Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-11-24

CONGRESS AND THE ExEcUTIvE.-At q lato
meeting oflbc Wings at Faneuil Hall, Boston
Mr.. Fletcher, the Representative in Con
Gross from the city Of Boston, (and who was
at the late session Of Congress, a member of
the Committee Of Ways and Means, made,
in the course Of an address Ia the assembled
People, the following statement
"During the session, the business projects
upon which the House was called to act, came
almos, entirely from the Committee Of Ways
and Means. There are nino members Of that
committee, only two Of whom are understood
to be opposed to the general policy Of the
Administration. suppose you would like to
know the manner in which the business was
arranged for the House. will tell you the
,ravs and means you will all see in due time.
You doubtless ssppose that this Committee Of
WAYS and Means has some duty TO do-some
wavs TO DEVISE some means TO find out; some
plans to originate and mature for the acxnowl
edcemcnt of the House, The committee,
YOU imagine, look over the Message, see what
is recommended to be done for the benefit of
the country; consult together as TO the best
measures, and lay the result Of their delibera.
lions before the House. Is this your idea.
Mr. President. Is this what you think,
fellow. citizens, If is, am sorry to inform
YOU that you labor under very great mistake
/ once entertained the same ideas; but soon
found nv error. No such thing, sir-no such
thing. The chairman Of the committee steps
up 10 the White House, and there receives
from the Presideet, or the Secretary Of the
Treasury such bills as they wishto have passed
by the House. The chairman puts the
bills into his pocket, takes them 10 the CON-
miltee without any examination. the ma.
majority of the committee approve them
the minority can do nothing the bills arc
: presented TO tho House, and received as the
doings Of the committee.
81 aver 10 you that every important bill
passed by the House came to the House
ready dra,cn, from the Executive. The Rep
p resentatives are mere machines. Ever,
, measure is an executive measure. | mean
>. nv the Executive, the President and the head
q ofDepartments; tho Cabinet. Ti'oy orig in
y ate every thing-put things in tho proofs
y shape they wish, word for word, letter for let
. ter, comma for comma, and the Excutiv
- majority in the House pass each bill forwtl
= without aleration-and, SO far as depend
- upon them, without debate just as it como
>. from their masters at the White House
y, y 81 had heard OF Executive dcta,ion--
3 Executive usurpation--of Executive pa
o ronage. thought l had seen something
II it; but till visited the seat OF Cover
men,, | had NJ conception of its true Lntu
OF its vast extent. solemnly warn yo
N against this terrible concentration Of pow
m in the hands Of the Executive! see in
III most alarming danger--threatening, fea
" fully threatening the liberties of the cou
try! Executive power has become We
Of Colossus, which bestrides the land from o.
"a, end to the other; and, fellow citizens,
~ we do not othertlrow it, most assuredly
30 will crush us; and, in crushing Us, in crus
ne ing The People, it will crush liberty, it
ch crush the Constitution"