Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-26

ana the country. Will be thrown back from
its present high state Of prosperity, which
the existing policy has produced, and be
destined again TO witness all the evils,
commercial revolutions, and depression
ofprices and pecuniary embarrassmen,s,
through which we have passed during
the last seventyfve years.
To guard against consequences SO ru.
nous, is an obiec. Of high national impor-
lance, involving in my judgment the con.
tinued prosperity Of the country. ,..... =,
| have felt it to be an Imperative obi.
CATION TO withhold my constitutional sane
,ion from two bills which had passed the
two Houses Of Congress, involving the
principle Of the iute rnal improvement
branch of the :'Amorican system,'' and
conflicting in their provisions with these
views. ~ va. ......-....... ..~....
This power, conferred upon the Pres
dent by the constitution, ] have on three
occasions during my administration ofthe
executive department Of the government,
deemed it my duty to exercise; and on
this last occasion of making to Congress
an annual communication Of the State OF
the Union, it is not deemed inappropriate
to review tho principles aud consldera-
tons which have governed my actions
| deem this tho more necessary, because
after the lapse Of sixty years since the
adoption Of the constitution, the proprie-
ty oflhc exercise Of this undoubted con
stitutional Fower oflhe President has for
the first time been drawn seriously into
question by portion Of my fellow ci,i-
zens. l.-..
H. The constitution provides that 'seyery
bill which shall have passed the House Of
Representatives and the Senate, shall, be-
fore it becomes law, be presented 10 the
President Of the United States; if he APP
proves il, then he shall sign it, but if not
he shall reluln it with his objections, to
the House in which it originated, who shall
enter the objections at large in their jour
nal, and proceed TO reconsider it,
The preservation Of constitution from
infraction is the Presidents highest duty.
lie is bound to discharge that duty at
whatever hazard Of incurrlng the displca-
sure Of those who NAV DIFF with him in
opinion. He is bound 10 discharge it as
vel! b. obligation to the people who have
clothed him with his exalted trust, as by
his oath of Office, which he may not disre-
gard. Nor are the President in any de-
gree lessened by the prevalence Of views
different from his own in one or both Hou-
ses OF Congress. 1t is not alone ''hasty
aud inconsidera,e Legislation" that he is
required to check; but If at any time Con.
gross shall, after apparently full delibera-
ton, pass measure which he deems sub
vcrsive Of the constitution or of tho vital
interests of the country, it is his solemn
luty to stand liz the breach and resis,
hem. The President is bound TO ap-
prove or disapprove every bill which
passes Congress, and is presented to him
or his signature. The constitution makes
his his duty, aud he cannot escape it if
he would. lie has no election Of decid-
ng on bills presented to him; he must
exercise his oyn best judgment, and if he
annot approve it, the constitution com
hands him to return the bill! 10 the source
n which i, orr ginated, with his objections;
nd if he fails to do this in ten days
sundays excepted-7it =: I'D become a !
'rong. lie may be over-ruIed by two
birds of each House, and in that event,
he bill becomes a law without his sane
ion. If his objections be then over-ruled
he Subject is only postponed or is refer
ed TO the States or the people for their
and decision. The consid-
.ration is, however, negative, merely,
md not affirmative, and can enact no law.
The only effect therefore, Of his with
holding his appreciation of the bill pass
ID by congress, is to suffer the existing
aw 10 remain unchanged, and the delay
is only that required TO ena-
Die the States and the people to consider
and act upon the subject in the election Of
public agents, who shall show their wish
IS and instructions. Any attempt to yield
his sanction to measures which he cannot
approve, would be violation Of the spirit
Of the constitution, palpable and fragrant,
and if successful, would break down the
Of the Executive Depart
ment, and make the President elected by
the people and clothed by the constitution
with power to defend their rights, the
mere instrument of the majority of Con
gress, and would be surrender on his
part Of the power with which the consti
tuition has invested him-his office would
effect a practical alteration Of that instru-
ment without resorting to the prescribed
process Of amendment. .,.t.. ,
With the motives or conside ra,ions
which may induce Congress to pass any
bill. the President can have nothing to do.
He must presume them to be as pure as
his own, and look only to the practical
effect of their measures, when compared
with the constitution or the public good.
But it has been urged by those who OBJ
jet 10 the exercise Of this undoubted con-
power, that it assails the repre-
sentative principle and the capacity Of the
people to govern themselves, that there is
greater safety in numerous representa-.
tive body, than in the single Executive,
created by the constitution; and that the
Executive is Gone man nowe p - coeno+;o