The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-03-23

passionate reconsideration OF . bill dis
approved by the Executive Much ss ]
vcncrate the nstitution, IL must b Cd
m,tted that this condition had Developed
q defeat which, under the aggressive
tendency OF the Legislative department.
OF the Government, may readily work It's
overthrow II may, however, be rene
died without disturbing the harmony OF
the instrument, The veto power 10 gen
orally exercised upon constitutional
grounds, and whenever il Is 80 applet
and the bill returned with the Executives
reasons for Withholding his signature. 1t
ought to be certified to the Supeens
Court Of the United States for It decision.
II Its constitu,ionality shall be declared
by that tribunal. ii should then be . law
but ifthc decision Is otherwise, Il should
fail. without power in Congress 10 rs'en.
act it. In csscs IN whish the vcto rests
upon hssty and inconsidsrats legislation,
and in which no constitutional question
is involved. ! would not change the
fundamental law, for in such cases no
permanent evil can be incorporated In tbs
Federal system. II is obvious that with.
out such an amendment the Government,
as it existed under the Constitution prior
to the rebellion, may be wholly subvert
ed and overthrow by two-thirds ma
jority in Congress. II is not. therefore.
difficult to see how easily sDd rapidly tho
people may lose-shau | not shave
lo.t-their liberties by an unchecked and
uncomfortable majority as the Law max
ing power, and whenever deprived Of
their rights, how powerlcss they are ID
regain them. sil Il, 0s,ss- - .s.el,,
Let us turn Tor moment TO the histo-
ry OF the majority in Congress, which has
acted in such utter disregard Of the Con
stitution While public attention has
been carefully aud constantly turned "
the past and exposed the sins Of the
south, the servants ofthe people In high
places have boldly outraged their trust,
broken their oaths VI Obedience, and un-
dermind the very foundations Of liberty.
justice and good government When
the rebellion was being suppressed BY the
volunteered services ofpatriotic soldiers.
amid the dangers Of the battlefield, these
men crept without question into place
aad power in the national councils, aflrr
all danger had passed, when no armed
foe remained, when a pcnitcDt people
bowed their heal to the flag, and renewed
their allegiance to the Government ofthc
United States. Then 1t was that pretend
cd patriots appeared before the nation
and began to pirate about the thousands
OF lives and millions VI treasure sacrificed
in the suppression ofthe rebellion. They
have since persistently sought to innamc
the prejudice chgendered between the Sec
tons, to retard the restoration Of peace
and harmony aud by every means to keep
open and exposed to the poisonous
breath Of party passion the terrible
wounds Of a four yearswar. They have
prevented the return Of peace and the
restoration vf tho Union in evory way,
rendered delusive the purpo ses, promises
and pledges by which the army was mar;
shallcd, treason rebukcd and rebellion
crushed aud made the liberties ofthe pco
Pile and the rights and powers Of the
President objects of constant attack.
They have wrested from the Presitient
his constitutional power of supreme CON-
mand Of the army and navy. They have
destroyed the strength Of the Executive
Department by making subordinate Of
icers independent and able to defy tl,eit
Chief Magistrate. They have robbed the
Executive OF the prerogatives oil pardon,
rendered null and void acts Of clcmcncy
granted to thousands OF persons under
the provisions Of the Constitution, aud
committed gross usurpation BY legislative
attempts to exercise this power in favor
of party adherents. They have conspir-
ed to change the system OF our Govern
ment by preferring charges against the
President in the form Of articles Of Inn.
parchment, and contemplating before
hearing or trial that he should be placed
under arrest, held in durancc, and, when
it became their pleasure, to pronounce
his sentence. driven from place and power
in disgrace They have in thine OF peace
increased the national debt by q reckless
expenditure OF public moneys, and thus
added to the burdens which already
weigh upon the people. They have per.
mitted the nation TO suffer the evils Of .
dennged currency to the enhancement
in price Of all nccessaries Of life. They
have maintained . large standing army
for the enforcement of their measured Of
oppression. They have engaged iu class
legislation, built and encouraged monopo-
lies, that the few might be enriched at the
expense of the many. They have failed
to act upon important treaties, endanger.
ing our friendly relations with foreign
powers. l3 agq. .mef5 la.araag
Concluded aext mo~t. ,-t !,