Democratic banner., 1849-12-31


land to France; has not been equally sue
,%cessful, but the purpose has not been a.
.bandoned.
For a particular statement of the condi-
ton of the Post Office Department, and
other matters connected with that branch
of the public service, l refer you to the
Postmaster General.
As the Act of the Sd of March, l849, d
Board was constituted to make arrange
ments for taking the Seventh Census, COM
posed of the Secretary of State, the Attor-
ney General, and the Postmaster General,
and it was made the duty Of this Board to
prepare and cause to be printed, such forms
and schedules for collecting statistical ia
blss; and under proper heads, such infOr-
nation as to mines, agriculture, commerce,
manufactures, education; and other topics,
as would exhibit a full view of the pursuits,
industry, education, and esource of the
county.
The duties imposed upon the Census
Board thus established having been per-
formed, it now rests with Congress to enact
a law for carrying into effect the PROPOSE
ton of the Constitution, which requires an
actual enumeration Of the people of the
United States within the ensuing period.
Among the duties assigned by the con-
stitution to the General Government, is one
of local and limited application; but not on
that account the less obligatory. ] allude
to the trust committed to Congress as the
exclusive legislator and sole guardian Of the
Interests of the District of Columbia. !
beg to commend thes interests TO your kind
attention. As the National Metropolis,
the City of Washington must be an object
.ofgeneral interest; and founded, as it was,
under the auspices of him whose immortal
name it dears, its claims to the fostering
care of Congress present themselves with
additional strength. Whatever can con-
tribute to its prosperity, must enlist the
feelings of its constitutional guardians and
command their favorable coDsider ration.
Our Government is one Of the limited
powers, and its successful administration
.eminently depends on the confinement of
each Of its coordinate branches within its
own appropriate sphere. The first section
of the Constitution ordains, that all Legis-
lative power therein granted, shall be vest
ed in a Congress OF the United States,
which shall consist Of a Senate and House
of Representatives. The Executive has
authority to recommend, not to dictate,
to Congress. Haxing performed
this duty, the Executive Department Of
the Government cannot rightfully control
the decision of Congress on ahy subject Of
Legislation, until that decision shall have
been officially submitted to the President
for approval.
The check provided BY the Constitution
in the clause comforting the qualified veto,
will never be exercised by me, except in
the cases contemplated by the Fathers Of
the Republic. 1vIew il as an extreme mea-
sure, to be resorted to only in extraordinary
cases, as, where it may become necessary
TO defend the Executive against the en-
croachments of the Legislative power, or,
TO prevent hasty and inconsideIste, or un-
constitution Legislation, by cautiously con-
filming this remedy within the s. here pre-
scribed to it in the contemporaneous expo
sitions of the trainers of the Constitution.
The will OF the people lsgitimately ex-
on all subjects of Legislation,
through their constitutional organs, the Sem
ator and Representatives OF the United
States, will have its full effects, and is in-I
to the preservation of our sys-
tenn ofself-governmcnt. The independence
of the Representatives of the States and the
is guaranteed by the Commission,
and they owe no responsibility to any hu-
man power but their constituents. By hol.
ding the Representatives responsible only
10 the people, and ~exemptiDg him from all
other influences, elevate the character Of
The constituent and quicken Ills sense ofre-
'ponsibility to his country. 1t is under
these circumstances only, that the ~elector
can feel, in the choice of the law-maker,
hat he is himself truly q component part
IF the sovereign power of the nation. With
equal care, we should study to defend the
rights of the Executive and Judicial De-
partments. Our Government can only bel
in its purity by the suppression
and entire elimination of every claim or
tendency of one coordinate branch to enc
upon the others.
The striJt observance of tkis rule, and
he other injunetions of the Constitution,
With a sedulous ihculcation of that respect
ind love for the Union of the States which,
fatboro chor;ehad. ood ap;o;nod TDnnI