Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-03-22
For the Times.
PRESIDENT TAYLOR AND THE
VETO POWER.

VETO POWER. ~.
But /, isfor the wisdom OF Congress itself
in which all legislative po,oers are uested By
the Constitution. to regulate these and other
matters Of domestic policy. Dresden, Tsy
lor's inaugural address.)
The importance Of the above promised
restoration Of legis' alive power TO Congress.
may be inferred from the startling extent to
which their exclusive powers have been
usurped by the executive department. The
conformity of existing laws regulating COM
merce and the currency, TO executive d'cta
lion, clearly show tina. the will Of the only
source Of all power in republic, has been
totally dsregsrded. The people have in the
late contest, shown themselves stronger than
their usurping executive, and have rega'ned
,ha, for which their fathers bled--the right TO
govern themselves through THAR representa-.
lives. Father Ritchie," our sage mentor,
has said, '',he people may err bu. they will
right themselves" We may now call upon
him to rejoice. that when their representa-
+ ,ives proceed TO right the wrongs and re-
dress the grievances which now burden the
country, no executive obstruction will be op>
posed TO the will OF the people so faithfully
expressed. They will be allowed to right
themselves.
Blu, it is vehemen,ly denied by the parti
FANS OF the last administration, that the Con.
: s,i,u,ion forbids the President to veto bill
on the ground OF e1pediency. The Cons.i-
tuition provides tina, il he approves it, then
he shall sign it. il not he shall return it with
: objections. &c. A power to dsspprove is
: hereon founded, which comes in direct COL
lisiop with The exclusive grant OF legislative
powers to Congress, and destroys its force.
, To sustain this pIerogative, attention is d.
rec,ed exclusively TO the section giving the
executive the veto. while the same par!izans
aver, tina, his power to approve must be con
strued in conformity to his oath Of fidelity &c
: tho Constitution. Thus they make lheil
rule 10 stop for their own benefit.
Analogy is also opposed 10 the usurpa!or
in question. The President is associated
with the Senate in the treaty making power
but with great and evident care to avoid com
hitting to him even by implication, the de
fence Of the public good. The advice ane
8 consent Of the Senate being his only guido
$ and sole authority he becomes their mere
agent. If his power is so small in TIT
: treaty >making power, Of which he is q com
ponent part, il must be in legislation, from
which the Constitution excludes him. More
over, tho Iuls OF Interpretation which recog
nizes no restrictions, but those mentioned il
the section granting power would bring ,h'
different departments OF government in col
lision, and by destroying harmonious action
defeat the objects for which the Constitution
was adopted. Congress on such pretence
may at any time declare war against any ma
, ton 10 whcRthe Senate has solemnly pledg
, ed the faith Of the nation by treaty Of peace
. for the section giving the war-making pow
er, mentions no limit 10 its exercise.
/ The Constitution by empowering the Sen
ate 10 pledge the faith OF The nation, by d
rect implication. requires Congress TO pas
the laws necessary to make the treaty ops
rative. But as the section defining the pow
er Of Congress. is as silent about this obliga
ton. as that giving the veto is abou, the e1'
clusivenes, OF Congressional rights, the by
po.hssis Of our opponents favors the conclu.
sion. ,ha, Congress may Of right obstrucl
The Constitutional exercise OF tho treaty. ma
king power. II the House Of Representa-
lives can lawfully refuse to consummats 9
treaty on any other ground than fidelity to
the Constitution, tho power to give shape
and authenticity 10 treaties, is not exclusively
vested in the Senate. That body would then
become the mere agents Of the lower House,
or refuse utterly to exercise this power, il
they would avoid endless embarassments
and distinctions. Hence it is evident that
unless the checks and balances OF the Con.
stilution be observed, the general govern.
ment becomes means OF concentrating all
power in one department. and finally in one
man.
President Taylor is resolved to use all
lawful means 10 arrest the progress OF this
evil. He is far from adopting the maxim Of
President Jackson. that "each public officer
who takes an oath to support tho Consttu
ton, swears TO support it as he understands
IT," On the contrary he says: "For the in.
depreciation OF that instrument, shall look
to The Judicial tribunals established by its
authority and to the practice OF the govern
ment under the eorlier Presidents who had