lf bound by the most solemn sanctions to guard， protect， and defend the rights of all and of every portion， great or small， from the injustice and oppression of the rest. i consider the veto power， therefore given by the constitution to the executive of the united states solely as a conservative power， to be used only first， to protect the constitution from violation； secondly， the people from the effects of hasty legislation where their will has been probably disregarded or not well understood， and， thirdly， to prevent the effects of combinations violative of the rights of minorities. in reference to the second of these objects i may observe that i consider it the right and privilege of the people to decide disputed points of the constitution arising from the general grant of power to congress to carry into effect the powers expressly given； and i believe with mr. madison that “repeated recognitions under varied circumstances in acts of the legislative， executive， and judicial branches of the government， accompanied by indications in different modes of the concurrence of the general will of the nation，” as affording to the president sufficient authority for his considering such disputed points as settled.
upward of half a century has elapsed since the adoption of the present form of government. it would be an object more highly desirable than the gratification of the curiosity of speculative statesmen if its precise situation could be ascertained， a fair exhibit ma
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