Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-12-21

er as eHeCtualy by rejecting bill by MS
casting vote, as the President does by re-
fusing 10 approve or sign it. This power
has been exercised in some instances by
the Vice President, the most important Of
which is the rejection of the bill to char.
ter the Bank of The United States in 1916.
1t may happen that bill may be passed by
large majority of the House of Repre-.
sentatives, it may be supported by the Sen
ators from the largest States, and the Vice
President may reject it by giving his vote
with the Senators from the smaller States
and yet il is TO be presumed none are pre-.
pared to deny TO him the exercise of his
power under the constitution.
But it is in point Of fact untrue that an
act passed by Congress is conclusive evil
dence that ii is an action of the popular
will. The majority of the whole number
elected TO each House of Congress con.li.
tutes quorum, and a majority Of that quo.
rum is competent to enact laws. 1t might
happen that a quorum of the House of
Representatives, consisting Of a single
member more than halt of the whole mum.
Der elected by a majority of a single vote,
might pass law, and yet, in that case,
fraction more than one-fourth of the PEG.
PIC VI lnC CHlttu STATES "DuIU DE TGIIG-
sented by those who voted for it, 1t mght
happen that the same bill might be passed
by less than n majority of one of
quorum of the Senate, composed of Sena.
tors from the fifteen smaller States, and a
single Senator from a sixteenth State; and
| if the Senator voting for il happened 10 be
from the eighth of the smallest of those
States; ii would be passed by the vote Of
Senator from State having but four
teen Representatives in the House of Rep
resenialives, and containing less than one
sixteenth Of the whole population Of the
States.
| This extreme case is stated to illustrate
The fact that, the mere passage of bill by
Congress, is no conclusive evidence that
the House who passed it represent the ma.
jorily of the people of the United States,
or truly reflect their will If such an ex-
IRENE case is not likely TO happen, cases
that approximate TO it are Of constant oc-
currence. 1t is believed that not single
law has been passed since the adoption of
the constitution, upon which all the men,
bers elected to both Houses have been
present and voted. Many of the most i'm
portant acts which have passed Congress.
have been carried by q close vote in these
I Houses. Many instances of this might be
given. Indeed experience proves that ma
ny of the most important acts of Congress
are postponed to the last day and after the
last hour of session, when they are dis.
posed of in the haste, and by Houses little
exceeding the number necessary to const
, tule quorum.
: Besides, in the most of the States, the
, members of the lower Houses are chosen
by pluralities, and not by majorities of al
the voters in their respective districts; and
: it may happen majority of that House
may be returned by less than an aggregate
, If the principle insisted upon be correct
: then the law should be so changed that NJ
bill! shall become law unless il is voted foI
by members representing in each House {
majority of the whole people Of the United
2 States. We must remodel our whole sys
g tenn, strike down and abolish not only the
{ salutary check lodged upon the Executive
e branch, but must strike out and abolisl
those lodged in the Senate also, and thu
= practically invest the whole power Of th
i Government in the majority of sing lie as
a sembly; a majority uncontrolled and abso
J. lutte, and which may become despoic. Il
s conform TO the doctrine of the right of III,
j. of the majority 10 rule independent of lh
= check and limitations of the constitution
we must revise the whole system; we mus
. destroy the constitutional compact b,
. which the several States agreed 10 form
f Federal Union, and rush into a consolida
= ton which must end in monarchy and des
|. polism. No one advocates such a PROPOSE
{. ton, and ye, the doctrine maintained,
:. carried oul must lead TO the result.
e One great object of the constitution i
r, comforting upon the President qualltle
!. negative upon the legislation of Congress
o was TO prevent the minority suffering iror
s injustice and oppression by the majority
e The equality of representation, the Senate
and the veto power of the President owe
O Congress, are guarantees which the sma
IS Ter States have that their rights will be re-
e pecled. Without these guarantees, thci
e ties in Congress representing larger State
n In the smaller and weaker States, Their,
,. fore, the preservation of the power and il
e exercise, upon proper occasions demandIn
I, it, is of vital Importance. They rattle
:. the constitution, and entered into the Unto
,fI securing unto themselves with large
n. States in the Senate-and they agreed I
,e he bound by the constitution and law
4. framed by Congress, upon the express CO,
r. dtion, and none other, that they should |
IS approved by the President, or passed, h
D. objections 10 the contrary notwithstand!n
: by vote of not less than iwo-thirds