Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-08-18

with or in opposition 10 any oi ''c y
hraced in the editorial article 10 "hien y ~ ro,o
He has expressed the opinion lhal ti,e . ,s.s
mower "sbould never be exercised except 10 cass,
~ sea, r;olaiion. of The Constitution or manifest
haste mr. want of consideration by congress
uowevrr detrimental 10 The best interests Vi 'nc
co,nt,v he NAV deem measure 10 oe toraesoei
9oubc he may entertain with regard 10 1ie eons.r
in,ional power o.. Congress over inc suulec', ne
has n,adoed himself 10 sign any bill sent 10 Dith
for annroyal, in which there has oeth "el'neI
manifest hase nor want OF consiuela'!". ~ ="
MASSAGE. provided he shall think maj u Is no'
rysot n,oofiou al the Constitution And ms ne
..'aS dn notwithstanding his oath 10 support inc
Cons,i,n,ioni In what bold reliet and beautiiul
oon,,,s, sands The memorable language OF lnal
iljns,riors Republican, George Clinton, In giving
lie casting vote, as Vice President, against me
lin to re-charter the first Bank OF the Unltea
states: "In the course of long life, (he remark
ed) have found that government IS MOI ~ ue
strengthened BY an assumption OF doubtful poweIs,
but by wise and energetic execution OF 'nose
which are inconIeslible. The former never 'alls
10 produce suspicion and disIrusl, WINE .he ial,
Ter inspires respect and confidence" lnsteau o.
waiting for "ciear uiolation OF the Constitution,
a dob. with regard 10 The consiIulionaliiy OF any
mower claimed by Congress- would have ensured
The ,,to of that enlightened statesman anu Vehe-
rated patriot. ., c.oror,l
We believe that we have shown from Gcneral
| Taylors own language, that ne IS "Iainhiei.
ed" candidate or al least one VINO mas ieiuseu "
| eypress his opinion on The most eSc.ing 'oPie
| which has agta,ed The American Pnolic s.hes
The adnp ion of The Federal Constitution; ANU
if we are right, may we not emphallcai,y assn,
can Won vote for candidate who stands mus
aI mellcds II we have misconslrued General
T,nlor,s views he owes i, 10 himself and 10 the
| nation 10 set US right. II cannot be deniea, 'aat
| his election is advocated al the Norm on Tue
Ground. that, il elected, he would sanction Inc
! principle OF the Wimot Pfoviso. knowing, ds
| General Taylor and his friends must know, .na.
large portion OF The people entertain lhese views
OF his intended course, we shall De lusliieu ~
consuming his continued silence on Inc suolec'
into tacit admission, on his parl, that we nave
| Iruly defined the position in which ne stanas
On The question OF the Veto, we take The around
that il is power highly conservative, anc wise
" engraned upon The Constitution Inc various
and sometimes conflicting interests OF The STATES
required that there should be checks TO project
the weak asans! the strong, and the Iisns OF
minorities against the encroachments OF MAORI
ties The different structure OF the two Houses
OF Congress, though frequently operating as use
full checks upon each other, might not always be
sufficient, to ensure fair and just legislation. II
was proper, therefore, that the power should re.
side some where, and the great men who framed
the Constitution vested in the Executive the right
simply 10 interposc objections TO The passage Of
measure requiring lis reconsideration by Con-
sress, and its rejection unless sustained by the
concurrent vote OF two-lhirds Of both Houses.
What injurious consequences have ever re.
suited from its exercise? Ii has been exercised
by our wisest and best Presidents, from the IA.
Their Of his country down TO our present able and
| patriotic chief magistrate. What measure has
ever been defeated by it which ought to have
passed? If the Wing party contend that it was
| njuriously exercised on their measures, why
| have they abandoned them as obsolete: Why
| do they make no issue on their measures now,
unless they are satisfied the people are against
them7 We rely upon this circumstance, TO prove
that the veto has been most judiciously and be-
nefcialIy interposed. The veto by President
Jackson Of the bill to re.charer the Bank of the
United States, affords striking illustration OF
the fact, that its exercise may sometimes more
faithfully represent the will of the people than
the concurrent vote of both Houses Of Con
| gress During the first term Of General jack
son, bill to re. charter the Bank Of the United
States, whose charter would not expire until
some years thereafter, was forced through Con-
gress, in the vain hope, that the President being
| candidate for reelection, would not dare to
veto H. Delusive, indeed, was the calculation.
Believing ''the monster" as he termed it, to be
a national incubus, cancer upon the body poll
tic, which required the application of the knife.
the intrepid patriot did not falter in his course.
| He vetoed the bill, and made direct issue with
| Congress before the people, His triumphant
reelection afforded the most undeniable evidence
| that the will of the people had been truly re-
presented.
To that valuable feature in The constitution,
| and its udicious exercise, are we indebted not on
ly tor the eradication Of that great national curse,
| but for the defeat Of series oil other Wing mea-
| sures which would have been pregnant with end
less and incacuable mischief to the best Interests
| OF the country. The period is probably mol re-
mole when The people OF the South will look 10
the exercise OF this power, as their only security
/ against the reckless invasion OF their dearest
| rights.
II we have succeeded in demonstrating that
| Gen. Taylor has not exhibited civil qualifications
for the chief magisiracy, we ask, whether his
success as military chietain onlp, gives him pc.
culiar claims 10 be elevated 10 that responsible sta
tion2 We are far from undertaking the value OF
high military abilities. Where these are super
added 10 other eminent qualifications, they merit
due consideration. IIe father Of his country
and the iusrious Jackson, possessed high
civil as well as military atlainmenls But such
cannot be the case with General Taylor
A mere soldier from his youth, he was unknown
to the nation, until the battles on The Rio
Grande gave notorieiyt 10 his name. Though the
frs, 10 acquire reputation in Mexico he stands
mol alone in his glory. Other Generals have al
so conducted our armies 10 victory, and earned
| mpershable laurels on many wel.fought field.
II fortunate commander, with no other recon-.
mendation than military cclal, is 10 be taken
fresh from the battle field, and conducted amid
senseless huzzas TO the Presidential chair, well
may the worst consequences be exutingy pre-
dicled by The enemies Of free government. Other
mere heroes may have political ASPIRATIONS
Designing politicians, compromising principles
for auailabaiy, will press them into The canvass
as the ''pcoplc's candidates." Statesmen will be
supplanled by heroes, and the spirit OF military
ambition, which The Wing party now so glowing
y denounce, will become the ruling passion Of
the nation. Then, indeed instead OF wars, like
the one which has just terminated, 10 vndicaie
our rights and repel The invasion of orr territory
we may be hurried into wars OF conquest only
Yet the supporters OF a mere military cheflain
pto suggested the propriety Of taking and holding
mnch larger territory than has been oJeaii,ed are
urging his election upon the ground that they are
opposed 10 the lust Of unlimited dominion which
they charge has been recently exhibited.
Having given our opinion OF General Taylor's
position as candidate Tor the Presidency, we
VIII now lake brief notice Of the course and
opinions OF Willard Fillmore, The Wing candi-
date for The Vice Presidency. In an address like
this, we cannot enter into details Bul we solicit
attention TO Mr.. Fimore's course in Congress on
The subject Of Mr.. Alherons Resolutions. He
voted against four out Of five Of those resolutions
But it is sufficient for our purpose 10 quote TIC
third resolution only, which involves plain, ma
ked principle unmixed with any matter which
could afford a prelcxt for the opposition OF any
man having respect Tor the guarantees OF The Fe.
defal Constitution, or sympathy for Southern
rights and feelings. The third resolution is in
these words: "That Congress has no right 10 do
that indirectly which il cannot do directly, and
that The agitation OF The subjec, Of slavery in the
District OF Columbia, or The territories, as
means and rcM Tie ricle OF disturbing or over
throwing that institution in the several States, is
against the true spirit and meaning Of the Consli.
tuition, an infringement Of The rights Of Inc States
| affected, and breach OF The public faith unon