The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-23
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
wEDNEso DAY MORNING, AUGUST 10, ls4s


s'rhe Constit utioa Is"
The sosyled conservative party of the country is now
avowedly laborng to break down the veto power-one
of the main checks and balances upon the working of
the constitution, which its trainers wisely inserted in its
provisions. The National lnlelligencer of Saturday
contains some half dozen columns of defamation
against this feature of the constitution Instead of any
reply OF 10 all this Conservative labor we copy
the following paragraphs Gas find them cited in the
Georgia Constutionalist0 from that eminent wing
thonty the late Mr.. Justice Story in his Commentaries
on the Constitution
II has not escaped observation that General Taylor in
pledgng himself, he has done in his Allison letter.
against the veo and favor of any Legislation rhateuer
by Congress the important subjects of our ma
onal policy, has seemed to understand precisely the
nature of the pledge he making for at the very
time he also processing his purpose be gov
erned in his administration by the constitution, of the
whole frame of which the power is las Story shows)
most essential part He was, at the time, loudly
proclamng his purpose to be guided by the example of
the earlier Presidents" who used the power and
fully approved its use and his friends were comparing
his position and political character that of Washington,
who used the power, and claimed the right it, in
involving only questions of expediency and
nience 1t under such apparent confusion of ideas and
selfconradiction that the wing candidate has under
taken substantially pledge away, if elected perhaps
the very important power with which the constitu-
ton has armed him to protect the rights of the people
against accidental Fictitious majortes in Congress-
In introducing the opinions of Mr. Justice Story, the
Constituencies truly says. that son this point he
veto power the wings take issue with the democrats
II is issue fully and fairly rendered, and il u.s. perhaps
the only issue deserving the OF one which may be
said to be fully and fairly rendered by the wings Upon
all other issues they have sought the shelter of silence
and mystery But General Taylor has put the question
before the country in shape not to be doubted. We
very distinctly told BY him, in substance, that if he
is elected the will of Congress is to be the
that he will not inepose the Executive defeat
the action of Congress upon questions of domestic policy
1t behooves, then, every lover of the constitution of
his country reflect well before casting his vote at the
approaching election, decide whether he will give it
favor of practical mutiaton of that sacred instrument
If he votes for candidate pledged to exercise the
power, it is practically the if he voted for
its oberaton from that instrument for the next four
years If it is not to be used during that tine then
might well not be there.
at will be borne in mind, addition to this that the
triumph of the whig party would not merely settle the
in of his election, but it will give powerful i'm
pulse and s,reng tn to the party aiming alter the cons
tuition abolish this power from the constitution
The veto has often stood in the way of the whgs in
many of their cherished schemes of legislation
has tbwared them in many Of their attempted inroads
upon the constitution and upon the rights of minores
Ii may do this again Therefore, they hostile it,
and wish abolished If they succeed in carrying their
dato If aft taka
res for alteration in this respect OF the constitution"
From Judge sory's Commentary the Constitution
4is "The next clause respects the power of the
President approve and negative laws In the convention
there does not seem to have been much diversity OF opinion
negative the laws. The principal points of discussion
have been whether the negative should be absolute
S $50 The why the President should pos
qualified negative. If they quite obvious
are, least when fairly expounded, entirely satisfactory
In the first place, there is natural tendency the legisla
the powers of the other departments of government.
parchment delneaon of the boundaries of each is
wholly insufficient for the of the weaker branch
the executive and hence there arises
a9n defence II the executive DID not possess his quail
fed egative, he would gradually be stripped of all his
hory, and become, what is well known the governors
OF some States mere pageant and shadow OF mags
tracy"
S l5I In the place, the power is important as
te, and improper laws 1t establishes sau,ary check
upon the legislative body, calculated the
muny against the effects OF faction precipitancy, uncon
stutiona legislation, and temporary excitements, well
political hostility. 1t may, indeed be said, that single
man. even though he be President presumed
more wisdom, virtue, experience, than be-
longs a number OF But this furnishes answer
the reasoning The question is not how much wisdom,
vtue experience, possessed by either branch OF
the government (hough the executive magistrate may
well be presumed be emneny distinguished in all these
respects and therefore the choice of the people y bur
whether the legislature may be mised by love OF
power, the spirit OF faction political impulse, per-
influence, local sectional, which, at the
me may nor from the difference in the election and dn
of the Executive, reach him at all, not reach
him in the degree. He will always have pri.
mary inducenent defend his powers the legis
ature may well be presumed to have no desire to
avor them. He Will have opportunity soberly to
examine the and resolutions passed by the egsa
lure, having partaken of the feelings combina-
lions which have procured their passage, and thus to
what will sometimes be from haste and mad
verence well DIS DIES ign His view OF them if
WISE elevated will least be independent, and
under entirely different responsibility the nation from
what belongs them He is the representative of the
whole nation in the aggregate they the Representa-
only of distinct pars and sometimes OF little more
than sectional or local interests"
S452 Nor is there solid objection TO this quail
fled power If it should be objected that ii may some
prevent the passage Of good laws, well OF bad
the objection is entitled to but little weight In the
first place, be efiectualy exercised If two
not it is easily demonstrabe, that the law Is
either wise saluary The presumption would rather Toe
the other way Or least that the utility OF it is not
questionable, would receive the requisite support In
the place. the great evil OF all free governments Is
tendency over-lsgislaon; and the mischief OF neon
s,ancy and mutablty the laws forms great bemish
rhe character and genius Of all free governments The in
Jury, which possibly from the posponcment OF
saluary law, is far less than from the OF mis-
chievols from redundant and vacilatng egisia
.,,.ll