Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-12-13

the President, should be unanimous in op-
position to it, whereas, the veto of the
President may be overruled by two-thirds
Of Congress, or by the people at the polls.
1t is obvious that, TO preserve the system
established by the costilution, each Of the
coordinate branches of the government
the Executive, the Legislature, and the Ju-
dlclary-must be left in the exercise OF its
appropriate powers. Ifthe Executive or
the Judiciary branch be deprived of power
conferred upon either, as checks on the
Legislature. the preponderance Of the lat.
ter Will become disproportionate and absorb.
ing, an the others impotent for The accom-.
pllshment Of the purposes for which they
were established. Organized. as they were,
by the constitution, they harmonize togeth-
er for the public good. If the Executive
and the Judiciary shall be deprived Of the
constitutional powers invested in them, and
ot their due proportion, the equilibrium
must be destroyed, and consolidation OF un-
checked despo,ic power exercised by ma
jorities of the legislative branch.
The Executive, Legislative, and jude
clal, each constitute seperaie, co ordi.
nate department of the government; and
each is independent of the other. And the
performance OF their respective duties un-
der The Constitution, neither can, in its
legislative action, control others. They
each act upon their several responsibilities
In their respective spheres; but If the doc
tflne, now maintained, be correct, the ex.
ecutive must become practically subordi.
nate TO the legislative, and the judiciary
must become subordinate to both; and thus
the whole power of the government would
become merged in single department;
whenever, if ever, this shall occur, our
glorious system of we'll regulated self gov.
ernment will crumble into ruin-to be sue
ceeded, first by anarchy, and finally by
monarchy or despoiism.
| am far from believing that this doc.
trine is The sentiment Of the American peo-
pie; and during the short period which re.
mains for me 10 administer The Executive
Department, it will be my aim to maintain
its independence, and discharge its duties
without infringing upon the power or duties
of the other departments Of the govern
ment.
This power of the Executive was exer.
cised by the first and most illus,rious Of my
predecessors and by four Of his successors,
who preceded me in the administration OF
the Government. I. is believed in no in.
instance prejudicially TO the public interest
has i. ever been exercised. No President
will ever desire unnecessarily to place his
opinion in opposition TO that of Congress;
he must always exercise the power reluct.
antly, and only in cases when his convic.
lions make it a matter Of stern duty which
he can not escape. Indeed there is more
danger tina. the President, from the repug.
nance he must always feel to come into
collision with Congress, may fail to exer.
else i. in cases where the preservation oi
the Constitution or the public good will de.
mand it, rather than that hs will exercise
it unnecessarily or wantonly.
During the period have administered
the Executive Department Of the Govern.
n'eni, great and important questions Of pol.
icy, foreign and domestic, have arisen up.
on which it was my duty to oct. 1t may
Indeed be truly snid that my administration
has fallen in eventiul times. | have felt
most sensbly the weigh. of the high re.
sponsibiiIttes devolving upon mo. With
no other object than the public good, the
enduring fame and permanent prosperity
my country, | have ru sued the convictions
Of my own best judgment. The impartial
arbitrament of an enlightened public opin.
ion in the present and future will determine
how far public policy | have maintained,
and the measures have recommended, may
have tended to advance or retard public
prosperity at home, and to elevate or de-
press the estimate Of our national charac.
ter abroad. .-.f -..-..
Invoking the blessings, OF the Almighty
upon your deliberations at your present
important session, my ardent hope is ,ha.
in spirit OF harmony and concert YOU
may be guided to wise results; and such as
may rebound to the happiness, the honor
and glory of our beloved country.
JAMES X. POLK.
WAsH1NeroS, December s, 1s4s.