Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-08-29

'l'll 'liN. lUlS tAtlublNe IlEnJ anu Nu0t'W
OF originating general appropriation bills in
%yolyesn Mt least An equal right, on the part ct
the House Of Representatives, to limit or di-
rect the application Of the moneys appropri-
nted. Tho House, In view Of the revolution
inaugurated in Kansas by the President, with
tho aid OF the army of the United States, and
maintained by the Senate, might lawfully, it
in its discretion it should deem such a course
cxpedlcnt, refuse to appropriate any money
whatever Tor the support Of the army. Inc
greater includes the less. Tho House
may therefore attach tho prohibition as a
condition Of the grant of supplies for the
army. The Hon. Senator from Maine MIR.
Fessenden has sagely said, in the course OF
his excellent speech, that the House has, by
reason OF its constitution, a peculiar and su-
pcri0r fitness for passing on the question in
volvcd in this debate. Its members are fresh
from the people, and they 60 hence directly,
to render an account to the people of the ad-
ministrltiOn Of the National Treasury. We
Of the senate are so far removed, by tho du-
ration Of our terms of Office, as practically to
he in a measure irresponsible. The House of
Representatives is constituted by direct cleo
ton by the people themselves. We OF the
Senate are sent here by the Legislatures of
the Respective States. They are great pollt-
zeal bodies, and Justly represented here as
such, to check, IT need be, tho too volatile
action Of the people through the House of
Representatives. But they are corporations,
nevertheless and the Senate il a body repre-
scuting corporations.
Moreover. the Senate, by force Of its con
s]titution rs a council Of the President, in tp-
pointments to Office and in the conduct Of for
cign affairs, is more readily inclined
towards combination with the President,
and Of course to dependence upon him, than
the House Of Representatives. 1t is to tho
House OF Representatives, therefore, that the
pcoplo must look, and it is upon that House,
and not upon the Senate, that the people
must rely mainly for the rescue of public
Liberty, if the time shall ever come
when that Liberty shall be endangered, with
design or otherwise, by the exercise Of the
Executive power.
Thus far, Mr.. President, | have treated
this subject as one involving only tho inter
ests of the people of the Territory Of Kansas.
But you will see at once, without any ampli-
hcation on my part, that you nre establishing
by way of precedent, a system OF government
for not merely that Territory, but all the
'erritories, present and future, within t he
United States. 1t is worth while to see what
that system is. 1t is the system Of popular
sovereignty, founded on the ahnegation of
Congressional authority, attempted by the
Kansas and Nebraska Act of 1854. But it
il that system OF popular sovereignty, with
the principle Of popular sovereignty left out,
and that of Executive power, exercised with
fraud and armed forces, substituted in its
place. since we have entered upon a career
of territorial aggrandIzement. as Rome, and
Britain, and Spain did, respectively, we can
look forward to no period when what we call
Territories, but what they call Province or
Colonies. will not constitute a considerable
part Of our dominion, and be a theatre for the
exercise of cupidity and the display of ambi-
ton. Let Congress now effoctually resign
the Territories to military control by the
President, or by Generals appointed by him,
and two more acts will bring this grand ma
tionll drama Of ours to its close. The first
of those acts will be the subversion Of Llbcr-
ty in the remaining Territories, and then, the
Rubicon easily p .ssed, the second will be the
establishment Of an Empire on the ruins Of
the W hole Republic.
But how is the Government to he arrested,
even il this army bill should fail, through
your perscyering dissent from the House of
Representatives. Is the ermy of the l.. s. .
INDEED and essentially, a civil institutional
necessary and indispensable institution, in
our republican SYSTEM On the contrary. it
is an exception, an anomaly, an antagonistic
institution, tolerated, but wisely and Justly
re .arded with jealousy and apprehension-
We maintain a standing army in time Of war,
to suppress Indian instructions or to repel
lVtriGn .",as.o,', %nu We halu''Il 'ne same
slthulnS army III time OIL peace only because
T. d, WIS., III Tue .''. ~ psi'' 70 De prepared
" war put, "nytnei III peace or war we
- J, M!'no"' Slm' measure OF
'1It" 'o''',.."'I i!''ltF' "'ll'IY'
rIyd been sn,i,cndni. and # tbsy tad mot
been. the smallest measure Of ~eutleno.s and
charity towards the d%ccaylns trihos would
more piectuullN secure the blessings of peace.
., far as tl,v,rc concerned than fbc r@ntrrI,v
ucnt of many 'orions. I~Iarillv. also. tho
dark cloud that seemed rathcrin, over II.
from the Fast. when thi, session commenced
IN December last. las been dlsr,rs,d. and "
NV