The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-01-17
7EsTMINsTER MD. THURSDAY JANUARY h 1867.

/ 4
ither Of the other two branches Of The
Government, aud especially in the exer.
else ofthe veto power conferred upon il
by the Constitution, II should be re
ymenbered however that this power is
wholly negative and conservative 10 its
character. and was intended 10 operate
rs check upon unconstitutional, hasty,
and improvidcit legislation, and as a
means Of protection against inyasions Of
the just powers Of the Executive 0Dd
Judicial Departments.
1t is remarked by Chancellor Kent
that to "enact laws is transcendent
power; aud, II the body that possesses
it be full aod equal representation or
the people, there is danger of its pres
sing with destructive weight upon all
the other parts Of the machinery Of gov
fernlnent. 1t has, therefore, been
thought necessary, BY the most skiilful
aud experienced artists in the science
Of civil polity, that strong barriers
should be erected for the protection and
pseenrity Of the other necessary powers
Of the Government
Nothing has been deemed more ft
and expedieBt for the purpose than the
| provision that the head Of the Execu.
tive Department should be SO cons;itu-
ted as to secure requisite share Of in-
dependence, that he should have pe-
gative upen the passing of laws; aud
tha; the Judiciary power, resting on
still more permanent btsis, should have
the right Of determining upon the valid
| ity of laws by the standard of the
Constitution
The President than refers to the nc.
cessity Of some check in the hands Of
the Executive. He quotes extensively
from Madison, Jefferson, Mr.. Justice
Story, and concludes as follows:
In addition towhat has been said by
these distinguished writer's, it may also
be urged that the dominant party in
each House may, By the expulsion of
sufficient number Of members, or BY
the exclusion from representation Of
| requisite number Of States, reduce the
minority 70 iess 'nah ohe-third. Con
/ gress ,y5y these means, might be ena.
bled to pass law, the objections Of the
President TO the contrary notwithstan-
ding, which would reuder impotent the
other two departments of the Govern
ihent T; ana make imperative the whoie-
some anu restraining power which It
was ln'endeu ny ,he iraners Of the
nonstltu'ton should be exertcd by them
! me- woaiu DC apraet'cai concentration
oi AZ power 70 'he congress OF the uni-
'eu o'a'es-,.his, IN tue language oil the
au'hor OF the Declaration OF lndepeo-
aence, would oe ,prec'seiy she deini-
''on o. uespoao poVernnieht.
nave Preierreu 70 reprodnee these
teaehlnss OF 'he great statesmen and
eonsti,utionai lawyers OF tue early aud
la'ef days o. tne hepupiic rather than
70 reiy SIMPLY upon an expression of my
own "p'n'""s' we cahnot TOO oiten re-
sur 10 tne'n' especmDiy at a conJuncture
hAe 'he present iner PPHeation TO
our ac'uai condition is so apparent that
thSy now come 70 us as a iiYing voice
70 pe liS'cnoa 70 with more attention
tlian at any previous PERIOD oil our his
'ofy. we nave een'and are yet In the
lh'ast o., OF popular eoinmo,ion'
me passions aroused oy great elvii
war are s'i'i dominant III rs not time
,avoraole 70 that cain ana deliberate
Judgment Wnlon Us the only safe guide