Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-19

TIKI ADJOURNMENT.
Both Houses Of Congress adjourned yester-
day at II o'clock, M, the Black Republicans
applauding the announcement by the Speaker
that the session was at an end.
All the modes of delay under the rules were
resorted to to prevent the prolongation of the
session until A o'clock. No stone was left an
turned by the Black Republicans to consum-
mate the first step towards the dissolution of
the Union, the beginning Of the end-THE
ARMY is DISBANDED.
Congress has adjourned without providing
for the support Of the army.
Among the powers of Congress designated
by the Constitution is the following:
"THE CONGRESS shall have power to raise
and support armies, but no appropriation of
money to that use shall be for longer term
than two years"
The power to raise and support armies is
exclusively in CONGRESS, and Congress is pro.
hibited from granting an appropriation to that
use for longer period than taco gears.
The evident intention of this clause was to
make the support of the army dependent on
the popular will.
A Congress is elected for t,Do gears only.
The President in our view is powerless in
this matter. Congress alone has the constitu.
tonal power to support the army, and Congress
has refused to do this.
The army is disbanded, and the Black Re-
pubicans have disbanded it.
We do not propose to-day to discuss the
question Of the power of the President to re-
sist by any means, direct or indirect, the man
date Of the Congress.
We express, however, the opinion that should
he from any, the best of motives, attempt to
| support the army, he would be liable to i'm
peachmeat
We content ourself at this time with saying
that the Constitution confers, and very properly
confers, upon Congress the power to take the
sword from the Executive hand by refusing to
support the army
This power Congress has exercised 1t has
refused to support the army; and if the Presi-
dent should undertake to support one, he will
assume power not granted, but expressly
withheld from the Executive and will strike at
fundamental principle of our form of govern
ment
Congress is the check upon the use of the
sword by the Executive. Congress has inter.
posed and taken the sword from his hand. OF
'chat more .Jaagrant piolation of the Constitu-
tion could he be guilty than to resume Hs
We do not, however, as this time propose to
pursue the constitutional question.
There is no evil, however, without its cores
bonding good
The disbandment of the army may be use.
ful in showing practically to Black Republicans
and others the ralue of the Union.
The bill making appropriations for the SUP.
port of the army which the Black Republican
majority in the House of Representatives have
defeated appropriated sl2,Ooo,OOO.
Of this Sl2,OOO,OUO but 1.-THE was for the
pay of officers and soldiers. The remainder
was to buy clothing provisions and the means
of transportation.
In what part of the country are clothes,
farms, munitions, coats, pants, shirts, socks,
overcoats, shoes, boots, &C., &C., &c., pur-
chased?
In what part of the country are these ten
millions of dollars worth of manufactured arti.
Giles purchased?
We propose to discuss on another occasion
the unconstitutional proriso which the Black
Republicans attempted to force upon the Senate
and which they did force upon the House, and
tchach unconstitutional proriso, caused the dis
bdndment Of the army.