Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-03
COMMUNICATION.
TO THE EDITORS.

of the Sd of April the order of the President to the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury, requiring him examine the "Mex
tariff OF Duties and to report the President such rates
Of duties will be likely produce the greatest amount of
revenue support the army Of the United This seems 10
to be something new, and may, think, be styled bold
step the part of the President 1t the generally re-
ceyed opinion, at least of the Virginia school of politicians
that Congress exercise power which granted
by the Constitution, and that neither department of the Gen
ea Government can exercise any power specifically granted
by the constitution a coordinate branch of Government
Let US bring up this order of the President for raising
enue and test by these principles and whether have
done injustice in styling it bold step for The President
We ask him, then, when this revenue" is rased will
belong to the public viii it be the money of the United
States We believe that the venerable editor of the
. Union will these questions in the affirmative. If
hen the thus raised be the money of the Gov
EMINENT the mode adopted for raising in accordance with
the constitution In the first clause of the seventh section
the first article of the constitution it is declared that " all bills
for raising shall originate the House of Repesen-
atves Now, where did this " bill for raising revenue for
the support Of the Amy originate !" Certainly in
the House Of Representatives, III had its origin any where
else is not violation Of the constitution We apprehend,
however, it will be insisted this bill, but merely
for raising revenue, and therefore, not embraced in
that clause of the constitution referred to- BY this process Of
reasoning the Senate may at any time, originate measure
for raising revenue by eyying duties imports simply by
calling sorder, resolution and thus evade Of
the panes principles Of the constitution Change the
and you have the power But the only way which the
stuon provides fo raising is by bill !" and an ar
DER contaasngdished from bill raise revenue finds
sanction'a that instrument we told, however, that
this il raised by the President the Commander
inChief merely support the army in time of war. Does
n
than peace Has he any constitutional right raise
money support the army under his command than the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court has support the Judiciary
II So from what clause Of the constitution does he derive
He is but the of that instrument and he
transcend the powers given him by in the discharge Of any
duty imposed upon him. the exercise of any right vested in
him. than any other officer of the Government however hum
bic he may be.
Let US now return to the position with which we COM
menced viz That Congress exercise power specif
cay granted the Executive by the constitution the
Executive exercise any power vested in Congress by that in
If this be true, how does happen that the Pre-
en is now raising by this order of his sup
port the army Is the pocer 10 support the army given
the President Congress If to the latter, is not the
President violating the constitution in exercising this power
Let examine the constitution, and whom this i'm
yortant power vested The CONGRESS shall have power
says the constitution TO raise and SUPPORT armies" This
power not only specifically given to Congress, but it has
been actually exercised by that body The army has been
. raised" and money appropriated for its "suppor" The
President with this has issued his g order to
additional for its support If he may raise
money support the army without appropriation made by
law why may he not raise the army too If he can raise
money in MEXICO support the army, why may he raise
there also recruit it If he exercise the power
leyng duties imports for the purpose of supporting
the army in foreign country, why may he not "coin
money, and regulate the value thereof bonow money
the credit Of the United States for the purpose
All these pow&s vested Congres, and has the Pre-
sident much right another If he
else either, who fix limit to his power
The trainers of constitution not only gave "the Con-
gress the "power to raise and support armies, but they
had the wisdom 10 foesee the necessity Of limiting the
representatives Of the people in its and therefore de-
clared that appropriation Of money that the sup
port Of the army shall be for longer than years.
This was intended as check upon the accommodating
Chief in time ofwar. To prevent commissioning Pcsi-
dent land Congress too) from continuing his plea
sure and force him potrac unnecessarily and against
the will of the people. But, the President has the right
after Congress has furnished him with army during the
war; 10 raise money support his pleasure this sau
tary provision OF the constitution worthless the American
people, and our foeia,hers sadly mistaken in what they
thought they doing when this provision Of the contu
ton adopted by them Having alike the power
and money, the President may have army large
enough satisfy the inordinate AMBITION and, sur
rounded by his soldIery trained the camp and bound to
him by the force Of the money which he has raised "Jor
ro,ced pleasure may he back after he has con-
quered the invaded country and with his followers laden with
the pos Of victory, silence all opposition at home and de.
clare himself First Consul Emperor nav best suit hi.
desire Who oresec the result Of acquesencc Of the
people in such assumptions Of power VIII the people amey
submit to it They alone answer
II is admitted that this revenue, when raised, will be the
money Of the Government. What place is fixed b. law for
is saekeepng aud how may be drawn from the place ap
pointed The Treasury Of the United States is the proper
place for keeping this revenue and only be drawn there
in consequence Of appropriations made by law" No,
dollar this money finds its way int the Treasury.
The Prcsdcn, collects and Gsbues il without asking Con-
gross for authority But if paid into the Treasury
would be there in accordance with any provision of law
The OF the Government only be legally collected
by officers connected with the Treasury Department. who
appointed o tie purpose giving the United States surety
for the faithful discharged their dutes required by law
But here revenue collected y the officers OF the army hav-
ing kind Of cnexion with the Treasury, responsible
to it, who appointed for altogether different purpose
and whose salaries is said, have been fixed by the Pesi-
dent ior performing his service, which required by law