Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-27
SOME REASONS WHY VIRGINIA
SHOULD SUSTAIN THE NOMiNA,
TON OF CASS AND BUTLER AGAINST
THAT OF TAYLOR AND FlLLMORE.

TION OF CASS AND BUILEh AOhllNSl
THAT OF TAYLOR AND FlLLMohE
When the practical question Of most pressing
and urgent importance in this contest IS, Wnether
we are 10 have President and Vice President
pledged TO prevent all interference on the part OF
the Federal Government with the institution oil
slavery in the States or in the territories, or
President and Vice President, who, from an alb
horrence of the veto power, or ar adherence O.
slavery are understood 10 be pledged not 10 inter-
fere with any law Congress may pass on that
subject, II is amazing how any Southern State
can hesitate which of the two TO choose. The
first is clearly and distinctly The position OF Cass
and Butler-and they are renounced and repudl-
aled at the North because they are so pledged, bo'h
by abolilionists and Barnburners. The second
is the position which Gen. Taylor and Mr.. Fill
more are understood, by many Of the Wings and
Aboli,ionisis OF The North, 10 occupy, and thty are
supported by them for that reason.
As 10 all the other great questions OF po-
lI,ical controversy, our Wing friends suppose
they have efeclually avoided the odium OF
their principles in respect TO the principles in
involved In the questions of the Bank, Tariff and
general system Of internal improvements by
the Federal Government, and their loose con-
s,ruc,on OF the Constitution generally, by select
ing candidate for the Presidency, who, with
great candor, acknowledges be has never even
attempted to investigate them. But they forget
that he has also declared that he will not inter-
fere by the Executive psto on these subjects II is,
therefore, matter OF moi The least consequence
whether he knows, or should al any time know any
thing about these things. Why should the old gen
tleman, at his time of life, begin 10 study compli'
Gated questions of constitutional law, or Of po-
litical science, If his action, as President, IS to
be the same; whether he is as ignorant Of them
as child, or as profoundly versed in them as
Jefferson, or Madison, or Polk, or Calhoun
rive may hereafter make extracts from Messis.
Calhoun and Buchanan's mastery speeches on
The Velo.l
Even if General Taylor differed now with
the Wings Oh those questions, or shall differ
with them hereafter, when he has had tins to in
vestigate them, how can any man who deems
those questions of Importance, in the practical
administration of the Government, support him,
our friends, the Wings, he will approve all the
bills which Congress sends him. That is, he
will declare by his signature that he approves
them-whether he ap proves them or not in fact.
Recent developments are calculated to inspire
new enthusiasm in those who advocate the
great principles of the Democratic party, and
to furnish new motives, for united efforts, in
--3 Rutler
The abandonment by the Wing party Of the
candidates who represented their principles,
which they have heretofore asserted TO be OF
such vital Importance to the country, and the
adoption of candidates -one OF whom disclalms
any adhesion to those principles, and avows no
opinion, or leading political principle. but one,
which is destructive of the compromises of the
Constitution, ard which practically "surrenders'
to a majority of Congress absolute and uncheck-
ed p,wer, however unfaitbful that majority may
be (as it has often been) to tho interests and
wishes Of the peope-and the other Of which
candidates is understood by his recorded action
in Congress and elsewhere, TO be an ultra oPPo'
nent of the mos, important institution of the
Sou,h-.uch state of things is we'll calculated
to arouse the Democratic party of the South to
harmony and zeal in supporting the candidates
of the Democratic party, pledged to the malnte-
nance Of the great principles of party, aud espe-
cialy pledged to interpose a their influence IN the
Cabinet and in Congress 10 prevent any inteTle-
renee with the institution OF slavery, and who DO
no, recognize this modern, new.iangled and fatal
heresy, that the executive power OF the veto IS
dangerous expansion Of executive power, and
makes the President monarch. This Zone.
man power" which is thus denounced, Is the
power OF The people OF all the States exercised
by their representative. The Presiden, is the re-
preventative OF The whole people OF the United
States, just as much as our representative in Con
gyeo is The representative OF our district. In his
constitutional sphere, il is as much The duty OF
the Presiden, 10 inerpose his veto 10 any Dill ne
conceives mischievous TO his constituents, as j!
is Of our representative to put his veto 10 any
bill in Congress which he disapproves just
as much as it is The duty OF any Senator 10
interpose his ueto TO any bill passed BY The
House of Representatives injurious, IN bis
opinion, to the State he represents. The Con-
stitu.ion, for the protection of The people 81 he
United States agains! bad legislation iof6ids
the passage of any law, until it is approved by
the President. II he does not approve 4 law which
is sent TO him, how can he consistently with his
power as man, or his obligations TO support The
Constitution, declare under his hand that ne does
approve IL The veto power has been exercised
by every President, including Washington, Tex
cepi, erhaps, the Two Adams and Martin Van
Buren, the great Barnburner) Il has not been,
as used bv them, arbitrary, despoiic or monar-
chical. On the contrary, on all occasions il has
been deemed conservative, and has, sooner or la
ter, received the appreciation OF the people. Il is
provision no less popular in its character Than
the House OF Representatives, and more SO than
the Senate.
The veto which the Presiden, has on the &C.
ton OF both Houses is no more dangerous than
the veto which each House has upon The other,
for the plain reason (Which exposes in a few
words the fallacy of this modern clamor against
i) lha, the President is elected by the people eve
~ four years-the Senators every six years by
the Sta,es-and the members OF the House every
Two years BY the people OF districts in the States
LIE, the people then, OF the South especially,
frown upon any candidates for their favor who
are ready 10 surrender" this great constitutional
function, who are prepared 10 make the President
OF the people mere egpssr to register the edic,s
which congressional majority, whether com.
posed of Federalisls, Abolilionis,s, Barnburners
or log.rollers, may enact. LIE, The people of the
South especially be warned by the existing indi.
cation Of an organized and systematic effor, 10
raise, for the first time, sectional party founded
in hostility TO the institutions Of the South, OF the
duty they eve TO themselves, TO the Constitution
and TO The Union, to unite with those OF the North
who are ready to maintain The constitutional in.
ierexta and rinhts Of tho annth hr nIeuentino all