The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-28
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO CONTROL
THE NATIONAL TREASURE.
SPEECH OF Mr.. GIDDINGS,
on HIS MOTION,

ON HIS MOTION,
That the House of Representatives Adhere to it
Position on the Bill making Appropriations fol
the Support of the Army.*
Deferred in the House of Representatives. Aug IL 1890
Mr.. SPEAKER:
Although the hour is late, and our physica
energies are exhausted by sixteen hours of con
tinuous session, will venture to occupy few
moments of the time which yet remains, in win
dication of the motion have just submitted.
do this the more readily, from the fact that moi
one half hour has been thus far appropriated
to that object while hours have been spent in
efforts to convince the country that the Repub
licans are endeavoring to stop the operations
of Government, by Withholding the necessary
funds.
To correct this Misrepresentation, will only
refer to the record before us, which has already
been published TO the country. The bill now
under consideration appropriates some thirteen
million dollars to support the army. ] believe
it gives every dollar that was asked by the War
Department 1t was reported by Republican
committee, and our Journal shows that it was
supported by every Republican member; a,
least, l am not aware that Republican vote
was given against it.
These facts do not bear with them any ev.
idence that Republicans are endeavoring to
stop the operations of Government. But this
same record shows another fact that is some
what important; it shows that every friend OF
the Administration in this House, go far as my
recollection extends, voted against the passage
of this bill. Thus will the history Of our pro-
ceedings bear to the people now, and in COM
ing time, the very extraordinary fact that the
opponents of the present Administration were
in favor Of giving supplies to support the army,
while its professed friends have recorded their
votes in opposition TO that measure. And now,
while making up this solemn record of passing
events, gentlemen in this body, and in the other
end OF the Capitol, charge us with being fac
tious, with endeayoring to stop supplies with
using our efforts to block the wheels Of Govern
ment. For one, am willing to let the people
judge who are factious, who endeavor to stop
the wheels Of Government.
Sir, this bill, making ample appropriations,
was sent to the Senate. They could have pass.
ed it at once, and made it law, had they
chosen to do so; but, while the Administration
numbers three-fourths of that body among it's
friends, they refused to accept the bill, and re-
turned it, with demand that We give the Ex-
ecutive unlimited power over the money which
it appropriates, and thus permit him to employ
the army in compelling the people of Kansas
to obey the enactments of the pretended Legis.
latuee 81 that Territory
Here, sir, lies the question: Shsll we aid the
Executive in his efforts to subdue the people
of Kansas? By SO doing, we should aid in the
overthrow OF the Constitution we should pro-
vote that revolution in our Government which
the President and bis friends have commenced,
aggravate the civil war now raging i. tha.
Western region, and strengthen the cause of
despotism in its assaults upon Liberty.
Events of intense interest are transpiring
around US, ana i is due to ourselves that we
make up a correct record OF the current incidents
OF the times in which We live. Therefore, at the
commencement OF my remarks, | assert the
clear and indisputable right Of the people TO
control the expenditure Of their opn money. The
Executive is bound to execute the laws; with
the ADVICE and consent of the Senate he makes
appointments to Office, and negotiates treaties !;
the Senate are his advisers, holding tnei. OF
fees for longer period than even the President
himself; and are thus, to some extent, placed
above The control o. the people, The members
of this body come directly from the people, rep.
resenting their views and wishes; and if We fail
in that, we shall be discarded after a term of
only two years. To us, therefore, the Executive
and the treaty making power must ever look for
tunds 10 csrry out their designs Ofthose designs
we Judge; II we spproTs them; we grant the
requisite funds to carry them into effect; ii We
disapprove those objects, we withhold appropri-
atoms, This check upon the Executive and
his advisers OF the Senate constitutes the safety
of the people, who are the detositar,es of power,
the resulting Sooereigns of the nation, for ours
is a Government Of the People.
Sir, the President and Senate appoint whom
fboy y,lo 10 off Thau
treaties as they please. In these matters, they
do not consult tue paoEle, nor the Representa-
tives of the people. But when they ask Tor
money, they must come to us. We hold the
pursestrings of the nation. We will open the
doors of our Treasury whenever the interest Of
tie nai.on requires, and will close them when
we think the people demand 1t. kOt dollar
can be expended without our consent, When
speak of ourselves, / refer to the people whom
we represent. Sir, feel conscious pride while
standing here in these last expiring moments -. ~
our preseuI session, to declare this right of the
people, and to exhort them and their represent.
atives ever to feel the true dignity of their DO.
sition, and ever to exert this high prerogatiye.
in the spirit of independent patriotism.
I have felt sorrowful while hearing gentlemen
declare the exercise of this right to be factious
and revolutionary. Such language would have
become the elerenth, but not the nineteenth cen.
sThe bill originally contained provso forbiddng the
of The army to compel obedience the
the pretended Legislature of Kansas When it reached
the Senate that body struck this proviso
the bill the House That body inserted another con-
tanning substantially The matter The refused
10 agree this amendment, and asked a committee of
conference The House acceded 10 the request and the
two committees met, but could agree. Another COM
nsiise requested, 10 which the House consented
This second committee met, but wsre unable to aeree
Mr. OiddlngS, chairman on the OF the House
ported that body the fact that the conference
the Houses had been unable 10 and moved
that House adhere anierdlenf which would end
all further controversy, and leave the Senate agree to
the provso reject the bill. On that motion he made