"THOMAS JEFFERSON.
"February 15, 1791."
General Taylor's opinion, as expressed in his Allison letter, is as I now
read:
"The power given by the veto is a high conservative power; but, in my
opinion, should never be exercised except in cases of clear violation of
the Constitution, or manifest haste and want of consideration by
Congress."
It is here seen that, in Mr. Jefferson's opinion, if on the
constitutionality of any given bill the President doubts, he is not to
veto it, as the gentleman from Kentucky would have him do, but is to
defer to Congress and approve it. And if we compare the opinion of
Jefferson and Taylor, as expressed in these paragraphs, we shall find
them more exactly alike than we can often find any two expressions having
any literal difference. None but interested faultfinders, I think, can
discover any substantial variation.
But gentlemen on the other side are unanimously agreed that General
Taylor has no other principles. They are in utter darkness as to his
opinions on any of the questions of policy which occupy the public
attention. But is there any doubt as to what he will do on the prominent
questions if elected? Not the least.
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