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

L will give common instance. An appro-
priatlon OF s $1,000 is made to construct u
custom-house the Department, instead Of
contracting for custom-house of that cost,
make contracts for the construction of one
costing two or three millions. In this way,
the power of the House has been absolutely
overruled. And when they come here and
ask for money to carry on the work, you
vote the money, to save from entire loss the
sums already expended, and because the con-
tracts have been made.
Now, sir, say that every contract which
looks to the expenditure of one dollar more
than has been appropriated, is utterly null
and void. Take, for instance, the custom
house at New Orleans. In 1913, Congress
appropriated 100000 for the construction
Of stom-house in that city, upon the ex-
press condition that the city should donate
to the Government a lot of ground for that
purpose, and make out clear and valid
title. Well, sir, the $780, 900 appropriated
was all expended in the sinking of the four
dation Of building of untold magnifccncc,
never contemplated by those who made the
appropriation The Department again came
to Congress for another appropriation, and
Congress has gone onmaking appropriations,
until S2,675, 25S have been expended; and
the Representative from New Orleans is now
demanding more money to complete her
custom house.
For the city of Charleston, South Carroll
ma, in 1888, an appropriation of $50 900 was
made, as sort of rider to an appropriation
for a custom-house at Savannah. Well, sir,
upon the basis of that $4,000 the Govern
ment has gone on with its plans, and has
already expended Sl,7O3 900. do
not know how much moro will be
needed to complete the building; but the
representative from the Charleston district
told us the other day that valuable ornaments
OF stone were lying about and further appro-
priations were needed, either to complete the
building or protect the materials from de-
struction. In this way the Executive is grad
ually sapping the foundations of the Govern
ment and destroying the constitutional power
of the House Instead of q representative
Republic, we are degenerating into bureau
ocracy, governed by red tape and subaltern
clerks. While the powers of the House are
invaded, the Executive takes care to extend,
by construction, his just powers Of this
We have an example in the Utah war.
What powe has the President, without the
consent of Congress, to order the army to
Utah, and thus involve the Government
in an expenditure of millions upon mil
lions? 1t is said that he is Commander
tuition of the United States. But the Con-
stitution declares that Congress shall declare
war. lie is Commander-in but on
ly to carry on the war when war has been
declared by the Congress of the United
States. He is our instrument, he is our SER
want, and not our master. And yet he has
involved the Government in this Utah war.
1t is a usurpation which ought to be resisted
by the whole legislative power of the Govern
ment.
We have the undoubted power over sup
plies, and yet the President SO acts as to
leave us no discretion. lie creates the neces-
sity for expenditures and then we are ask
ed to appropriate money to pay them, all the
reply We have to our inquiries is, that the
army was ordered there by the President, as
the C,.lmander-in-chief Of the forces.
V .,.le | would not allow these gallant men
to suffer where they are. yet would call
the President to account for having violated
the principle and policy of our government.
ABUSE BY THE SENATE.
The Senate, also, has been guilty of an in
vasion of our privileges. When we send
bills there, they are returned to us, loaded
down with amendments for the very
sums which we refused to give.
They send these amendments here, and
we are implicitly told, that unless we agree
to them the entire appropriation bill will
fan, and Congress be called back in extra
session. twill be recollected that the APP
preparation for the Washington aqueduct'
and many other extravagant items of
expenditure, were carried through in that
way. The Constitution of the United States
gives to the Senate power to propose amend
ments to revenue bills, but expressly with
holds from it power to originate such bills
But by the abuse Of their limited power to
amend, they defeat the exclusive power of the
House. But not only that, the Senate at
this session, by direct usurpation, has exer-
fers upon this House alone. 1t has orignat-
ed a loan bill, sent it here, and it is now upon
the Speaker table Is not loan bill bill
for raising revenue? There was some dis
pute as to appropriation bills being revenue
bills, but there can be no doubt about this bill.
II a loan bill is not revenue bill, do not
know what is. Blackstone defines revenue
bill to include all bills by which money is
directed to be raised upon the subject, for
any purpose, or in any shape whatever
Com, vol. d., page CO., This bill proposes
to raise revenue by borrowing. If you look
at the practice of the House of Commons,
you will see that loan bills are in the first
class Of revenue bills.
Sir us the Senate has sent this revenue bill
here in violation Of the Constitution, the
House ought not to receive it. There is an
example in British history, where such bill
was sent by the House Of Lords to the House
OF Commons. 1t occurred two hundred and
fifty years ago. The House of Com
mons sent the bill back to the House of Lords
with a message that the House of Commons
could not even consider the bill, because it
violated their privileges From that day to
this, the House of Commons would never
allow the House Of Lords to originate any
money bills. Il was from this feature of the
British Constitution that our fathers modelled
the provision inserted in the Constitution of
the United States and the only difference,
between our law and the law of England is,
that the Senate may amend revenue bills, but
cannot originate them. The House of Lords
cannot amend them, nor add even an appro-
priation for one dollar to any bill for any
purpose, because it is the privilege of the
House of Commons to raise money bills. To
show the Importance attached to this power,
ask attention to high authorities:
&" 1t is the ancient indisputable privilege and
right Of the House of Commons, that all grants Of
lubsidies Of Parliament aids do begin in this House
and are first bestowed by them" biackStones Com
msataries. vol. /, page lds
The general reason given for this excustivc
privilege Of the House of Commonsis, that the sup
plies are raised upon the body Of the people, and
therefore it is proper that they alone should have
the right of taxing Reconsideration, vol. !,
page lC6.
at would therefore be extremely dangerous to
give the Lords any power of framing new taxes for
the subject il is sufficient that they have power
of rejecting, if they think the Commons too lavish
or improyident in their grants.--SGme, vol l. page
lC9.