Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-21

test grew the colonies nearly hundred years afterwards
need not the grounds Of that quarrel further than
10 saw that il struggle against the Executive for its
croachments upon popular rights chiefly in opposition 10 the
privileges Of representative Legislature The Declaration OF
Independence is the Wing manifesto in this quarrel Turn
to that paper sir and you will recognise IN that the Chief
complaint there against the encroachments Of Executive
power
He refused his laws the most wholesome and
necessary for the public good. . .
He has forbidden governors pass laws OF immediate
and pressing Importance unless suspended IN their operation
until his assent should be obtained.
He has obsruced the administration Of justice by reus
ing his laws for establishing Judiciary powers Sc
These are few Of the complaints of the Declaration Of In
dependence You will remember many Others Of the same
character The war OF the Revolution brought this contest 10
close and witnessed second great triumph OF the Wings
over their adyersaes Surely sir will not be said that the
men VINO achieved this triumph dsrused the capacity Of the
people govern themselves That sir, was the great point
Of the quarrel.
One thing is apparent In this declaration above all Others
that chief grievance complained Of is the exercise Of the
control the legislation OF the colonies The veto had
become oous in England and monach from the time oi
William the Third, had had the temery to employ against
the legislation Of Parliament But il had been employed
against colonial legislation in various ways to the great dis
content Of the couny-amos as frequently SIT, and a. ca
pcousy has been employed Of late years by our Pes-
dents against the legislation OF Congress The Wing spirit
of 776 evoed against it, and that spirit was never aPPeas-
ed until supposed had secured ourselves the right
of and the supremacy of the will OF the peo
pie. The establishment Of American Independence and the
subsequent adoption of the constitution, was believed, he'd
thoroughly secured this great object is true that quail
fled Incorporated in the constitution But this was
done without dissent the part of some OF the most intel
ligen and sturdy republicans in the Conyentonof whom
DR.. Franklin was of the most conspicuous The veto
only allowed upon the representation made by the
friends Of the clause that it power OF such character
as would rarely brought use and which would be found
to be sufficiently guarded from abuse by the jealousy with
which Republican Government would naturally watch its
exercise. The argument was that as monachica England
had witnessed its exhibition for nearly hundred years.
republican America would surely find but few occasions to
employ IT, Yielding 10 such arguments, the Convention
adopted the qualified veto, read it in the consi-
tutiou
sir is this veto which, much any thing else worthy
Of note in the latter Administrations Of Government has
re-embodied the Wing party The veto power has utterly
disappointed the expectations and overhown the promises OF
the authors OF the constitution 1t intended the pre-
sent Secretary of State truly said, for the
dcne Of the constitution, and il has become instead its
daily bread. II is no longer qualified veto, but party
has nevcr this latter day Of its abuse, been used by
President against the measures of his party but its
has been frequent almost nvarable, against the prom
nent Of his political opponents when he and his
party in minority in Congress- You cannot find sin
gle Of this Democratic party that has been
toed there has not been great and prominent Wing mea-
the contrary that Democratic President has not
vetoed to be almost badge test of this new De-
mocacy that bill other shall be forbidden. There is
scarcely little mayor of little corporation who stands up for
his democracy who does think il essential his demo-
cratic character that he shall act OF his little Wing
Common Counci"ths pump that lamp shall not be
pdred let tnem become extnc uevotlon 10 De-
mocratic principles"
II has thus sir been made the great instrument for the in
Of Executive power and taken in connexion with the
employment Of Executive patronage TO enlist parties in sup
port Of that power has wrought almost civil revolution in
the nature Of Government converting from of
publican equality and popular will into OF party proscp
ton and high monarchcal prerogatve. No constitutional
monarchy has witnessed the exercise Of higher broader Ex
ecuve power than that with which have become familiar
in this republic of The veto applied dozen times
in the last twenty years this country, would have ernna
ted the reign of Louis Philippe in France upon the first attempt
10 exert it,
Sir what was known in the United States as the old De-
mocatc party moulded, great degree by Mr. Jeier
Its antagonist the old Federal party. Doubtless,
sir in the lapse Of time, many belonging to these two
parties have honestly changed SIDES Throwing out Of view
all that personal in the feelings Of these parties and which
belonged to the day Of their srf and throwing OF also all
consideration of what local temporary their respec
tive points OF difference, there ground enough left for sin
and hearty concaon o! sentiment and feeling regard
10 the questions Of fundamental policy in the administration OF
public affairs. think that this Cancellation Of opinion and
surrender Of the peudces and asperes of party feeling
very notable at the close OF Mr. Madsons administration and
throughout the whole of those Of Mr. Monroe and Mr.
Adams which followed il. But if look to the questions
which supposed divide the parties when Mr. jefferson
into power, shall find that these regarded,
less the views then entertained reference the Executive
Mr. jefferson himself has expressed this in letter which has
been often quoted and with which this meeting is familiar.
will pretend say that he may have ovesated this
question Of differences but entirely my present
purpose to show what Mr. Jefferson opinions, whether
not the distinctive differences between the De-
mocras of hlt day and the Federasts For whether the
Fedealss entertained the opposite opinions strongly
Mr. Jefferson imputed them not this letter Of his leaves
doubt to what be considered cardinal doctrines Of his
party. The letter 10 which refer written by Mr. JEFF
ferson Mr. John Adams the elder in s3 in the Of
friendly correspondence, date in the life of each when
all political acrmony had subsded and given place to the
gina sentiments Of friendship which they had cultivated in
their earlier manhood In this letter Mr. Jefferson ssys
"The terms Wing and Tory belong national well
cyii history They denote the temper and constitution Of
mind OF different individuals. To country
and to the times when you and became first acquainted
well remember the violent parties which sgsted the old Con-
gress and their bitter There you and
ed together others cherished the monarchy OF England and
we the rights Of our country.
but as soon rs the constituon put in motion the
line OF division again drawn. We broke parties
each wishing to give the Government different direction
the one to strengthen the most popular branch the other the
Here you and separated for the first time had
longer than others the public theatre and
were therefore, familiar counymep, the party
which considered you thinking with them placed your
at their head the oher for the reason selected mine
This distinct and plain avowal on the part of Mr. JEFF
ferson that Of the fundamental and characteristic differences
recognised by him separating the Democratic party from
the Federal that he and his friends looked to the pedom
inance and strength Of the Legislature the Wings Of old
had looked to in England the best guaranty Of free Gov
ernmen whilst the opposite party directed their attention
more 10 the enlargement OF the Executive power
Sir. which right according the experience this Gov
ernment has had through the last fifty years That Deocra-