The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-12-27
Among the duties assigned by the Con-

Among the duties assigned by the Con-
stitution 10 the General Government, is
one oflocal and limited application, but
not on that account the less obligatory.
allude 10 the trust committed to Congress
as the exclusive legislator ana sole guar
dian of the interests of the District of Co.
lumbia. beg 10 commend these interests
TO your kind attention. As the National
Metropolis, the City of Washington must
be an object OF general interest; and foun-
ded as il was under the auspices of him
whose immortal name it bears, its claims
TO the fostering care of Congress present
themselves with additional strength.
Whatever can contribute to its prosperity
must enlist the feelings of its constitution
al guardians and commend their favorable
consideration.
Our Government is one of limited pow
ers, and its successful administration en-
tirely depends on the confinement of each
OF its coordinate branches within its own
appropriate sphere. The first section of
the Constitution ordains that sail legisla-
tive powers herein granted shall be vested
In Congress of the United States and
House of Representatives" The Exc
cutive has authority TO "recommend, not
dictate" measures to Congress. Having
performed that duty, the Executive De-
partment of the Government cannot right
fully control the decision of Congress on
any subject of legislation until that dec-
sion shall have been submitted to the
President for approval. The check pro-
vided by the Constitution in the clause
comforting the qualified veto, will never be
exercised by me except in the case con-
templated by the Fathers of the Republic.
| deem it as an extreme measure, 10 be re-
sorted TO only i'll extraordinary cases, or
where it NAV become necessary TO defend
the Executive against the encroachments
of the legislative power, or TO prevent
hasty and inconsiderate or unconstitutlon-
al legislation. By cautiously confning
this remedy within the sphere prescribed
TO it in the contemporaneous exposition of
the powers of the Constitution, the will of
the people legitimately expressed on all
subjects of legislation through their con
stitutional organs, the Senators and Rep
resentatives of the United States, will have
its full effect, be indispensable to the pres
ervation of our self government, the inde
pendence of the representatives of the
States and the people, is guaranteed by the
Constitution, and they owe no response
bility to any human power but their con-
stituents.
By holding the representative RESPONSE
BILE only to the people and exempting him
from all other influences, we elevate the
character of the constituent and quicken
his sense Of responsibility to the country.
1t is under these circumstances only that
the Elector can feel that in the choice of
the law maker he is himself truly COM
poncnt part of the sovereign power of the
nation. With equal care we should study
TO defend the rights of the Executive and
Judicial Departments. Our Government
can only be preserved in its purity by The
suppression and entire elimination of eve ry
claim or tendency of one coordinate
branch to encroach upon another. With
the strict observance of this rule and the
other injunctions of the Constitution, with
q sedulous inculcation of that respect and
love for the union of the States which our
fathers cherished and enjoined upon their
children, and with the aid of that over
ruling Providence which has so long and
so kindly guarded our Institutions, we
may reasonably expect to transmit them
with their innumerable blessings to the re-
motest posterity.
But attachment to the Union of the
States should be habitually fostered in
every American heart. For more than
half century, during which Kingdoms
and Empires have fallen, this Union has
stood unshaken. The patriots who form
ed it have long since descended to their
graves; yet still it remains the proudestI
monument to their memories, and the OBJ
ject of affection and admiration with men
worthy to bear the American name. InI
my judgment, its dissolution will be the
greatest of calamities, and to avert it,
should be the study of every American.
Upon its preservation must depend our
own happiness and that of countless gen
erations to come. Whatever dangers may
threaten it, shall stand by it, and main
tain it in its integrity to the full extent of
the obligations imposed and the power
conferred upon me by the Constitution.
Il. TAYLOR.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, lS49.