Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-09-10

i must ever lOOh IOT lunuS-tO curry Oue
their designs. OF those designs we
judge if we approve them, we grant
the requisite funds to carry them into
effect /; if we disapprove those objects,
we withhold appropriations. This check
upon the Executive and his advisers of
the Senate constitutes the safety of the
people, who are the depositaries of pow
er, the resulting sOvereigns of the nation,
for ours is Government Of the People.
Sir, the President and Senate appoint
whom they please to Office. They ne
gotiate just such treaties as they please.
In these matters, they do not consult the
people, nor the Representatives of the
people. But when they ask for money,
they must come to US. We hold the
purse strings of the nation. We will
open the doors of our Treasury when
ever the interest of the nation requires,
and will close them when we think the
people demand it. Not a dollar can be
expended without our consent. When
l speak of ourselves, 1 refer 10 the peo-
pie whom we represent. Sir, feel con-
sciOus pride while standing here, in these
last expiring moments Of our present ses.
sion, to declare this right of the people,
and to exhort them and their Represen.
tatives ever to feel the true dignity oi
their position, and ever to.exert this high
prerogative, in the spirit of independent
patriotism.
l have felt sorrowful while hearing
gentlemen declare the exercise of this
right to be factions and reUolutionary.-
Such language would have become the
eleUenth, but not the nineteenth century
More than six hundred years since, this
right of the people to control their funds
was extorted from the British Crown,
upon the field of "Runnymede." AT
the point of the sword, it was conceded by
King John, and faithfully have the peo-
pie of England maintained it to this day.
He who reads the biography of Hamp-
den and Sidney is conscious, that in the
mother country the Crown asserts no
such right as that now claimed by the
Executive of this nation nor dares the
Royalty of England approach his Com
mons with such language as is 1aily ut
tered at the other end OF the Capitol in
reference to this body.
"His Majesty, by the grace of God,
King of England, Ireland, and Scotland
Defender of the Faith" &C., even when
he has negotiated treaty with another
nation, cannot demand dollar for car
rying it into effect ; but he approaches
his Commons in the language of respect
full supplication, saying "Ilay the treaty
before you, that yOu may judge of the
propriety of granting appropriations to
carry it into effect.
would recommend to the friends of
the Executive in the other end of the
Capitol to approach this body in Ian
guage as respectful as that used by Eng
lands Monarch towards his subjects. 1
make these remarks, for the reason that
the time has come when l think this
House should assert and maintain its in
dependence-an independence inherited
from our Saxon ancestors, and never to
be surrendered, but with our liberties.
Soon after the ado ption of the Consti-
tuition, our fathers discussed this subject,
Madison and Gallatin, and the great
men of that age, expressed their views,
while considering "Jay's Treaty Of
1896" The subject was of great inter-
est. Like that now before us, it was in
tensified by IFS connection with Slavery.
Large claims had been made by South
ern shareholders against the British Gov
ernment, under the treaty of peace of
1888, which stipulated that the British
troops should be Withdrawn from the
forts, arsenals, &C., in the United States,
" without taking or carrying away any
negroes or other property Of the inha5i-
tants. During the Revolution, many
slaves had left their masters, and, taking
their families with them, had embarked
on board British vessels, and sailed for
the West India islands. Others had en-
listed in the British army, sworn allegi-
ance to his Majesty, and became his
subjects. The owners, after the treaty,
supposed they were to receive full COM
pensation for their losses, under these
Lord Grenville, who, cn the part of
England, negotiated the trclty of 1896,
utterly annihilated their hopes by most
able expose. Mr.. Jay nor any human
intellect could withstand the force of his
logic, and those vast claims were given
up. Southern members of Congress
were displeased with the treaty on this
account and when il had been ratified
by the Senate, and an appropriation of
funds to carry it into effect was asked by
the President, this body, composed of
the ablest men of the nation, demanded
a copy Of the treaty, and all papers con-
nected with it, to determine upon the
propriety of granting the necessary funds
to carry it into effect. They determin-