The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-26

bsse ony who hAvs psEtOFned such service op ~ 90
THE ECONOMY or TEE ADMINISTRAT1ON-ThE
PRESIDENTS POLICY.
The people owe much to Mr.. Buchanan on &C
count Of the course he pursued during the late
sessiou Of Congress to secure the ordinary aP-
preparation bills against tho current practice Of
loading them down, just the heel Of the session
with every conceivable scheme Of speculation and
individual interest, - they unquestionably have
been heretofore. General appropriation bills in
their very nature, especially in popular gov
srnment, should be made with distth \ e,fercnce
to carrying into effect existing aars. We have, IN
other words certain organic statutesthat is, cor
tain general laws not subject to tho vcissitudes OF
legslaton not liable to be repealed and others sub
stituted in their place at each recurring session Of
Congress and the general appropriations are made
to enable the administration to carry these laws
into effect. Tho practice, in late years, has been
to tack on to bills of this nature many projects
which in no other way could receive the sanction of
Congress At late day, in the very evening of the
session. when simpossible for members to exercise
proper yigilancc-when perhaps almost every one is
engineering some speciality of his own-when, in
fact Congress has wholly ceased to be delibera-
tive body-the general appropriation bills are con-
verted into omnibus coaches and made to carry all
tho rubbish Of the federal lobby.
By this policy and practice the highest duty de-
yolved by the constitution upon Congress is rem
dered impossible of execution. The deliberative
character Of the body is taken away, its moral stand
ing impaired, and the door thrown wide open for
the commission Of enormous frauds upon the treas
ury without securing either responsibility or ac-
countability We need not remind the reader that
an ulcer even upon limb may destroy the tone and
the energies Of the whole system. A vicious prac-
tce by Legislative body in essential particular
not prevail without infusing is poisonous influences
throughout tho whole organization.
tHsace we regard the practical reform instituted
by ~ President requiring that the general appro-
priation bills shall DO presented to him sufficient
time before the close Of the session to enable him
examine all their details and to exercise over them
in the spirit Of wiso discretion If need BE-, his
stution2l veto, a one Of tho most important that
has ever emanatea from the executive department Of
the government
1t is impossible to disguise the fact that the neral
sentiment Of tho nation has been habituay outraged
by the practical subversion Of tho monsy-voting
power to ends Of individual interest and sggrandze
ment- This practices bears heavily upon the char
acter Of democratic system. engenderiny in the
public mind doubt Of the capacity of our institu
ticns to protect the people from combinations of
schemors aud spectators, whose adroit management
il often overmatch when pitted against the saga
80, ;,,kn Is
In this view, the reform suggested and enforced by
the President is seen to be of the highest impor-
lance 70 the country. Under it the appropriations
of the session have been reduced many millions
Congress- too, in response to tho wise policy thus
presented. has authorized committee to revise it's
rules SO that in future we may hope, whatever
may be the character Of the administration, that
body win fortfy itself against the possibility Of
recurrence to the cid practice.
In reference to the rerenue system, about which
Just now there is great deal Of partisan clamor,
which BODIES no good to the country, we trust the
subject will receive the earnest aud honest attention
of the administration and of Congress and that If
therein to exist, the corrective will
be applied with scrupulous regard to all the great
interests Of the country, and by total disregard of
the counsel Of all mere political spectators and
trimners.
The people of the United States may well congrat
ulatc themselves that man experienced, vigil
liant sagacious, and patriotic as James Buchanan,
prcsides over their institutions. Nobody questions
his high integrity, his unselsh aims his ardent and
sleepless desire to administer the government in
the purity Of its origin, tho vigor Of maturity,
and in the honest faith Of its constitutional cove
nants.