The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
REMARKS OF MIR. HUNTER,
or VIRGINIA,
On Kansas affairs delivered in the Senate Thursday Au
gust Z, 1856

gust Z, 1885,
The Senate proceeded as in committee Of the whole to
consider the bill a. No 1881 making appropriations
for the support OF the army for the year ending 30h June
1857, which reported from the Committee on Finance
with an amendment TO strike out the following clause
Provided neoerthses That part Of the military force
in aid of the enforcement of the enaotmen of the alleged
legislative assembly of the Territory of Kansas, recently
enacted either that IL not valid legislative
semby choSon in conformity with the organic law, by tho
gress shall passed upon validity Of the said legs@
tive assembly Of Kansas 1t shall be the duty of the President
peace suppress nsurrecton repe aSon and per-
sons and property therein and upon the national highways
and searches.
And Be further provided, That the Presden is required
to disarm the present organized militia OF the Terrry of
Kansas, recall all the United States arms therein dsb
ated and to prevent armed from going Into the said
Territory to disturb the public peace 70 aid in the en-
forcement or resistance of real pretended law
Mr. HUNTER. Mr.. President the Committee on Finance
proposes but one amendment 10 this bill and that amend
ment is to strike on cetaia matters of legislation which
have been Introduced by the House This legislation sc-
ers to subject in regard to which there is much contest
IN the country, much division Of seatiment-indeed >
known difference of opinion between the two houses II
seemed to the committee that it would be best inasmuon
as this might possibly be attempt made by one ous,
to coerce the other to that single and e issue
because If the time should when in regard 10
subject of Importance not connected er umseiy with the
appropriations of the country house should determine
toay to the other You mus. adopt our views or esc the
NhCelS VI must STOP then,
accomplished no matter which horn of the dilemma it
takes II one house yields its constitutional functions to
the other at its demand that ia reyolution because then
one house has absorbed all the power that belongs to both
IT. on the other hand either house shall say unless it be
done it will stop the wheels of government that is reyou-
on because that house refuses to discharge its cons;-
ional duty to afford the government the means of pro-
ceding and getting along inasmntn as such question
as that was presented by ths provision it was thought
proper to present the Single issue this amendment
strike 1t out. hope shall be able to dispose of it
1t not at least do desire
into the merits of the amendment incorporated by the
House. 1t is enough hat is inappropriate to this bill
this is not the place for it.
After remarks by several senator's Mr. Hunter again
continued
rise Mr. President more for the purpose of stating the
issue which proposed to make when | was up before
than thing else for it is obvious senators on tho other
side misunderstood it. What said was that if either
house should say 10 the other in regard matter of leg
sation which not germane and appropriate TO Inc
general appropriation bills you shall yield your opinions
TO US or will stop the wheels of government" wns
revolution in either alternative 1t revolution If h
one house was thus coerced to give up its opinions the
other. ! did not say other things would happen
and revolution was to follow but that that act itself
would be revolution, because IL is contrary to tho
spirit OF the constitution for house thus 20 claim
to the other in the independent Exercise of s
functions in regard to matters Of egsAtion II either
house should say TO the other in regard to mat or OF
legislation which is not appropriate or germane TO an ap
preparation BILL You must yield your opinions to us or
we will stop the wheels of government" that act itself il
revolution upon either alternative 1t is revolution if you
force an independent and coordinate branch give up
B functions or powers; or is revolution it, in the
OF failing to do that you nterpose to stop the wheels Of
government nasmuch as is your constuon duty
afford all the that necessary carry the gov
eminent Of tho country. This was my declaration.
SO far from saying would occasion revolution TO REPEAL
the laws of Kansas said put the question on that other
issue as matter OF power between the houses and did
not propose to consider the abstract propriey OF tie amend
ment inserted by the House of Represeu eg nasmuch
as II was unnecessary. Is II nest sir that Won
change in effect the whole spirit Of the constitution If YOU
enable one house by means oi the appropriation bills %
coerce the other IN regard r matters OF legislation which
do not belong to the subject Of appropraons2 The son
ato from Ohio Mr. WADE seemed suppose thar because
the other house had the right TO originate bills they
had the right TO attach 10 appropriation bill any matter
of legislation which they thought would improve il in
other words because the House the right originate
bills imposing taxes which he conounded with appopria
ton bills he says they have the power to impose
dluon OF making appropriations that the general lcgsla
on OF the country shall be such they choose have IT,
Sir you admit that 1t is equivalent to sayinr MI
power in that House II say that what he - much
wishes and desiresthat the Senate should be tpped Of
power-has already been accomplished.
SO far regards the inequality of here
upon which he seemed to seek to prejudice
against the Senate can leave him settle question
with the senators from Vermont and Rhode Island
New Hampshire, aud Maine and Massachusetts, That is
question which be settle In that direction il he il
anxious TO raise issue Of that kind. But sir such "a
the Senate is II was constituted By the constitution OF hc
United States. Such powers 1t has reposed in
Ivy the same instrument and, until the constitution IL
changed it bound those powers and stand un
for the independent exercise Of he rights which are
posed in II by that instrument.
Now, suppose accede to the principle which sonc
senators seem so anxious to insist upon and allow Tho
House, which happens TO originate appropriation bin
and 1t may be either house far appropriations are
conCeTned TO say TO the other "You order 10 pe
the appropriations necessary carry toe government
yield your opinions to outs in regard TO Kansas bu
In regard to any matter Of general legislation; and sup
pose they should seek in that way to monopoze the whole
power Of legislation for the country and they might do
1t that theory for II they could rs to Kansas they could
tn not nhvA hat, rk,-t tl
have done that and made good the right thus asset ted
they have by that very act made revolution in tho
tuOn Of the couny-that they have transferred those
powers which designed to be decided between tho
two houses to one; that they have made the one which
happens TO start appropriation bill omnpotont and su
preme and that according TO the theory the scno
tor from Ohio is the uouse Of Representatives So far
one house. because all power that theory would bo
there.
thought that upon that question might strike ou..
this provision and send the bill back the Hous, with
out necessarily involving the Of this Kansas amend
ment; and wished to avoid It not because did see
objections enough in IL but wished to limit the range Of
the discussion much possible.
Now, sir what il that this clause proposes The son
ator from Ohio says in the world can look at IL
and object to It. does propose repeal these lava
but while il leaves them in existence Ii takes away tho
of executing them thus securing far as II s abo
to do so, the reign Of anarchy within that Territory
docs not forward openly and boldly and cay boo
laws hereby repealed TO leave the ctzcp az thai
Territory in doubt to their legal obligations but
whilst will not pronounce whether they 40 In force an
not in force 1t takes away the Of Executing them ia
the event that they may be in force.
But this is not all sir The ose extend tbeir ppsa-
ton not merely TO Kansas bu. roop;rc