The southern press., 1852-03-27


about three millions Of dollars, which il is said
becomes necessary to carry on the operations OF
the government until the both of June, 1862.
The alleged necessity for the additional sum
arises from the fact that the last Congress re.
fused to appropriate the amount then called for
by the Executive estimates by about three mil
IONS and that as the expenditures have gone on
according to the scale OF the Executive estimates
and not according to the law OF Congress, 1t
now becomes necessary for the present Con-
gross to correct an error OF the last Congress.
To our mind this state OF facts is extraordinary,
and demands corresponding degree Of scrutiny
on the part Of members of Congress.
\ I'VE do not mean to be understood as init
mating that there has been any misappcation
of the public money which has produced the al.
/ legged deficiency, or that the facts, when devel-
oped, may not show that the deicia.@y ought to
be supplied. What We mean is, that when the
4 Executive has made his estimates, and submit
ted them to Congress-, for tae annual appropria-
ton, aud when Congress has reiuss6 to appro-
pirate the amount estimated by three millions OF
dollars, if the Executive goes on to expend ac-
cording TO his estimate, and not according TO the
actual appropriations, he should be prepared with
most satisfactory reasons for disregardng the
law Of Congress. and following his own dscre-
ton. The Executive may be able to give such
reasons; but unless he can, we are unable to
see upon what justiliable principle Congress can
sanction such an assumption. That our position
may be more clearly understood, we take case
| for illustration The Executive calls for five
i milliens of dollars for the quartermaster's de
| partment; this is his estimate for the year.
Congress deems this amount too large and only
appropriates three millions. Now, if the Exc
cnlive goes on and expends five millions, we
say that it is done in violation of law; and if
the Executive asks the next Congress to sane.
| ton the excessive expenditure it should be done
/ only upon the most conclusive reasons. When
| Congress appropriates a specific sum to sustain
a specific branch of the government, the Execn-
! tive has no authority for tfanscending the limit
| fixed by Congress. To do so is 10 violate the
law; and no violation of law by the Executive
ought to be sanctioned, except under the pres
sure of absolute necessity. What we maintain,
therefore, is, that the present deficiency bill pre-
| sents case in which the Executive should be
held TO rigid accountability. Why has more
money been expended than was appropriated by
Congress? Why were not the expenditures made
according to the scale indicated by the Ccngres
sioual appropriations? What was the controlling
necessity to justify the Executive in setting
his discretion above the law? How has the
1
which necessarily arise in the case, and unless
they are satisfac Only met and answered, most
dangerous precedent will be set the result Of
which will be that the Executive estimates, and
not the Congressional appropriations, will be-
come the law of the land. We deem it proper
to repeat that we do not make these remarks for
the purpose Of intimating any opinion as TO the
propriety Of passing the deficiency bill, but with
the sole view Of showing how important il Is
| that those who are notified that they Will be
held responsible for the expenditures according
to the appropriations by Congress, may see the
necessity of looking closely Into this dangerous
innovation upon the proper practice of the gov.
ernment. If the Executive can have def-
cheney bills pa sed whenever he chooses thus
TO have excuses Of expenditure sanctioned,
the responsibility should rest distinctly and
singy upon those who make the estimates,
and not upon those who appropriate according
to the estimates. In other words, upon this
new doctrine the business Of making appro
prialions by Congress will become a mere for
NAL proceeding having no responsibility at
tsched TO il. 4 his, surely, is not in accordance
with the true spirit Of our Institutions and IL is
an innovation which should be promptly met by
the most rigid investigation into the necessity
tor the present deficiency BILL We do not be-
lieve that The public mind will be satisfied that
this government is economically administered
with an animal expenditure Of over fifty mil
lion of dollars, until the subject shall be thor
oughly sifted and there can be no bett' time
10 begin this investigation than Is presented
upon this Executive application for tie passage
OF the deficiency bill before Congress"
Now, did anybody ever see such a collocaion
Of dcferccs, paiaiions and excuses sNhy
1
when Gen. JACKSON removed the dcposites, or
rather changed the place Of making them in fu.
ture, he did not rely on excuses, and pallia'ions
and expediencies lie relied on what he con
sidercd his constitutional power. But il a
President can VOL ate the law and rely on rea-
sons and arguments, he is the Legislative as well
as the Executive power. Why suppose the ap-
preparations mere inadequate, he is not response.
BILE.
The excuse given in this case, Ia our opinion,
agerayatcs the offence. The President locates
the different divisions Of The army where he
pleases, and then IL The law does not provide
for that arrangement, he wiH And he pleads
as his reason for violating the law bis desire TO
supply the soldiers where he placed them. He
enlsts the feelings Of The army on his side in
violation OF the law. Why this is Louis NAPo.
LIONS policy And ifthis is tolerated, how long
will il be before we shall have a coup de etdti
Is not Congress competent 10 determine how
much the people shall be taxed for the defence
Of our frontier and Of the Mexicans And when
seven or eight millions are voted Cor the army,
can the President vote three or four millions
more II Congress refuses to ratify il, and pro.
coed 10 impesch the President, what so natural
as for him to appeal 10 the army against the fac
tious majority in Congress, and with the army
and the treasury on bis side, and his own poit.
cal party, what is the result
And now what is the cause Of this enormous
expenditure Why, Il appears from Mr.. Goa.
MANS speech, that the army is so stationed as
10 require, in one case, more than thousand