Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-12-07

ges himself IN advance to approve them il
passed by Congress. II he acts without due
consideration, or has been Influenced by i'm
proper or currupt motives-or if from any
o'her cause Congress, or either House OF Con-
gress' shall differ with him in opinion, they
exercise THEIR VETO upon his recommenda-
lions, and reject them; aud there is no appeal
rom tnelr decision, but to the people at the
bsllot-box.
These are proper cheeks upon the Lxecu-
tive, wisely inerposed by the constitution -
None will be found TO object To tdem. or to
wish them rem--v.d. 1t is equally important
that the constitutional checks of the Execu-
tive upon the legislative branch shonld be
preserved.
II IL be said that the representatives, lie the
popular branch OF Congress are chosen direct
~ by the people, it is answered, the people
elect the Presidett, II both Houes represent
the States aud the people, so does the Pres-
dent. The President represents in the Exec
utive Department the whole people OF the u.
States, as each member OF the Legislative De-
partment represents portions of them.
The doctrine OF restriction upon legislative
and executive power, while well settled
public opinion is ena bled within reasonable
time to accomplish its ends, has made our
country what it is. aud has opened to us a
career OF glory and happiness TO which all
other nations have been strangers.
In the exercise pf the power OF the veto,
the Prelden is feponsible not only to an en-
I iigntened public opinion, but to the people of
the whole Union, who elected him, as tie
representatives in the legislative branches,
who differ who differ with him in opinion,
are responsible TO the people of particular
States or districts. who compose their resbec-
tive constituencies.
| To deny 10 the President the exercise
this power, would be TO repeal that provision
OF the constitution which coners il upon
him. To charge that its exercise unduly con-
trolls the legislative will, is TO complain OF
the constitution itself.
! II the Presidential veto be objected to up-
on the ground that 1t checks and thwarts the
public will, upon the same principle the
equality OF representationot the States in the
Senate should be stricken out OF the constitu-
| ton. The vote OF Senator from Delaware
has equal weight in deciding upon the most
inortant measures with the xote OF Senator
from New York, and yet the one represents
Staa containing, according to the existing
apPortionment OF Representatives in the
House o. Ike Representatives, but one thirty fourth
part OF the population OF the other.
| BY the constitutional composion of the Sem
ate, a majority OF that body from the smaller
States represent less than one fourth of the
people OF the Union. There are 80 States;
and, under the existing apportionment of rep
resentatives, there are two hundred and thlr-
ty members in the House of Representatives,
Sixteen OF the smaller States are represented
in that Hyuse BY but fifty members; and yet
the Senators from these States constitute a
majority oil the Sena te.
1t may happen that bill may be passsd by
large majority OF the House OF Representa-
lives. and may be supported by senators from
the larger States and the Vice President may
reject IL BY giving his vote with the Senators
from The smaller States; aud yet none, it is
presumed, are prepared to deny TO him the
exercise OF this power under the constitution.
But it is. in point Of TACT, untrue that an
act passed BY Congress is conclusive evidence
that it is an emanation OF the popular will.
majority OF the whole number elected to
each House OF Congress constitutesa quorum,
aud majority OF tina. quorum is competent
10 pass laws. 1t might happen that quoIum
of the House Of Representatives, consisting
of single member more than halt OF the
whole number elected to that House, might
pass bill by a majority OF single vote, and
in tina: case d fraction more than one-ionrth
OF The people of the United States wonld be
represented bv those who voted Tor il.
1t might happen that the same bill might be
passed by ma lorily OF one, oil quorum OF
the Senate, composed OF senators from the
fifteen smaller States, and d single senator
from the sixteenth State, and il the Senators
voting for it happened to be from the eight of
the smallest OF these States, 1t would be pas.
sed BY the votes OF senators from States ha-
wing but fourteen representatives In the house
OF Representatives,, aud continuing less than
sixteenth OF the wholc'popuation Of the
United States.
This extreme case is stated to illustrate the
TACT that the mere passage oil bill by Con-
gress is no conclusive evidence that those who
passed it represent the majority OF the people
OF the United States, or truly reflect their
will. II such an ebtreme Case Is not likely
to happen, cases that approximate 1t are OF
con slant occurrence. 1t is believed that not
single law has been passed since the adop-
ton oil the constitution, upon which all the
members elected to both houses have been
present and voted Many OF the most inn
portant acts which have pissed Congress have
been carried by close vote in thin houses.
Many instances of this might be given.
Indeed, our experience proves tnat many OF
the most important acts OF Congress are post
poned to the last days, and often the last
hours of session, when they are disposed of
in haste, and BY houses but little exceeding
the number necessary to form quorum.
Besides, in most OF the States, the mem
bers Of the House OF Representatives, are cho-
sen DO pluraliiies and not by majorties OF all
the voters in their respective districts; and 1t
NAV happen that majority OF that House
may be returned by less aggregate vote OF
the people than that received by the minority.
II the principle insisted on be sound, then
the constitution should be SO changed hat no
bill shall become a law unless it Is voted Tor
by members representing IN each House ma
ority of the whole people OF the U. Sta ties.
We must remodel our whole system, strike
down and abolish not only the salutary checks
lodged in the executive branch, but must strike
out and abolish those lodged in the Senate
also, and thus practically invest the whole
power of the government in majority OF
single assembly, majority uncontrolled and
absolute, and which may become despotic.
To conform to this doctrine Of the right OF
malorities to rule, independent of the checks
and limitations of the constitution, we must
revolutionize our whole system. We must
destroy the constitutional compact by which
the several States agreed TO form federal
Union, and rush into consolidation. which
must end in monarchy or despotism. No one
advocates such a proposition; and yet the
doctrine maintained, il carried out, must lead
| to this result.
| One great object Of the constitution IN con-
ferring upon the President qualified mega
tive upon the legislation oi congress. was 10
protect minorities from injustice and oppres-
sion by majoriles. The equality OF their
| representation in the Senate, aud the veto
power of the President are the constitutional
guarantees that the smaller states have that
their rights will be respected. Without