The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. LEWIS CAss,
OF MICHIGAN,
On the Army-appropriation Bill.

On the Army-appropriation Bill
Mr. CASS ! consider this, Mr. President the most
solemn crisis in the history Of country which has
occurred stand before you, sir living and connecting
link between the of the revolution who the pre-
sous heritage they beqneathed TO us and the generation
nov upon the theatre of action who have inherited the
fruits Of their abor II not their wisdom and their patriot
ism. II has been glorious government for all IL has
been glorious government for me. II has protected mo
and mine from internal dssensons and foreign violence
had hoped and prayed it would go down indefinitely 10
the latest time with its great blessings OF liberty justice,
and prosperity but my fears now stronger Than my
hopes My hopes yet retained but from all the signs
around me- unless the people of this country awake 10
Of their danger and forward 10 defend ihe
Union and the constitution the precious heritage bequea
cd TO them will be lost.
agree fully with what the honorable senator from ylr-
gna has said in relation to this matter consider that
the adoption of such proposition as this, forced upon
the Senate any way accepted by them contrary to
their opinions of constitutional right and duty would DO
the destruction Of this government II would be to con
cenrae all the power Of both houses in house in prin
ciple and in fact We all know from the very state OF
things around that would be to concentrate all pow
in the House of Representatives.
Mr. President when fathers defed the power of
Britain and announced in that memorable State paper
which has marked for the world their deerm-
nation to be independent and free, and pledged their
lives fortunes, aud sacred honor upon the result,
what were we Thirteen small, remote, unknown col
onies the western shore of the Atlantic each independ
Of the other By external pressure they were forced
together they formed kind Of confederation, wanting
the essential principles of general government but su
cen under the force of that pressure TO keep them To-
gether until the great object Of independence was accom-
pshed. They then assembled in convention 10 make a
permanent constitution for themselves adequate for their
purposes in and in war; 1t was great and dieut
question. The world has seen nothing like it. have
often pqured to whom the first glorious thought occurred
of a government like ths-a government OF numbers
Joined with governments of State soveregntiesan actual
government Of confederation and at the same time not
of consolidation Why sir You never could
have succeeded in that conventonyou could never nave
of it with constitutional you bad adopted the
principle of government of numbers merely The States
eeoua Each STATE hau
of its Great small they stood equal ground,
and they would have yielded it.
Happily for us happily for the ofreedom through
out the world it occurred to somebody--to whom i do
know but be ought to be held in everlasting venera
ton by the American people, whoever he wasthat there
should be combination between government OF num-
bers and of State soveregntcs 1t was ac
complished by the constitution creating legislature OF
two chambers with separate powers direct check on
the other In at the other end of the Capitol the peo
pie directly interested In the other here, they are
also represented but in their sovereign State capacities
repeat you could have formed the government with
this provision You cannot hold this government to
geher month If that great principle be touched Well
SIR is it touched by this process II prostrated IT IS
destroyed II the House Of Representatives are determined
on measure they have only to force it on the Senate
Joined with other required by the pnnlc
good, in this case and what is the consequence Inc
operations of the government must stop The theory OF
system is that laws TO be passed by the cooper
ton OF both branches the voluntary action OF both
branches there voluntary action Of both when
is coerced by proposition OF the other 10 which
must assent great public measures be destroyed NO
such proposition be received by this body without an
derelicon of duty, forieiting the high ground on
which 1t stands before the American people.
Gentlemen talk of stopping the supplies Even IN Eng
land 1t is rathera ppaut remark and do not think II has
occurred there for nearly two centuries The last time
done was think, in the reign of Charles l. That's
tripartite government antagonisuc government win
two hereditary bodies and one elective body The radical
difference between the two governments is this Is the gov
Of the people that the government OF the soV
eregn. The Queen there inherts the sovereignty The
supplies which the Commons may stop are not the sup
m of hp
of the people Here you stop the supplies OF the govern
men whose supplies do you stop and whose government
do you check The government Of the people You stop
the supplies Of the people.
If you want change Of policy another mode point
ed Every Of retires from public life in short
tmethe House in two years the President IN our
and the Senate in six years Can you not wait 10 appeal
TO the people, instead of resorng here 70
measure If there is any great difficulty penang oeore
the country send 1t back 70 the people 20 your own
ter day.
Besides whose supplies you going to stop 1Ow' Not
your ovn you have taken pretty good care OF hem no
man has proposed to stop supplies but the supplies
Of the poor sodersthrteen thousand Of your felow-c-
zehs the wds and Territories defending
your frontiers against the Indians at the hazard OF their
lives What your contract with themf They have con-
tracted with you TO you five years with their hye
and you have contracted TO feed them 10 clothe them and
to pay them and now you seriously propose before the
world to do neither. They will be held TO their service
they cannot be dsbanded In the time they are to
be there 70 fight your battles and defend country and
you violate your contract You have not the excuse oil
the revolution that you have no means. You have an
overowing treasury You keep IL locked You will not
unlock IL TO comply with your solemn contracts. say
there is such example of pghted and sighted engage
mens TO be found in the history Of the world and this
goes American faith will become worse than Punic
faith, byword and a reproach among the nations OF the
earth Stopping the supplies Starving thirteen thou
sand soldiers fighting your battles and defending your
'front.' against the meIcess lndiaus It's matter Of
utter asonshment to that could be found 70
put such proposition on bill paying ourselves and
the other members Of the government bat on bill to pay
| the poor soldiers.
Mr. President not going into The discussion Of the
general question desire, however, 70 make or two
remarks another point involved in this provi,o Of the
House with respect TO the duty Of the President Of the uni
ted States What has he to do ITO protect persons and
property therein" in the Territory and besidss or the
national highways leading said Territory from all
lawful searches and seizures" Now ask any gentleman
Of the Senate what power here conferred the Pres
seizures. What is he TO do with them rather what is
the military force acting under his direction 70 do with
them2 To seize men, imprison them try them, what
is he TO do with them IL Is in the law, There
is provision for doing anything with them, ls he 70
hold his prisoners 10 the amount Of fifty thousand2 As
practical measure repeat what is the President TO do
with them2 The President Is 70 protect persons" II
occurred to to turn early stage OF history and
| will state the result Of my examination.
On the l4th Of May 1889, in the Senate OF the United
States the first session Il sat there proposition
to give title to the President Of the United States The
proposition to give him the title Of "His niRhness
President Of the United States Of America and Protector
their liberties" Afterwards by the good sense Of the
House FIRST and then Of the Senate was put end TO-
Here starting up make the President the pro-
liberties n Of