The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-10-11
MOMENTOUS FACTS in RELATION TO
THE VETO POWER.
BY CHARLES d. DRAKE, Es.

T.,
The people certainly have not fully invest-
gated the weight, power, and effect of the Ex-
ecutive Veto, or they would with one voice
cry out against its further use, in the spirit
and manner in which it has been resorted TO
within the last twenty years. 1t is singular
and deeply interesting facts, which should
arouse every man in the country 10 attend TO
this grave subject that the Veto was equal in
power 10 two millions, six hundred and eigh-
ty-five thousand eight hundred and forty peo-
pie of this country, and more than equal TO
four States of this u nionl That is, whenever
President chooses TO interpose his single
will against the will Of Congress, in relation
10 any bill, it requires, over and above ma
jority, the representa- tives OF that number OF
people, and the Senators from that number oil
States. to overcome that single will.
Attend, for moment TO the facts and fig
ures By which this statement is proved. The
House of Representatives of Congress, con-
sists of $50 members, oil which Is are ma
jority, and Isl are two thirds. The Senate
is composed Of 90 members. of which 81 are a
majority, and 40 are two-thirds.
Now, if a bill receive | 10 votes in the House,
and 81 votes in the Senate, and be signed by
the President it becomes law. But il he
put his Veto upon it, as the votes OF two
thirds of each house are necessary TO It's pas
sage, il cannot become a law without 81 votes
in the House and 40 in the Senate. Ii takes
therefore, just 80 votes in the House and 9 in
the Senate, more than a majority, 10 overcome
the Veto. Each of those IS votes in the
House represents 40, $50. and the whole 2, 6S5.-
$40 people. Every two of these y votes in
the Senate represents the power Of one State.
and the whole more than four States. Hence
the Veto is equal i'll power TO that number OF
people and Sta;es.
Another fact most strikingly illustrates the
exorbitant power of the Veto. II is, that il
needs but one vote more than one-third of Ell
Their House of Congress- 10 sustain the will oil
the President and make il absolute For in
stance: bill vetoed by the President, may be
passed. notwithstanding The Veto, by the votes
of the whole go IN embers of the House OF
Representatives. and may receive 80 votes IN
the Senate; or il may BE- passed unanimously
by the Senate, and receive 1888 votes in the
Housa, and vet in either case for the want OF
one vote, fail to become law, though sustain
ed by an overw helming majority IN both Hou-
ses Now as it is the most improbable tiins in
the world, that the President could not find in
one house or the other, sufficient number of
men, lmpelled by fflendshlp 10 .iIm or oy con
curence OF opinion with HIM. or by the hope
of preferment by him, to sustain bis Veto, il
follows, that for every practical purpose the
Veto is jus as absolute as if were SO declar-
I'd BY the Constitution.
In the light of these facts the great truth
stands out with vivid distinctness, that the
exercise of the Veto destroys the very first
principle of our Republican Systematic righl
Of the majority 10 govern. Whenever the
President chooses, no matter how foolishly or
wickedIy, the resort TO that power, govern
ment is BY that act in that particular case,
thrown into the hands of The minority. And,
as every minority government is III principle
despotisln, it follows that the exercise of the
Veto establishes, in each individual case, d
despotic power in the minority over the ma jor-
| ity. True, the power might not be despolicly
used That would depend upon the object and
temper of the President III applying the Veto
and upon the extent of his sway over the mi
noritv; but whether so used or not, the prin-
ciple is there. and may at any time be brought
into action, and that should be enough TO ex-
cite in every American freeman an intense
jealousy ..of the Veto power, and an unyirld
ing and sleepless opposition TO It's improper ex'