Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-06-25

save us from further encroachment. But we
are told that the Senate has sent loan bills
to this House before. Well, if there have
been bad precedents, see no reason whyw
should continue to follow them. Instead of |
reference to the Constitution, we are referred |
to bad precedents. We may be referred to |
the Treasury loan bill, at the beginning of
this session which came to us from the Sen
ate. | say that even a multitude of bad pre-
cedents does not repeal the Constitution OF
the United States. If SO, then there is no
safeguard no virtue in the Constitution. 1t
is the unalterable law OF the people, and
neither precedents nor Presidents nor Senates
dare overthrow it, so long as there is an in
dependent House of Representatives to hold
them in check.
NEGLECTs OF POWER BY THE HOUSE.
But many of these abuses have grown out
of the neglect of the House. We have thrown
too much of the business of the House upon
the Committee of Ways and Means. Vol
luminous reports from the Executive De-
partments are sent, without indexes,
to that committee. 1t is not in the power
of that committee to give the proper inqui-
ry and consideration to all this business and
therefore, they become the mere TRANSCRIPT
ing clerks of the Executive Departments.
When any information is asked for in debate,
no member is able to give it; but the chair
man of the Committee of Ways and Means
sends to the Clerks desk, to be read, letter
from some subordinate under the President.
This is not right. Every committee should
be allowed to originate its own appropria-
ton bill. There is no reason why the chair
man of the Committee on Military Affairs
Mr.. Quitman should not have the prepara-
ton of the army appropriation bill, instead
of the Committe of Ways and Means The
Committee on Military Affairs consists of
gentlemen well acquainted with the details
of that service; and there is not one soldier
much less a general-on the Committee of
Ways and Means.
There is no reason why the Committee on
Naval Affairs, over which the gentleman
from Virginia Mr.. Bocock, presides, should
not frame the navy appropriation bill.
The Committee of Ways and Means was
originally intended as the committee to
which should be referred measures of reve-
nue. and tariff Instead of being confined to
that, they have had transferred to them the
whole legislation of the country; and when
that committee is composed, as it is at this
session, of strong party cast, and the Adj
ministrLtion can command a majority on it,
we virtually deprive ourselves of all power to
decide on questions of legislation, and intrust
them all to that committee. From the
large mass of business thrown upon that
committee, it is compelled either to neglect
portion, or to report to the House without
that ample information which we ought to
have on every question of finance.
Another neglect or abuse is in the mode in
which we conduct our business. The prac-
teal limitation of debate is a surrender of
our privilege. Every grievance should be
redresscd before an appropriation is made.
The old maxim was grievances before sub
sdies.' TWAS under that good old maxim
of the British law that our forefathers
held in check the Crown OF Great Britain
1t was under the same principle that our
forefathcrs entered into the revolutionary
We ought to stand by it ; but instead of that
we come here and debate at length Executive
usurpation, and then, at the end of the
session, rush the appropriation bills through,
giving the Executive all he wants, and ample
means and power to laugh us to scorn. An
Opposition that does not perform its full
duty, that does not Withhold appropriations
until the Executive yields to the Just demands
of the people, is not true to itself or its
constituents.
Again, we appropriate money, and never
inquire into its expenditure. The S9th rule
provides for Committee on Expenditures
yet that committee never meets. 1t is a
remarkable thing that that committee which
ought to be one of the most
important of the House, is totally neglected.
In the reference of the Presidents message,
the Committee on expenditures is never men
toned yet it ought to have before it all the
expenses Of the Government, and every dollar
expended by the Government should undergo
before 1t a careful scrutiny. By reference to
the rule,i will be seen that that committee
is bound to examine every item of expendi
ture, and to see that it is made in conformity
with law Yet it has not met for years. So,
too, with other committees. Shortly after
the late war with Great Britain, five Or six
standing committees were created, to examine
the expenditures in the various Executive
Departments. These committees are annual
ly appointed, but rather for show than SER
vice. Nothing is referred to them. 1t is not
their fault, but the neglect of the House.
Here is a reform which ought at once to be
made. All these committees on expenditures
ought to be charged by the House with the
proper documents, and should faithfully per-
form their very important duties.
And, sir, we have neglected another power,
and that is the POWER OF IMPEAcHMENT.-
Every violation of q provision of law ought
to be followed either by impeachment or a
bill of indemnity. If the necessity is so ur-
gent as to justify an Executive officer in vio-
latinG a law, or to vary a hairs breadth from
the law, this House ought to recognise that
necessity by passing bill of indemnity /;
otherwise an Impeachment ought to follow,
the moment thcIde. n u ,rcy 10 brought to the
notice f Congress. In my judgement, the
House ought not to waste its time in covering
up plain violations of law, even if not involv-
ing turpitude, violations which ought to be
followed by impeachment, and thus throw
upon the Senate the duty of trying the OF
fender
When you bring about these reforms, We
shall have no more loan bills, we shall have
no more Treasury notes. In my judgment,
from the most careful examination | can
make, the expenditures for the next fiscal
year can be reduced to fifty millions of dol
lars, a sum which 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, I'M
curbed and unchecked. 1t is only when this
House assumes and maintains its full powers,
and enforces them that the President and the
heads Of the Departments, can be kept
within the law. | include heads
OF Departments because, though not
recognized by the Constitution, except as
mere clerks of the Executive, yet custom
and public opinion have given their man
dates an undue Importance. They are sent
to us, the Representatives Of IA free people,
and we are expected to bow in AFFECT sub
mission to their demands For one, while
hold seat upon this floor, | will examine
for and expose any violation of law, whoever
may commit it. Such is the duty of each of
us. Important powers are delegated to us,
and we cannot avoid their exercise without
dishonor, When IA mere question of person
al etiquette arises, we may be disposed to