The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-05-08


British House Of Lords 10 not accurate. The
Lords have no power 10 strike out nor add 10
money bill. But the Senate may constitu
,lonally amend such bill. They may even
originate such bill--for though the consti.
tuition provides that all laws raising revenue
shall originate in this House, the Senate
may originate bills TO spend it after 1t is rs's
ed. Bot why have the Senate struck this
appropriation out ofthe bili2 For the sim.
pie purpose Of asserting a critical question oi
power between themselves and the Presl.
dent The Chsrman Of the Committee OF
Ways and means, says, if the House shall
have the pertinacity TO adhere to their opin-
ion upon this question, the appropriation bill
will be lost. Upon that point, he was vii
ling TO permit the Senate TO act upon lis own
responsibility. lie believed they would ra.
ther suffer this item to pass than 10 deprive
the people of an expenditure OF 8 or 10 mil
lions, in the various branches Of public ser.
vice. But should the Senate insist on their
amendment, has this House so low on esti.
mate of,lts powers, its rights. and its duties
as to shrink from placing the responsibility
where IT belongs? Ifthe Senate are dispos-
ed To place the passage Of the bill upon this
point, he for one was ready to hazard it. Il
|
them firmly. Let us see who will assume
this fearful responsibility. 1t certainly be,
longs either to this House, or to those who
iirst started this delicate question of power
The difficulty had arisen from this ass eriion
from the Sena,e--"yoa shall not exercise
your constitutional power because We are
able to control you." This was not Ian.
guage entirely proper-but If it is used, il
affords additional reason for adherence to the
appropriation in our bill. Whether the Pres
iaent might or nigh, not take this outfit from
another fund was an idle question. 1t was
said to be improper for the President 10 ap-
point minister 10 October when the next
Congress was so near meeting. Why con,
troll for a month? The controlling power
was different from the advisory---as much as
right differed from expedient II had been
said that the President could no. make an ap.
pointment without The Senate. lie was no,
sure ofthat 1t had been done, and the ap-
polntme nj had been rejected. The power Of
rejection was given by the constitution, and
had been exercised by the Senate in view o.
their csponsbility to their constituents. On
that subject this House had nothing TO say
Had thai question been coupled with striking
the salary ofthc rejected Minister out of this
bill, it would have been precisely the case in
principle which is now before us. He was
unwilling TO have any question with the Sen.
ate, but it had been forced upon the House in
a manner that rendered it impossible to avoid
it. They have endeavored to make the House
party to their contests. lie was unwilling
to become party in sucfa question. But il
was necessary TO nssert the dignity Of the
House on such an occasion. For these rca
sons he should vote against concurring with
tho Senate and in favor Of the vote Of the
Committee disugreeing to the amendment.
After few brief remarks from Messrs.
Doddridge and Nc cDufie the question ofcon
curing with the vote oftbe Committee, was
taken, and carried, as follows: Yeas l02-
Nays IL.