Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-12-19

this duty, pledge my cooperation to the ex'
tent of my constitutional competency.
1t ought to be observed at the same time
that true public economy does not consist IN
withholding the means necessary 10 accom-
plish important national objects intrusted to
us by the constitution and especially such as
may be necessary for the common defence
In the present crisis of the country it is our
duty to confine our appropriations to objects
of this character unless in cuses where justice
| to individuals may demand different course.
In all cases care ought to be taken that the
money granted by Congress shall be faithfully
and economically applied
| Under the Federal Constitution, "ever7
bill which shall have passed the House Of
! Representatives and the Senate shall, before
| 1t becomes law" be approved and signed by
the Presidents end, if not approve, "he shall
return it with his objections 10 that house in
which it originated" In order TO perform this
high and responsible duty, sufficient time
must be allowed the President to read and ex-
anime every bill presented to him for approval.
! Unless this be afforded, the Constitution be-
comes dead letter in this particular; and
even worse, it becomes means of deception.
Our constituents, seeing the Presidents ap-
! proval and signature attached to each act Of
Congress, are induced to believe that he has
actually performed this duty, when in truth,
nothing is, in many cases moro unrounded.
! From the practice Of Congress. such an
| examination Of each bill as the constitution
requires, has been rendered impossible. The
mos. important business Of each session IS
generally crowded into its last hours, and the
alternative presented to the President is ell
ther to violate the constitutional duty which
he owes to the people, and approve bills which,
for want of time 1t is impossible he should
have examined, or by his reiusal to do this.
| subject the country and individuals to great
loss and Inconvenience.
Besides, practice has grown up Of late
years to leglslate in appropriation bills, at the
last hours Of the session, on new and impor-
tant subjects. This practice constrains tho
President either to suffer measures to become
laws which he does not approve or to incur
the risk of stopping the wheels Of the govern
ment by vetoing al appropriation bill. For
merly such bills were confined to specific
appropriations for carrying into effect ex-
isting laws and the well established policy Of
! the country, and little time was then required
| by the President for their examination.
For my own part, ! have deliberately deter
mined that shall approve no bill which have
not examined, and it will he n case Of ex-
treme and most urgent necessity which shall
ever induce me to depart from this rule.
| tueteIoIe respectfully, Out earnestly, TeCOms
mend that the two houses will allow tue Presi-
dent at least two days previous to the adj journ.
ment OF each session within which no bill shall
be presented to him for approval. Under
the existing joint rule one day is allowed;
but this rule has been hitherto SO constantly
suspended in practice that important bills
continued to be presented to him up till the
very last moments of the session. In large
majority of cases no great public inconveni-
ence can arise from the want of time to ex.
anime their provisions, because the consi.u.
ton has declared that if a bill be presented
to the President within the last ten days OF
the session he is mot required to return it,
either with an approval or with veto, I'm
which case it shall not be q law" 1t NAV
then lie over and be taken up and passed at
| the next session. Great Inconvenience would
only be experienced in regard to appropria-
tion bills; but fortunately, uhder the late ex
cellent law allowing q salary, instead of per
diem, TO members Of Congress, the expense
and inconveniehce of a called session viii be
greatly reduced.
cannot conclude without commencing to
your favourable consideration the interests Of
the people of this District Without re-
preventative on the floor of Congress. thew
have for this very reason peculiar claims
upon our just regard.-To this know, from
my long acquaintance with them, they are EN-.
inently entitled.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 8. 1857.