The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-05
fTuM INC augusta Denocfat.
TAe Veto,


Gushing.
From the Augusta Democrat.
The Veto.
We give below an extract from an elaborate and pow
erfu speech lately delivered by General H. S Foole. be-
fore political meeting in Raymond, Mississippi Ii
gives a most clear and succnct exposition OF the hrsi
establishment and the first exercise OF the veto IL will
be that the second Washington" was IN the line
of safe precedenis when be termed high conserya-
tive power and only swerved from right view OF II
when he went to twist that declaration INTO harmony
with the doctrine OF the wing party, which is, or was
year two since that the veto should be entirely erad
Gated from the constitution.
Mr. Rivss and Mr. Clayton have given the to all
the small ant-veio spouers by laying down as a fixed
fact that the veto, existent in the constitution,
srenuously opposed in the convention by such men
Franklin, Sherman, and Mason
am resolved to nail this base coin 10 the counter al,
and thus put end TO its farther circulation forev
er. Now II so happens that have before me pile of
manuscript which contains literal copy from the Nlad
son papers of all that is recorded therein touching the
proceedings in the convention in regard 10 the veto
power had i prepared at the congressional library be-
fore lett Washingtcr TO be used on some such ocea
a.ss 'hss aGfh0fiEed bg documentary eyideacs OF
the highest character, anl SUCH no ue here Or else
where will venture to deny. |, that the
ton had that part of the constitution which confers the
veto power under consideration for nearly four months
during which period various propositions on this subject
them were LIST, motion for council of revision. to be
composed OF the Executive and convenient number
of the national Judiciary with authority to examine every
act OF the national Legislature before shall operate and
every of particular legislature before negative
thereon shall be final and that the dissent of the said
council shall amount to rejection, unless the act OF the
national Legislature be again passed, or that OF par
ticular legislature be again 'negatyed by - OF the
members OF each branch. q The next proposition
was the qualified veto, substantially similar to that
now provided in the constitution. 8. The next in or
der was that of the absolute reto, This had many
eloquent and powerful advocates, and among them
Mr. Hamilton Mr. WsSn and Md.o Others Or r.. Frank
pal opponents of the absolute veto But even MIR.
Mason said, " he was for giving all possible weight to
the revsonay institution The executive power ought
be well secured against legislative usurpaions on it.
The purse and the sword ough, to gel into the
hands, whether legislative or executive" A. Mr. Ham
iton afterwards moved in Committee of the Whole, that
the Executive have negative all laws about to be
passed, and the execution of all laws passed. 5. AT
later period of the session, Mr. Butler moved that the
National Executive have power to suspend any egis
lative act for the term of and II is remarkable that
Dr. Franklin seconded this motion. II is unnecessary to
20 farther into detail The absolute veto, after full de-
bate, was unanimously voted down by the convention.
The qualified veto, part of the constitution was
unanimously sustained You heard to-day from the gen
eman who my special opponent on this OCCASION that
the veto power forth in the constitution, and
enforced by various Presidents since the foundation of the
government Without intending to wound the gentle
mans feelings, positively soleniny deliberately deny
the in regard to all and each of these great
men, Neither Of them by speech vote, presented the
least opposition to It, They all voted for IT. Their OBJ
ectons were confined TO the absolute veto challenge
denial with all the documentary proof before me-
But since the gentleman has referred to the proceedings
in the federal convention | will make known to him
striking fact, knowledge of which may prove more or
less profitable 10 him as the advocate OF the second
Washington When the proposition, which afterwards
became the veto clause now part OF the constitution
was first brought forward and adopted, blank left
in !. where ple5en the Term 'flrofF1d" as deslgna
tive OF the prop.ruon OF the two houses Of Congress
whose concurrence made necessary TO override the
executive vetoD will be found inserted: When was
moved TO fill the blank with "two thirds, the motion
passed unanimously in the affirmative. On motion of
Mr. Williamson, and after full debate "twothrds was
afterwards stricken out and three foubs inserted,
with view still further to strengthen the negative pow
er of the Executive Gen. Washington voted for "hree
all When afterwards, Mr.. Williamson, who seems TO
have been gentleman of some Inconsistency of temper,
moved strike three ourihs and to restore two
hirds,' General Washington still hung on to "three
fourths" having such silly fears to the one-man
power as hear nowadays hppantly enunciated by
every wing orator In the land -
will lay before the champions of the second Wash.
ngton little more historic evidence, which hope will
prove instructive TO them. Ii is known that Gen Wash
ngton the first President who brought the veto pow
er into actual operation. Hear from Mr. Jefferson
graphic account of that interesting transaction:
.'Aprii 6M-The President called me before break
fast and first introduced other matter then fell on
the representation bill, which he had in his posses
sion for the tenth day. had before given him my opn
on in writing that the method OF apportonment was
contrary to the constitution He agreed that 1t was
rary to the common understanding OF that instrument
and to what understood at the time by the makers OF
it that vet would bear the construction which the bill
putt and he observed that the for and against the
bill was perfectly geographcal-a northern against
southern voteand he feared he would be thought to be
taking sides with a southern party. admitted the mo-
tive of decacy, but then should not induce him TO do
wrong and urged the dangers to which the scramble for
the traciionary members would always lead. He here
expressed his fear that there would long be sepa
ration of the Union that the public mind seemed dIssa
sed and tending to this He went home; sent for Ran
dolph, the Attorney General desired him to get Mr.
Madison Immediately, and come to me- and If we three
concurred in opinion that he would negative the bill
He desired to hear nothing more about 1t, but that
we would draw up the instrument Tor him to sign.
Fhey came our minds had been before made up we
drew the instrument. Randolph carried ii TO him, and
told him we all concurred in it. He walked with him to
the door, and as if he still wished TO get off, he said,
and you approve of this yourself !" Yes SIR says
Randolph, Il do, upon my honor He sent II to the
House of Representatives instantly. A few OF the hot
test friends OF the bill expressed PASSION but the majority
we're satisfied. and both and out OF doors IT gave
pleasure have at length instance OF the negative
being exercised Written this 18th April
And now boldly take the ground that, from the oun-
daton of the government up 10 the present ume every
able constitutional lawyer in the country has been
friend to the veto power
ur Mann