The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-06

nestle affection,
THE VETO PowER.--THE FORCE OF PRECEDENTs
Whenever democratic President in the conscientious
discharge of his obligations the people and the consu
on finds himself constrained to nterposc objections to
bills which he cannot approve clamor instantly raised
against what is denounced the "one-man power and
the of despotic authority This mode Of ma
king opposition to an administration effective by casting
odium upon the constitution had been often rebuked by
the Judgment Of the country that somewhat sur
prsed hear venerable senator indulgng with apparent
earnestness the threadbare strain upon the pre-
sentaton the Senate Of the late veto message After the
thorough discussion which this feature of the constitution
has undergone upon issue made up by the most
full champion that the whig party had and after the
triumphant vndicaton Of that muchabused and misrepr
scented clause it require degree Of moral
to enable statesman stand up in the Senate and insist
upon such an attack the wisdom, the patriotism,
and the repubicanism Of the trainers Of the constitution
which Mr. Foots remarks necessarily implied. II the
veto power be remnant Of despotc authority" then
the men who perled life and liberty exemp
ton from despotsm fastened upon the country the
very evil which they fought through years to escape
After full elaboration the popular Judgment has acquitted
the fathers Of the republic Of injurious mputation,
has determined that the power ntusted the
President by the people their representative to avoid
the cnptin oenciAs bas,v nnean-
sttutonal legislation. The people speak through their
representative in the executive chair when the Pre
dent assigns the Senate the House his for de
clining approve bill He is responsible for the
OF this high trust to the people SO far therefore from be-
ing remnant of despotism the clause land
is regarded by the people, power for their benefit
and The of md
ought have taught intelligent gentleman Mr.
Foot that the people never failed to sustain Presi
dent who has taken the high responsibility of showing his
devotion TO their rights and interests by vetong
unconstitutional But the public mind is at rest on the
veto clause of the constitution and have already
more time than was necessary in commenting upon Mr.
Foot's remarks in derogation thereof
Mr. Foot relied upon another position in his upon
the message which has the recommendation of being uni
formly advanced veto has been resoried to-we al
Jude to the reliance upon precedents furnishing
gument for the Executive approval Of the bill There is
something either in the construction Of the mind
habits Of training amongst statesmen which ipcnes
men to attach much weight prccedents In judicial
proceedings their force and authority are especially
missed and respected In legislation they deserve to be
specially and carefully considered upon constitutional
questions blind adherence to precedents neither safe
us6able. When the bill granting recharter the
United States Bank presented General Jackson
his approval he urged follow the precedens and
surrender his convictions The result Of bis debera-
tons stated by him in the following emphatic Ian
guage;
Msre precedent is dangerous source OF authority and
should not be regarded deciding questions OF
except when the acquesccnce of the people and the
States can be considered as well settled"
This sentiment was strongly fixed in his mind that
he deemed IL important to repeat IL in his Farewell Ad-
dress in the following impressive terms:
Every attempt power beyond these limits
(he granted power) should be promptly firmly OPP
posed for evil example will lead TO other
mschevou and the principle Of constructive pow
supposed advantage, temporary circumstances,
shall be permitted Justify the assumption OF power
not given by the constitution the general government WILL
before long, absorb all the powers Of legislation and yon wiz
have in effect but consolidated government"
When the bill lately returned by President Pierce was
presented him for his approval his attention drawn
to the fact that Congress had passed similar
which had been sanctioned by former Presidents The
ment the Of preccdcnts legitimate and Pres
dent Pierce treated IL but he had engaged in the
solemn manner with the people that he would administer
oe constitution according to his understanding OF its
provisions and not according the understanding of Con-
Rss or ohe PRESIDENTS II the precedcnts therefore, had
been found to be AS Mr. Foot stated them
be and yet II the conviction thereby removed from
the mind Of President Pierce that the bill was viontve
Of the constitution, he bound as an honest man TO
withhold his approval. We conceive Of no position
OF higher responsibility than that Of President called
to decide between the strong ncnaons of bis own bu-
name heart appealed to by the examples Of eminent and
patriotic statesmen and tho convictions his Judgment
to the true meaning Of the which he has
oath to support To resist the former and follow the