Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-27

by WllCn t0ey may Uc cPiC'0hsSe -"
,ionaI Legislature, the Executive Veto affords
rho only safeguard upon which they could rely,
AGAINST formidable combinations oil The mem
her and talent, and local interests OF the lar
per States; and venture 10 warn the people Oh
delaware not to throw away this conservative
shield which the Constitution has PROVIDED mem.
That this power, like any other III Inc cons'ilu
,;ou NAV be abused, need not be denied; out
think il would be conceded, on all HANDS, lhat
il is neither so liable TO abuse, nor mas oeen 80
niudciously exercised as the power oil appoint
ing 10 office. The great security OF Inc people
aflerward. for the faithful exercise oil Inc Sari-
Gus powers of Government, is in the honesty
and sound Judgment of their public agents uh,
der strict responsibility to the public Wi''' anu
can conceive of no power under The Cohs'i.u
ton that could be exerted with less mpuhity
than the Executive Veto. There IS, however,
one species of abuse to which the Veto Power Is
liable, which has not been sufficiently adyertcd
to, and that is in refusing TO apply It IN cases
in which the spirit of the Constitution and The
rights of the people require its exercise an
moi sue indeed, that this might not prove Inc
most mischievous OF any; and II IS TINS sp1cirs
OF abuse that Gen. Taylor has cnmmlited NM
self 10 practice The pledge ne has soietnh'y
over. il correctly understand il, imposes upon
si, me oblipa,ion NOT 10 exercise The Veo pow
or in ann case, excepting Tor violation Of Tue
Constitution, or 10 prevent hasy or 'hcon'lde-
rale legislation. Now, il is clear that consis-
tenrIy with this pledge he could neither initiate
,he Example of Gen Washington, nor prevent
anv one o. the serious legislative miraculous
comprehpn!rd under The third head 81 1eheia'
| Harrisons enumeration, 50 that Whatever .oin-
| binations OF local interests among inc IN se ''""
might be formed, 10 The detfiment Oh Tue sihd'i
states, or Tor the oppression oil minoirs NJ "on'u
be Obliged 10 remain inactive, and perihn t'e ''''
| chief 10 be perperated without remroy' :" '"o''
! il Congress abstain from violation ol me Con.
srilu,on. land il they did no., the veto wonm
moi be needed and il they pass their laws VIVA
! haste and without proper consideration, no ma'ei
| how miscbieyous their legislation miSh' oe, u
| conh MOI. under Gen. TayoI's pledge, receive
any check whatever. J,
| Now, gentlemen, il appears 10 me 'hd' '"f .
| moi The Constitution under which we are sSius.
Il is. on the contrary, clear that nnul ne power ~
our government shall be 50 remodelel as % a.
| lnu = wide scope 10 lhe legislative power, ihe
pledge given by Gen. Taylor is no' 10 co"i'oln'.-
70 with The Constitution he would be elected 70 al.
minister. and | would protest against Inc rlsnt Oh
any man or Of any parry, 50 long as our system
| III government remains as il Is, by any con'li-
vance whatever, 10 annul or render imperative III
those emergencies in which they may De mus
needed any OF lis safeguards and provisions. 10
me therefore. il would appear 10 be grave 90
lection IL The election Of Gen. Taylor. mat 10 OF
der to become President. ne has mol ohiy CONSTR
ted 10 accept the Office stripped oil IT'S most gaua
Bile functions, but has given pledge 10 abstain
ton, The dine rxercisr of one OF the most important
duties prescribed by The Constitution, he ~ouo DC
sworn 10 support. ,oo
There are other considerations, gentlemen,
that give 10 the present contest an importance
moi inferior 10 that OF any previous tieclioh' hnu
viii, h ought To have conclusive Weignt IN aetei
mining our preference Tor The party ana ine men
10 whum in The present crisiSi we "oui' ooin
nit the administration oil The government. Ane'e
has been no period in our history IN when ihe,e
was greater need OF the highest qualities OF ad-
administrative talent, ol comprehensive capac"y'
, ACCOMPLISHED s,au smanship, and sc'i-reiiance ~
he Chief Executive Office The condition - inc
OH world. and the commolon IN process lhIou2h'
OUT The greater part OF Europe, give an '.ipoa'
lance Ia our Foreign relations, that emneh'lV re-
, ouires The training and experience oil Inc Ido
nel. rather than Of the camp, and Inc ~'sio'ii y
the statesman than the courase " '.'e ~"
The nroois OF the United States would comm
capi,al mistake, il a, such jnncinre, prcier''h.
! availability to fitness and he dominion Of Pal
: 10 The safety OF the state, they rejected me qud',
: lies ot ne statesman, and elected president d.
together uninslTuclrd and inexperienced.
J Il moreover behoovcs the people. and mos
d n Delaware more especially, to reflect that u
II our domestic relations there are causes OIL pro
g found solicitudc, ii not Of great apprehension
J greater perhaps than at any former PERIOD 70
u lhe first time IN the history of the country ui'
y chievous schemes are undlsguisedly ma'ui ~
y for dividing our political parties oy geosrap"'e,
7, limits. and in regard 10 questions Appearing
10 sectional preudices and tending 10 aiiena'c w
n f-n, tt,n
n poes,ble that the people Of Delaware should NJ
20 Gee that in the combinations now III progress
IN The Constitutional compromises are Directly q
d, sailed. Il would be idle 10 profess respect i
ed he>e COMPROMISES, in the face OF persevcrii
"A eHor,s To weaken the political influence and ca
ss od,,u and reproach upon those States, VINO
IT, interest they were intended 10 protect bu
~ ..-.1,,. s oun5,i,u,rvnui rignts, wnatcv
r. they may be, and Of building up political pow
il in open opposition 10 all their notions Of
~ equal participation in the privileges secured
IS the constitution, the scheme itself must be a
e rested, or the Union will not have streng
~ II survive it. VINO is there in this counlr
a sangune enough 10 imagine that political pow,
e IN the Union can be based upon uncompr
u misiGg opposition 10 the institution Of SLAYER
~ without shattering our glorious fabric into fra
menls, and who more than the people Of Del;
:" ware are interested in arrestlng that dread C:
: tastrophe? | warn them Of the danger TO bic
:, they are exposed and would beseech them,
=, 50 perlous crisis, 10 rise above the ordinar
r. restraints OF parties and TO rally upon caus
y in which they may find their greatest safety.
~ No American statesman can doubt that the OK
/. element now pervading the Union, from Ia
J. causes already stated, can only be aIlal ed, an
i mat The schemes il is a5itlging only be adjust
! Lot bv natriatip hsnf,npe and " nrI
{ mise. The spiri! IN which The Constitution wa
t formed, II VIC mean 10 perpeiuale it, must preside
7 orer lis administration; aud the question ! wou,
0 oeseech every man in Delaware 10 ask himsel
is upon which al Inc parties now existing IN hi
: ruunuy he could best rel? Tor satisfactory anC
0 harmonious adjustment u The difficulties sur
rounding u>2 For myself after macy year.
~ uhSi rgaion, cOnsclrnliOuSlv believe ihri on
/ best il not our only reliance iof harmonious
? COMPROMISE OF our embarrassment, must lie n;on
he patriotism, and intelligence and virtue II ihe
Democratic patty. The past conduct and pre-
sent disposition OF that parry leave me no reason
t. doubt it. | do not conceal from myself bat in
every previous Instance The assaults upon The pc
culiat institutions and privileges OF the South,
and all The sectional agitation that have hereto
tore arisen TO disturb The harmony Of the country,
have uniformly proceeded from The opposition -
They have occurred almost periodically though
in less degree than in the present ,ns'ance, with
every Presidential election, and have been used
rs The means OF infaming The pfejuiices and pas
>ons OF the people, and they have been as uni
iormly resisted by The Democratic party, often al
he imminent hazard 81 its popularity and power.
Ia the prcsen, crisis 5, iull of peril, the Dem
ocraic parry are not less distinguished Than
heretofore, by their wise and patriotic treatment
OF the questions in agitation. Disdaining every
appeal 10 local or sectional pTeJudiccs or popular
support, they disclaim any Interference with The
institutions and privileges authorized BY The Con-
slituton OF The Union; and dcrcrmioc 10 leave he
regulation Of The subject 10 the people "i he
States and Territories according 10 the provisions