Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-03-17
rro~ "a. ~. y csan..reia, .A.i,.r,;..r.

tfoa the ". Y Commercial advertiser
oRIGINATIoN OF APPROPRIATION BILLS
The alteration in the mode OF originating sp.
preparation bills lately made by the Senate has not recei
we'd the attention from the press Of the Union thit
its importance demanded Several contemporsneou, cir
cussnees eoptribued this ON tho part Of
Journalistic but mainly the excitement aud disorder that
prevailed In the House of Representatives The iuport.
ant change ~ssn fact Of the fruits OF the dis
organization and anarchy that prevailed In the more popu
lar anch Of the national Legislature IL il scarcely
probable that the finance committee would have request
cd to be instructed prepare and report such of the
general appropriation bills they may deem exp,n,
would the Senate have instructed them had the
House promptly entered upon the business the session
But the seeming determination of that body to po.pop,
indefinitely all obligations, and the claims of the Govern.
ment and the country, while nduging an obsnacy with
ut parallel in national legislation. supplied an coca.
sion, not Justification for the Senate adopting the
course IL did The Senate resolution nstrucling their
finance committee prepare such bills thus affirming
the Scnates constitutional right equally with the House
OF Representatives TO take the initiative in
moneys having been passed is regularly acted upon
aud will be for all future time unless ON some is.
taken, that should be declared by
the Supreme Court of the United States.
The resolution in question opposed in the Senate
pnn'pay by Messts SEWARD and Sumner, aud supported
mainly 10y Messr Hunter aud Toombs IL was adopted by
decisive majority. The National Intelecncer OF yes
teray discusses the question its usual candor and
force IL justly remarks that objections To
the novel propositions strcnuouy urged by the
opponents OF the resolution Mr. Sumner We tem.,nb.r
said, when Mr. Toucey put the question directly TO him
whether he denied the power of the under the
sttuton TO originate appropriation bills answered that
he believed that according tue spirit the
the Senate ought not originate such bills but that b,
did not feel at liberty express opinion to their
IRENE ght IN do 80 under tue letter oi the
This view the lntcgcncer supports very forciby and
We cannot do better than transfer its remarks to our
columns
| he q ,b,
hct with the intentions Of the trainers OF the
whatever may be the tation of which iii.
letter oil thai instrument is susceptible cannot, think
De successfully controversies and support Of this opi
ion, shall briefly advert the sentiments of Mr. Mad
son on this subject enpouned in his letters contained
in the Federalist-hat manual of constitutional .,no
sition well of profound political wisdom, L. H.
sixty-third number OF the "Federaist" written by NJ
Madison concerning the constitution OF the Senate
with special regard to the justify a greater
ton in the appointment OF its members than those OF
the lower House of Congress the writer proceeds to d
vide the proper objects OF government into general
classes; " The one depending measures which have
ingly immediate and sensible operation the other
depending succession Of wc-choscn aud wel.cou.
Quoted measures which have gradual aud perhaps un-
observed operation. The Senate he argues Wis speca
y designed TO provide for objects the latter
as require continued attention because dencn,.ut
IN the mixed transactions of several years In the pre-
cedng number OF the Fedcralist he had enumerated
As among the main purposes to be answered by Senate
the prevention OF such sinister combinations as are
sometimes incident Republican Governments But The
passage Is so instructive that quote il at length:
ut is misfortune incident republican government
thonshn less degree than TO other governments that
those who administer it may forget their obligations
Ia their constituents aud unfaithfu their i'm
portant trust In this point OF view Senate a. a second
branch OF the Legislative Assembly distinct and A
vding the power with first be in all cases salutarv
check ON the Government Ii doubles the security to the
people 10y requiring the of distinct bodies in
schemes OF usurpation and perdy where the ambition or
corruption of would otherwise sufficient Th. i,
precauon founded such clear principles and now -,
well understood in the United States tina. it would bc
more than superuuous TO enlarge il. will barely
mark that, the mprobabty Of sinister combinations
will be in proportion the dissmary in the genius of
the two bodies it must be polite distinguish then,
from each other by every circumstance which will
with due harmony in all proper measures aud with the
genuine principles OF republican government"
Ii Is evident, alike from the theory of our institutions
ond from the early practice o the Federal Government
that the Senate intended be regarded s igh adj
sorry body, Tor the superntendencc revision OF
ure which might more naturally be left originate in the
House OF Representatives, composed OF delegates nor,
Immediately from the people and who conseQ would
be from the nature OF the the first all
ures OF real or imagined public utility This is the gene.
raj theory of the relation designed exist between the
two Houses by the trainers the sttutou and h.nc.
in the earlier period Of history the Senate was not
divided into committees for the preparation of business
a. at the present day
Aud though the express letter OF the constitution adj
mlts the equal authority of the Houses all legi,a
tive subjects except bills for raising revanue which il
i ordained shall originate in the House of Representa-
uves II Is nevertheless undcnabe that this same resry
alton has heretofore been able conceded to the Uouse
their peculiar right with regard general appropriation
bills The necessity ola resolution of the Senate suthor
lng its committee on finance hereafter TO originate such
bills Is itself sufficient witness what has formerly been
the practice OF the Government in this regard All 4
OF the chang which has been introduced. And il will be-
found that both Mr. Madison and Mr. Hamilton in more
places than in the political textbook from which
We are quoting, apply the principle money bills
in general Hamilton, in defending that clause of our
constituting which the Senate court for the
trial OF mpeaenents, As one of its peculiar prerog ves
declares that this reservation in behalf of the senate is
counterposed' by "He ezeiSire DTiusgs of
tires
And that by the term "noney bills" he meant some
thing more than bills for raising revenue" (which il {.
admitted must take their inception in the lower House OF
Congrss becomes apparent from the remark Of Mr. Midi
son. as found In earlier paper Of TIE same series en-
braced in the Federalst la the fifty eighth number Of
that work this eminent authority while cxpoundinp
the constitutional relations of the House of
Ves distinctly Declares The House of
can nat only rgf BUT THEY PROPOSE rHE sup
PLIES REQUISITE FoR rmE SUPPORT GUvEGNMENr" This
language ct one who has been unworthly called the
Father OF the Constitution it will he SEEN is unequyoc
IN its meaning aud clearly shows ia what lght this subject
was viewed by those Who framed and those who e,n
ded and explained the constitution when il was offered d
the acceptance reflections OF the States while the &C
on OF Congress from the day Of it, first meeting under
Tn" constitution adopted down the present time is
sufficient proof that the principle incorporated in III,
practice as well admitted in the theory the Govern
ment.
The departure from the uniform usage existing from
the first establishment of the Government eIhtbes tb,
question with great Importance and there are some points
connected with 1t that deserve passing notice Whate
ver may be said OF the right OF the Senate TO take H.,
position it has assumed It is clearly an Infringement OF
the privilege which has hitherto been possessed los TIA,
popular brauch Of the national Legislature nv consen
oi all parties hitherto the organization of all money b
has been conceded TO the peoples Representatives wheh
er revenue or supply bills This exclusive aud time hon,
orei privilege Is now wrested from the House by Dem
ocrntc Administration, which found itaef n minority in
the lower branch OF Congress Had the Senate hcun Wig
hl ths ninnged upon popular rights and privileges III,
"hoc democratic press OF the Union would have joined IN
denuncaton OF It, and t the canur for the preservation
OF popular rights. but all experience shows that Demo
cratic politicians in reality the peoples worst oncni,
caring Out hlc about the principle involved they hav,
party ends to gain. When will the masses learn tl
fact
GREAT RATIFICATION MEETING At PHfLi DELPHIA.
An immense ratification meeting held at Philadelphia
o. Wednesday last. Great enthusiasm prevailed IN,
nominations Of Fillmore aud Donelson we're adopted by
reclamation.