The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-08
The VETO.
Its Origin as a Check to the Encroa en-
mentS of Power.
Its Exercise In Ancient and Modern Time'
In the Interest of the People.
Extract from speech delivered in the
United States House of Representatives, Au-

ultO0 0sosoo AA~NsS ~
gust 2, 1S4S:- af.N54a
"Where did the veto power originate? Ii
was established to enable the people to re-
,ist and repeal encroachments on their rights.
The veto power had its origin in old Rome,
35O7 Ammo Mundi. and before Christ 491,
and from the building OF the city of Rome |
255, which would make since it's origin 2,345 |
wears. These dates will show that the peo- |
pie of Rome had been submitting to gradual
two hundred and hfty-hve
wears, until further submission was insuffer- |
able. At this period the levies and laws OF
the Roman senate were so onerous and op'
pressive that the people were compelled to
employ means to resist their further en-
oroachment. The people en- nsasse retired to
a mountain three miles distant from Rome,
called Monsaeer, and were then addressed by
Junius Luoius and Sicinius Bellsrus with
masculine eloquence, always the child of ma
ture, which induced the people to compel the
Roman senate to yield the power to them to
establish five tribunes from among them
selves, which, in process of time, were in
creased to ten, who should be clothed with
the veto power. These tribunes were placed
at the senate door, and all laws passed by
the Roman senate were presented to them
for approval or rejection. 1t they approved
a law it was signed with the letter It : but
II not Approved tu0 WOEO yotO, "uiCu
fies forbid This 10 the origin OF the veto
power /; and so long as it was exercised by
tribunes or officers Immediately responsible
80 the people for their election or appoint
ments, the ends that the people designed were
successfully accomplished that is, resist
snce to entertainments on their rights And
SO long as this power was preserved In it's Or
1ginal purity and simplicity it was exercised
to the advancement of the peoples rights and
interests, 1 will now pass to g
point of time when this power returns to it's
original -source-ths people. The patriots
and sages of the revolution, who were per-
tectly familiar with the veto power as it ex-
listed in the colonies and mother country, eff
fecting our separation from Great Britain,
were called upon to form . constitution, and
in that constitution we End the veto power
established, and to be exercised by the pso-
pie. This constitution was submitted to the
states and after mature and deliberate con-
sideration by them it was adopted.
Son the 4th of March 1889, George Wash
ington, the father of his country, delegate to
and president of the convention that framed
the constitution, was inaugurated president OF
the United States, and, for the first time IN
der the constitution, the veto power was ex-
ercised, or according to our opponents of this
day, the sone man or 'despotic power. and
that too, upon the ground of convenience and
economy, and the second time upon constitu
tional grounds And in this connection, al
though Mr. Jefferson never exercised the pow
or while president, We can adduce proof
which shows that he approved of the Ineor-
poration of the power into our constitution, and
of its exercise afterwards. In his letter to Mr..
Madison, written when he was in Paris, dated
December 20, 1887, he takes decided ground
in favor of the veto. In his opinion, as writ
IL. DTu at.-t
Washington's administration, he urged it's
exercise upon the ground that its omission
might be construed into q non-user or an Of
foial negligence. We find, then, that those
two men whose patriotism and purity of pur-
pose no moral man can doubt. were in favor
of the veto power as established in the consti-
tuition. James Madison the third repu bliosn
president, and as he is called by some, ''the
great apostle of liberty" who was a mem Der
Of the convention that framed the chart Of
American liberty, and afterwards president
of the United States, and that. too, while al
was fresh and green on his memory of the
expressions and outrages that had been com
united by the British government, under
every pretence whatever, exercised this pow
er six times during his eight years admins
tration. Next we come 10 Mr.. Monroe snG
during his administration it will be remem
bered that it was called the EZRA of good will
and consolation of all parties who, it MAY
be said, came into power almost without op
position, and under whose administration par
ties were almost emerged. A man that o.
one will charge with Expressing the first ele
msnt of the tyrant or the despot, and of whom
it might be said, that he was war hating
and peace loving man; he ventured to exer
else this power once. We then pass over Nh
J. @ Adams's administration to that of An
drew jackson and, notwithstanding he ha
been denounced as arbitrary and tyranical-
that his will was iron and his nerves steel
even he, in the use of this power, always ez
ercised it in defence OF the peoples interest
andsin NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. on their rights
By this man it was exercised nine times an
the people SAID, Well done, thou good an
and faithful servant
We will pass by the administration of MI
Van Buren, to that of John Tyler, called b.
some, but not by me, in derlsion, the acc
dency president who exercised this powe
four times: and under his administration
the only instance in whioh law was pssse
over veto, by two-thirds of the hou,
es of congress, since the origin of tb
government, and that an unimportant law
Next comes Mr.. Folks administration, an
since he came into power it has been exsrci
ed three times. Thus it will be seen, ths
from the origin of the government to tn
present time this power has been exercise
twenty five times. The whole number
laws passed from the organisation of the GO
ernment and approved, is about seven thou
and: which would make one veto to ever
two hundred and eighty acts, Q very sma
proportion and think y may appeal wit
confidence to all those who are converssr
with Legislation here. whether it would NJ
have been better for the people and the ooul
try if five thousand out of the seven thousan
had been vetoed. l have been thus particu
lar in giving the origin aud exercise of ii
veto power to prove that whenever il b.
been exercised in compliance with tho pop,
lar will by tribune or president. or by
other name you may think proper to 81,