Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-26

ThemDeTS, ana YET the Senators from these
States constitute majority Of the Senate
50 that the President may Recommend a
measure 10 Cong ress, and ii may receive
the sanction Of more than three-fourth OF
the whole population, and yet the same
may be defeated by Senators from the
smaller States. None, it is presumed can
be found ready to change the organza-
ton Of the Senate on this account, or to
strike that body practically out Of exis-
lance, by recurring that its action shall be
conformed to the more numerous branch
Upon the new principle that the veto
power OF the President shall be practical
ly abolished, the powor eff the Vice Pres
ident to give the casting vote upon an e
quail division of the Senate, could be abol-
ished also. The Vice President exercises
the veto power as effectually by rejecting
bill by his casting vote, as the President
does by refusing to approve or sign it.
This power has been exercised in some
instances by the Vice President, the most
important Of which is the rejection Of the
bill to charter the Bank Of the United
States in 1916. 1t may happen that a
bill may be PASSED by large majority
Of the House Of Representatives, it may be
supported by the Senators from the lar.
gcst States, and the Vice President may
reject it by giving his vote with the Sena-
tors from the smaller States, and We: i, is
to be presumed none are prepared to de-
ny to him the exercise of his power under
the constitution.
But it is in point Of fact untrue that an
act passed by Congress is conclusive evil
dence that it is an action of the popular
will? The majority of the whole number
elected to each House Of Congress consti-
tutcs quorum, and majority Of that
quorum is competent to exact laws. 1t
might happen that quorum Of the House
Of Representatives, consisting Of single
member more than half Of the whole num-
Der elected by a ma ori;:.j Of single vote
might pass p law, and yet, in that case, a
'r'SSction more than one-fourth Of the peo-
pie O. the United States would be repre-
sented by those who voted for it, 1t
might happen that the same bill might be
passed by less then majority of one Of a
quorum Of tho Senate, composed Of Sena-
tors from the fifteen smaller States, and a
single Senator from sixteenth State;
and if the Senator voting for it happned
to be from the eighth Of the smallest Of
those States, it would be passed by the
vote eff Il Senator from State having but
fourteen Representatives in the House Of
Representatives, and containing less then
one-sixteenth ofthc whole population Of
the States.
This extreme case is stated to illustrate
the fact, that the mere passage ola bill
by congress is 10 conclusive evidence
that the House who passed it represent
the majority Of the people Of the United
States, or truly reflect their will. lfsuch
an extreme case is not likely to happen,
cases that approximate to it are Of con-
slant occurrence. 1t is is believed that not
a single law has been passed since the a.
doption Of the constitution, upon which all
the members elected to both Houses have
been present and voted. Many of the
most important acts which have passed
Congress have been carried by Il close 800 in
be given. Indeed, experience proves that
many of the most important acts of Congress
are post poncd to the last day and after the last
hour Of the session, when they are DISPOSED of
in haste, and by Houses but little exceeding
the n umbtr necessary TO constitute Quorum
Besides, in the most Of the Stat es, tho MEM
bars Of the lower Houses arc chosen by plcu.
ralties, and not by maj critics of all the votes
III their respective districts; and it l,ay hap
pen majority of that House may be returned
by less than an aggregate. II tho principle
insis cd upon be correct, then tn c law shout
be SO changed that no bill shall become a law
unless it be voted for by members represent
ing in each House a ma Jorty of the whole PEG.
pie of the United States. We must remodel
our Whole system, strike d. wn and abolish not
only the SD !utary check lodged upon-the Exc
cutivc branch, but must strike out and abolisIl
those lodged in the Senate Also and thus prac
tically invest the whole power of the govern.
ment in the ma iorty of single assembly;
majority uncontrolled and absolute, and which
may become despotic. TO conform to the doc.
trnc of the right of the ma iority to rule indie.
pendent Of the check and limitations of the
constitution, we must revise the 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 and despotism.
NO one advocates such propositions and yet
the doctrine maintained, if carried out, must
lead to the result.
One great object Of the contribution in con-
ferrng upon the President qualified negative
upon the legislation of Congress, was to pre-
vent the minority suffering from injustice and
oppression by the majority. Tho equality of
representation, the Senate, and the veto pow.
er Of the President over Congress, al guaran.
tees which the smaller States have that their
rights will be respected. Without these guar
antces, their interests would be at the mercy
OF ma jorities in Congress representing larger
States. In the smaller and weaker States,
therefore, the preservation Of the power and
Its exercise, upon proper occasions demand
ing it, is Of vital importance. They ratified
the constitution, and entered into the Union
securing unto themselves with larger States
in the Senate-and they agreed to be bound
by the constitution and laws framed by Con-
gress, upon the express condition, md none
other, that they should be approved by the
President, or passed, his objection to the con.
trary Notwithstanding, by vote OF not less
than two.thirds Of both Houses. Upon this
condition they have right to insist. as part
of the compac ct to which they gave their con-
sent. '+ "."' '@ ." p
The hill miuht he nassed hv Conoress