The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-22
DEBATE ON THE VETO MESSAGES-MR. BENJA
MINIS SPEECH


The bills making appropriations for the improvement
of rivers recently returned to the Senate with the OBJ
ectons of the President taken up yesterday for
sderation Mr. Benjamin addressed the Senate in favor
the bills and In opposition to the positions of the messages
lie undertook the herculean task of showing that Con-
gress has the constitutional power to make the appropa-
tous in the bills His argument was of course able
genious and plausible for he makes but able speeches.
yet it is dparagement him say that his argument
left the question still involved in the doubt and
which the great ineees of other days have failed
remove. Mr. Benjamin. however sought involve the
President in inconsistency, by taking the ground
that the present bills prepared In accordance with
his suggestions in bis special message Of December
In particular the bill preparedthat is In not
combining together various appropriations for various OBJ
ees Of internal improvement The two messages be-
fore the Senate strongly illustrate the wisdom Of the Pres
dents suggestion this subject BY reference the
bills 1t will be that in the appropriation is made
expressly for the promotion OF commerce. whilst in the
other the object is specified In regard TO the one
therefore which specified the object the inquiry Of the
President limited to the constitutional power of Con-
gress make the appropriation for commercial purposes
In the other case however the whole field OF inquiry was
left OPEN and therefore It will be seen that in refer
ence to that bill the President not only witbholds
his approval The ground OF want OF power under
the clause regulate commerce. but refers to official To-
formation to show that II be exercised in e1ecu
ton Of the power provide for the common defence
In bis message Of December 1854 he announced ms in
ability to find In the constitution the power to make APP
preparations for commercial purposes but conceded that
circumstances might exist ustiDg them for the common
defence Hence the necessity for the suggestion 10
making the appropriations in separate bills 10 this respect
the suggestion followed in the preparation Of the bills
but Of them bore on m face The object and for that
object the President had already decided that appropria
tons could not made As to the other the information
before him did show tina, the appropriation peces
,ary for the defence and therefore that too fell
within the conclusion which be bad heretofore arrived
and which he had distinctly announced We think, any
doubt could have been raised By Mr. Benamin ingenious
argument as to The straightforward consistency Of the
President is only necessary to bis message Of
December 3d. 1854 and especially to the following para
graphs to vindicste him fully from the charge
" remains therefore, to consider the question Of the
Of discretion In the exercise by Congress OF the
power provide for the improvement Of and barbors
and that Of the legitimate responsibility Of the Executive
In the relation
In matters Of legislation OF The most con-
sttuonalty II Is always material to consider what amount
Of public money shall be appropriated for any particular
object. The consideration applies with augmented
cass Of appropriations which In their nature
peculiarly prone erccss and which, being made IN
the Of incidental powers intrinsic tendency to
overstep the bound. Of constitut ionality
III appropriation for improving the nsvira bity of
river, deepening protecting bsrbor have reference
military naval purposes then its righuness Whistler
in the objects to which IL applied depends
manifesy the military naval exigenoy and the sub
matter affords lis Of legislative discretion
Bat the appropriation for such object have no distinct
relation to tho military naval wants Of the country and
wholly, mainly, intended promote the revenue
from commerce, then the very vagueness the proposed
purpose Of the expenditure constitutes perpetual arnonon
of and caution. Through disregard Of th Il e
densbe that in many appropriations Of this nature
have been made unwisely without accomplishing beneficial
results Commensurate with the cost, and sometimes for evil
rather than good independently Of their dubious relation TO
the constitution