The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-18

sovereignty OF the Ststes But although re-
pulsed in your first assault, you drew of your
forces to plan more desperate attack. brutal
indignity was offered to the chief magistrate OF
the republic, by a mob Of your followers. lie
was burnt in efhgy before the executive mansion,
and the lurid glare of the flames which corrus-
Gated around your domicil, again announced to
you the agreeable intelligence that the mob ioas
10Th you, and encouraged you to a renewed Of
fort to accomplish your purpose. In this iawiess
attempt to overawe and to conquer a co ordinate
department of the government, and to make 1t
the slave of your will, you became the abettor
of moral treason, and had you lived IN the days
OF Stafford, in his fate yours might have found
parallel
In December, Is4I, you disclosed your plan
for the abolition of the veto power of the Presi-
dent, with the criminal purpose of making a
majority in Congress absolute, and the Execu-
tive the mere tool of its dictation and power, by
the introduction of the following joint resolu-
ton:
Resolped, dc, 1.-TWO thirds of both houses
concurring,) that when bill which shall have
passed the Senate and House of Representa-
tives Of the United States, shall be returned by
the President, with his objections to his appro-
baton and signature, if, upon its consideration,
it shall again pass each house, by mgority OF
all the members belonging to such house, not
withstand ng the Presidents objections, it shall
become a law, and the requisition by the exist
ing Constitution, of two thirds of each house
again to pass the bill in such case, is hereby an
nulled If any bill shall be presented to the
President within period less than ten days,
Sundays included) from the termination OF the
session of Congress during which it shall have
passed, aad shall not be returned by him ut that
session, it shall be his duty to return it within
the three first days of the succeeding session.
If he should not so return it, the bill shall be-
come law and If he return 1t with his objec-
tons to his appreciation and signature, within the
time herein required, the two houses of Con-
ner, as if it had been returned during the SEES
sion of which it had passed. And if, upon such
reconsideration, it shall again pass each bouse
By majority of all the members belonging to
such house, notwithstanding the Presidents OBJ
iections, it shall become law"
In this assault upon the Constitution, you dis
closed your traitorous aim, to annul CO ordinate
department of the government, and to build up
legislative supremacy, founded upon the will
of an interested majority, that you might con-
vert the Congress into supreme parliament,
without limitation of powers, and make it the
mere instrument of your ambitious designs. In
this resolution ia embodied the entire elements
of your political creed. 1t looked to the estab
lishment of one supreme and absolute central
legislature, with the power to override and annu
the reserved rights of the States, to dragoon the
State legislatures into the servile condition Of
yassals to the central power, and to reduce the
States to the condition Of provinces of central
empire. "You resorted to the latitudnarian
boldness of the demagogue, who confounds con-
science with expedience and sacrifices principle
to pride, egotism, and crime" The veto power
was given to the President to preserve the Con,
stitution from violation, to arrest the precise
kind of Legislation which you We're then seeking
to perpetrate upon the country, and to prevent
the rights of the States, and the just powers of
the State legislatures, from being absorbed and
subverted by the central legislature. You ex-
hbted your willingness to trample the Consti-
tuition under foot whenever its limitations and
restrictions stood in the way of your ambition,
or some pretended public good.
The history of the world is full of examples
which prove that a single individual has often
exerted & controlling influence, for good or i'll,
upon the fortunes Of mankind, The admission
Of Phillip into the Amphictyonic council, was
the fatal precursor Of the ruin and downfall OF
Greece, Napoleon Bonaparte was the scourge
America; and to you, sir, the future historian
will accc I'd the Infamous credit Of having paved
the way for your country's fall.
Possessed of superior intellectual endow
ments, specious and hypochtical, but powerful
eloquence you have at every stage Of your pub
! lie career, had sufficient skill 70 identify your
self with every leading subject Of popular agta
ton. By the pernioious influence thus acquired
YOU have misled and deceived public opinion
depraved the public morals, and by your skill II
the arts Of hypocrisy and deceit, made your par
tizans believe that the support Of yourself anc
your measures was the only true test o fpolitica
principle and republican government. You hav,
basely surrendered yourself TO sycophants anC
Aatterers, who, deriving their impulses and poll
teal opinions from you, have pandered TO you
criminal ambition, and deluded the country e
its destruction. II is by these ignoble mean
that you have been armed for mischief, and, mp
pealing 10 the Divinity for the purity Of you
motives, you have subverted the government
which Washington vonhy he yalor and fostere'
by his wisdom.
/ Your resolution for the repeal Of the vet'
power Of the President did not pass. Agar
Citsline was conf onted by Cicero IN tho .empl
Of Jupiter. The genius Of Calhoun detected
exposed and de ounced your conspiracy agains
the pubic Weai, ano your resOiuuOn tOf ule over
throw Of the government was trampled in th
dust, under the heal the great Carolinian. Blu
although the forms Of the Constitution remain
the blow you struck sapped their foundation
and sowed the seeds Of decay and death. Tn
veto power exists, but only upon the silent pay
Of an obsolete Law. its vitslity Is gone forevei
From the time you made your traitorous assault
upon IL, 10 open the way for the march u you
legions, il was virtually repealed, and the rs
sumption Of this repeal has been incorporate
into the creed Of your followers Zach guilt
aspirant for the Presidency, must from hence
forth, 30 q prerequisite 10 bis election, repudist
this last constitutional guard, against the dicta
ton and suprema Of Parliament; snd In thi
way, sir, you have annulIed the Constitution 0
your county.
You are now approa hing your end. TIL
last sands Of an il-spent life are dropping ava
before your fading vision. But when the dark
ness Of death shall begin ~ steal upon your fa
4 ing senses, you will have The malignant satisfaC
ton 10 reflect, that sithough you have fAis-d Z
reach ne highest object Of your guilty ambition
the Constitution OF your country will be err
Il for,bad In fha same a. nulchra with Won and fha