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Smith, Caleb B : Executive Vetoes. Speech of Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana, on the Veto Power: Delivered in the House of Representatives of the United States, July 21, 1848

J. and G. S. Gideon, Printers., Washington, D.C., 1848

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers. Text printed in black ink. 5 3/4" x 9." Sixteen pages, complete. Pages are clean and intact overall but have moderate age toning, small occasional spots of foxing or discoloration, and slight chipping and splitting along spine. A Very Good copy. A speech that was originally delivered before the United States House of Representatives on July 21, 1848 by Caleb B. Smith (1808-1864), an American lawyer, judge, and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1843-1849 and the 6th U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1861-1863 under President Abraham Lincoln. He was a Whig until 1854 when he became a Republican. In this speech, Smith ardently defends an appropriations bill that would pay for the maintenance of rivers, harbors, and waterways. Smith argues that at least some of the Democrats are hypocritical in sabotaging the bill's passage in their claim that the Constitution does not allow such appropriations, yet they use the Constitution to "annex a foreign country" [Mexico] and "wage a war of conquest in a foreign land" [Mexican-American War]. Early in his speech, Smith exclaims, "It is bad enough to have the wishes of the people thwarted, and the acts passed by their Representatives nullified by an arbitrary Executive veto; but it is worse, infinitely worse, to have the threat of a veto flouted in our faces to deter us from passing a bill which may not be agreeable to the President [James K. Polk]." Soon after, Smith decries the executive or presidential veto, "The 'one-man power' has already become so great, that it completely overshadows all others. It is rapidly growing up into a despotism, which threatens to undermine the pillars of the Republic, and change the character of the Government." Smith uses further arguments to back his critique against the executive veto, in particular, the frequency by and manner in which Polk has used it. For example, Smith notes that the British monarchy has not used the veto in over a century. He also refers to past presidents such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson who all used the veto sparingly. Smith is very supportive of Whig presidential nominee Zachary Taylor because Taylor, in his letter to Captain Allison, was emphatic in stating that the executive veto should only be used in cases where the Constitution is threatened or in "want of consideration by Congress." Smith also voices his opposition to Lewis Cass, the Democratic presidential nominee. Ultimately, Smith denounces the idea that an executive veto could block the appropriations bill that would pay for the maintenance of public rivers and waterways, especially given how the American people want these waterways to be maintained.. Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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