Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-08-12

nshng each with constitutional for its defence ha
been Inferred and proved From these clear and ndubab
principles results the propriey Of negative either absout.
or quaed IN the Executive upon the acts OF the Legislative
absolutely unable defend hmse against the depredatons
the latter he might gradually be stripped of his authorities
by successive resolutions, anbaedby single and
IN the one mode the other the Legislative and Executive
powers might speedily be blended in the hands
even no propensity had discovered itself in the Legsa
tive body TO invade the rights the Executive the rules Ius
reasoning and heorec proprety would of themselves teach
that the one ought not to be left he mercy The other but
ought TO possess constitutional snd eecua power self
defence But the power has further se il not only
asa shield to the Executive, but furnishes additional
curity against the enaction OF improper laws
This is the reasoning which M Hamilton resorted to in
yindicaon of power which, when conferred on the
President startled the Republicans Of that day. 1t proves
tsactoy that the power designed to be used dee-
siye one, and not aggressive We all that the
Legislative and Executive powers coming TO be blended in
the hands, but is it by the ncroachment Of the Legis
atve upon the Executive department Of the Government
i Mr. Hamilton adds:
"The primary inducemen cferrng the power in ques-
ton upon the Executive is enable him defend himself the
secondary to increase the chances in favor community
against the passing OF bad laws through haste nadyertence
the Legislative body in free Government and The hazard 10
the Executive in trial Of strength with that body afford
saeoy security that the would generally be employ
ed with great cauton and that in exercise there
tener be room Tor charge of tmdity than OF ashness
King OF Great Britain with all his train of sovereign attr
bute and with all the influence he draws from thousand
sources, would at this day hesitate negative upon the
joint resolutions fthe two Houses Of Parliament
considerable period elapsed the negative of the
! Crown has been exercised
Now, sir appeal the country, and ask have our late
Presidents exerted this power this spirit Have they shown
any reluctance to employ it the legislation of Congress as
independent and unbiased ought be Are not the
personal opinions Of the Executive too much consulted
When the President returned with his objections the French
spolation bill he guilty of clear encroachment on the
rights Of Congress There not Jingle principle nvoly-
in that bill calling for the Executive was mere
act Of Executive authority when he refused sign bill which
had received the votes Of large maoes both branches Of
Congress- full dscusson and against which there was no
constitutional objection.
Story, in his Commentaries on the Contribution concurs in
the views stated by Mr. Hamilton in the ederast as TO the
reasons for comforting this power the President In the
18th chapter of lis third book the SUBJECTS fully considered
and the first and main reason assigned fo is the constu
ona necessity Of armng the Executivewh powers for its
own Defence prevent the President from becoming what
is well known the Governors of of tie States are mere
pageant and shadow of magistracy" al full examination Of
the debates the constitution and of he writings of other
able commentators to which have time TO REFER would
strengthen the views which have presented and clearly show
how widely later Presidents have departed from the prn
cpes and the examples of earlier times From the day when
the Roman tribune took his at the entrance of the Senate
chamber and arrested the DEGREES of that BODY by the word
yETo up TO the present hour there have been more in
stances OF its arbitrary exercise by the President of the United
States standing at the head OF modem Republican Govern
men than the whole history of nations besides can show
Mr. Burke, in his letter to the sheris Bristol remarks
"The kings negative to bills is il the most undsputed
OF the royal preroyes and it extends all watso
kn0
had fallen under the stroke ohat scep that the public would
have had loss But propriey of the
exercise which in question: the exese itself wisely
oone Its repoe may be the Of its existence and
its existence may be the of saving constitution itself
on an occasion worthy Of bringing it forth"
This the language of Edmund Burke man distinguish
ed much for his regard for the rights the people as for
his genius and his learning The exercise of this great power
in the British Government wisely forborne il has not been
employed in England since 1892.
But sir, there other considerations involved in the pc
ical contest going the country. The Democratic
party committed policy which leads to aggression war;
and conquest while the Wings desire preserve peace with
all the world to stimulate the industry and develop the
resources of the country. California and New Mexico are
ours, and costly acquisitions admit them be- Yu-
caan has barely escaped grasp; and what other neigh
boring Provinces to be oveun and conquered and
annexed tell. Our true policy is peace We
are set apart by dividing from the Old World
have nothing to do with its complicated system have
balance Of power preserve Intervention the
affairs of other nations We should desire friendly relations
with every people, entangng alliances with none When
the rights the honor OF the country demand will go
war; have done twice with Great Britain but war is
great calamity and much opposed the principles Of
Christian civilization for any insufficient cause With the
blessing of GOD we shall advance rapidly enough in
OF peace. Our political system is at great and
mica; il should be kept need go to war to ex
tend territory increase wealth and power Pat
rick Henry sad in the true American spirit Those nations
which have gone forth IN search Of GRANDEUR power and
spendor have also fallen sacrifice and been victims to their
folly"
struck last with article which met nv eve
in Of the best reviews Of day, French Review
La Revue des Deux onies, in which the writer says
The spectacle which North America offers to-day is
thing than the whole the continent learning to re
cognse its in the Augo-Amerieans education and
the simple and beautiful constitution of $780, after half CEN
fury only Of existence extending influence under which all
must come, sooner or later"
This great triumph, if true our principles will be
accomplished without
Which Of these pares holding these opposing seni
mens shall control the Government The Of this coun-
try and the peace Of the world depend the Il is al
most il the direct question Of peace put the
people.
The candidates who presented to the country for
the high office Of the Presidency represent precisely the ideas
which have endeavored exhibit as belonging 70 the two
parties,
General Cass is the very embodiment Of the aggressive
denotes of the Democratic party When has he been
found the side Of peace When did he advocate
deration Was when the Oregon question before the
country He stood out against the adjustment OF that ques
ton to the last moment He commended for the boundary Of
$40 40 When the country demanded settlement upon the
parallel of49 he would have involved two great christian and
kindred nations in war; rather than yield up portion Of
mote territory which had long been in dispute What would
have been the result If he had then been the President He
displayed the same spirit when the Mexican question
He eager for warwould listen sober counses but
brought all his influence bear against the wise and pacific
policy of Mr. Calhoun. But territorial acquisitions, he
would swallow the whole Of Mexico" He earnestly advo-
Gated the scheme Of pouring troops into Yucatan, and
was ready to seize Cuba upon the slightest petex He day
after day urged the adoption Of the regiment BILL when
peace at hand and by that single would have