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

may induce Congress TO pass any bill, the
President can have nothing 10 do. He
must presume them TO DO as pure as his
own, and look only to the practical efiec, OF
! heir measures when compared with lhr
constitution or The public good.
/ Bu, II has been urged by those Who object
TO The exercise Of this uujoubled consiltu
tional power, that 1t asssis tho representa-.
tive principle and the capacity Of the people
10 govern themselves; that there is greater
safety IN numetons representative BODY
than IN the single Executive created by the
CONSTITUTION, aud that the executive veto is
!" one man power, despoiIc IN lis charac.
ter. Toeapnse the ialiacy Of this ol &C.
iion, 1t IS ouly necessary 10 consider the
frame and true character Of our system
Ours Is not consolidated empire, but q
coniedesated Unlon. The States, before
tho adoption, were coordinate, co.equal,
aud separate independent sovcfeien,ies, and
by It's adoption they did no, lose that char.
acter. They clothed the federal govern
menl With certain powers, and reserved all
others, including their own sovereignty 10
themselves. They guarded their own
rights as States and the tights Of the people
by the very limitations which they IN
corporated INTO the federal constitution,
whereby the diffefeut departments Of the
general government we're checks upon each
other. That the majority should govern
isa general principle, controvcrted by none
but they most govern according to The con
s.liulion, and not according 10 an underlined
and unfes.ratned discretion, whereby lhey
may Cypress the minority.
The people II the United States are moi
bind 10 the fact tho, they may be tempora
ray misied. ind that their representative
legislative and executive, may he mistaken
of influenced 10 their acton by impropel
motives. They have therefore iulerposet
between themselves aud the. laws ahict
'nsy be passed by their public agents, vari
Gus representations, such as assemble.
sen.es, nni governors IN their seyera
States; House oil Repfe:en' aiiyes Sen
Rte, aud a President of the United States
the pcoplc eau oy theif omu direct sgency
n-L- NJ Jaw nor can the House oil Rep
resen.aiiyes immediately elected by them
nor can the Senaic nor can bath together
"itbOui tie concui renee OF the Pfeslden,
or vote OF iso-'hirds OF both houses.
Happily Tor themselves, the people, il
flaming cur admirable system OF govetn
meni, we're conscious OF the infirmities o.
their representatives.; and, IN dslssaiiny to
them the posef oil legislation, they have
!euced them around with checks, 10 guard
se''"'' 81" e"--'. n hasiy action, Of error,
OF combination. aud Of possible c6Irupioa.
Error, scishness, and faction have often
sought TO rend assun,icr his web Of checks.
aud suffice, the Govern uen, TO the control
oil iauatic aud tlGlsIef u licences; but these
efforts have only satisfied the people Of the
wisdom OF the checks Which ,hey have i'm
posed, aud of tho tecessIty Of preserving
them unlnpalfed.
the true theory Of our system is not to
govern BY the acts or DEGREES of any one
set of representatives. The constitution
lnefposes checks upon oil branches Of the
Government, IN order 10 give time for er
tor to be corrected, aud deiusion 10 pass a.
way but Il the people settle ooan into a
firm Conviction different from that Of their
representatives., they give effect Ia their
OPINIONS by changing their public servants.
The checks which The people imposed Gu
their public servants IN the adoption Of the
constitution axe the best evidence OF their
capacity for self,goyerDmsnt. They know
that he men whom they elect to public sta.
tons are OF like lnfrmIiles and passions
with themselves, and not TO be trusted with
out being restricted by coordinate authori I
ties aud constitutional Limitations. Who (
that has aInessed the Legislation Of Con. +
gress for the last thuty years will say that .
be knows Of no instance IN which measures
no, demanded by the public good have been
carried Who will deny that 10 the State
by combinations OF lndIyldu.
ais and sections, in deiosaiion OF the gen
sral interest, banks have been chartered
systems Of internal improvement, adopted,
nod debs en,aled upon the people, reprcss
ng their growth, and impIlrng their en-.
,rgles Tor years 10 come II
A,er so much experience II cannot be
aid that absolute unchecked power Is safe
n the hands of any one set OF representa-.
ives. or tina, the capacity OF the people for !
elf government, which IS admitted in It's q
toadesl extent, is a conclusive argument I
D prove The prudence, wisdom, and in,eg. {
ity Of their representatives. $
The peop'e, by the constitution, have n
omnnnded the President, as much as they 4
ave commanded the legislative braach OF c
be Government, 10 execute their will
hey have SAID 10 him ~ the constitution, q
Inch they require he shall take solemn d
aih TO support, that If Congress pass any Il
III which he caano, approve, " be shall re. 6
lrn II 10 The House IN which II originated, Il
lh his objections" la Withholding from r,
his approval and signature he is executing h
10 will of the people conslltu,ionally ex. X
fessed, as much as the Congress that pass. b
] il. No bill is presumed to be IN accor. 81
,nce with the popular will until it shall a
nve passed through all the branches Of the a
government required by the constitution TO p|
AXE It a law, A bill which passes the 81
ouse OF Representatives may be rejsc. b.
d by the Senate; and 30 bill passed by b,