REMARKS ON THE CONSTITUTION. 173 



in making the laws, no veto power, nor has he the power, to 

 interfere in appointing any of our officers. That the veto 

 power, may be shamefully abused, by an executive officer, the 

 people, know, but, when used only as Washington used it, and 

 as the King of England always uses it, it can do no harm, and 

 may do great good. It ought to have been, often used, in this 

 state. Unconstitutional acts, have been passed, in every pe- 

 riod of our short history. Acts have been passed, worded 

 exactly like former ones, without repealing the former ones. 

 Criminal laws have been repealed (a whole criminal code), 

 without any saving clause, as to crimes committed under 

 them, so that the greatest criminals have escaped punish- 

 ment. Laws have been amended and made worse, merely for 

 the sake of making a good sized volume, and as a mere excuse 

 for members of assembly staying at the seat of government, 

 and drawing their three dollars a day. In all such cases, a 

 power of prorogation, in the governor, or of rejecting such 

 acts, as unconstitutional, as inexpedient, or unnecessary, 

 would have saved to the people, at least, large sums of 

 money. 



Our officers, now appointed by the general assembly, ought 

 to be nominated by the governor, and appointed, by, and with, 

 the advice of the senate ; excluding from such appointment, 

 all members of the general assembly, during the term for 

 which they were elected. As salaries are raised, and the 

 love of office waxes warmer, members of assembly will wear a 

 less shameless front, in seeking offices, from themselves. The 

 governor can execute the laws, and he commands the militia, 

 in a time of war. It is his duty, to do any other act which the 

 general assembly direct him to do, but it is hardly to be 

 expected, that the governor will be allowed to appoint any one, 

 to any office of importance, unless that appointment is to be 

 given to some member of the general assembly. A session of 

 four weeks in one year, or of twelve weeks once in three years, 

 in time of peace, for our legislature, would be a vast improve- 

 ment, in our constitution. And the power of changing gene- 



