Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-10-19

~ oil the INTERIOR IN speech aellVereu IN
this House, in July, l84e. said, in regard TO
the increase of Executive power over legis.
lalion.
"lfil be tolerated, you had as we'll sur
render the whole legislative power in the
hands of the President He will possess it
substantially through the agency Of his
power 10 recommend and his power 10 forbid
WHY should We retain the shadow when the
substance is gonel Give him the power 10
recommend what laws you shall pass, and
the unqualified power 10 forbid your passing
any tha, do no, conform 10 his recommend
atoms, and what more is necessary to invest
him with absolute legislative authorty?" .
"lf we stand here merely 10 reg
lister Executive edicls, where is The necessi.
" of going through the forms of consultation
and delibera,ion? Why no. suffer the laws
TO be promulged at once from the Executive
mansion, without the intervention Of a cum
brous legislative assembly, Or, why shall
we not, when we assemble herein obedience
10 the letter of the Constitution, at once
make an address TO his Mujos.y the Presi.
dent, and beg that he will condescend, al
his earliest convenience, TO inform US what
laws are, in his opinion, necessary and
proper TO promote the interests and happi-
ness Of the people, and in what form they
will be most likely to receive his MaJes'y's
gracious approbaIion?"
Hon. THOMAS L. CLINGMAN, in speech
delivered in this House, March 7, lS4l said:
"Under their the Democ ratio party]
system the Executive power is advancing
with rapid strides, the public morals are
daily becoming more and more corrupt, and
unless it be arrested our liberties will be
IoSto
"To resist the downward tendency Of
things, tho grea. Whig party arc united 10
man now, as they ever have been, against
the extension Of Executive power. AS a
means of effec,ing its reduction 10 proper
limits, they are for single Presidential
term; for the modification Of the veto power;
for The separation Of the purse and the
sword; for the reduction Of patronage; for
the non.interferen ce of Government officers
in elections, and for the rigid supervision Of
all Executive officers by Congress"
AT The Wing ratification meeting at BALI.
more held the day following The National
Convention which nominated Mr.. Clay, the
following resolution was offered by Hon.
THOMAS Y. WALSH, and adopted by accla-
nation:
"Resolped, That the practical restriction
of the veto power, which has grown, by re.
pea.ed encroachments, into mighty engine
of Executive despolism, the Limitation of a
President TO a single term. the rerenchmen,
Of our national expenditures by every prac.
licable means, the reform Of the now glaring
abuses and corruptons, and abuses growing
out Of an unworthy bestowal Of Executive
patronage, and the general reductions and
burdens and increase OF benefits resulting TO
the people from the existence and operations
Of the Federal Government, arc OBJ ecls for
which the Wing party will increasingly
srrive' until their efforts are crowned with a
signal and triumphant success"
Mr. Chairman, think have quoted
enough Southern authority 10 justify every
political sentiment, whether on the subject
of slavery or any other question Of public
interest, which Gen. Scott has ever uttered.
J do nc. pretend ha, his opinions accord
with my own in all respects, nor, sir, that |
exac, that. He makes no Procruslean bed
for me; desire 10 make none for him. |,
is enough for me TO know that upon the
great principles upon which our republican
system is founded-viz: that the representa-.
,ives Of the people snail make law, that The
judiciary shall expound ii, that The Execu.
rive shall enforce it, and that each depart
men. shall &C, independently Of and unnfu.
enced by the o,her-hs opinions accord
with my own, and are those which have
uniformly been promuged as the grea
.enets of the Wing faith. His principle:
have been frankly, ,avowed-,hey are Wing
principles-and he has not only advocated
them by pen and by speech, but a. all times
and under all circumstances he has cordial
ly aided in the election of Wing men ,c
carry them into practical effect. And, sil
though look upon his brilliant military
career, and his forty years Of scrVice TO the
nation on its baule.feds, as entiIlirg him iC
The gratitude Of his counlrymen in its lulles
extent, 1t is unwaverng devotion 10 the grea
principles Of repubiCanism, and his able anC
efficient advocacy Of human rights and pop
ular government, that commend him mos
my humble support.
Mr. Chairman, we may talk of legislative
aid TO American indus,ry-to internal i'm
provements-Io your railroads, your river,
and harbors--we may dispute about the
expedicncy OF a distribution of the public
lands, or the propreiy Of banks; we may
agitate upon The question as TO the details O.
Fugitive Slave Law; but, sir, these are al
mere measures, which even the mighty
people, in all their sovereignty, cannot con
wol until they shall first establish the grea
Wing principle that Executive power sha
no, absorb the Legislative powers of the
Government. Sir, upon each and all o
these measures, all that ask is free legisla.
,on, uncontrolled by Executive veloes-un,
influenced by the President, either through
fear, favor, or affection.
Mr.. Chairman, it is the contest upon this
ancient Wing principle now which creates
The great division line between the political
parties of this counlry-such contest as in
other days has dethroned monarchs and
made rivers run red with blood. The ieal.
ousy of the Wing party of Executive power
isjustifed by all human experience 1t is
founded upon the great republican principle
that man is capable of Sell.government, and
that the will of the people, consdtulionally
expressed should be the law of the land. i
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