The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-04

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Under these circumstances. if the amendment proposed
by the committee be adopted, why should not this go
with III certainly cannot believe that, under such cIr
cumsancss. thus amendment would lead TO the defeat o
the Dill IN the Rouse OF Representatives, when IT must be
apparent 10 the mind OF every member of that House that
II is not new thing, but is merely make up actual
aenseney o. 'ne strongest character 70 provide lor
most pressing necessity to erect building III lieu OF
one winch mas been burnt In place where large reve-
nue. is collected TO accommodate not only the custom
house. but also the ost Office and the United States
courts for the whole district OF Maine There are now
in fact, no accommodations for these purposes and shall
things remain IN this way, and whole year be lost on
account oil mere question of forms do not suppose
that The evil which the senator from Virginia
appTehend would follow from the adoption of the amend
ment OF my colleague think the House of Representa-
ves will be satisfied, after hearing the explanations
which can be given TO them by gentlemen there who
peecty competent and ready to give them Al any rate
think that we present as strong claim az IS presented
by the senator IN reference 10 the proposed amendment
for Sap fra2clsco Ihope, therefore, the Senate will
consent that the amendment proposed BY my colleague
the amendment Of the COMMITTEES shall be adopted. be.
cause time OF very great consequence, and do not
see that any evil results will follow from IT,
Mr. PETIT Mr. President, believe that # this
amendment would have the effect which the senator from
Virginia supposes, should vote for it--that s If it
should have the effect Of killing the bill am opposed
upon principle to all these bills. have nothing 10 say
10 the details specific items included in this any
other bill OF this nanre but can conceive OF no poprl-
ety. not to no authority under the constitution pass
deficiency bills understand that they are passed TO ap-
proprale money out Of the treasury up money
which has been taken from the treasury during the year,
in violation Of law The constitution expressly provides,
in many words, that mo money shall be drawn from
the treasury but in consequence OF appropriations made
by law" Now, why bill is named deficiency bill
do not know, and conceive, uness it is to do
precisely what have supposed-that is up mo-
neys which have been already expended, upon which
awess wanon hand has been placed in the treasury,
and thence abstracted or removedperhaps for proper
purposes, may have been considered and with de-
sign to embezzle do not charge that; but hold that
il is the business OF the Congress OF The United States to
estmale or at least 10 appropriate the entire amount OF
money which can be expended Tor year, and no emef-
gency whatever can justify any executive officer IN put
ting bis hand into the treasury and expendng more mo-
ney than is appropriated Tor purpose Tor which money
has been appropriated, or for any new or DISTINCT or sep
arae purpose whatever. a
II the public service suffers by the appropriation
ct sufficient funds to carry on the whole operations and
discharge the demands and exgencies OF the
let the responsibility fall where it ought fall We
alone have power TO control the public treasury but
we do not guard ii vgilanily upon the hand, and
upon the other expend literally the Interests and
demands of the people OF the country require, 10
be censured The censure should fall here where the
constitution has placed the control OF the moneys Of the
country
Sir, do not say that shall vote this year for de-
fclency bill, but do say that will not for such
bill any year hereafter. When a administration
comes and has only 10 eypend that which a former
and outgoing administration has estimated for and which
has been appropriated there may be seeming apo-
ogy for the use of more money than administration
just going out OF power, and wishing TO show very
clean balance sheet and an economical disposition of the
public money, has been ng estimate, and have ap
prOpridled. say, there may De apology Euch
case; but is miserable apology which justify
direct violation OF the constitution for any purpose what
ever give notice now to the present administration
that they must, lar concerned, make estimates
enough for this year. and will vote for them ALL will
vote literally Tor all they estimate for the coming years
expenditure, but next year they must not ask TO vote
for deficiency BILL unless they can show that there has
been great, and absolute, and oyerpoweng
sy, such that the army navy required to be
concentrated al particular point, 10 give defence, where
could not have been anticipated any estimate made
N. N he
ordinary oil the transactions OF this government
IN times OF peace there no reason why we should no,
control the purse strings and make IN advance all the
appropriations which required
But senators will ray that the appropriations in these
bulls not all Tor moneys which have been expended
as for insapce 10 tbis case, II Is proposed 10 make d.
and original appropriation Tor custom house in
Maine, and another ia California They may be neces-
lido not say that they not needed do no, know
that there any contracts out Tor either OF them, but
think not improbable that there even
contracts out Tor the construction OF these works. if the
money has not already been taken from the treasury for
Them. But admitting That tbese are new and original
works; that money has been taken from The treasury
whatever Tor Them that they have not been commenced
under appropriation OF $1,000 $4,000. $4,000, OF
OF any other SUN, made sufficient in the OF
Congress to carry ihem on, and that the department has
not gone on involving the government in much more
money, expendng u during the recess, and asking
10 IN and ever up while these may be orgi.
nal proposiuoDs and, as such, proper enough. (of
have entire Jurisdiction over hem) yeit ia not pretend
ed that there not provisions this bill TO COW
Tue reasury and which the government would have us
believe we are bound 20 appropriate aud make good
i hold Irt II 70 az palpable violation of toe consi
luton for aay department OF this government 10 make
conael for the purchase u property, the erection OF
building. otherwise to involve The government
which shall require an alerapproprslion here as il is
10 lake the money directly out OF the treasury and con-
summae the contract al once, and ask US TO up
Afterwards
Ii will be said that we are not obliged 10 vote the
money that one Of our Secretaries may buy site for
custom house, and 20 on with the work, and ii YOU
please, spend millions Of money and he had made
contract slipulang that IL Congress would appropriate
the money, II should he all right Every one knows in
what condition we are placed when we here and
hnd such contract before US. Those who have claims
upon be,ege to death, and they say we are in hon
bound, 10 duty bound to pay; that the work
has been peomed and the material furnished the deeds
for the land gven and that we cannot shrink from the
responsibility OF making the appropriation.
THIS system Is wrong from beginning 10 end. When |
and where did II arise II with extrsvagant adj
mnisuations; those who wished to held ont fair eye.
roI TO The public, and dared not say how much money
Their own interests and exgences demanded because II
counted up IN large suns Sir never was AFRAID and
never shall be afraid TO say TO The people, You cannot
get the advantages, the blessings. and the protection OF
THE great government without taxing Yourselves and
freely spending your money" II is The better policy al
to expend so much moneys this government operates
an insurance company TO youi II protects your persons
and property from harm projects your reputation your
national character. your honor. and everything which
dear 10 you az people, and you must pay The premium
note Nay what II ~ al once; deal fairly with the peo-
pie; let here be no hiding, no hoodwiDkng, let there
be no saying, We will administer your government
for 50 many millions Of money" and them before the
end OF the year. fasen upon the means by which
they will have To up The difference ten times over