The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-28

be denied that by the treaty this territory ia thrown
inder the protection OF constitution and that conS
luton expressly recognises the right ri slave proneriv
what hinders, then, that slavery may MOI exist and be
protected there Shall Mexican law sup~rvenp AMI re-
zeal the constitution Or we hv net Of Conrfess
loolish those Mexican laws which the constitution can
aot abolish II so, then the acts of Congress- and not
ne constitution, are The supreme law of the land
me gentleman from New York argued this ront very
nsehaonsly; but the very decision of Lord Mansfield
whG ~ relied slsains the princine that the laws
:, ne CONQUERED which conflict with those of the con
iusfor are necessarily repealed
MI, r. men Woceeded TO define his position and
advance me reasons which sustained him
tie then proceedtd TO notice the relation sustained nv
the candidates for the pesi encv 10 ts oueson Thara
was no DOUBT as 10 the opinions of Gen Cas uuon this
question II will not be enn,rovered that he denies The
nower IN Congress 10 exclude slavery from the Tero-
RES He Denies also, in express terms that he people
residing upon the territories He comedies
.nem ne OF suc power. granted by
tic and municipal concerns. There could he no doubt Of
his position upon, this whole question proviso
and all He will veto any bill excluding slavery from
Mr. LAHM (Nfr. F. giving way) interposea to exrress
his understanding OF Gen. Cass's position. He under
stood Gen Cass to deny 10 Congress- the seeis-
late for the Territories on the subject of slavery and
say that this mater must be left to the people themselves
his statement of the position Of General Cass he was GER
ainy not mistaken; and to the people living on the
territories, he denies their sovereignty
But now where stands the nominee of the Phladel-
phIa conventions He has given no pledges Never he
ess he mas ADMITTED the right of the people TO know the
his
He has given none. But we know the opinions OF HI
northern friends and supporters-
Here the Chairman's hammer fell, and arrested the
speech.
VETO POWER
Mr. STEWART of Pennsylvania next occuped the
committee with an hour speech upon the veto power,
md with desutory remarks upon the presidential cand-
iates.
Mr. CLARKE, of Kentucky obtaining the floor, said:
Mr. Chairman, since the nomination of Gen TAYLOR by
the Pm ladephia Convention various inquiries have been
aA nall of Vlp,fot
ence to his political creed and the important question
to which party ne belongs have myself heart very
posed that the principles upon which the TAYLOR govern
ment to be administered would be the burden OF his
country. to be enlightened upon the subject OF Gen
Taylors principles In the State which have the honor
part to represent here. is claimed that the people have
the right to know the opinions of candidates who aspire
Offices within their gift But really, sir, from all that
have been able to gather from the speech OF the gentle
Gen Taylor enterains any particular opinions prnc-
Pies except, might say, appears that he wouf he
willing to into the presidential chair, and in
pon the pledge that he would destroy the constitution of
the United States.
Mr. c said there was but one resort for any distinct
avowa of principle BY General Taylor, and that his
Allison letter. In that letter the General assumes that
the veto power should be exercised only in twa
frs in The of clear violation Of the constitution
of the United States; and secondly, in the OF rs
ind nconsdeya,e Legislation on the part of Consre-
Ten Taylor says expressly, that the Ut snspent
ny law upon the veto principle, should 90 farther
than this But he promises that he will take he
Die OF the early Presidents for his guide Mr. c. hal
been looking luls into the history OF the aministra
we'll to know where it was that Gen TAYLOR had found
the exercise OF the veto power restricted to two
He even ventued TO say no such declaration this of
Ten Taylor could he found recorded of any of the early
Presidents and he would put it to his friends to point
out one
His colleague lMr GAINEsl had made speech lately
somewhere down east-in Boston, perhaps-where he is
reported to have proclaimed himself the highprIest of
wheery Kentucky and to have declared that General
IA, lor as much of wbg as he; that the General
looks like wing, walks like wing, and talks like
whig as naturally as PIG can squea like apIs Laugh
ter9
Cen Harrison, in his inaugural address, denomaaes it
high conservative power, and, exercised with hscre
lion, he considered Of the best safeguards OF The
constitution recollectng that the oath which he was
to take would bind him to protect and defend the
constitution. Gen Harrison, therefore. very property
made this the first in which he would exercise the
power OF the velO His second was rash and hasy
legislation and his third case was, that this power
should be exercised Tor the purpose OF protecting mnoii-
Here, then, (Mr c. contended) direct attempt by
Gen. Taylor infringe upon the consttutonto destroy
he checks and balances which that instrument hasesab
,shed, by merging the executive into the legislative
cover and making only two. instead of three distinct
departments of government This he considered dan
5erous innovation, declare that the power should
be exercised only OF clear violation OF the corr
sti,uton. When was it ever before declared by any
Presidents He would yield the floor TO any gentleman
that would respond.
Mr.. GAYLE understood to say that Mr. Jefferson
Mr.. CLARKE. If the gentleman is correct he
must have violated every great principle by which his lite
was distinguished The distinction between the practice
of the early Presidents, and the proposition OF Gen Iay
lor was this The early Presidents inquired of their
sttutiona ADVISERS the bill work any nacon upon
the constitution But Gen Taylors inquiry would be to
ascertain whether the bill clearly in violation OF the
constitution. If clearly unconstitutional, he would
sanction it comforting upon the legislative department
of the government the exercise of all doubtful powers
The old rule that the veto should be exercised where
The bill is not clearly constitutional Gen. Tayors RUE
is to exercise the veto only in where the b Is
clearly unconstitutional.
But again Gen. Taylor says his course would be gov
erned by the plcy of the early Presidents Does he
Ter to Washington! Did Washington say that the
power shou be exercised but in two specific cases
he never did. And Mr. c. would apply this fact 10 gem
tlemen who have been making war upon inc veto powe'
that General Washington the INST President 10 veto
IN of Congress and The reason which he assigned Tor
mis- veto was neither because the act violation OF
the constitutions the result of rash legislation bat he
vetoed the the ground OF expedency and ecoaony
Thus il was manifest that attempt was being male h.
he wing party to palm upon the people, under the false
,ea of early preccdents candidate for the presidency
Who had openly declared his deliberate purpose make
IN inroad upon the constitution.
Mr. c. pursued this idea further and sal upon the
principle avowed by their nominee, il the wings elect
,lm, he will have power than militia corporal
tie desired in such event. TO ask gentlemen represent
ing slave States, who in minority here whence Is
their protection come Was not asserted al the rat
ifcaon meeting in this city that General Taylor would
veto no bill OF Congress!