The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-12-06

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Iam ehissilah Il IL snly necessary 30 consider III,
frame shd true character OF our system Ours in no,
| consolidated eIapre, but q cohfederated Union -
The states before the adoption OF the constitution
were coordinate, co-exual, and separate, indepen-
gent soveregnties and by its adoption they did moi
lose that character
They clothed the federal government with certain
powers and reserved all others, including their own
sovereignty to themselves. They guarded their own
rights as States and the rights of the people by the
very limitations which they incorporated into the
federal constitution, whereby the different depart
nno u, she general government were checks upon
ehch ehcher. That the majority should govern is a
general principle, controverted by none; but they
must govern according to the constitutions and moi
according to an underlined and unrestrained discre-
uon,.whereby they may Cypress the minority
| The people of the United States are moi blind Ia
me fact that they may be temporarily misled and
Una. tneir representatives, legislative and executive
proper motives They have therefore interposed be.
| tween themselves and the laws which may be passed
ny lelr puDc agents, various representations, such
as sena!es and governors in their
states; House of Representatives, Senate, and a
fresluent OF the United States. The people can by
ineir own direct agency make no aw nor can the
| Rouse OF REPRESENTATIVES Immediately elected by
| mem; no can the Senate nor can both together
WNhout me concurrence of the President, u vote
t'vo-thirds of both houses
iappIIy for themselves, the people in framing our
| admlrlbe system of government were conscious of
the nhrmies OF their representatives: and in dele.
ga nnnd 70 2 them the power of egisaon they have
elects Of hasty action of error, of combination and
Of possible corruption. Error, sefshness and faction
nave oten sought to rend asunder this web of checks
aA1 subject the government to tue control Of fanatic
anG snster influences; but these efforts have only ss
they have imposed and of the necessity of preserving
| The true theory of our system is not to govern by
the acts or DEGREES Of any Of representatives
The constitution inerposes checks upon ali branches
OF the government IN order to give time for to
be corrected and dolnsion to pass away but if the
people settle down into Il firm convection different
from that of their representatives they give effect to
| their opinions by changing their public servants
The checks which the people imposed on their pub
lie servants III the adoption of the constitution, M
the best evidence of their capacity for selfgovern-
| ment.
They know that the men whom they elect to pub-
nc stations are OF like inirmes and passions witt,
| themselves, and not 10 be trusted without being re
sricted by Coordinate authorities and constitutional
| limitations. VINO that has witnessed the legislation
OF Congress for the last thirty years will say that he
| knows Of no instance IN which measures not de.
manded by the public good, have been currledY Who
will deny that in the State governments, by combi-
nations OF individuals ana sections, in dcrogation OF
The genera interest, banks have been chartered sys
TENS o internal Improvement adopted and debts en-.
talleu upon the people, depressing their growth and
inparing their energies for years TO come!
After 81 much experience, II cannot be said that al
solule unchecked power safe in the hands of any
set OF representatives, that the capacity of the
people for government, which is admitted in its
broadcast extent, il conclusive argument 10 nrove
the prudence, wisdom, and integrity of their repre-.
| seutatives
| The people by the coslitutlnn, have commanded
| the tsident as much they have commanded the
esi-laive branches of the government, TO execute
| their will
| They have said to him in the constitution, which
they require lie shall take solemn oath to support
| that II Congress pass any bill which he cannot APP
prove hc sla retxrn 1t to the House in which it
| originated, with his objectiOns' In withholding
from II his approval and signature
the VIII OF the people constituiionay expressed as
much rs the Congress that passed it, No bill is pre-
s to be IN accordanco with the popular will I'M
vi II snail have passed through all the branches of
the government required by the constitution to make
| 1t n law. bill which passes the House of Repre-
sentatives may be rejected by the Senate and so :,
bill passed by the Senate may he rejected by the
House In each the respective houses exercise
| the veto power on 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, "A check upon
Congress. When the President recommends nie;,-
| sures to Congress, he avows, in the most solemn,
form his opinions, gives his voice their favor and
pledges himself III advance to approve them il pass
| ed by Congress If he acts without due considera-
non, or has been influenced by improper or corrupt
| inotlves-Or II from any other cause Congress- or
either house OF Congress, shall differ with him in
opinion, they exercise THEIR VETO upon his recon-
enditions, and reject them; and there is ~ appeal
from their decision. but to the people at the ballot
| box,
l
| y lnterposed by the constitution None will be
found to ohJec; to them. to wish them removed =
X is equally important that the constitutional checks
OF the Executive upon the Legislative branch shoulG
| be preserved,
If 1t be said that the representatives in the popua,
branch OF Congress nre chosen directly by the people
1t ~ answered. the people elect the President. II
both Houses represent the States and the Deopr 81
does the President The President represents in The
| Executive Department the whole pe,,pi. of the u
States, each member Of the legislative departmen
| represents portions of them.
The doctrine Of restriction upon egislatI va and fx.
| scuve power. while wei settled public opinion il
enabled within reasonable time to accomplish il,
ends, has made nnG country what it and has ope
ed to us n career Of gl"ry and happiness to which all
| other nations have been strangers.
In the exercise OF the power of the veto the Pres
dent is responsible not only to enlightened public
opinion, but II he people Of the whole Union, who
elected hn, MS The representatives the Legislative
hranches who differ with him opinion, are respon-
sie t" the oople of particular States or districts
who compose their respective constituencies.
To deny to the President the of this now
er, would lie TO repeal that provision of the cons,tu-
on which conters 1t upon HIM. To charge that iis
| exercise unduly controls the legislative will is To
| complain OF the constitution itself.
| II the Presidential veto be objected to upon the
ground that 1t checks and thwarts the public will,
upon the principle the equality of representa-.
ton of the States i'll the Senate should be stricken
ont of the constitution. The of II Senator from
| Delaware has equal weight In deciding upon the
most important measures with the vote of Senator
| from New urk; and yet the one represents a STATE
containing, according To the existing apportlonmclt
of representatives in the House Of Representatives
but one thirty fourth part OF the population of the
other.
BY the constitutional composition Of the Senate a
majority n that body from the smaller States repre-
sent less than Que fourth OF the people of the Union.
There are thirty States; and, under the existing APP
portlonment of representatives. there are two hun
dred and thirty members IN the House of Representa-
tves. Sixteen of the smaller States are represented
III that House by but fifty members; and yet the Sen
ators from these States constitute ma ory of the
Senate.
So that the President may recommend measure to
Congress- and 1t may receive the enction and ap-
prevail OF more than three toGrhs of the House of
Representatives., and of all the Senators from the
large states, containing more than three fourths of
tors from the smaller States None, it is presumed.
Senate on this account, to strike that body prac-
caly out OF existence by requiring that its ucti N
brunch. ''''' ''''
Upon the same principle that the veto OF the Pre-
sdcnt should be practically abolished the power OF
the Vice President to give the casing vote upon an
equal division of the Senote should be abolished also
The Vice President exercises the veto power 40 ef
| fecually by rejecting bill by his astlng vote, as
the President does by refusing to approve and sign il
| This power has been exercised by the Vice Presi-
dent in few instances the most important OF wifi h
the rejection OF the bill TO recharer the bank of
| the United States in 1911
II may happen that a bill may be passed by large
| majority of the House Of REPRESENTATIVES, and may
be supported by senators from the larger States, and
with the Senators from the smaller States; and YET
none it is presumed, are prepared 10 deny to hun The
| exercise of this p ,Wer under the constitution.
But it il, IN point of fact untrue that act passed
| by Congress is conclusive evidence that 1t an ema
| nation Of the popular will
Ahnaiorlty Of the whole number elected to each
| House Of Congress COZ stiiues quorum, and :, mn
jorv of that quorum is competent TO pass laws. II
| might happen that quorum of the House of Repre-
scntaliyes, consisting OF single member more than
half of the whole number elected to that House,
might pass bill by majority Of single vote, and
in that fraction than one fourth of the
people of the United States would be represented by
! those who voted forlt.
ltmlght happen that the same bill might be passed