The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-04
CITY OF WASHINGTON, SATURDAY NIGHT MARCH 4, l84S.

render myself amenable to the imputation of being
sort OF monarchist-one, the phrase goes, In favor
Ioi executive power, Sir, am in favor OF
tive power in government; and, if | was not, would
be an favor OF no government at all for government
cannot exist without being operative, and, TO be ope
fative, must be enforced by executive. am, ALSO
in the government of these United States, in favor of
ntrusling, not part but the whole of the executive
functions to the hands of the President of the United
States. Not particle would | vest in Congress; and
in The Senate would vest only co operation with the
President IN the treaty making and appointing powers.
Is tins being too partial or devoted to executive power
raey 10 Inc constitution OF the United States demands
no less II says; The erseMtue power shall be
vested in President of the United States" When
il speaks of the legislative powers, the language is very
different: "All legislative powers herein granted shall
be vested in Congress of the United States" All the
executive functions in the President; but Congress
has not only none but legislative powers, but these
powers are limited to the specific grants | go further
stll IN favor OF the executive power. am in favor of
its participating in legislative functions also Here again.
but stand by the constitution in upholding the presi-
dental veto the laws of Congress- Sir, why did the
makers OF the constitution thus give only all the ex-
ecuive powers to President, but even control over
Congress IN ITS legislation, whilst to Congress they gave
Because they thought that liberty and right government
were in danger from legislative than from execu
tive abuses-from Congress than from the President.
They knew that at our stage of progress free govern
men liberty in person property was safe from any ex-
ecuve entertainments The danger of oppression in the
Union was from another sourcethe tyranny of sections
W Aheoc Cotu only uTOuBn the leSlSd-
tive department OF the government; and they therefore
endeavored there to fix their limitations by most care
tai enumeration OF special grants The working of the
constitution has proved that IN these views fathers
were right All the danger to our system of govern
ment all the usyrpations which have agitated the
Union and threatened its dissolution, have been from
legislative encroachmens. Congress- not the Presi-
dent-the statute book, not the sword--has kept the
Union in agitation and dashed parties into furious
tenton The alien and sedition laws, banks, protec
tive tariffs internal Improvement and slavery have sue
| ceSSVeV Congress- SIbjpcta for
powers not granted by the constitution. Our friends
the other side OF the hall, uphold the atitudinous
suchon OF the constitution by which these usurpatons
are perpetrated They are for swelling the powers of
Congress, and making majority in Congress, the gov
eminent and the constitution The reason is obvious
The north, which leads in this policy the majority
in Congress To extend the powers of Congress, where
they are the majority is TO extend power to themselves
and thus enable them not only to protect themselves, but
the expense Of the other sections of the Union Interest
and the lust OF power both combine with them uphold
this policy Hence the continual tendency grasp
powers in Congress Hence the opposition to the veto
power In the President. which has controlled these
usurPatlons of the constitution; and hence, also,
the late pretension;, OF Congress being the acarma
wings had the ascendency in Congress, they wound up
the session of ls4l by address to the people Of the
United States, proposing to abolish the constitution of the
United States in no less than four particulars. l
was In the contest OF those days, and know what
wing majority in Congress is in its INSCRIPTIONS and
desperate warfare on the constitution The security of the
can be no security Tor her in the ascendency of party
which, from the origin of the government to this day, has
carried on perpetual war against them If safe
under any control but our ownf safe under the
administration of the constitution of the United States
II must be in cooperation with that party which has
stood by us in so many hardfough and hard bat
from the very nature of their policy with respect to the
constitution, must be the enemies of those who stand for
protection and peace on it's limitations They must. po
caly be the enemies of the south-conscientious and
patriotic, if you please-but still enemies; the ire
concilable and implacable, because Conscientious
MI Chairman AM, our trends over the way denounce the
suppose that they not only have had no agency in
making 1t, but that if they had the power, they would
of war by the last Congress- and voted the supplies to
carry 1t on. They, at the ensuing session. again voted
the supplies; and now, they here with majority which
can at any moment arrest the war Why do they not ar
rest it, by declaring at their determination to refuse
the supplies IL the boast OF some OF them be true, they
were placed here, majority by the people, for this very
Sc G Sir our whs friends DO not not
would be to them very far from grateful news. They
look TO the war as the grand instrument of their
at the next presidential election. Like proper patriots
they suppose the performance of the democratic party
far greater evil than the Mexican Hence they
willing that the war shall continue at least, until they
can grasp the relns OF power. t
tell you, sir, those who most deeply lament this war
those who daily longing for its termination by just
and honorable peace on this side OF the chamber Party
heavy responsibilities Of the war; its uncertainties and
dangers, press most on those who identified with the
administration in the first great of their ascendency
to power-the annexation of Texas to the Union. They
fully understand how the benefit Of this great
may be defeated-how territory acquired may bring us
danger debt the renewal of the protective policy and
the whole end in the triumph Of wing principles in
the Union. Whilst, therefore, they support the gov
ernmentin the prosecution OF the war. believing that
sisency and the interests and honor of the Union alike
require that it should be supported they would rejoice
to hear of peace They deprecate the with Mexico
but deprecate far more that war the constitution
which, whilst sappng its principles, leaves it the
instrument of emorseless, many headed despotism
throned in Congress. The success of this war; unlike
the with Mexico, which has brought least dis
tncton and renown, may bring only infamy and dis
honor; and sgnaze its victories by the destruction of
the rights of the States and the liberties of the people,
| Proposals n
| TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Feb. 26, lS4S.
SEALED PROPOSALS will be received until p. M.