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

to Congress, be avows, in the mos, solemn
form, his opinions, gives his voice in their
favor, and pledges himself in advance To
approve them if passed by Congress. !
he acts without due consideration, or ha.
been itaIenced by improper or corrupt
noiives-or il from any other cause Con.
eress, OF either house Of Congress, shall
differ with him in opinion, they exercise
their reto upon his recommendations, and
reject them; and there is. no appeal from
their decision, bu, to the people al the bal.
10, box. These ore proper checks upon
the Executive, wisely iDterposed by the
constitution. None y ii be found TO oblec.
10 them, or 10 wish them removed. |, 10
equally important that the constitutional
checks Of the Executive upon the eglsIa
tive branch should he preserved.
II II DO said that the representatives. in
the popular branch Of Congress are chosen
directly by the people, it is answered, the
people elect the President. II both houses
represen, tho States and the people, SO does
tho President. The Presiden. represents
IN the executive department. The whole PEG
PIE Of the United States. as each member
Of the legislative department, represents
portions of them.
The doctrine Of restriction upon legisa
|, tive and executive power. while a well set.
! tied public opinion is enabled within rea.
sonable time TO accomplish its ends, has
made our country what il is, and has opened
10 US career Of glory end happiness 10
which all other nations have been siran.
: gors.
In the exercise Of the power Of the veto
;he Pfesiden, is responsible not only to an
enlightened public opinion, bu! to the people
OF the whole Union, who elected him, as
the representatives in the legislative branch
; &c, who differ with him 10 opinion, are res
pons,ble 10 the people Of particular States
j or districts, who compose their respective
. constituencies. To deny TO the Prsidcn
the exercise Of this power, woad bs to re
peal ihat'hrosislon o. the constitution Which
confefs il upon HIN. To charge tina, il,
exercise unduly controls the legislative
Will, is to complain Of the constitution it.
self.
: II tho presidential veto be objected lc
upon the ground tho, it checks aud ,hwsti,
the pubic will. upon the same principle The
equality Of representation Of the States ii
the Senate should DO stricken out of the
constitution. The vote Of o sens,or from
Delsvsre has equal weight in deciding
upon the most imporIant measures with the
vote of a senator from New York and vet
The ono represents State containing, &C.
cofding TO the existing appeHionmenl Of
CONSERVATIVES in The House Of Represen
tattves, but one Jitn pau uf ,La nonu.
lslIon Of the other. BIZ the constltu,
'Ionsl composition OF the Senate, a ms je..
~ Of that body from the smaller States ren.
resen, less than one.iourlh of the people Of
the Union There are 30 States; and 4,
under the existing apportionmen, of repre-
sentstIves, there are $40 ncmbers in the
House Of Representatives,. Sixteen of the
smaller States are Incorporated ~ tina. House
by but 90 members md yet the senators
from these States constitute a majority OF
the Senate. So that the Precedent may
recommend measure to Congress, and II
may receive The sanction ans approval OF
more than thtce.louflhs OF The House OF
Representatives, and Of oil the senators
RON the large States, containing more than
three. tou'ths OF the whole population Of
the United States and yet the measure
may be defeated by the votes Of the sena.
tors from the smaller States. None, it is I
presumed, can BIO found ready 10 change the
organiz ,lIon OF the Senate on this account,
or TO he that body practically out of OK
,s'encc, by requiring that its action shall
be coniormed to the will Of the more nu.
merous branch.
Upon the same principle that the veto oil
the President should he practically abolish.
ed the power of tho Wee President TO give
the casting vote upon an equal division OF
the Senate should be abolished also. The
Wee President exercises the veto power as I
eifcctualy by rej@ctinga bill by his casting I
vote. MS the President does by refusing to |
approve aud sign il. This power Inns been Y
exercised by the Vice President IN a few I
instances, the most important Of which was C
he rejection OF tho bill TO recharter the p
bank OF the United Safes 10 ISL. II NAV C
happen tina, bill may be passed by q large
majority Of The House OF Representatives, Il
md may be supported by the senator's from il
he larger States, and the Vice President "
nay rejec, II by giving his vote with the 81
cnilors from the smaller States; and yet n
zone, il is presumed, are prepared to deny ST
O him the exercise Of this power under the II
constitution. al
Blu, 1t is, in point of fact, untrue that an to
CT passed by Congress is conclusive ovi. ST
ence that il is an emanailon Of the popu.
n will. A majority Of the whole number is
lecled to each house of Congress- cons,l. hi
ties quorum, and a majority Of that quo. tn
UNI is competent TO pass laws. II nigh, OF
appen that a quorum OF tho House OF tn
.epre sentatives, consisting oil single mem vc
or more than half Of the whole number 70
Iectcd to that House, might pass bill by hi
majority Of single vote, and in that case tn
fraction more than one.fourIh OF the PEG. or
10 Of the United States would be repre-. tn
,n,ed by those who voted for it. Ii might
sppen tina. the same bill night be passed We
y a majority of one, Of aquorum Of the mi