Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-02-11
VOL. xIV.....vO. IS.

growing out OF our foreign relations Tie f,:y,,
relations OF The country arc entt,1ste, Nv tho e.
s'''ulion TO The lead and management Of The ~.
'c"''e ro'efnmchf. The President not only Is
supposed TO he, but usually is much better inform
ca on these interesting subjects than tho Ionscs If
Congress. If there be danger of rupture viii !,
foreign State, hc secs il soonest An cur min;ss
''fs nhd agents abroad are but so MANY eyes and
ears ana organs to communicate 10 him whatsoever
occurs IN foreign places, and to keep him well nd
vsrd Of all which may concern the interests Of The
INTRO states. There is an especial propricty,
therefore, That, IN tins branch Of the public service,
congress should always be able TO avail itself Of
,,'' o's''h'' opinions and rectmmerdalions Of the
PRESIDENT. The two Houses, and especially tho
House OF Representatives, arc the natural ouo,
dams OF the Peoples money. They are 10 Keen
u sacred, and To use ii disolccilv. They nrc not
at 'hcft, TO spend i, where 1t is not needed. nor
10 ofl'r II for any purpose till reasonable occa-
SION Tor the expenditure lie stown. Now in this
case, rrr'a, again. the President had sent MS no
recommendation for any such appropriation; no
Department had recommended il j; no estimate had
contained II IN the Who'll, history Of the session.
from the morning Of the first day down 10 o'clock
IN the evening Of tie last day, not ono syllable lad
been said to us not ole hint suggested, showing
w." tie President deemed any such measure ri-
'n'f necessary or proper state this strongly,
SIR, In, state II truly state the mnttcr as i, Isl
and Wish to draw tic attention Of the Senate ana
o' "e country strongly 10 this port of the case.
say agan, Therefore, that when this vote for the
three millions was lroposed to the Senate, there
was nothing before us, showing that the President
recommended any such appropriations. You well
Know, sir, that Ills objection was immediately stat
ed, as soon MS the message from tho House was
read We NIL well remember that il was the very
poN't put ioi'h by the honorable member from Ten
n'ss'e, lMr White, as being, i'll may say so, the
hn'-'nd OF his argument in opposition to he vote.
lie sa'd very Significantly. ard very lorcibly ait
~ not asked for by those Wlo best know what the
public service requires l,w II en- are VIC to pre-
sumo tina, il is needed ~ This question, sir. was
not answered then; II never las been answered
since; II never can be answered satisfactorily.
But let me here nran. sir, ,rcur to the mes.
sage of The President Speaking of the loss Of the
bill, he uses these words:
" his failurc WAS the more regretted not only
because IT necessarily ,cnuped and DELAYED
ID" progress OF syscmn Of national defence
projected immediately after tho last war, and
since steadily pursued, but also because il con
'"'h'd contingent appropriation, inserted in
accordance with the views of the Executive, in
and OF this important object, and other branches.
OF 'he national defence, some portions of which
might have been most usefully applied during the
| past season.
Taking these words Of the message, sir, and
connecting llem with the fact dat the President
had made no recommendation 10 one ress Of any
such appropriation il strikes me they furnish mat
ter for very grave reflection. The President
SAYS TINT this proposed appropriation was " in ac-
cordance with the views 81 the Executive :" that
il was " in aid of imror, ant object :" and that
some portion of II might have been most useful
! J., applied during the past season."
And Row, sir, ask, fills be So, why was not
dis appropriation recommended 10 Congress by
tie President ask tins ,u, sliou in the name
"t IL. Constitution Of the United States | stand
on lis own clcaf anlor, in asking it and | in
,ltc all those wlo remember its nlunctions, and
who mean to respect Item, to consider well how
The on, stion is Ia lc answered.
Sir, he Constitution is no, vet an entire dead
letter. There is yet S,me form Of observance TO
MS requirements; and even while any degree Of
formal respect IS PAID to i | must lie permitted 10
continue 10 ask tie question, Why was not this
appropriation reeommc ndcd 1t was in accordance
with he Presidents ,nws; it was for an impor-
tant object II mel, have been uscully cApen-
dcd. The President being OF opinion, therefore,
mat nc appropriation was necessary and proper,
how is i, that not recommended 10 Com
prcsS For, sir, We all know he plain and direct
words IN which the very first duty of the Prcsi-
dent is imposed by the Constitution. Hero they
arc
" lie shall, trom time 10 time, rive to the Con-
eitss information OF tie state Of the Union, and
recommend 10 their consideration such measures.
as he shall judge necessary and cypedient."
After onum'raling the pom'rs Of the President,
this Is The first, the very first duty which the Con-
'iituton gra,ely cnjoils upon him. And now,
sir IN no language of party attack, in terms of no
asPcrily or evaporation, but called up by the ne
oc'Sliy OF defending my own vote upon the sub
lcct, now, as "A public man, as a member Of
Congress here IN my place, and as citizen WHO
lrcls MS warm an attachment TO the Constitution Of
the country, MS any other can, demand Of any who
may choose 10 give it an answer, to this question
NY WAS NOT THIS MEASURE, WHICH THE
PRrsIBENT DECLARES THAT he THOUGHT NErEs.
sAhf AND fArEDiENT, RECOMMENDED TO Con-
Gnfss T. Ard why am ], ard why are other
members OF Congress, whose paths Of duty the
Constitution says shall be enlightened by The Pre-
sIdent's opinions and commune atoms, to be char
gcd with want Of patriotism and want Of fidelity
to the country, because refused an appropria-
ton which ,le President, though il was in accor-
, dance with his views, and though 10 believed it
important, would not, aud did not recommend TO
MS When these questions are answered, sir, to
tic satisfaction of intelligent, and impartial men,
Ihcn let rrprosch let censurc, let usricon of any
kind, rest on the iwcntv-nine names which stand
opposed To this appropriations.
How, sir, were we to know that this appropria-
ton "was in accordance with the views of tho
ExccnivcT ~ lie had not so told us, formally or
informally. lie had not only not recommended
to Congress, or either House Of Congress, hut