Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-02-11

very iorriblv, at is not asked for by those
who best know what the public service re
qnlres; how then are we To presume that it is
heedetT' This question, sir, was not an
swercd then; it never has been answered
since; II never can be answered satisfactorily
But let me here again, sir, recur to the mes-
sage OF the President. Speaking Of the loss
OF tins bill, he uses these words:--
'This failure was the more regretted. not
only because it necessarily interrupted aud
delayed the progress Of n system Of national
defence projected Immediately after the las,
war, and since steadily pursued, but also be-
7 cause 1t contained a contingent appropriation,
inserted in accordance with the views of the
Executive, in aid of this important object, and
other branches of the national defence. some
portions of which might have been most use
! fully applied during the past session"
i Taking these words Of the message, sir,
and connecting them with the fact that the
President had made no recommen ndation to
! Congress of any such appropriation. il strikes
me they furnish matter for grave reflection.
| The president says that this proposed appro-
priation was sin accordance with the views
of the executive;" that it was ain aid of an
Important Objects" and that "some portions of
it might have been most usefuily applied du-
ring the past season."
4 And now, sir, | ask if this be so, why was
not this appropriation recommended to Con-
gress by the President? | ask this question
in the name of the constitution of the United
States; stand on its own clear authority in
asking it; and invite all those who remeni-
ber its in unct tions, and who mean to respect
them, to consider we'll how the question is to
be answered.
II Sir, the constitution is not yet an cntiYe
Ia. Il l,,t, l.
\ servance to ITS requirements; and even while
any degree of formal respect is paid to it, ]
must be permitted to continue the question,
why was not this appropriation recommend
/ ed? 1t was in accordance with the Presi-
dents views; it was for an important object;
it might have been usefully expended. The
! President being of opinion, therefore, that
the appropriation was necessary and proper,
how is il that 1t was not recommended to
H Congress- For, sir. we all know the plain
and direct words in which the very first duty
! of the President is imposed by the constitu-
!, ton. Here they are:--
III "He shall, from time to time, give I" the
Congress information of the state OF the un-
, ion, and recommend to their consideration
such measures as he shall judge necessary
, and expedient"
: After enumeraing the po,cers of the Presi-
dent. this is the first the very first duty which
the constitution gravely enjoins upon him..
) And now, sir, in no language of taunt or re-
proach, of party attack in terms of no asper-
ity or exaggeraton but called up by the ne
cessity of defending my own vote upon the
subject, now, as public man, as member
of Congress here in my place, and as citi-
1 zen who feels as warm an attachment to the
constitution of the country as any other can
demand OF any who may choose to give it,
an answer to this question:
i "Why ,cds not this measure, ,chich Tie Pres
ident declares that he thought necessary and
erpedient, recommended to Congress?" And
! why am /, and other members of Congress,
! Lose path of duty, the constitution says
! shall be frightened by the Presidents opn-
! ions and communications, to be charged with
want of patriotism and want Of fidelity to the
country. because we refused an appropriation
| which the President though it was in accord
! ance with his views, and though he believed
| it important, would not, and did not, recon-
mend to us? When these questions are an
swered, sir, to the satisfaction Of intelligent
| and impartial men, then, and not till then, let
rcproach, let censure, let suspicion Of any
kind rest on the twenty nine names which
stand opposed to this appropriation.
I How, sir, were we to know that this appro-
! priation sswas in accordance with the views
! OF the Executive?" He had not told us, for
mally or informally. He had not recon-
mended it to Congress, or either House Of
! Congress, but nobody on this floor had I'M
lertaken to speak in his behalf. No man got
up to say, "the President desires this, he
thinks it necessary, expedient and proper'"-
But, sir, if any gentleman had risen to say
! this, it would not have answered the requlsl-
ton of the Constitution. Not at all. IL Is
! not hint, an intnation, the suggestion OF a
I friend, by which the Executive duty IN this
! respect is to be fulfilled. By no means. The
| President is to make a recomme ndation, a
] publc recommendation, an official recon,-
Inendation, responsible recommendations
not to one House, but to both Houses; IT is to
be recommendation to Congress. II on re-
ceiving such recommendation, Congress fail
/ to pay it proper respect, the fault is theirs.
i II deen,ing the measure necessary and expe-
dent, the President fail to recommend it, the
fault is his, clearly, distinctly, aud exclusive
Ilv his. This sir, is the Constitution OF the
United States; or else | do not understand
! the Constitution of the United States. Does
not every man see how perfectly unconstitu-
tional il is that the President should commu-
j nicsie his opinions or wishes TO Congress on
such grave and important subjects, otherwise
than by a direct and responsible recomnen'
dation-a public and open recommendation,
}, equally addressed and equally known to all
whose duty calls upon them to act On The
subject 90. .
! What would be the state Of things If he
, might communicate his wishes or opinions
privately 10 members Of one House, and make
. no such communication to members OF the
, other? Would not the two Houses be ne
; cessarily put in Immediate collision? Would
|. they stand on equal foo,inee Would they
I have equal inf,rma,loni What would ensne
: from such manner of conducting the pubic