Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-12-07

tne Wnoie series OF measures composing n
will be speedily re-es,abished, aud the coun-
try be thrown back from its present high stat
ot prosperity, which the existing policy hs'
produced, aud be destined again TO wiihes
all lhe evils, commercial revulsions of prices
and pecuniary embarassments, through which
we have passed during the last twenty-five
years.
10 guard against consequences so ruinous
is judgment the continued prosperity OF tn,
country.
have tet it to be an imperative obigatio
to withhold my constitutional sanction IRON
two bills which had passed the two houses o
Congress, involving the principle OF the in
teruai improvement branch OF the "Americor
system" and conflicting in their provision:
with the views here expressed.
This power conferred upon the president
by the constitution. have on three oceas-
sons during my administration of the execu-
tive department OF the government. deemd il
my duty 10 exercls'; aud on this last occas-
sion OF making to congress an annual commu.
nicaton "oi the state OF the union" ii is not
deemed Inappropriate to review the princi
pies aud considerations which have goserned
my action. deem this the more necessary
because, after the lapse OF nearly sixty year;
siuce the adoption OF the const! tuition, the
propriety OF the exercise oil this undoubted
constitutional power by the president has ior
the first time been drawn seriously in ques-
ton by portion of my fellow citiz'ns.
The constitution provides that 'every bill
which shall have passed the House of Repre-
sentatives and the Senate, shall, before it be.
come Jaw, be presented to the President Of
the Unitee States; it he approve he shall sign
it, but if not, he shall return it with his OBJ
jections 10 that house in which 1t shall have
originated who shsl enter the objections al
large on their journal and proceed to reconsi-
der it,"
The preservation of the constitution from
nfracton is the Presidents highest duty
He is bound to discharge tina duy, at watever
hazsard OF mourning the displeasure OF those
who may differ with him in opinion. He is
bound TO discharge it, as well by his obliga-
tons to the people who have clothed him
with his exalted trust, as by his oath OF Office,
which he may not disregard, Nor are the
obligations..o the President IN any degree
lessened by the prevalence OF views different
from his own in one or both houses OF Con-
gress.
Ii is not alone hasty and inconsderate le-
gislation that he is required to check; but 1t
at any time Congress shall, alter apparently
ful deldcation, resolve on measures which
he deems subversive OF the constitution, or oil
the vital interest ~ the country, 1t is his
snemu duty to stand in the breach and resist
,bs,n. The President is bound to approve or
dis,pprove, every bill which passes Congress
and is presented to him for his Signature
Ths constitution makes this his duty, and he
cannot escape il il he would. Tie has no
ELECTION. Ia deciding upon any bill presented
to him, he must exercise his own beat Judg-
ment.
II he cannot approve, the constitution COM
mants him ;oreiurn the bill 10 nc House IN
which it originated with his objections; and
if he fail to do this within ten days, (Sundays
excepted J it shall become law without his
signature Right or wrong ne may o. over
,uled BY vote OF two thifds oi each rouse
and in that event, the bill hecomesa law
w;tbou, his sanction. If his objections be
not thus overruled. the subjects Is onlytpost-
ponef. and is referred TO the States aud the
Noodle Tor their consideration and decision.
The Presidents power is negative merely, and
not affirmative. He can enact no law.
The only effect, therefore, oil his withhold
rho his d pproval o bill passed by Congress,
is to suffer the existing laws 10 remain I'M
changed. and the delay, occasioned Is only
that rrouired to enable the States and the peo-
ple TO consider and act upon the subject III
The election ot public agents VINO VIII carry
out their wishes and Instructions. ANY at
t.n,t IN co-.rce the President 10 yield his
s1nclion TO measures Which he cannot aP
proye, would be violation oil The spirit OF
The constitution, palpable aud haSrani; and II
successful, would break down lie ladepen-
dence OF the executive department, and make
the President, elected by the people, and
clothed by the constitution with power 10 de-
tead their rights, the mere instrument OF
majority vi Congress.
The people of the United States are not
blind to the fact that they may be Temporarily
mis,ed. and that their representatives, legs-
tive and executive, may be mistaken. or In
fuenced in their action by improper motives.
They have therefore interposed between
themselves aud the laws which may be pass
ed b. their pubic agents, various representa-
tions such as asse mbliss, senates, and gov
ernors in their several States: House OF Rep
reseutatives, d Senate, and President oil the
United States. The people can by their own
direct agency make no law; nor can the
House bi Representatives Immediately elect
ed by them; nor can the Senate; nor can both
together, without the concurrence OF the
pr,s;dent ora vote of two thirds OF bob
houses.
Happily for themselves, the people in franz
ing our admirable system OF government,
were conscious OF the infrmitIes oil their rep
resentatives; and in delegating TO them the
power OF legislation, they have fenced them
around with checks to guard against the ell
tects OF hasty action, OF error OF combination
and of Dos slbe corruption. Error, seillshnes
aud faction have often sought 10 reno asun-
der this web Of checks, aud subject the gov
eminent TO The control oil idnalic ana SINISTER
influences: but these efforts have only satified
,he neonle of the wisdom of the checks which
thew have imposed, aud of the necessity oil
preserving them uninpared.
The true theory OF our system Is not to gov
ern by the acts IT DEGREES OF any one SET oil
representatives. The constitution inerposes
checks upon all branches OF the government
in order to give time Tor error to be corrected
and delusion to pass away; but ii the people
settle down into firm cony lcuon dlite rent
from that of their representatives, they give
effect to their opinions by changing their pub
lie servants. The checks with the people I'm
rosed ON their public servants in the adop-
ion of the constitution, are the best evidence
of their capacity for seit-government.
They know that the men whom they elect
IN nublic stations are ct like inirmltles and
passions with themselves, and not 10 be trust
ed without being restricted by co-orulnate
authorities and C institutional limlta'iohs.-
Who that has witnessed the lesisiatioh Oh
Congress for the last thirty years viii say
tina, he knows Of no instance IN which mea-
sures not demanded by the public good, have
been carried? Who will deny that in the
Slate governments, by combinations OF indi-
viduals aud sections, in derosation OF the gem
eral interest, banks have been chartered, sys-
TENS of internal improve ment adopted, and
debts entaied upon the people, repressi ne
their growth, and impalrins their energies ioi
IN