
their consideration and decision The Presidents power
is negative merely and not affirmative He can enact no
law The only effect therefore, OF his Withholding his APP
laws remain unchanged and the delay occasioned Is
only that required enable the States and the people to
consider and the in the election OF public
agents who will carry out their wishes and distractions
Any attempt coerce President yield his sanction
which he cannot approve, wouC be violation
of the spirit of the constitution palpable and haant and
If successful would break down the Independence OF the
department, and make the Presdeat elected by
the people, and clothed by the constitution with power to
defend their rights, the instrument Of majority oil
Congress. surrender, his part OF the powers with
which the constitution has invested his Office would effect
practical alteration ofthat instrument, without resong
to the prescribed process OF amendment
With the motives considerations which may induce
Congress pass any BILL the President have nothing
to do. He presume them 10 be pure as his own,
and look only the practical effect OF their when
compared with the constitution or the public good
But has been by those who object the exercise
this undoubed that assais the
themselves; that there greater safety in nunler
representative body than in the single Executive
ted by the constitutions and that the executive veto is
oncm power" despotic in lis character. To expose
the alacy of this objection, it is oay to consider
the frame and true character of system. Ours is
consolidated empire but coniedeated Union The States
before adoption OF the constitution, coordinate,
coequa and separate independent sovereignes and by
its adoption they did not lose that Character They clothed
the federal government with certain powers and reserved
all Others including their sovereignty themselves,
They guarded their rights the rights of the
people, by the lin which they incorporated into
the federal constitution whereby the different departments
of the general government checks upon each other
That the majority should govern general prime pie
royerted by according the
constitution, and according underlined and
strained discretion, whereby they may oppicss the mi
norlty.
The people of the United States blind the
that they may be temporarily msed and that their repre-
sentaves legislative and executive, be mistaken
influenced in action by improper motives They have
pter hctxu Ives