The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-06

fafety in numerous represe body than In the
single Executive created by the constitution, and
that the executive veto is powern despo-
tic in its character To expose the falacy Of this Oh
lection, it Is only necessary to consider the frame
solidated empire, but a confederated Union. The
States before the adoption Of the constitution were
coordinate, co-equsl and separate independent sove
reigntes and by its adoption they did not lose that
character They clothed the federal government with
certain powers and reserved al others including their
own sovereignty, to themselves. They guarded their
rights States and the rights of the people, by
the very limitations which they incorporated into the
federal constitution whereby the different departments
other That the majority should govern is a eneral
principle conroverted by none but they must govern
according to the constitution, and not according to
underlined and unrestrsined discretion, whereby
they may Cypress the minority.
The people Of the United States are not blind to the
fact that they may be temporarily misled and that
their legislative and executive may
mistaken or influenced in their action by improper
motives. They have therefore interposed between
themselves and the laws which may be passed their
public agents, various representations, such
bies senstes, and governors in their several States
House of Representative Senate, and President of
the United States The people can by their direct
agency make law; can the Ho use of Represen
fstivss immedaey elected by them; nor can the Se
nate can both together, without the concurrence
of the President vote of two thirds of both houses
Happily for themselves, the people in framing our
admirable system ofgovernment conscious Of the
inrmtes of their aud in delegating
to them the powers Of legislation they have fenced
them around with checks to guard against the effects
of hasty action, of Of possible
corruption Error selshuess and faction have often
sought to rend asunder this web of checks and
the government to the control Of fanatic and sinister
influences; but these efforts have only satisfied the
people Of the wisdom of the checks which they have
impaired.
The true theory of our system is not to govern bv
the acts or DEGREES OF any set of
The constitution interposes checks upon all branches
of government in order to give time error to be
corrected and delusion to pass away but If the peo
pie settle down into firm conviction different from
that OF their representatives. they give effect to their
checks which the people imposed on their public ser.
wants in the adoption Of the constitution the best
evidence Of their capacity for self government They
know that the men whom they elect to public stations
are of like infrmties and passions with themselves
and not to be trusted without being restricted by CO.
ordinate authorities and constitutional limitations
Who that has witnessed the legislation Of Congress for
the last thirty years. will that he knows Of in
etance which measures not demanded the public
good have been carried? Who will deny that In the
State governments by combinations of and
sections In derogaton of the general interest banks
adopted and debts entaled upon the people, reprsss-
ing their growth and impairing their energies years
After SO much experience, it cannot be said that
absolute unchecked power is safe In the hands Of
any one set of representatives that the capacity
the people for efgovernwent which is admitted in
Its broadcast extent, b conclusive argument to prove
the prudence wisdom, and integrity Of their rspesen
tatives
The people, by the constitution, have commanded
the President, rs much as they have commanded the
legislative branch the to execute their
will They have said to him in the constitution
which they require he shall take solemn oath to
support that if Congress any bill which he
originated with his objections" In Withholding from
it his approval and signature he Is executing the will
the Congress that passed it. No bill is presumed to
be In accordance with the popular will until It shall
have passed through all the branches Of the govern
ment required by the constitution to make it q law
bill which passes the House Of Repree may
be rejected by the Senate; AM bill passed by the
Senate may be rejected by the House. In each case
the respective houses exercise the veto power the
other. |
Congress, and each house of Congress. hold under
the constitution check upon the President and he
by the power of the qualified Veto check up On Con-
Srsss. When the President recommends measures to
Congress- he avows in the most solemn form his opin-
IONS gives his voice in their favor and pledges himself
in advance to approve them if passed by Congress If
enoed by improper corrupt motives-or if from sny
{ Their cause Congress- either house of Congress-
cha II differ vito him in opinion, they exercise their
there is no appeal from their decision but to the pso-
pie at the ballot box These are proper checks upon
the Executive wisely nterposed by the constitution
None will be found to object to them to wish them
removed Is equally important that the eonstitu-
ional checks OF the Executive upon the legislative
II il be said that the representatives in the popular
branch Of Congress are chosen directly BY the people
n s answered the people elect the President II both
oufes the States and the people, does the
President The President represents the executive
each member of the legislative department represents
portions of them
doctrine Of restriction upon legislative auu
scutive po wer, while well settled public opinion is
enabled within reasonable time to its ends
has made country what is and has opened to US
of glory and happiness TO whcn all otner ma
lions have been strangers
In the exercise of the power of the Veto the Presi
dent is mot 70 an pu ~ho
elected him. the represe natives in the Legislative
branches who differ with him opinion, are response
HE to the people of particular States DISTRICTS who
compose their respective constituencies To deny to
the President the exercise of this power would be
peal that provision of the constitution which ooners
It upon him To charge that its exercise unduly con-
tro the legislative will is to complain OF the constu
If the Presidential veto be objected to upon the
ground that it checks and thwarts the public w upon
The same principle the equality Of representation OF
the the Senate should be stricken out OF the
co institution The vote Of Senator from Delaware
has equal weight In deciding upon the most important
measures with the vote of Senator from New York.
and vet the one represents State containing accord
ing to the existing superintendent Of
in the House Of Representatives but one
tiona competition of the Senate, majority Of that
body from the smaller States represent less that one
fourth of the people Of the Union There are thirty
states; and under the existing apporonment of rep.
resentatives there two hundred and thirty mem
bers in the House Of Representatives sixteen OF sns
smaller States represented in thS House by but
nifty members end yet the Senators from THESE states
constitute q majority Of the Senate SO that the
President may recommend measure to Congress, and
It may receive sanction and approval of more than
fourhs of the House of Representatives and OF
.n me oSrs o whole population the
and yethe may by the Of the senator's
smaller States None 1t is presumed can be found
ready TO Of tho Senate this account
that body practically cut Of existence by requiring
action shall DO confmcd the will Of the more
branch. . =,
Upon principle that the veto Of the President should
abolished the Of the Vice President 70
equal division Of the Senate should be
The Vice President exercises the veto
eecuay rejecting bill ny his casting vote the President
sSs y si
porant which tho rejection Of the bill to reharter the
Bank United Staten S4 1t may happen that bill may
be passed by large majority Of the House Of Representatives.
supported by the senators from the Larger states and
the reject by giving his vote with the
tors from the and yet 1t presumed
to him the Of this under the
stution ,,o
point fact untrue that an act passed BY Congress
that 1t manation OF the popular WILL
majority Of the whole number elected TO each house OF Con
gree constitutes and majority or that quorum
competent to pass laws 1t might happen that quorum OF the
consisting Of single member more
shan half elected that might
bill majority of single vote and in that fraction