The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1836-02-26

nra,rE on aR BESToS 3 EEsoLu
TI0Ss
M..nday Issuary IS
Mr. SnUTHARD eonlinned.

Mr.. SUI HARD rohMhh01.
When The House objected ~ one Of
A, amendments. from which they after
.,,is recorded. lhey sent The bill bark IN
). S.nase Nth a new secIinn added 10
n lhs faliawIng words:
- And h. IL fniher enacted. That the
M 4 three millions of dollars b.. and
I, sane Il hereby. Appropriated nut II
!, laaaey in the Treasury mi otherwise
.,,apnaIed. ID be expended. N whole
= IN pars. under the direction Of the
President NJ the United States. for the
nItary and naval service. including
civilizations and ordnance and increase
4 The NAVY: Provided. such expend-
.srrs shall be- rendered necessary Tor The
tsiease Of the country prior 10 the next
netting vi Congress"
TINS amendment had been made BY
,y,p of 100 10 II Jour. 509): and il
ame TO u about eight o'clock of The last
slsal. within thrre ~ fur hours Of the
stlaurnmenl. We had then been in
ysslan three months; had discussed our
,satlans with France; contemplated our
position and nur dunes; had received the
rrEs Of the Executive. and his esnmates
lor the defence Of the country. aud MT
. suggestion mad been made, no member
ii either House. no Executive officer.
Asi proposed such an appropriation. II
srnkr upon ~. in The last night, must
Suddenly and unexpectedly. =
It created surprise. believe, in every
par nj the Senate Chamber. unless. IN
.sei. ,ame lev NAV have been sppnzed
oin. approach. do no. deny tina, VAS
ST. l-hed and Indignant. and. among
opers, gave nlteranee 10 nv feelings.
Thr a MEASURE ~ such description
should have been reserved for such a
mou-nt. mad too much the aspect Of
anesse and management.
l. Sas rejected ny the Senate. and
sem mack 10 the House afler debate oI
about a. hnur. certainly Of not more Than
an hoar aud half.
The reasons iar its rejection appeared
10 me then. AMI appear 10 me nov, mnsl
ample and satisfactory.
Il might have been objected to -
irregular. unusual. aud unparilamentarr.
II ras made as an amendment 70 the
amendment NJ the Senate. A. such. u
must restrain, enlarge, or modify the
the matter to be amended. Il did neither
|, was a distinct section, an independent
and iucoherent subject The House
might, with equal propuety, have added
an" hill ~ all the hills Of The Session.
But il was not resisted on this ground.
Thars we're ,aner aud higher considrra-
ions, 'ilaIIy affecting The institutions of
ihe country.
II vas opposed to the spiri, and mean.
ING Of the Constitution, and the whole
practice Of the Government. The 7th
Item Of the OH section Of the first artlcle
declares. &" M money shall be drawn from
the Treasury. bu, in consequence of ap-
preparations made by law" The term
appropriation implies that the object must
be .peeifed. Without i, in, the intent Of
The makers Of that instrument u violated.
mere declaration that the Executive
nay draw out a million Of dollars, and
apply II to such 0ttrcis a. he shall think
Necessary for the public interests. . no
compliance with the constitutional proyl
slon. It's design was to guard seduloasls
The public treasure 10 secure is coniEu
10 those who make the laws---to cut of
Executive discretion as to the objects on
which 1t should be expended. Tit
present President has said message
Dec. 1891, that I" the palpabIe object o
this provision is, 10 prevent the expendi'
lure of the public money for any purpos'
whatsoever which shall not have beer
i'st approved by the representatives o
NE people and the states in Congress
assembled. ltves.s the power Of declar
ing tor what purposes the public none!
shall be expended in the Legislative DE
Partment of the Government, to the ex
elaslon Of the Executive and Judicial,
DC dc. He has also said, on anolhe
OCCASION Message, Dec. ls35), no on
can be more deeply impressed than | ar
with the soundness Of the doctrine whicI
restraints and limits, by specific provisions
Executive discretion, as far as i, can b
done consistently with the preservatlo
o. Its constitutional character. That
ls".he duty of the Legislature to define
oy clear and positive enactments, III
nature and extent of the action which
belongs to the Executive to superiu,end.
&c. That the true rule Of action ..shoul
make the President ever anxious to ayoi
The exercise Of any discretionary author
~ which can be regul,ed BY Congress
'1e bases which may operate upon hin
will not be % likely 10 extend TO III
''Sissensssiyss Of the people in that b.