New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-01

originally intended the CoUms<e 70 vh,ch sbou'd
be referred Measuyss Of revenue snd tsSh. lbstesd
Of pg confred 10 that they have had transferred 70
them tee whee legislation OF tie country; and when
that Conn composed, a. II Is 1t tcls sessior, OF
arcrg party cast, anc tie Adu.niesrssion csn COM
msnd msjcriy Oh il, We vrtusliy deprive Ourselves
ofs power TO decide on questions OF legislator, sod
ntru-t q EN- ali " that Committee. From toe large
uss Of business thrown upon tna, Comm',tee, L. -
e mpeed either TO Deelect portion or 10 report 70
the House without ba: simple information which We
ought 10 have on every question OF finance.
Another beg lect or abuse 10 IN the mode IN whcn
conduct our buspess. The practical limitation OF
debate il surrender OF our privilege. Every grew
spre should be recressed before al appropriation Is
msG.. rbe old max ia was, gie"Shces before SUD
siGes II was under th8, good Old MAXIM OF tue
British Law that f0reistters held 10 check the
Crown of Crest Britain. l; was unoer tne s'Ine
trlciple tLatour ior.sthers entered INTO the Ie'o
:iopsry e,ruggle. We ought 10 stand oy ~ vu' ~
stead OF that, come here and deon'e az ieng'u
Executive usuIpa' on and thep a. TIE eou .. tuc s
sim ruth the ApproprstSn bills through, givng zoe
F,,cu;iye al he wants and ample means and power
20 laugh lus 20 seorn. An Opposition tnet aoes not
perform duty, tina. does notwithooid
unit, the Executive yields 20 the just uean"e VI Nuo
,scnIe il rot true 10 itself or it's constituents
Again, we appropriate money, and never inquire
into IFS expenditure. Inc s9tn rule proVloes ior .
Committee on Expenditures, yet tnst C9mmitee
meets. II 10 remarkable thing that that CommIttse
which ought TO be one Of the most important Oh 'ne
House. il totally neglected. -. ~.
In reference TO the Presidents Message, the Com
mi,tee on Expenditures is never mentioned ye.
ought TO have before II 81 the expenses ., 'no
eminent. and every dollar expended oy the Uo'ern-
ment should undergo before il careful scrutiny. by
reference to the rule it will be seen that tnat Cou
mit,ee is bound TO examine every item OF eHpenu'
and 10 zee that is made 10 conformity WIN a~ ~
Il has not met for years. So, too, with other COMMIT
tees Shortly after the late war with Grest b'i'aiu'
five or elk standing committees were created 10 Ga
anime the expenditures in the various Exscouve De
partments These committees are annuaiy apPo.neou
but rather for show than service. Nothing IL ieiereu
70 them II is bot their fault, but the neglect OF tue
House. Here is q reform which ought at once 70 De
made All there committees expenditures ought 70
he charged by the House with the proper docunens'
And should faithfully perform their very important du'
ties. .- ~
Ard Sir, we have neglected another power, ana
that is the power Of impeachment. Every vlols0on
Of provision of law ought TO be followed enneI ny
impescbme MT bill OF indemnity. Ii the necessity
is go urgent to Justify an executive oncer No 'ola-
ting a law or TO vary hairs breadth from the law,
this House ought 10 recognize that necessity py pass
ing bill of indemnity; otherwise al Impeachment
ought TO follow the moment the delinquency 10 brought
10 the notice If Congress. In my Judgment the Mouse
ought not 10 waste time in covering up PLAIN VIOLA
tons Of law even not involving turpude, vlois,ons
which ought TO be followed by impeachment, and thus
throw upon the Senate the duty Of trying the offender
When you bring about these reforms, we Snail nave
no more Loan bis, we shall have no more treasury
notes. In my judgment from the most careful exam
IL
wear can be reduced to so O0O, OOO sum winch Will
be within the public receipts But have NO hope
that this will be done. We know by fatal experience
the power and influence Of the Executive uncut ed
and unchecked. Ii is only when this House assumes
ard maintains its full powers and enOrces them, that
the President and the heads of toe Departments can
be kept within the law. include heads OF depart
ents because though not recognized by the COnstl-
tutiop except SO mere clerks of the Executive yet
custom ano public opinion have given their mandates
an undue importance They are sent TO us, the Repre-
seIt8tlyes Of free people, and we are expected W
bow in abiect submission TO their demands. For one,
while hold seat upen this floor VIII examine lot
ard expose any violation Of law, whoever may com
NIT it, Such IL the duty of each CT ne. Important
powers are delegated TO U.s. and We cannot AVOID their
exercise without dishonor. When mere question OF
personal etiquette arises we may be disposed to bow
politely and Weld but when comes ~ performing re-
pref enave duties, should perform them. whoever
msy sneer, whoever may reproach, and Whatever
power may stand in the way. know no power ABOVE
The power of this House.
But Sir have no hope, while this House is constl-
ued as it is of iDstltuting any rsdical REFORM
believe that the House of Representatives should DC
in opposition to the President. We know the intimate
relations made by party ties and party feelings We
know that with party House, House q majority
Of whose members friends Of the Presdent-it Is
impossible to bring about reform. Ii Is only by
firm. able and determined opposton--not yielding to
every friendly request, not yielding to every urgent
demand, not yielding to every sppeal-that we can
expect to reform the abuses in the administration oi
the Government.
AT the beginning of this session, did hope that
majority of ths House would compose such an oppo'
ton; and while the one hand 1t crushed the unhoy
attempt to impose an odous Contttahon by force, or
with threats bribes upon free people, it would be
prepared to check the reckless extravaganza of the
Administration in the disbursement of the public
funds. But the power of party ties and Executive in
fiuence were too potent We can only look now 10
the vitue and intelligence of the people, whose po-
tent will can overthrow Presidents, Senates and ma
jorities lave an abiding hope that the next House
of Repre- sentstives will do what this should have
done and become like its great prototype, the guar
dian of the rights and liberties OF the people.