Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-27

70 the interests of such State, it would be bound h.
y, the PRESIDENT should approve it, or il sbou,,
be passed by q vote Of two-thirds Of both Bo,,a
but has right to demand that the President sh,,,
exercise his constitutional power to arrest II ~
his Objection is against tiff he surrenas. -, ~
rower or failed to exercise it in case yxbsro s
cannot approve, it would this formal annror., nc
mere mockery, and would be itself violation os ~,
consti'u'ion; ana the dissenting State, would hs
comprised by law which had not been nass aa
cording to the sanction OF the constitution. w.
!ae opJec'ion to the exercise of the veto now..
IS FOUNDED upon an idea respecting the POPULAR viii
which, If carried out, would annihilate The S,a.'
sovereignty, anu substitute for permanent feder.1
government constitution directed bv nnmer;oS,
majority. A revolution of the government 80,
De silently effected, and the States would be swh;e
70 laws 10 which they had never given their conssr
me shpeme Court Of the United State is inves,sd
VIC power 10 declare, and has declared, acts of
eongfess-passed with the concurrence Of The G.
ate and House of Representatives. and the ,nnvoe.
VI the fresldent-to be unconstitutional and go
ana yet none, it is presumed, can be found ,y;n.,
disposed 10 strip this highest judicial tribunal uudy
- e'nS.'u'loh OF acknowledged power necessary
ua. e"'' VI HolVld-
FOR !he same reason that the Executive should
!uiiis u me doctrine maintained, be rendered
huSa'ory and practically ex1 unged from tho cont;
'hls power of the Court should also he ron
oeleu hugatory, and be eXpunged, because # r.;to
rates the Legislative and Executive viii ,ra ~.
cause The exercise Of such power by the Court
may De regarded being in conflict with Inc cam.
cay VI the people to govern themselves lndoeL
10 more necessity for striking this power Of
e |ourt from the Constitution than the,e is thu, al
the qualIbed veto Of the President because tbs do
cisioh Vi the Court is final cannot be reversal
even though both Houses CT Congress and tho Pre-
iueit shouiu De unanimous in opposition to il:
whereas the veto of the residen mt NAV he oycrrlt
by the veto of two-thirGs of both Houses of Cor
sfess, or by the people at the polls.
ms op'leus That to preserve the system es,ab.
i'S'ica oy lhe Constitution, each of the cu-ordnae
branches OF the Government-The Executive right,
the Legislature. and the Judciary-must be left ;,
the exercise of its appropriate powers If the ~
ecutiVe or the Judicial branch be deprived Of nov,
err conferred uIon either as checks on the Ieas1,.
tive, the prePonderence of the latter will berom,
clspropC tionate and absorbing. and the others i'm,
potent lor the accomplishment of the purposes for
which they were established. Organized az ,hev
were, by consent, they harmcnzed together for the
public good After the Executive and the judiciary
shall be deprived Of the constitutional powers vest
Cd In them, and of their due portion, the eGuliLri
UNI OF the system must be destroyed by the consol-
hiai0n OF unchecked despotic power and by m,
Jorltics of the Legislative branch.
The Executive, Legislative and Judicial, each con-
su'u'cs separate coordinate depai tment of the
Government, and each independent of the Others
ana III the performance of their respective duties
under the Constitution. neither can. in legislative
aClion control others. They each act upon their
several responsibilities i'll their RESPECTIVE spheres.
bHt II the doctrines now maintained be correct; the
Executive must become practically subordinate to
tOth, and tius the whole tower Of the Government
would become merged in a single Department.
whenever, if ever this shall occur, our glorious
system OF well regulated self gov mt will crun-
be INTO ruiLs-to lie sutCecCtd first by ANARCHY,
and finally ty anarchy or despCtism.
| am far from believing that this doctrine is
he sentiment OF the American people; and tu-
ring the short period which remains for me TO
administer the executive department, it will be
my aim to maintain its independents and dis
charge It's duties without infril ging upon the
powers or duties Of either Of the other depart
Ments Of government.
tbs power Of the Executive was exercised BY
the flrst ard most lliusrous Of my predecessors
ard by four Of his SUCCESSORS who preceded ire
IN the administration Of the Government. II is
believed that il no instance prej,d.c;al TO the
pubic interest has it ever been exercised. No
President will ever desire, unnecessarily, to
place his opinion in opposition to that If Coz.
gross. He must always exercise the power re-
iiefaLtly land only in cases where his convictions
make ii matter Of stern duty. He cannot cs-
care. Indeed there IS no danger that the Pres
ideht. from the repugnence he must always feel
10 coming into collision with Congress. nav fail
TO exercise, in cases where the preservation of
the constitution or the Eublic GOOD demand it,
that lie viii exercise it unnecessarily or van
tonly.
During the period have administered the Tx-
ecutive department Of the Government. great
and important questions of public pilicv foreign
and domestic, have arisen,upon which it was NY
duty 10 act.
1t may indee be truly said that nv admins
tration has fallen in eventtul times. / have ip,t
most sensibly the weight ofthe high responsible
tiles devolvins upon ne. With no other object
than the public good, the enduring fame and per
manent prosperity Of my country, have pursu-
ed the convictions of my own best Judgment
The impartial arhitrament Of enlightened public
opinion in the resent and future. vii determine
how far the public policy have maintained. air!
the measures | have recommended, NAV have
tended 70 advance or retarn public no rery Il,
hone. and to elevate or dep ess the estimate cl
our Eaiiona! character abroad.
Invoking the blessing Of the Almighty God
upon your deliberations, at your present Impor-
ta,t session. NY ardent he pc is that. in spirt
OF harmony and concert, you may be guided 70
wise results aud such as will rebound 10 he
happiness, honor ard glory Of our beloved conn
try.
JAMES K. POLK
Washington, Dec. 5th, ls4s