Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States of America; With That Constitution Prefixed, in Which Are Unfolded, the Principles of Free Gover (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1792 edition. Excerpt: ...frequently to good effect. I believe the governor of New-York, under this power, has been known to fend back five or six bills in a week; and I well recollect that at the time the funding system was adopted by our legislature, the people in that state considered the negative of the governor as a great security, that their legislature would not be able to incumber them by, a similar measure. Since that time an alteration has been supposed in the governor's conduct, but there has been no alteration 1 in his power. The honorable gentleman from Westmoreland (Mr. Findley) by his highly refined critical abilities, discovers an in doiteconsistency in this part of the constitution, and that which thisiideclares in section first: "All legislative powers, herein oint. ', granted, shall be vested in a congress of the United States, letor' which shall consist of a senate and a house of representa-tions'" tives," and yet here, says he, isa power of legislation giv--rikfaen to the president of the United States, because every bill, rer, before it becomes a law, shall be presented to him: Thus an nwhe is said to possess Iegistative powers. Sir, the convention ut tic observed on this occasion strict propriety of language; " if he re Ft approve the bill when it is sent, he shall sign it, but if not i it, stihe shall return it;" but no bill passes in consequence of ha-1 wkisving his assent--therefore he possesses no legislative authority. he lofl The effect of his power, upon this subject, is merely this, -jcrh ti: 'if he disapproves a bill, two-thirds of the legislature become e afa necessary, to pass it into a law, instead of a bare majority. me js And when two-thirds are in favor of the bill, it becomes Jjfans a law, not by his, but by authority of the...