Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-03-15
LYNCHBURG IIRGINIiN.
THURSDAY MORNING. MARcH15. 1855.
The Repuhlioan.s view Of the VOC Power

plausible aud ingenious. reply 10 the views
which We submitted. some DAYS ago. upon thu
true theory oi the veto power, and its abuse BY
the present Executive. Regarding this question
II. involving thu very essence of repubncanism
we are gratifed that the Republican has afforded
us ano,heropportanity of directing public atten-
ton t. It. This We shall do by "a running com
mentsry upon its article, showing wherein arc
misapprehenied and in what We consider the Re
publican wrong.
We pass over the appreciation expressed Of
President Percc's veto Of the spoliatian bill aud
come to the discussion of tho veto power itself
And that we may do no injustice in stating the
views OF The Republican. we repeat is own
words:
That position of the fgiHiaa, however,
which uosf r.e,tts our wonder, J. It's attempt
10 strike down the etc power and the manly
arm which mielda IT, al Il time when every
stitutiona means are required to shidd the south
from Tho successful inroads OF Northern aboli-
tionsm, and the Union from destruction. Dos
troy that great conservative feature Of the con
stituIion--the heto-or impair II, use. and you
destroy the equilibrium ot the federal govern
ment, and PROSTATE the South at The feet of the
North Already has the popular branch of Con
gress passed into the hands ot the abolltionlsts,
and the Senate Itself Is last passing from the con
troll of the South. In short tune that lilustrlous
and heretofore conservative branch ot the GOV
eminent, will be ruled by the Stewards, Wilson's
and Durkeee Of the North. and thcn we ehall
have full, lllu strat ted the rgiHfuH tlyoIlte Idea
of government based Oh The "iciH o. The pt0-
pie" and It's powers welded by the peopi,'s rep
resfntotires. unchecked by the odloaS "oRe man
poWcg' of the Veto!
With due Difference to the opinions Of the Re
publican, and with entire confidence its hdcIi
~ to the South we maintain that it does Tint
section the greatest injustice. when It contdes
the defence Of its rights 10 one man-were he
forty times a President The South does not
rely upon The refo Tor the protection Of her rights,
and the Republican makrs IA concession, which
should hasten 10 correct, IN admitting. II
that be anr shield" the North hs, nothing to
Do but elect President sho would not employ
at and then indeed would We be eprosirute' at
its feet Does not ar neghbor perceive that
the public sentiment which could send men 10
Congress, To- lcgislate away the rights OF the
South, conld also place Il man IN the residential
chair. Who would interpose uo obstacle To such
iegislation1 suppose for example, the next
Gongress obeyng the demands of the North.
should repeal the Fugitive slave Iaw-and admit
that President Pierce should veto the bill how
long would the North permit such an a. 10 defeat
its win Only, we assert, tlll the n,At election
of President, when It would take care Ia place
in office VIM would a--i-t and sanction IL
purpose. By granting that he reto is our roli
ance against Northern aggression, and that If
that fail us we are at the mercy 81 tho North
the Republican inctcs the North to uissueup
this very question invites it 10 q contest for the
,I,n
and oonqueriug IN that contest, as the North
would, we would stand Powerioo- aud deieneelc,-,
our " shield being lost. let the North
for instance, take ssuo upon the abolition Of
slavery ia the District ui Columbia. what would
be its policy J Why, simply, in addition to elect
ing members of Congress pledged 10 pass such
bill, to elect President pledged not to veto it
and, If the Republicans idea OF the position OF
the South be correct, would be impoteut 10
prevent or remedy such action But we need
not elaborate this view. We satisfied that
the Republican, reflection. will agreo with us
that the true shield of the South is the courage
of her sons and their knowledge of the rights 10
which they entitled under the Constitution.
When those rights are invaded, the North shotld
be taught to know that appeal will be to "a
sterner and safer tribunal than the discretion Of
the Exeoutive-that we have bulwnrk ofdefcnce
mightier far than the feeble and temporary pro
lection of the veto.
But we pass from this 10 tlse next exception
taken by the Republican, l. our view We
again give its language
Here is the jtrgiaias q own Language. The
will of the people yNpro-ss according 10 law and
in conformity with tn. constitution is the supreme
authority of thu land, and We; the Veto OF this
(Spolatlou) bill would bo practical assertion of
contrary doctrine and would elevate the opinion
of ONE MAN above the deliberately and repeated
ly uttered Judgement Of the PEOPLES REpREsEN-
TATIvEs." So that the Dirginian declares the
will of the people and the "supreme authority
of this land" to lie in Senate and House of
Representatives and that the opinions the Pres
ident though vested by the constitution with
check upon the action OF these bodies are to
constitute no barriers to thor repeatedly uttered
judgements. Aside from the manifest conflict of
such doctrine with the plain letter and spirit
of the constitution and the whole theory and prac
fice of our government, 1t most startling po-
sition to be promulged at this time BY Southern
journal of the admitted influence of the pirgin
ian
Inreply to this, we have only TO cite another
passage from the Republican, occurring further
on in its article It's this:
1.-The J jrginian predicates its objection to the
Veto, m this proposition, namely: "that 1.-THE
will oil the people expressed according to claw
and in conformity with the constitution, is the SUI
preme authority of this land" None will gainsay
this postulate. 1t expresses fully and admirably
the Democratic idea Of u free representative gor-
eminent.
Observe the words have itslicised, and