The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-07-26
of HON. w. w. Hsoyce.
Of SOUTH CAROLINA,

RenaaarRks Of HON. w. w. Royce,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
In the House Of Representatives, u.
s., June ~, on the bill making appro-
Priation to curry into effect the Mexi-
can Treaty.
:. Mr.. Boyce said: Mr.. Chairman
This is subject OF great Importance
IN two points in view. First. in re-
ference to the power of the House
over the subject of appropriations
required by treaties; and second, in
regard 10 the expcd;ency Of passing the
appropriation bill for ten millions Of
dollars, no& before the committee
The first Question is-What degree of
discretion has this House the Right to
exercise, When a bill comes here ask
ing Mn aPPropr!a.!o:, to carry out
treaty? have no doubt but that the
House has right 10 exercise a full
discretion, free and entire discretion
Of the subject. have no doubt but
that we are at liberty, if we think
proper, to reject the bi!I, and to refuse
the appropriation.
Mr.. Chairman, it has Been well said
that ours IS government Of checks
and os 5alancc.L Its whole organization
is iS such. Ths ST.sSEac Jf JfIscnrcscn,ativcs
represents Inr pen: :iNt5t.i rep, s;,,
rcsents The States; the President rep.
rescnts both the people and the States.
BY one form Of election, he is elected
by the people. in the event ofa choice
not being made at first, he is elected BY
the States. Therefore, say, our whole
political system is one of checks and
balances. In constituting the Consti.
tuition, wo are not to construc it as n
part cf the whole. We are to look
mt all the clauses, to put them oil to.
gcthcr, and if possible, endeavor TO
draw harmonious conclusion. Let
us do that in this instance. In the
first place, We find in the Constitution,
with regard to the House of Repre-.
sentatives, two important provisions;
that no revenue bill shall originate
except in the House of Representa-
tives, thereby giving to the represent
a,ives Of the people the full, absolute
and entire power to place all pecu-
MARY burdens on the people. Then,
again, it is provided that no money
shall be drawn from the treasury but
in consequence of an appreciation to
6e made by law, to the passage Of
Which the action Of the House of Rep
!fcsentativcs, is, Of course, necessary.
Therefore, no money can be taken,
hrst, fro,n the people; but by the nc
tioh Of the House; and secondly, no
money can be drawn from tho treasury
but by the like action ofthc House.
If there is any principle in the Con.
stitution more important than another,
more characteristic Of the whole tenor
of our government; more essentially
American, it is the great principle that
the representatives of the people are
to act on all subjects involving the
raising Of money or the appropriation
of money. / take it, then, that this
is the great principle which is impress
ed on the Constitution. And, if we
examine that instrument by the light
,of history, We see the importance of
this principle. Our ancestors derived
st from En- gland. 1t was the principle
which secured the liberty Of the En-
glish people. 1t was the great princi-
pie which they had struggled for con.
turies-the right of the commons to
decide upon the pecuniary burdens Of
the people, and whether they should
give money to the king or not. We
derive that great principle from the
history Of England; and it is the Same
for which our fathers struggled in the
American revolution. 1t is the prin.
tiplc on Which the revolution was
successfully carried out, and on whicl,
1t: battles saI been tought--thc right
Of the representatives OF the people to
tax in the first instance, and to appro
PIRATE the money from tho treasury
Hithoutit, liberty cannot exist: There
fore it is the fundamental principle o.
Dur government; aud VIC arc bound tt
tonstrue the Constitution so as that
this principle shall ut any rate have it,
full force. However any other princi
pie may suffer disregard, this principle
rirnst have efficacy. Let us now CON
strne the Constitution Il, that liz sht.-
We tifd another ci,susc III tnc Consti
'atio" tii regard 80 the treaty '1'tk