Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-29

be here longer be- if they have not on repeated
sions the Of their Legislative career found items
serted in different bills to which they less appropriate than
this item the bill which rejected yesterday Though
my own experience here is short have been in the habit
years Of looking closely into the proceedings Of Congress-
and may safely that have often discovered amendments
bills Of various descriptions less german, less in place. than
this small appropriation for clearing distractions
porant river, and thus improving internal commerce.
be deemed in bill providing for the civil and diplomatic
pendures Of the Government In the present crowded
of our legislation Mr. Speaker this must often be the
The business before Of public and private character has
greatly increased within few years past and increasing
day and many matters OF great importance will be poson-
ed from 10 session. and probably forever await
the passage separate bill for EACH refuse take
age of The opportunity thai may be offered bring them in
by way Of amendmc to such bills usually allowed the
precedence in this House. Besides this general consideration
however, which must forcby strike every we have had
instances presented during this debate where
amendments inserted in general appropriation bills pre-
yous Of Congress- and by Democratic votes with
out hesitation question, which much, more, out
Of place than the proposed appropriation for the Savannah NV
the rejected civil and diplomatic BILL Precedent and
cessy may both, therefore, be adduced justify the insertion
OF this section and cannot believe that Democratic friends
would disregard both, unless other motive,
powerful influence work upon them than the ap
pehenson that they doing wrong insert aPpropra
on for internal improvements, to which many Of them
not opposed, in general bill Of this description.
We can have difficulty, Mr.. Speaker in discovering
what this controlling motive 1t has BEEN disclosed upon
this floor with but little decacy and without much respect for
the dignity and independence Of this House. The President
OF the United States will this bill if this obnoxious clause
is retained and ought therefore, to pass the bill without
it, This is the if not the very words Of
threats which have been made here with the view of influence
ing the Representatives Of the People, and Of bringing the
subserven and crnging the ootstoo Of the Executive
For one spurn such influence and utterly deny that the
intentions wishes Of the President should have the slightest
effect upon conduct here Our constitution and earlier
annals plainly show that the legislative department in
tended be entirely independent of the Executive The for
in in We
powers of the Government shall be vested in the Senate and
House Of Representatives. while points out the separate and
peculiar duties of the Executive Notwithstanding thsstrong
marked separation, however, the doctrines broached within
the last fifteen years, and sustained at time with more
holiness than during the present Administration reference
to the power and peogave Of the President have been Of
the startling character and should arrest the attention Of
the most thoughtless condng Not only has the actual
Ueo been frequently thrust this hall and made play the
part of the execuoner Of the interests and wishes Of the
pie, but held in advance, and called
upon to shape measures if we would avoid Its bghng
again. meet the views scrpes OF our good
lord and master, the President We told, in effect that
would much breath and much time if we would
beforehand by whatever may whether this
that bill viii not be tainted by some amendment or sec
on, deemed by be proper and Important and not at all
unfragrant smell rank in the delicate noss OF the Ex
ecuve, and thus produce the rejection Of the whole
The President made, not only part Of The legislative pow
e but he becomes fact the Congress of the UEed States
making what laws he peascs and bending the coordinate
branches intended checks
and balancesas well the interests of the people, 10 his
preme will and pleasure. Why, sir if these doctrines pre-
vail boased institutions would be much less acceptable
than those which the object Of Revolution
to throw off Our Government would become despotsm of
the worst BECAUSE in the midst Of party excitement and
with democratic professions IN its mouth, would always be
able gather the deceived and the corrupt oits support In
real despotsm such Turkey presents, which prevails
great in Russia, should make struggle and
very submission would safety by securing the
few privileges might possess, while by Government claim
- ~, ha
interests Of the peopethe very effort its expressions
and expose lis dupey would be denounced mora trea
son. ncesson appeals being made the meanwhile to the pre-
udices and passions Of those who feared danger to their
liberties because they would believe that they had uniformly
enjoy ed them without uujust control illegal Imitation
The encroachmens OF the Executive Mr.. Speaker, upon
the privileges and rights Of Congress and Of the People, whose
opinions was intended embody and express have always
furnished grounds Of apprehension to real patriots to those
who pfoiesed to be from the Of Gov
ernment Many of the sages Of the of the formation Of
constitution, with foresight almost superhumsn, fore
shadowed IN eloquent terms the dangers that might result
from the power bestowed upon the Executive Men of more
date but hardly less distinguished have also raised their
warning voice against the encroachmen Of hs department
Andrew jackson and Thomas H. Benonarcadcs aabo, with
the Democracy-were found twenty ago, the
ranks Of those who resisted the OF Executive power
and sought control the expenditures the Government and
the improper exercise Of its patronage need recall the
recollection of this House the celebrated Cast Room let
efhdf musy document, and has been long since sent
to the tomb Of the Capules unanonted ami unaneacda
document of which lis distinguished author the embryo lieu
general, has since repend doubt in sackcloth and
ashes. But sir will recall of the recolecons Of my
youh-a recollection which is intimately associated with
the mos, celebrated OF the two names have mentioned.
Amongst the most important political ienes which
taught sir when was just entering upon the threshold Of
manhood that nculcaed by Andrew Jackson, that the
power of the Executive OF this nation had increased
increasing, and ought be diminished You may have
orgoen-I have nohis famous letter to the Legislature Of
Tennessee when he resigned his in the Senate Of the
United Sateshaving been renominated candidate for
he Prcsdency-n which he only advocates the election
Of the Chief Magistrate directly by the people, Of
preventing bargan, intrigue, and corruption" but
mends the passage Of law by which members Congress
shall be prevented from receiving Office from the Executive for
years, believe, after their Of shall have ex-
pred And what the OF this last recommends
ion The purpon OF his argument, though he words
was, that the Executive had coled itself like an anaconda
around the two Houses of Congress- and able either
crush them ah force them COM with its wishes
This letter Of the articles Of faith in Tennessee
Mr. Speaker when, in that noble State oil Jackson
But, in after times, when the old Hero" ceased to
be, in the words Of the lamened Crockett Jaekson
himself left him, and under other leaders still advocated
the doctrines which bad learned from his venerated lips
In contendng then, sir against the proposed mode Of
ercising Executive Influence in this House not incon
sseni, but am only carrying out the lessons which
taught in the old Jackson school consider that il would
only show absence Of proper selesec and dignity
but that il would be ndeble disgrace he Representa-
tves Of the peoples people yet reeo stop for a single
TO inquire what the wishes Of the Executive
what he intended DO in reference any matter which may
be proposed decision We an independent branch
this any other pouion Of