Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-04-25
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH OF TIE
HON / 5 BARBOUR, OF VA.
Delirerea in the House of Representatives.

I
"But our greatest danger appears TO result
| from the heay, appropriations for contingencies,
and other underlined objects Of public expenditure.
wherein the unrestricted discretion OF the ESecu.
tive eXerts all absolute dominion. lhese have
been creeping upon US. year alter year, VI Al
length the mind Is startled at the enormity Of the
sum. Mr. Jefferson foresaw. and warned ton
gress. that this might become the matrix Of un
numbered ills. and entreated that specific appro-
prations might always be made. In the first year
| oi his administration reform was dltlcnt There
was a government to re- organize. and all army to
dlsband foreign relation, TO adjust upon new
Developments OF pubc opinion: reform ard econ
onv to superssle cyistng prodigalltN aud abuse.
! Such and 81 many objects required large invest
ment of discretionary authority. Yet. even in
this embarrassed stare OF pubic affairs, ana en-
yirnned by reqnsltlnn, that seemed to plead Tor
enlarged Executive discretion. the sum that wear
appropriated tor contingencies. did not exceed
,lxtv thousand dolla,s, and the sum total that
could be reached BY the greatest stretch of thi,
authority. was about one hundred and tweht,
thousand dollars. In the following year, when
sagacity, enlightene; BY experience enabled hun
to brin. into practice The desired virtues OF econ
Dinv aud reform this class Of appropriations was
reduced TO about twenty thousand dollars and
in the year succeeding, pressing his principles
still further into useful service. the amount OF the
contingent funds little exceeded fifteen thousand
dollars. | have with some care. Mr.. Speaker.
run through the appropriation bill for the service
Of the last years and colating these with such III
formation as was able to extract from tie Trea-
ssury Department, and having thcreupon ma'!e an
estimate Of the whole amount OF money subject
to tho untranmclled will Of the President, great
lily if this amount be not too million Of dOttars.
The alarming magnitude Of such trust appears
imminently hazardous to the morality and safety
Of our institutions II is, in effect, abrosating the
Wholesome check Of the constitution which pro-
hIbits the drawing Of any money from the Treasu
Iry, except by yutue of appropriation made BY
law. II invests the Executive with dangerous
authority over that trust. which the constitution
tor wise purposes conided to Congress. 1t makes
la mockery OF the strongest barrier against execu
tive influence and the encroachment OF a single
magist ate ; and in 50 far removing the vieIiant
guardianship Of the representative BODY di>pen-
,es With large portion Of its appropriate respnn-
sibtilty. Slr, IN county so extensive and ex-
tending 40 ours, with great aud growing interests,
continually becoming more diversified. an i'm
mense trusI may perhaps BE unavoidable. Legal
specifications more precise may be 'mpractlcable
But il this be SO. surely il offers irtepressble
motive with US for some suitable measure OF
form and change, II 80 great t,u-t be ndspen-
sable, in proportion to it, magnitude and necesst,
Should be the and vi -iIance With which The
Legislature ought to guard it iloin every abuse
let US put around Treasury, sen,nels for It's
security, actuated by such inducements % fidelity
as may promise proper result. Let a. connect
the Interests 0 the tnaa trust with his pow ers
and his duties is the at present Are
not vonr accounting and disbursing AGENTS so de-
pendant upon the good will of the Chief Magis-
tfatc, that they brought necessarily to stand in
conflict with fidelity TO the people? 1t is vain
theory to hope that Written forms Of duty will
prevail against the impulses of self preservation.
Money is the great lever OF ambition: and when
did addition lorbear, in operating upon the frailty
Of human nature, to use the means best adapted
70 is ends Over such delicate trusts can we
plant too many guards -
Prior to Mr. Jefferson's administration, the
language Of cur appropriation acts was loose and
general. He saw the omens Of mischief that
crowded around this practice, and in his first mes
sage advised lts change. Specific appropriations
to definite objects followed, and his model Of
economy and simplicity in administration, is hap
plly illustrated. N this respect. by its strict co
hercnce 10 the PLAN principles Of the constitution
IN process OF time, these views gave way to a
inisguded cyigency. and the spirit of the consti.
tuition was subduetl in the act of March Sd 1909
Inc right to transfer appropriations defeats the
guard over the pubic money, which the cunstitu
ton designed Tor is security, and gives into the
hand OF the President tie key that unlocks. at his
will, the national treasures. This was no doubt
q temporary convenience, but it was frausht with
serious error n its inception, and still more seri.
ors danger in the precedent. The present Vice
President Of the United States moved upon thi,
floor, in 1915, the following resolution.
Resotrea, That the committee of WAYS and
Means he Instructed to inquire into the expedien
cy q repeating so much 0t an act entitled an act
further to amend the several acts for the establish
ment and regulation Of tie Treasury. War, an,
Navy Departments. passed ST. March, 1909, a,
aathoIiaes the President 0. the United States It
trap fn,