The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-08


the making negoiottng of a treaty
That question not before this committee Whether
has the right TO cali for and secure this inorm
ton under any circumstances, is one question whether
they have the constitutional right to this information IN
taking part in the negotiation OF treaty IN regulating us
terms and conditions in altering and amending Its stpu-
latons prior its ratcatonand this applied also TO
treaty unexceptionable in other respecsts very diner
question or the first entertain no doubt that THIS
House has the power have doubt that IN latter hey
have il not the constitution has given it TO them
believe that this House has the power 10 call ON the
President of the United States for any document paper
the subject of this treaty in his possession The call
question OF expediency not for the President 10 decide,
the Senate for this House but for this House to decide
for itself and this House is clothed with that power
for one do believe that the House OF Representatives
viii ought to exercise in calling on the Pres
dent of the United States for documents and papers con
neced with the negotiation of the treaty unless such an
exigency should arise would make that course mpefi-
ousy necessary in their Judgment
Now, far from my entertaining any difference OF op
ion with the gentleman from Missouri Mr. Benton as to
the functions and prcrogaves Of this body 60 further
than he does believe that the House of Representatives.
being directly the popular branch of the government
clothed with higher and mghter than those he has
enumerated This House has the power to stop the wheels
of government any day The constitution of the United
States has emphaical declared that the President shall
hold his Office for four that he shall have salary
TO be fixed by law and that il shall not be diminished d
ring his term OF Office; yot who for moment can doubt
that this House sy stop the salary any year, OF the Pres
dent the judiciary the supplies of the army and navy, &c
The power is und0ubted and is the responsibility. The
responsibility Of the representatives. to their constituents
This House say has the power to stop supplies any year
The constitution explicitly provides that moneys shall
be drawn from the treasury except by appropriation by
law. asa $685. 1850
will go further question Of power, who de-
nies the right Of revolution Our patriot fathers made the
constitution for specific purpose That specific purpose
mbodied in the Declaration OF Independence to
the greatest attainabe amount of human liberty
compatible with the rights and securities Of social com
pact and to demonstrate to the world the power and
city of for selfgovernmen Suppose the constitution
failed to answer that purpose suppose the machinery OF
this government-no matter how much you Mr. Chair
man, may admire fails reach its object do you or
does any one deny the right of the people to tear it to
fragments and to erect new one which would execute
that purpose? That is the power of revolution is only
be exercised in tho EXTREMIST emergency and by such
demonstration of the popular will to leave doubt of
its propriety II is power, nevertheless, which is not
often denied in our day. The kind of power in
qualified degree sir resides in this House This House
then, has pocr which it would be somewhat revolutionary
to exercise in the cases putt but question Of power
it is here An emergency might arise to justify its
else Of that the House is to Judge If they do judge
all mean to say Is, they have the power.
The gentlemans point is that there is danger of this
House being shorn of some of its power privileges by
some of the coordinate branches Of the government
wish to say that upon that point do not with the
gentleman from Missouri have evidence of it before
my eyes. | recognise higher degree of power in this
House under the constitution than he has claimed in his
speech resolutions The gentleman from Missouri
the position that the treaty and
sage submitted, encroachment upon the pre-
rogatves Of this House Eneroaohment by whom? by
the President and the Senate II is his dea if under
stood the gentleman that there danger of encroac
ment by the coordinate branches of this government upon
the prerogayes of this House In what ask The gem
eman says we have not been consulted upon this treaty
Why SIR the very treaty before this body which
are now debating and upon which deibera-
ting is evidence to the contrary The President has sub
mitted explicitly in his message that it is absolutely
cessary that shall lcgislae and appropriate O000
900, the treaty becomes dead letter would like to
know OF the gentleman from Missouri, [Mr. BENroN] if
there could be greater power recognised Ia aud exercised
by this House than the right and power 10 destroy or
make alive and operative What greater power do