Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-08-03
6eralo If tDe Times
RH0DE-l AM D { R;
NEWPORT.

Mn. CLAYToN's SrEEcH.-The speech de-
llversd by the Hon. JOHN NJ. CLAYTON, of
Delaware, in the Senate Of the United States,
July 5th, 1913, in reply to Mr.. Fooie Of Miss
who called upon the Wing Senators, and es-
pecaly the Senator from Delaware, TO explain
the principles upon which Gen. Taylor was to
bc sustained as a candidate for the Presidency,
has been published at Washington and Phila-
dclphia, and is attracting the very general at
tention and interest, which the nature Of the
challenge, and the extraordinary ability with
which it was met and answered is calculated
10 excite. Mr.. Clayton is well known to have
como early to the decision, that Gen. Taylor,
under all the circumstances, was the most ellg-
ibc candidate to be proposed for the Prcsiden-
cy by the Wing party; aud though strong in
his attachment to the character and principles
Of the great Wing leader, saw sooner than 9th
crs the necessity of conforming to the actual
condition Of things, and of securing by the
nomination of General Il. the success Of those
principles which, after all, mus, be the main
object of a contest with the dangerous party III
power, when we determine to wage one. He
saw, that it was not so much any measure OF
temporary expediency or necessity for which the
country, and the best exponent Of It's interests
the conservative Whig party, should strug-
gle, as that two cardinal measures Of policy be
asserted and yindicatcd at the coming election,
viz: that the Government be kept free hereaf-
ter from system of aggression and conquest
in its treatment oc foreign powers, and that the
Executive Department, under the Constitution,
be restrained from the usurpations and abuse
of its trusts, which, in the hands OF the present
sol 6sont, Democratic incumbcnts, threaten to
trausmute our originally well balanced Repub-
lie into monarchy in fact, if not in name -
He proceeds, therefore, to show in his reply TO
Mr.. Foote that General Taylor is pledged by
his letter to Capt Allison to the policy of
peace and Of non Intervention in the affairs of
our neighbors-n a word that he will tread in
the policy of Washington and Jefferson, rath-
CT III III Ol MI L Olk dHu ocl. NdsS anu iiidl
as to the exercise of the veto power, he is de-
cidedy against its exercise except in cases
of clear violation of the Constitution or Of man-
ifest haste and want Of consideration by Con
gress" Indeed, says Gen. Taylor, ! have
thought for many years past the known opin-
ions and wishes Of the Executive have cXer-
cised undue and injurious influence upon the
legislative department of the Government and
for this cause, have thought our system was
in danger of undergoing great change from
lis true theory. The personal opinions of the
individual, who may happen to occupy the Ex-
ecutive chair ought not TO control the action of
Congress upon questions of domestic policy /;
nor aught his objections 10 be interposed where
questions of constitutional power have been
settled by tho various departments of Govern
mcnt and acquesced in by the people.
AS corolary to these principles with re-
spect to the exercise Of the President S veto
Gen. Taylor further declares IN the same let
letter." Upon the subject Of the tariff, the
currency, the improvement of our great high
ways, rivers, lakes, and harbors, the will OF
the people, as expressed through their Repre-
senta,ivcs in Congress, ought to be respected
and carried out by the Executive"
" Here then is the principle" says MIR.
Clayton, "upon which ! make issue with the
honorable gentleman from Mississippi, in the
approaching Presidential campaign. mean
to stand by Gen. Taylor as the representative
of the right of man to self government
mean to support him because he has boldly
and noby proclaimed himself, before the coun-
try, as the champion Of this great principle,
that the majority should govern In all cases
where the fathers Of the Republic intended
that the veto power should be applied he de-
clarcs that he will exercise 1t. In all eases
where bill passed by Congress Is clearly and
maniicstly unconstitutional, OF has been passed
IN haste and without due consideration lac VIII
be prepared to apply il to sustain the Union OF
these States against any dangerous lniracuon
Of the Constitution. But he viii permit the
people Of the country To govern themselves
lie will suffer the Representatives of the pco'
plc and the Senate, IN these halls to make th'
laws. lie will not set himself up as an cs
scniial part of the legislative power of the ma
ton. lie will. when he reaches the Ptesiden
,ial chair s,ard by the great principles avowec
un this subject by Madison aud his compatrioi'
g., l7s7, aal nuctl" r'ppliuc the kiugl'