The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-03-23
The Ycfo Power.

IL become
presented TO the President OF the United Sat-
II he approve, he shall sign ii but il not, he shan
return il, with his objections, TO that house \"
which il shall have originated. :" The Constitu;ons
moreover, provides that "belore the Preside,
enter the execution Of his Office, he shall ,sl'
the following oath or affirmation / do solemnls
swear for afirm) that will faithfully execute Il.
Office OF President of the United States, and ~I
20 the best of my ability, preserve, protect. ,,S
defeEd The Constitution Of the United States" II
words, therefore, have a meaning, The Execu,iy.
of the United States perfumes himself unless \.
'return With his objections" every bill which h
cannot "spprove." He also violates the solemn
obligation imposed upon him by the wise fore ,ipb,
OF the trainers OF the Constitution, and which he
has voluntarily accepted, il he does not arre.,
the passage oil law until It cen be more mu,urelv
considered, whenever, according to his best iude.
ment. The legislative power bestowed upon Congress
has been used by it to the detrment OF the country
The first section Of the first article OF the Con.
stltution enacs that call legislative powers shall
be vested in Congress Of the United States, which
shall consist Of Senate and House Of Represep,
tatives." The President, therefore. can make M
law. Neither can he prevent a measure from be-
coming law; for il, aller he has returned bin
with his objections, two.s birds Of both Houses Of
Congress shall agree 70 pass 1t. il thereby becomes
a law. Notwithstanding his disnpproval. The IN,
huence OF The President is purely negative. He
can Temporarily check, but he cannot originate
bill. He is untrue, however. TO his duty If he Do
NOT faithfully consider each measure which shall
have been passed by the National Legislature:
decide, according to has best judgment, whether
it meets his approval not; and ia conformity
with such decision either raise IL TO The dignity
of law, by signing The same, or make known
his objections TO its enactment The question in
his mind NAV not even be whether act Of Con.
gress is Constitutional or unconstitutional {; but
simply end solely, as the Constitution establishes,
whether after conscientious consideration he zap.
proves" dsapprovcs. In the latter case
option is lea hIm-he "shall return the same with
his objections to that House in which il shall have
originated"
The enemies OF The veto power pretend that Il
is narchcal feature oil our Government. Mr.
Hunt characterized the veto Of the Collins steamer
bill! as the "vpry height Of tyranny and usurpa.
ton, and accused he President of 'sdictating laws
to the people," in a manner which, elf tolerated
for an instant. would prove the overthrow Of the
liberties of the country" II is sufficient, answer
TO these accusations, that nothing be "usUrpa.
lion" which is clearly authorised by the ConSti.
tuition !; that no "tyranny" is possible which can
be overthrown by a two.third wife OF the Repre-.
sentatives OF the people and that opposing an
obstacle to law is not ''dictaiinga law" But it
is untrue that trace OF mnnarchicni feature is 10
be found in the qualified obligation to arrest party
Legislation, which is imposed upon the Presden',
and it is absurd To represent the veto prerOgatlys
as an enviabIe privilege. To oppose the enact.
meni o! Iawi is, on the contrary, the most disn.
greeable duty the President ever has to fulfil, and
brings with it, in the very nature Of things, an
amount OF odinm which it requires great moral
n hiu. In thai
mediate humiliation Of having the bill be has
vetoed passed over his head; the offence gwen
to the advocates Of the law is the sure ioTerunner
nf unpopulari'y and abuse, both in the national
legislature and among ihe people and, however
righteous may he the course which hp has adop
ted, his implied insure Of the majority OF The
Senate and House Of Representatives makes hun
the necessary o iect of hostile excitement in those
bodies
The President is the elect Of thu nation, and
looks to the whole nation for appreciation aed
support. This cannot be Immediately rendered
Whereas Congress, which represents a multitude
of constituencies, can call forth hundreds OF re-
monstrances and QUERIES from interested par,ies
by which The dplusion may for while be created
that a national measure has been sacrificed The
veto OF constitutional monsrchs is absolute; 50
that the odium incurred by sovereign may some
times be outweighed by personal advantage but
he President cannot possibly obtain. by the cxer
else OF his prerogaiive. any personal advantage
although. when The first ierment has subsidized, no
may be Landed for the performance Of his duty.
Yet the Constitution allows him no choce-no
discretion. II he s.do not approve" bill, he Is
bound TO return il 10 Congress with his objections;
and he be deferred from so doing ny fear OF the
two third vote, or popular ontcry. or dslsV"
with party. he is not only chargPahle win Feason
to his country, but stains his soul with the quit OF
perjury.
President Pierce has vetoed four bills during
the two sessions Of the Thirty Third Congress
These were The INDECENT insane bull, the river
and harbor appropriation bill, the French spnIn'
ton bill, and the ocean mail steamer bill. Whar
ever NAV he individual opinions with Tgnro
the merits Of these bills respectively. ne deserve
praise, even from his opponents, Tor the PerO'
nance OF his constitutional duty, and Tor Inc aO'
manner in which his reasons for not approving
have been, ins each instance, given. In no CO"
have the COLLECTIONS" been trivial, and we 90 nO
remember that an attempt was made to reiule Ihr@
10 Congress. II 10 not to be expected that wv
reasoning which has convinced the mind oil %
President, will. in every case. be equally GIG"
and conclusive TO all Others. This has nOIhlng"
do with the mates at issue, and It is aside IRON
our present purpose TO discuss the merits oil elDa
of the recently vetoed bills but maintain lh's
at time when many hands are stretched O'%
to relieve the public purse OF its contents sn
when wholesale plumber is aided by whorsaH
corruption, the wisdom OF the trainers oil the COp
stitution in establishing the veto power is NOV
manifest, and The duty of The Chief Magistrate"