The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-12

hon the change. BY these wise anu ~noe' J ,r ~
ns hey have secured themselves, 50 lar ms human pru
nes can against hasy, oppressive ana dangerous egs
\ suon. e-,...,ax ,o,,;ons NJ rho ITnion will find
Of greatest securities in the veto power IL would
- easy 10 imagine interests Of the deepest Importance 20
nic,lnr sections which might be seriously endangered
In des trction For example, not more than onelird
Va states have any direct interest in the coastng trade
mi, trade secured TO American vessels no' hoe
nv proecive duty, bat by absolute prohibition OF az
rrign competition. Suppose the advocates OF Tree uaas
n mad should excite the jealousy OF the sen Ators ana
sssnatlyes from the other thirds OF the States
this paratyey local interest," and convince tle
sr his trade ought be thrown open to foreign nayga
n By such Competition they might contend that the
nice OF freight would be reduced ana mat Tue pro
,. of cotton wheat and other articles, ought not TO
i. faxed in order sustain such monopoly IN aVoi
our ship building and navigating interest," n
Congress- Influenced by these or any othef ~
e mass an act to open this trade TO the competition o.
s,.euers there is til to I'LL the executive chaH
who would not piece his veto upon IT. and mus refer tae
bect TO the sober determination OF the American PeopE
To deprive the navigating states oil this privilege, Wouu
he aim deadly blow the existence OF the Union
Lei me suppose another oil much more dangerous
character In the southern States, which compose the
weaker portion OF the Union, species OF properly exists
which is now attracting the attention OF the whole civil
,sd world These States would have become par
lies to the Unon had their rights in this property been
Snatcssome from the belief that they doing God
rvce and others from desire divide and destroy this
orous repubichave conspired 10 emanclpae the south
S slaves On this question: the people of the south, be-
vond the limits of their States stand alone ana I'M
npored by any power EARTH except that OF the north
s democracy These fanaca philanthropsts
Conducting crusade the whole world, and
Jsayor
Ind against this RICH, of property Suppose they should
ever Influence majority in both houses of Congress
n mass law-not 10 abolish this property, for that
would be palpable violation OF the consutu-
uonbu render it of no value, under the letter, but
The P a at the o"sh
the power OF arrestIn8 such an act by his veto
uat solemn decision OF the people should be known on
hi, question: Involving the life death Of the Union
We M OF the nonaveholding States, entered the Union
upon the express condition that this property should be pro-
ected Whatever may be our own private opinions IN re-
gard TO slavery the abstract ought to hazard all the
blessings of our free instantaneous Union and our
trengh-n such crusade against our brethren OF the
southl Ought we leopard every political right we hold
dear for sake of enabling these fanatics to invade south
arm rights and render fair portion OF our common IN
berance scene of servils war, rapne, and murder
Shall apply the torch to the magnificent temple oil hu
man liberty which orelathes reared at the price OF
their blood and treasure and permit all hold dear TO
perish the conhagraon trust not
Ii IS possible that at day the majority in Con-
rres may attempt by indirect MEANS TO emancipate the
slaves of the south There is knowing through what
channel the eveacye spirit of ianatcism may seek to aa
complsh its object The attempt may be made throuyh
the power other express power granted by
the constitution. God only knows how It may be made
II is hard say what tanaticsm may not adopt to
accomplish purpose Dow feel secure, in this hour
of peril from abroad and peril home, to be willing to
feared against hasty and dangerous legislation NO. sir
the value of the veto power more manifest than
the present moment For the weaker portion OF the
Union whose constitutional rights now assaled with
such violence to think OF abandoning this safeguard would
was wiser more beautiful adaptation of theory
practice in any government than that which requires
returned by the President with his objections under
all the high responsibilities which he owes to his country
This power conferred upon the President to
unconstitutional improvident and hasy legislation
Its intention f may word not much according to my
ae) was purely conservative To adopt the language Of
the Federast lit establishes sautary check upon the
legislative body, calculated to guard the community against
friendly the public good, which may happen influence
majority OF that body" [Congress.l Throughout the
whoe book, whenever the occasion chero, feeling Of
dread expressed, lest the legislative power might
cend the limits prescribed it by the constitution and
From first to last ibis fear r !. We ought
forget that the representatives of the people not the
lion has often led TO the overthrow OF republican nstu
lions Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and the
ba sesvens eS s ep
cody proceeding from the people, and clothed with their
confidence naturally uls suspicion to sleep and when
before their constituents take the alarm
Legislative bodies of any considerable number are
more liable to sudden and violent exctements than ind
duals This We have all often Witnessed and it results
midst Of such excitements, nothing is natural than
hasy rash, and dangerous legislation. Individual respon
The number Each person, constituting but small fac
9na part othe whole mass, thinks he can escape respon
abiy In the midst OF the crowd. The restraint OF the
popular will upon his conduct is thus greatly diminished ;
and as one OF number he is ready perform acts which
lily In order to check such excesses the Federast tells
ha ms veto power, CT reference OF the subject to the
Again sir highly excited political parties may exist in
selaye assemblies, so intent upon graspng retaining
power that IN the struggle they will forget the wishes and
no interests OF the people. might cite several examples
d THIS kind in the history of our legislation but
merely refer to the odous and unconstitutional alien and
edition laws Led by ambitious and eloquent
VINO have become highly excited in the contest the ri
ph party may become paramount to the good of the
uny and unconstitutional and dangerous laws may be
We consequence The veto power necessary arrest
people - 49, $50 - w ~ ~
but worst of all is the system of lozoing so preva-
. N congress and the State Legislatures, which the
mos Oh The tederalist do have This
sa s,sn q be sure tor ears polite YET though home
l US use Now, sir, this very system of log rolling in
salse bodies is that which has involved several OF the
ua1s IN debt for internal Improvements, which fear
ne oil them may be able pay In order carry
plovenents which We're useful, and might have been
productive, 1t necessary to attach to them works of
opposite character To obtain money to meet these ex
Ssesant expenditures, indulgence granted the
SS az Tue expense of the people. Indeed, it has been
'l source OF that whole system of rninous and dsas
lous measures against which the democracy have been
.ns ior years 1t has produced distress in the
many Gays to come. And yet how rarely has any Execu
sa 'he courage to apply the remedy which the veto
Let u.s. for moment examine the workings of this sy
~ Inc more dangerous, because presents tselt
me mbers under the garb of devotion their
uehts one has measure of mere local advantage to
4 which ought, If all, be accom- plished by indi
,i enterprise, and which could pass if IL stood
oue' lie hnds that he cannot accomplish his object /;
relies only upon merits He finds that other mem
% nave other local objects heart none of which would
Tbe m support OF majority if separately considered
rouo 'ehoers, then, form combination sufficiently
ma t % carry the whole; and thus twenty measures
m adopted NOT one of which separately could have
sns a respectable Thanks the wisdom and
Icy OF General jackson this system of local internal
winch threatened TO extend itself into every
,eseea by the veto power Had this been DONE the
10 soVeiien might, at the present day, have been
Bn, Wreched condition with the most indebted States.
mere yseh oil log rolling" has not been confined to
ts,s affairs the history of the session will