The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-16

interests OF agriculture, nav gati0n,c commerce
| of general pGcuniary suffering, aud Of finn
bankruptcy Of thousands. Ahcr n severe
, struggle of more than quarter OH century
the system was overthrow.
The bank has been succeeded by prncll'
cal system of finance, conducted aud conlrnll'
ed solely Inv the government. The couslitu-
tonnl currency has been restored: the public
credit maintained unnpoired, even in pc
Rod Of foreign waI; and The whole country
has become satisfied that hnnks,uutionHl or
State, are not necessary fiscal agents OF the
governments. Revenue duties have taken
tho place ofthc protective tariff. The dis
trihution ofthc money derived from the sale
the public lnnds has been abandoned and
the Corrupliug system of internal improve
ments, il is hoped, has been etltciualy check
! ed.
1t is not doubted that iflis whole train of
mens res, designed TO take wealth from the
many, and hCstow it upon the few, were to
prevail the effect would he to change the en-
lire character ofuur Government Ono on
" danger rennins. Ii is the seduction OF
that branch Of our system winch consists III
internal inprol emenls, holding out us II does,
I inducements 10 Tie people Of particular sec
! tons aud localities to embark the government
in Ihem without stopping to calculate me ~
evitablc consequences. This branch OF lhe
system is so intimately combined and linked
with the others that MS surely rs an effect is
produced Ivy IN adequate cause, ifit be re-
suscitatcd and revived and csnhished it re-
quires no sHg0city to inrcsee that 1t will nee
nsSnriy aud speedily draw after it the re-os-
adjustment oiu national bank, The revival OF
II protective tariff, the distribution ofIhe Iand
monoynEd not only the postponenent to the
distant future ofthe payment Of tho present
national debt, but lis annual increase.
entertain the solemn conviction, that II
the Internal Improvement branch oI the "a
merican system be not firmly resisted at thus
/ lime, the whole series of measures compos
ing il will be speedily reestahlished, and the
country be thrown back from the present
high state Of prosperity, which the existing
policy has produced, and be destined ngaiI
to witness all the evils, commercial rcyuIsions
depression of prices, and pocuninry omhar-
easements, through which we have passed
during the last twenty-five years.
! To guard against consequences so ruinouS
ii an object OF high national importance, IN
! yoIving in my judgement the continued pros
perity ollhe government
have felt il to he an imperative obligation
to withhold my constitutional sanction from
TWO bills which had passed the two houses
Of Congress, involving the principle ofthe
internal improvement branch ofthe "Amerl-
can SYSTEM" and conflicting in their Provis-
| ions with the views here expressed.
This power conferred upon the President
! by the constitution have OH three occasions
during my administration Of the executive
department ofthe government, deemed 1t my
duty to exercise and Oh this last occasion OF
making to Congress an annual communIcn-
ton "ofIhe state oftle Union" it is not deem
ed inappropriate to review the principles aud
! considerations which have governed my nc
ton. Ideem dis the more necessary, be-
cause, after the lapse of nearly sixty years
since the adoption ofthG consIittlou,the pro-
pricty ofihe exercise of ihis undouhed COLI
sttutiona power by the President has for the
first time been drawn seriously in question
10y n portion ofmy itiIowcilizens.
The constitution provides that "every bill
which shui have passed the House OF Rep
rcscntntives aud the Senate shall, before ii
become n law, be presented to the President
ofthe United States: if he approve, he shat
sign it, but if not he shall return il with his
objections, to that house in which it shall have
| originated, who shall enter the objections at
| large on their ourn'h and proceed 30 recon-
slider it,"
The preservation of the constitution from
4 infracliom is the Presidents highest duty
1 lie is bound to discharge that duty, at what
ever hazrrd of mourning the displeusure of
those who may differ with him in OPINION
He is bound to discharge it., us well by his
obligations TO the people who have clothed
him with his exalted rust, MS by his oath of
office, which lie Tray not Disregard. Nor are
the Obligations of the President in any degree
lcssened by the prevalence Of views different
from his own in one or both houses Of Con-
gress. 1t is not alone hasty and inconsider-
ate legislation that he is required to check
but if ut any time Congress shall, after appa-
rcntiy fall deliberatun, resolve on measures
a.,
ton, or oft the vial interests ofthe country, it
is his solemn duty to stand in the breach and
resist them.
The President is bound to approve, or dis
approve, every bill which passes Congress
and is presented to him for his signature
The constitution makes this his duty, aud he
cannot escape it if he would. He has no G.
lection. In deciding upon any bill presented
to him, he must exercise his own judgement.
If lie cannot approve, The constitution COM
mands him to return the bill to the House in
which it originated, with his objections and
if he fail to do this within ten days, Sundays
eXcepted,) il shall become law without his
signature. Right or wrong, lie may he over
ruled 10y Il vote Of two thirds of each House;
, and, in that event, the bill becomes law
without his sanction.
Ifhis objections be not thus overruled, the
subject is only postponed and is referred to
the States and The people for their consdera-
ton and decision. The Presidents power is
, negative mcrely,and not affirmative. He can
enact no law. Tie only effect, therefore of
his Withholding his approval of Il bill passe;!
, by Congress; is to suffer the existing laws to
remain unchanged, and the delay accustomed
, is only that enable the States and the people
to consider and act upon the subject in The
5 election ofpubc agents who will carry Out
their wishes and instructions.
, Any attempt to coerce the President 10
yield his sanction TO measures which he can