The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-16
For the Union.

PETERSBURG, Nov. IL, 1913.
Until saw the editorial in the National Intelligence
men had elsewhere and regarded correc that the
instance of Mr. Madsors retaining the bill respecting
naturalization" had not been included in the nine
cises of the veto referred to in that journal have
never made charge, anonymously or otherwise, which
have failed to retract on finding 1t unfounded and
have had to reract but twice in twenty years. in writing
las you know very many articles, in times of high
party excitement, for numerous newspapers find, on
examining the only OF information have access
to- that Mr. Madison exercised the veto but fve times
and not sir, had been led to believe, exclusive OF
the instance of the retained bill | shall be pardoned
sure, for mputing deceptive naccuracy to the edi-
of the nellgence in this matter, when it is
sidered that many variant statements have been made
and by in high places, and to degree so calculated
mislead the well informed Fer instance Mr. Henry
Clay said in the Senate the 18th July, 1892 in his
speech on the peto of the bank that "durng Mr. Madi
sons administration of eight years there occurred but
too or three cases of its Life and Speeches
of H. Clay, voi Q, 80. The fact s that Mr. Madison,
fea,ed another by retaining it, The same Mr. Clay (un-
der whose lead the National Intelligencer and its party
have been making merciless war on this popular power
sad in lS4, of that Mr.. Madison; that mo man
understood the constitution better than he did."-Sane
vOl, p. 499.
most respectfully invite the attention of the editors OF
the National ntegencer to the other part of my former
note in the Union invite them, in their war on this
prominent feature of the federal constitution which they
say is "monarchica"to contemplate the fact that is
engrated on seventeen (a east of these cOnederated
republics In most of the seventeen, the power is
fered the governors in the very words used in
ferng on the presidential Office Ii it is, indeed mon-
archca it is wonderful that many States whose PEG
pie are Jealous of their political rights, and emulous OF
constitutional freedom in their sisterly and enlightened
rvalshlp, should have adopted part of their systems
1t is power certainly not less needu and conservative
in the government OF the Union than in any separate
State
But the article in the National Inelligencer to which
was referring abounded in uncandd views. They were
evidently arguing proper destruction OF the power from
alleged abuses of it, Thus argue, shows a want OF
candor or of intelligence, which last will not ascribe to
them There is power that is not capable OF being
abused and very few that have not actually been abused
was intended to be maintained by them that the pow
ought not to remain then was uncandld not to say
So If they intended to show that the ought to be
stricken from the constitution because it has been
abused then it uncandd and deceptive to be exhibit
ing the number of times and by whom 1t has been exer-
cised without accompanying attempt to demonstrate
that in these instances not used shield against
legislative encroachmen" Ihis would have taxed their
candor too much in calling them to state, that OF all
the exercises OF the power sreen to arrest bank
bills and appropriations of the public to schemes
to prevent the incorporation of church, when it wa;
used the shield of religious freedom-two to prevent
high tariffs. This would have taxed their candor toe
much in calling on them also to show that most OF the
other instances either bills passed in haste and with
out consideration trivial subjects OF unnecessary
legislation 1t would also have called on them to state
that the Father of his Country and the father of thu
constitution each applied the veto to bills on thu
score of erpcdieney which recognised by them
be in their Judgments constitutional All this would
have broken the force of the argument OF the editor:
rather more than agreeable to their candor-mort
than give the argument one day, and the bills vetoed
another PUbliUS.