The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-13


amendment, which is TO correct date. l ssk thai 4
may now be considered Tft
No objection being made, the bill was then taken up
and considered as in committee Of the whole.
The question being taken on the amendment reported
by The committee, IL was agreed 10.
hs M TN GwlN h am not gong e oppose ne passage Of
time since directing the Committee Finance 10 Tepou
the general appropriation bills, and do not intend
press it, wish 10 give The why introduced H.
II is well known that, since the commencement OF the
government the House Of Representatives have orgina
ted the appropriation bills But ia the early periods OF
Soas forward ss q ns
TO give them proper consderaiIoo enable the Senate
to examine them Buta practice has grown up recently
Ss a o made the Of The hsS sss
had IN view in Introducing lhe gesula1on to which
fer was il possible. gvs he Sensie fair opportunity
o. participating in the legislation Of Congress IN reference
Mr. President, have gone TO some pains to examine
the history OF The government on this subject find that
III me beginning OF the government the fathers OF the
public LAID it down sleadtas, rule that there should
be full and ample opportunity for the examination Of
these measures.
The people OF the United States have established
constitution and government! for themselves. They
have vested all granted legislative powers Cong
consisting OF Senate and House OF Representatives
Tbs grant imposes upon Congress the obligation to pass
all laws necessary and proper within their specified pow
ers, for the support and perpetuy of the government
thus established; and the obligation thus resting upon
Congress collectively is secured by the oath taken by
every senator and representative support the cons,tl
ton, which binds them Individually This is the active,
operative, or vital power, which is conded in by the
people, TO provide the for all the purposes of gov
ernment and TO authorize their application to its support
and maintenance in all its departments. Nor this
solemn and imperative duty be ntermed without vio-
ation OF OATH reasonable disregard of the vital in
terests and safety of The country. 4H
II Is true that the executive power is vested in the
President which involves The disbursement and expeud
ture, under bis direction OF all the money appropriated
by law; and tits also true that Congress have necessary
duty to perform In scruhizng the expenditures OF the
government.
Upon this subject the grea, and good President Wash
ington. in his Farewell Address, remarked that
The necessity for checks the exercise
political power, by dividing and distributing it into different
lie veal against invasions by Others, has been
by experiments ancient and nodern some OF them in
own country and under my own eyes"
The prescriptions and policy of those stern republican
patriots, Jefferson and Madison, the same and the
practices Of Their administrations coresponded strictly
with that principle.
counymen by these fathers OF the republic has always
BEEN and is hoped will always remain, the policy
OF this government; but It will avail bu, little should
only the appearance and shadow OF this saluary prnci
pie remain and the substantial benefits that might be de-
rived from IFS steady observance be lost by the in
which congressional Legislation in reference The
nua appropriation bills Tor the support OF the govern
nenl are managed sEa gE rs 81.
The PRACTICAL fruits contemplated by The true policy
upon This point have been 10 regulate and economize the
expenditures OF the govsrnmen preserve the
ability OF public officers and agents. and restrain all ten
dency on the part OF the executive departments TO ex
The constitution declares that !" No money snail be
drawn from the treasury but In consequence oil appro-
priations made by law"
the general appropriation bills be reported and considered
at early day each session, 10 afford time to examine
and discuss them by the representatives and senators IN
Congress in due season and on reference to the laws
il will be found that the practice OF Congress has been,
for the most part during the hrst halt century OF 's ex
s,ence, TO pass those laws within the frst quarter OF
llp rt.n nj fha
resentatves has been had in time 10 enable the Senate
also examine and discuss their provisions Tor them
selves
So essential was il considered by the House OF Repre-
that these bills should be brought in for the ac
ton Of the House at early day, that they adopted the
following rule:
Means. within thirty days after their spPointmen atevey
session oi Congress-, commencing on the hrs MONDAY OF
mo- ns for The
for the navy, and tor the Indian Department aud Indian
annnitcs in failure thereof the reasons OF such ia
The House OF Representatives also adopted the follow.
ing rule:
General appropriation bill. shall be in order in prefer
any other bills OF public nature, unless otherwise
ordered by majority OF the Ho6se -
These provisions evinced the best intentions the
part OF House facilitate The passage OF ibose bulls; but
they went further in order 10 exclude iron them every
matter that might be calculated TO give rise to unneces-
say debate and delay such passage and adopted The fol-
lowing rule:
No appropriation shall be reported in -uch general APP
bills, be in order ameudn thereto,
for any expenditure not previously authorized by law
In corresponding spirit the Senate adopted the follow
ing rule
"No amendment proposing additional appropriations
shall be received any general appropriation b. unless
he made the provisions OF some existing law,
resolution previously passed by the Senate
during tha session. In pursuance OF an esae rom the
head Of OF the departments; and no amendment
shall be received whose object Is 10 provide Tor private
claim, although the may have been previously 'ano-
toned by the Senate. H#
Yet, notwithstanding the adoption OF these salniary
rules by the two houses, which they had perfect right
to adopt under thai clause OF the constitution which de-
claes that each house may determine the rules OF its
proceedings the manner in which these bills have been
brought in passed through OF late years has violated
all the sauary and considerations enumerated
in the premises.
ist /, has violated the rules OF the House OF Repre-
scniaiives by brngng the bills far beyond the time
quifed by It's rules
2d II has violated the rules OF courtesy to The Senate,
the deberaon and OF the Senate all bills
before they become laws by delaying their passage in
the House of Representatives until within few days.
and even somslimes within few hours Of the expra-
ton OF session OF Congress. thus rendering il totally
for the Senate that Judgment or
perform that duty regarding such bills which the const-
tuition requires
3d 1t has not only violated the spirit OF the consu-
ton but has endangered the best interests OF the coun-
try and the integrity OF the government, BY throwing It
in the power OF individual either house of Con-
gress under the rules to defeat bill upon which the
M