Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-01-24


in which it originated, who shall enter the
! objections at large on their Journal and pro-
ceed TO reconsider it. If after such recon
| sideration, two-thirds of the House shall
agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, to-
gether with his objections TO the other House
| by which it shall likewise be reconsidered;
and if approved by two-thirds of that House
it shall become lew. But in all such ca
ses, the votes of both Houses shall be de-
termined by Yeas and Nays; and the names
OF the persons voting for and against the bill
shall be entered on the Journal of each
House respectively.
The only substantial difference between
the two provisions is that the latter requires
two-thirds of, and the former majority
only Of all the members elected to, each
House, to pass the bill which cannot affect
the present inquiry.
In the Federal Convention which formed
the Constitution OF the United States, it was
moved ''that the Supreme National Judicial
ry should be associated with the Executive
in the revisiOnary power" Mr.. Madison
considered the object of the motion as of
great importance TO the meditated Constitu-
tion, and said:
sit would be useful to the Judiciary De-
partment by giving it an additional opportu-
nity of defending itself against Legislative
encroachments. 1t would be useful TO the
Executive by inspiring additional conf
dence and firmness in exerting the revision
airy power. 1t would be useful 10 the legis-
lature by the valuable assistance it would
give in preserving consistency, concise
ness, perspicaity, and technical propriety
in the laws, qualities peculiarly necessary,
and yet shamelalIy wanting in our repabli-
can codes. 1t would, moreover, be useful
to the community at large, as an additional
check against a pursuit of those unwise
, and unjust measures which constituted so
: great portion of cur calamtties. Ii any
solid objections could be urged against the
7 motion, it must be on the suppoeition that il
tended to give too much strength either Il
the Executive, or Judiciary. He did not
, think there was the least ground for this ap-
prehension. 1t was much more to be APP
= pretended that, Notwithstanding this coop
Grafton of the two departments, the Legis-
: lature would still be an overmatch for them
S Experience in all the States had evinced a
D powerful tendency in the Legislature 10 alb.
, sorb all power into its vortex. This was
7 the real source of danger to the American
E Constitutions II Madison's Papers, ll6l
S 1853.
e And lie suggested the necessity Of giving
( every defensive authority to the other de.
S partments that was consistent with republi-
can principles. The italics in he above
= extract are mine. Thus it is shown that
e this great man did not think the Executive
veto alone sufficient, but was in favor Of as
E socating the National Judiciary with it, ''a.
an additional check" against unwise and un.
e just measures. Even then he thought the
= Legislature would be an overmatch for then
D and the real danger 10 the American Con.
/ stitution was the tendency in the Legisla
f ture to absorb all power into its vortex; ;
prediction abundantly verified in the recen
history Of the National and State Govern
: ments, shown by the increasing frequenc!
n of Executive vetoes and he suggests I'll,
! necessity of every defensive authority con
e sistent with republican principles. Th
: prudent counsels of this great man ought a
k least, 10 admonish us 10 observe strictly III,
e defensive authority given. 1t is immeas
: urably weaker than that so earnestly advo
d ted by him in the Federal Convention.
d Mr.. Governeur Morris said
5 He concurred in thinking the public lib
G erty in greater danger from legislative uSur
pations than from any other source. Ii hat
y been said, that the Legislature ought 10 b.
Il relied on, as the proper guardian of liberty
n The answer was short and conclusive
Whether bad laws will be passed or not
On the former, strong check will be neces
, sary; and this is the proper suppositiOn.-
+, Emissions Of paper money, largesses TO th
! people, n remission OF debts, and simila
- measures, will at some time, be popular, an
II will be passed for that reason. At othe
u times such measures will coincide with til
n Legislatures themselves; and that will be
:, reason not less cogent for pushing them
= 1t may be thought that the people will nc
be deluded and misled in the latter case
;, But experience teaches another lesson
!, The press is, indeed, great means OF di
:, minishing the evil, yet is found to be unabl
10 prevent ii altogether Madison paper.
= l165. ll66.
1t Thus, this great man concurred with "
h Madison in associating the National Judicia
i ry with the Executive veto; and thought
y strang check necessary; that the peopl
i would be deluded and misled, and that III
public press, with all its great means of di
J. minishing the evil, would not be able I
I, protect them. Another warning voice fror
the convention, whence came our Executiy
e veto. strengthened and made doubly soem