Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-18

CONTINUED.
The Constitution declares, that all the le-
gisla,iye powers therein granted, shall be
vested in Congress, which shall consist of
Senate and House OF Representatives.
The legislative power is thus granted equally
10 the Senate and House. Why, then, let
me ask, was the power given to the House of
Representatives alone to originate bills for
raising revenue Why was the Senate,
although composed of men of atleast equal
experience and wisdom with those of the
House. and invested equally with the house
with the legislative powsr--prohibited from
any other participation in the imposition OF
faxes thar the miserable privilege OF propo-
sing and concurring in amendments TO the
bills, which must originate in the House ?
This distinction, which, otherwise, would be
derogatory to the dignity of CO. ardinate
branch OF the national legislature, was, no
doubt, founded OIL the idea that the House,
the immediate representatives Of the people,
were alone competent TO give and grant what
belonged 10 the people and confirms the
principle, that " taxation is no part Of the
governing or legislative power.
That this wasthe only reason for distinc-
ton which must on any other suppositon
appear contradictory and absurd, is, if pos
sible, still more evident from an examination
Of the proceedings of the federal convention.
BY referring TO this journal Up. 2o7l it will
be seen that the following resolutions were,
among Others, passed by The convention, and
referred to committee for the purpose OF
arranging and preparing constitution con-
formally thereto.
{. That the government of the U. States
ought to consist of supreme legislative, ju-
dietary, and executive.
3. That the legislature consist of two
branches.
8. That each branch ought to possess the
right of originating acts Ievidenly meaning
legislative acts.]
10. That all bills for raising or appropria-
ting money, &c. shall originate in The first
branch of the legislature, and shall not be
altered or amended by the second branch
Cor senate.
In conformity to these resolutions, the
draft of the constitution, reported by the
committee. contained the following articles
Art g. The legislative power shall be
vested in a Congress, to consist of two sePa-
rate and distinct bodies of men, a house OF
representatives aad senate each of which
shall, in all cases, have negative on the o.
iher"
cart. 4. Sec. 8. All bills for raising or
appropriatipg money, aud for fixing the ssla-
ries of the officers Of the government, shall
originate in the House Of Representatives,
and shallnot be altered or amended by the
Senate"
Here we find it expressly declared-That
each branch of the legislature ought to have
the right 10 originate acts and Immediately
after-That all bills for raising money, shall
originate only in one branch, While it is
That all legislative power shall
be vested in the Senate, and in the House of
It is declared that the SEN
ate shall have no concern whatever in the
raising of money for the power to mega
tive money bill certainly confers no power
10 raise money.
Can human language afford stronger or
clearer proof that. in the opinion o.. the con-
vention, the power to tax was not an incident
&c the legislative power and therefore, that
the imposition OF taxes was not intended to
be confded to both branches Of the legisla-
ture. but only 10 the immediate representa-
tives of the people.
While admit then, that congressis invest
ed with the supreme legislative authority O.
yer this district. j deny, that by virtue of
this authority alone they have any right TO
tax its inhabitants. By the constitution, we
have been rendered dependency OF the
United States but by the principles of this
constitution, and the laws ofnature, we have
An :. absolute, unalienable right to life, Ii
berry, & the means of acquiring possessing &
securing property. As a dependency we may
be Obliged to. con6de our highest interests TO
those over whom we have no control: As a
dependency, we acknowledge the powers OF
the chief magistrate Of the Union, although
not permitted to have a voice in his cleo