The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-01-05

10 prevail, The effect would be 10 change
The entire character Of The Government.
One only danger remains. II is the seduc
lions Of that branch OF The system which
consists 10 internal Improvements, holdln.
out, as Il does, inducements to The people
OF particular sections and localities 10 EN-.
bark the Government IN them without stop.
ping TO calculate the nvilablc consequences.
his branch of the system is so intimately
combined aud linked with the Others, that
as surely as Oh effect is produced by au ad.
equate cause, II II be resusciiated and re
vved, aud firmly established, it requires no
sagacIiy 10 ioresee that IL will necessarily
and speedily draw after j, the re- establish
men, OF national bank, the revival OF a
protective tariff, tho distribution Of the land
money, aud not only the postpouemcnl to
The distant future of the pay ment OF the pre-.
sent national debt, bu, is annual increase.
en,eI,nia the solemn convection tina, Il
The internal improvement branch Of the " A
merIcan system be no, firmly resisted al
'hss time, the whole series of measures con-
posing It viii be speedily re established
and the country be thrown back from it.
present high state Of prosperity, which the
existing policy has produced, aud be des
tined again u witness all the evils, COW
mercIal revulslons, depression OF prices, aud
Pecuniary cBblrrassmen,s through which
NO have passed during the las, twenty five
years.
10 guard against consequences SO ruin.
Gus Is s.. OH CT OF high nitionol Importance
involving, m nv judgment, the continued
prosperity of the country.
| have iel. /, to be an imperative uLliga.
iion 10 ~ilhho!d my constitutional sanction
rom two bills which had passed the ,~o
ii use OF Congtes-, involving the principle
OF the internal improvement branch OF tie
American system" and colll cting Ia
their provisions vita The views here ex
pressed.
THIS power. conferred upon the President
by the constitution, ! have on three occa.
SONS, dIr,H: my ad nint,ifliion OF the E,.
ecuti'e Department, Of the Government,
deemed Il my duty TO exercise und on tn
last occasion Of making to Congress an au.
a...I ~..-.-'.--'--.'~- ~ vfr SAFE oil the
UoIon. II Is not deemed inappropriate TO
review The principles and consideration.
ahich have governed my action. deem
IBIS The more necessary, because, after the
lapse Of nearly sixiy years since the udop.
ton OF the constitution. the pfopfirly of
the exercise Of this undoub'ed constitution
al Pa-"s' - The pfcsadeu. has fof he FIST
une been drawn seriously 10 qpvettYu by a
portion Of my feIlos.ct 1eus.
The Constitution pfosiccs that "evsty
bill ahieh shall have passed The House VI
Representatives. AMI The Senate shall be.
fore II becomes a law, be presented TO the
President of the United States: Il lie up.
prove, he shall sign Il, ba. II not, he shall
return II ~llh his Obj 'ciIons, TO that house
IN which 1t shall have originated, sho shall
enter the oiJnctons nj large on their urnal
and proceed 10 reconsider Il"
The preservation Of the constitution from
nlraclion is the Presidents hishes, duty.
lie IS bound TO discharge that duty, al
whatever htzud Of mourning the dspeas
ute OF those Nho may differ with hun ~
opinion. lie is bound to discharge II, as
well by bis obligations 10 the people Who
have clothed him with his cralted ttus:, at
by his oath OF flee, which he may not DIS
regard Nor are the obligations Of the
President IN any degree lessened by the
prevalence Of yIess drlieren, from his Own
IN ono or both houses OF Congress. II is
no, alone bssiy and InconsIderale legislation
that he is required TO check but If at any
time Congress shall. after apparently full
resolve on measures which he
deems subversiye OF The constitution, or OF
The vial interests Of the country, Il Is hts
solemn dutg 10 stand 10 tho breach and re.
IS, them. The President Is bound TO up.
prove. or dsopptoye, every blll which pass.
- Congress aud ~ presented 10 him for his
iynaiute. The constitution makes tins his
luly, aud he cannot escape IT II he would.
He has no election. IN deciding upon any
bill presented to him, he must exercise his
1vn best Judgment IL he cannot approve,
he constitution commands him TO return
lie bllIlo tho House N which II oriainsled, I
with his objections; and II he fail TO do
Uis tNu I 'fSS SNJ
/ shall become d la " without his signature. !
Right or wrong, he may be ovcrruled by
vote Of twothlrds Of each House aud, /,
n tha, event, the bill becomes law with.
10, his sanction. II his objections be GOT
hus overruled. the subject is only post I
oncd, and IL referred TO the States and the
eopIe Tor their consideration nnd decision. C
The Presidents power IS negative merely, b
nd not affirmative. lie can enact no law. I
The onl, effect, therefore, OF his withhold
ng his approval Of bill passed by Con y
ress, is to suffer the existing law TO remain o
ncLanged, aud the delay occasIoned IS only b
hat required to enable the States and the Il
eople TO consider aud act upon the subject v
, tho election of public agents who will II
arry out their wishes and instructions. - Il
NV attempt TO coerce the President TO p
ield his sanction TO measures which he O
unnot approve, would be violation Of the d
,rit of the constitution, paipable and ia. h
rant ; and If successful, would break down q
10 ,udependence of the executive depart. a
.ep,, and make the President, elected by II
10 peope, and clothed by the constitution ie