The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-09-15
THE PLEDGED VETO

"Bui, sir, an act OF gross dece p,ion is at
tempted in reference to Gen. Taylor's opin-
ions on this subject, (The veto power. ~
Gentlemen would have us believe that their
candidate has avowed disIinc, opposition
to the exercise Of the veto power. Those
gentlemen do not tell US whether Gen. Tay.
lOr iriH retO this or that measure, nor ,rhcth-
er he tciH adpocate this or that policy
Speech of Mr.. Stanton of Tennessee.
The Democrats are anxious To put Gen.
Taylor in just such position Of Gen Cass
has put himself in; binding himself to veto
this or that measure.
Il is right tina, the general principles OF
men in reference to public policy should be
known; but IL is not right that they should
pledge themselves TO veto the Legislative will
VI the nation expressed through the repre-
sentatives vi the people.
There has never been exhibited more un-
blushingly, in country assuming To be free,
the spirit of ONE MAN GOVERNMENT,
than that of candidate for the Presidency i,
declaring that, when elected, he will peto d
particular measure. Call il by what name
you please, il is just nothing less than the
spirit Of Monarchy, rs we'll as trucking
serviliiy TO party or sectional demands. III,
who makes such pledge undertakes to de
eide in advance what laws shall and shall not
be made, and 10 sci up the Autocraiic will
of the President against the clearly express
ed will OF "a majority Of the peoples repre-
sen,atives! They may pass what bills they
please, put il those bills do not please him.
he will veto them! II this is not the gov
ernmen, of ONE MAN, then we would like
10 know what Is.
This promise beforehand Of the veto La.
been twice made within the last dozen years
That ii should have been made at all, with
out being followed by manifestation oil
popular indignation, evnces servility, just
such as has, in the past history OF The world,
more than once transformed a republic into
a monarchy, and placed a desPot on the
throne.
The first instance was when MARTIN VAN
buren, was, in 1886, "Me Northern man
rith Southern principles" and candidate
for the Presidency, which he knew he could
never reach without Southern potes. In or.
der 10 get those votes he found il necessary
to make high bid. There was then no
territory which could be legislaied about by
Congress in reference to slavery, except the
ten miles square comprised in the Distric,
Of Columbia. The Aboliiionisis were be
seiglng Congress with petitions for the abo-
lition OF slavery there. The subject prese n
ted MIR. Van Buren, with an opportunity OF
bidding Tor the support Of the South; so, be-
fore his election he wrote letter in which,
he used the following language:
81 must 60 into the Presidential chair the
inaexble and -uncompromising opponent OF
every attempt, on the part Of Congress Ia
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbis,
against the wishes Of the slsveholding
States"
And in order TO show that he kept his
word, he introduced the subject in his Inau
gural Address, aud said-''it now only re-
mains to add, that no bill conflicting with
these views can ever receive my cons,i,u-
lional sanction"
The American people may shut their eyes
il they choose, to the true character Of sucI,
a proceeding as this, but il il is not substiiu.
ting the Presiden, TOR Congress, aud break.
ing down the Legislative by the Executive
power, then we confess we do not know wha,
would amount 10 that.
The other instance in which candidate
for the Presidency pledged himself before.
hand to exercise the veto power is in the
kindred case Of Gen. Cass bidding for South
ern votes, by binding himself TO reto any bill
passed by Congress, prohiblng the extension
Of slavery beyond its presen, limits.
Strange as il may appear 10 every true
| friend Of human freedom, the two cases in
which this pledge has been given by pres
DENTAL candidates. have been where the
question ofireedom OF slavery was involved;
aud The m0narchica power Of the pres,den,
has in both instances been used against lib
eHy, In regard 10 The veto power. General
Taylor stands on impregnabIe ground. Il il
q position which, il he can maiAiain. and The
people chose him for President, will do much
to check tho downward current Of poli,cs
events, and restore the administration Of the
government to something Of its constitution
al rectilude.-Cin. Atlas.
PATS DREAN.-i son Of the Emerald
| Isle was observed by friend morn n
to look exceedingly blank aud perplexed