The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-05


MI BAYARD. cannot consent to give my vote on
either the resolution or the amendment, without TAXI ing
up some liule time OF the Senate IN stating the view
which take of this ubject.
Mr.: WELLER, am that there is senator
on This floor 10 whom weuld yield with greater pleas
sionis TO continue. move to lay the whole subject on
the table
Mr. GWlN. call for the yeas and nays upon it. as
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. MANGUM. understand the motion TO lay
the whole subject the table. Does that carry with it
the message from the House, as well as the motion OF The
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair understands
thai # the motion 10 lay the table be agreed to. the
The question being taken by yeas and nays the
ton of MIR. WELLER, resul,edyeas l2, nays s3as fol
lows
yEAS-Messrs. Badger, Cooper Foot. Gwin, James.
MaIory, AsaSam Norris, smith. Soaie' Walker and
NAYs-Messrs. Adams. Atchison, Bayard, Bell, Bor.
Desaussue Dodge q Iowa Doagas. Downs Felch. Fish,
F,zparies. Geys oIin Houston Jones Of Tennessee,
Mason, Norton Pearce, Psu, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian,
Shields, Spruance. Sumner, and Uhderwood-33,
So the motion was not agreed TO-
Mr. BAYARD: Before give my vote on this resolu-
ton wish to detain the Senate for very short time
with stating the reasons why for il il
stands. and YET am in favor of the object which pre-
sume it means TO accomplish When this subject first
came before the Senate, confess that, like many other
members OF the body, connecting with many other mat.
tiers which had transpired during the present session,
felt OF irritation. But that feeling passed away
with the moment and have endeavored since give the
subject that reflection which could and will pre-
sent my views as briefly as possible.
The subject presents itself TO my mind in two aspects
II on single bill, sent from the Senate to the House OF
Representatives, there had occurred differences OF opinion,
and comparing those differences the two houses were
not able 10 agree, aud committee OF conference
sorted to- and that committee agreed on the terms they
would recommend 10 their respective houses, and the
House had chosen to dissent from that report and
another conference, might vote to agree to that other
conferences but my vote would depend very much upon
the character OF the report from which the House had
dissenled, and the character OF the measure. II |
thought il was OF such importance that could stand
upon before the country, should then refuse second
committee OF conference after the first had reported and
the House had refused to agree to the report
But, SIT, there IS another point OF view in which the
question before the Senate We cannot shut our
eyes the effect of all that has taen place during this
session The question In my mind is not OF dignity,
but is of the relative weight and relative power of
the Senate, as compared with The House OF Represent
alives.
AS view this government, il is government not OF
mere numbers, but one constituted in such manner that
numbers is the governing power in the lower branch,
and State sovereigntes the governing power in the up
per branch OF Congress ! represent small State, and
| am not willing place the body of which am
Der in position in which IT is TO become the
codpg agent merely TO make suggestions 10 the power
which represents numbers IN the lower branch The
government is which States represented in the
Senate tis mixed government IL is one peculiar III
its character. Numbers alone represented IN the
lower branch. the House OF Representatives and If
to yield the entire control of the appropriation bills
10 whatever the lower House may choose 10 take
in reference to then and not exercise right com
pairing opinions, TO stand by such measures az we think
proper IT, IN other weEds, 10 be placed IN The
son where, ii the House send bill TO us, and they
disagree TO our amendments and constitute committee
OF conference, and that committee agree and have
the result OF their labors the House throw IT
and do il repeatedly and scientifically, showing by the
frequency OF It's occurrence that the lnenon is place
the Senate in condition OF subordinate body, for
will never consent 10 such course. And when al.
rive al such aconcuson am prepared to take my stand
be the consequences what they may
have looked at the state OF things now existing here
We passed al the last session bill, which has often
passed in The Senate before, for the relief o those who
suffered by spoa,ons committed by the Fench nation
previous TO tGe year $500. What has become of thai
bill 1t has not even been considered in the House OF
Representatives We passed during the last session more
than hundred bills for the relie Of private indvidu
ais, which sent TO the House Ii may be that there
of these bills with regaI 10 which the House
might dlber from But what has been the result
Probably not ten members have looked those bills
and they have not been referred to committees
must connect all these together in my own nind.
look al them and view them IN connexron with what
has occurred with regard to the appropriation bills
was a member OF a committee OF conference on one oil
the appropriation bills The matters of difference were
snail IN themselves, but su oil some importance to the
nsutulion-the military academy at West Point-for
whose support that bill to provide. But the mo.
ment we met The eonieTees on The pari OF the House
found that the object OF the meeting not to confer
but that 10 receive the mandate and order OF the
House, that tue House would these amend
ments and tina, OF no for to talk about
and obliged TO Tecede ln order to pass that
bill, we had TO give up amendments which consider
ed OF geat Importance that institution. la another case
besides the present. darng the present session. The House
have shown that they did not consider the report OF
mttee OF conferences any way binding upon them but
that alter committee has reported, they would dIsse nj
IRON us and force us into the position OF taking such
appropriations they think proper leaving TO the Senate
equal discretion in reference TO what should form the
proper structure OF an appropriation bill.
In addition TO that, this particular the House
have has been observed by the senator's from Caor.
MIA and Pennsy yvana, laid upon the table motion to
reconsider The vote by which hey refused to agree the
report of the committee OF conference thereby dsablug
Themselves from meeting us again think have a
right 10 advert 10 that matter That shows that the
House did not consider themselves bound By the report,
and added another evidence TO those which have al
ready received that the House not treating prop
erly.
These facts, congregated together have led me TO the
conclusion that the intention OF the House place the
Senate in such position that, wheneve as body they
differ from the House, they to Yield to the House
not willing, the ground that have already stated,
considering The character OF this republic and represent
ing as DO, small Stale, TO place that State through
my agency in sucn position as that her representatives.
in this body shall not have equal chance TO participate
in the legislation oil the country with the power OF
bers represented in the other House
1t has been said by the senator from Kentucky that an
appropriation bill consists OF variety of items and that
house has right force the other to agree TO any
item. concur IN that II is true general prin-
cple Bot when appropriation bill comes before you
II IS Just as important with regard to lis structure Tie
Judgment OF The body, that all proper items should be
mcaded, that all improper items should be excluded.
And the judgment OF the Senate rs given upon The bill
a whole and the question is. IL that bill, taking il
altogether, the which ought TO be passed Does il
include all which Is necessary. and does it exclude all