The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-10-23

VI peru anu vi sui't' lea, truly, iuopt lne
Democratic doctrines on these exciting qucs-
tions, and the dove of peace will spread her
wings over our domestic troubles.
Some Of the sO,OOO,OOO.
Among the items of appropriation for the Ci-
vii and Diplomatic expenses Of the Government
for the present year, are the foowing
Pay and mileage Of Congressman, $4l6,333
Pay of officers and clerks of Congress al ,9lS
Printing and other contingent expenses
of Senate, 900
Printing and other contingent expenses
of House, 1o7,74o
Addition to contingent fund of House, 10000
Supplying of Light Houses, 147 ,475
Pay of Light II ousc keepers, I27, ,44S
Repairs, &c, of Light Houses, e4,G3O
Expenses of floating lights, -o3, l4O
Marine Hospital, San Francsco, $4,000
Surveys of Public Lands, 249,7oo
Intercourse with Foreign Nations, 330, 1897 |
Relief aud protection to American Sea
men abroad, 12o,OOO
For deficiencies in fund for relief ofsick
scamcn, and for furnishing five new
Marine Hospitals, 100000
Continue construction of Custom House
New Orleans 100000
Survey Of Delta of the Mississippi, so 900
New Custom House at Bangor, Me. $4,000
New Custom House at Mobile, Ala. 100000
Custom House & post Office, Norfolk,
Va. $4,000
Custom House, San Francisco, Cal. 100000
Custom House, St. Louis, Mo. $4,000
Custom House, Cincinnati, Ohio, $4,000
Survey Of United States Coast, 10000
We have few words to say on some ofthcse
items Of expenditure, and we are little surpris-
ed that the leading journals Of both parties have
been SO long silent upon what might now be
looked upon as confirmed evil. We allude to
the appropriation of SO much money under the
head of contingent expenses. This item alone,
for the present year, amounts to the sum of
1927 ,749; and when we reflect that every dollar
of it is appropriated originally by simple reso-
luton Of either House Of Congress, and not by
| public law, we cannot but be struck with the
enormity of the abuse of power indulged in by
that s'No money shall be drawn from the trea-
sury, but IN consequence ofappropratons made
by law Now, although these 1927 ,749 have
been incorporated in the appropriation bill, there
has not been single law passed by which one
dollar of it has been appropriated in accordance
| '''NA f''SA oOiiS'i'b'i"ii'
it be taken for granted that either Fl ousc of Con-
grcss may appropriate money BY the simple
solution of one House. what becomes ofthc pro-
vision of the Constitution which requires the
concurrence Of both Houses, and the signature
Of the President to the making Of law Evident
ly, if one House be allowed to appropriate money
under the head Of s'contngent expenses it re-
qures but very little political sagacity to oresee
that the tornality of passing money bills through
both Houses, will eventually be dispensed with.
What contingent expenses can these be, which
require the appropriation Of so much money? and
even granting the necessity of the expenditure,
from what does Congress derive the right
to pass resolutions, which call for the expen-
diture of money by single House? These
contingent expenses do not cover the pay and
mileage Of Congressman, nor the pay of officers
and clerks, and surely if the jurisdiction of one
House sufficient to pass any class of money
bills, it should extend to the pay of the members
themselves. But, no; congressman do not as
sumo that much right for their respective Hous-
es; yet, they assume farther stretch Of power,
when, by simple resolution of one House they
appropriate single dollar for any purpose what
ever 1t is true they have a way of doing these
things by which they avoid, in appearance, any
conflict with the Constitutions; but it is only in
appearance, for the object for which the money
is appropriated, should be as fully set forth in
law as the amount appropriated. Such is the
practice when bills pass both Houses and we
contend that no amount, and especially no large
amount Of money, should be allowed to 60 into
the appropriation bills before the object of ap-
preparations has been agreed upon by both Hous
es. 1t is lodging of the Constitution to ap
propriate money by any other means than by le
gal ena actment, in which the object and the am
cunt shall be specifically set forth Will some
of our contemporaries do us the favor of express
ing their views upon this subject?
Petition to Repeal the License Law.
The following is copy of a petition intended
to be presented to the General Assembly at it's
next session, for the purpose of making the sale
of intoxicating drinks penal offence. If it be
proper in the moral order things, to apply des-
perate remedies to desperate cases, it is so in this
case. Whskey drinking has become so debas-
ing in its immoral effects, that its progress must
be stayed by the strong arm of law, if public o.
pinion is not ready to make a sacrifice of virtue
to the God of Drunkenness. Those who are IA
vorabe to the abolition of the present law, and
in favor of one more stringent, ought to sign the
petition.
To the Hon. the General Assembly of the State of Iowa.
The undersigned, your fellow citizens and con-
stiuents, in the exercise of their Constitutional
right of Petition, earnestly ask of your Honora-
BILE body the repeal Of all existing License Laws
authorizing the sale Of Spurious Liquors within
this State, and the enactment of Law prohib-
iting entirely, under adequate penalties, the traf
fic in intoxicating drinks as beverage.
Fremont DIseuALIrIED.-The Constitution
of California declares, that any citizen Of that
State, who shall send, bear, or receive chal-
lenge to fight duel, is thereby disqualified from
holding any Office Of trust or profit therein forev-
er. Mr.. Fremont being citizen Of California,
and having sent challenge to Senator Foote to
fight duel, is therefore DISQUALIFIED from hold