The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-15

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| to check the reckless extravaganza OF the Admin
istration in the disbursement of the public funds
| But the power of party ties and Executive. in
| fluence were too potent. We can only look nov
to the virtue and intelligence of the people, who's
| potent will can overthrow Presidents, Senates
and majorties. | have an abiding hope that tn
next House of Representatives will do what thi
| should have done, and become, like its great pro
totype, the guardian of the rights and lbertie
| of the people.
| l return my sincere thanks to the Committee
| for the indulgence and attention it has given me
THE 0NIoN-sKRD DEMOCRACY.
1t has puzzled many wise men to find ou
| what is the precise definition of Democracy
| and to know what are genuine Democratic prin
ciples; and Northern Democrats especially
have been greatly troubled to keep pace with
their Southern brethren lay down for them al
their National Conventions.
| A recent discussion in the Senate gives 9
| pleasant illustration of these difficulties.
motion was pending to strike out of an appro
| priation bill the usual clause in favor of the
Patent Office H
"For collection of agricultural statistics, in
vestigation for promoting agriculture and rura
economy, and the procurement of cuttings and
seeds, 100000" !.
AID Mr.. Iverson, of Georgia, took occasion
to rebuke his brother Democrats for their tresch
cry to party in supporting such an unconstitu
tioual expenditure. Some parts of the debate
are instructive, and we give them:
Mr.. Iverson. But two Senators upon this
floor have advocated this appropriation Of
$50 600 One is the Senator from Texas, Mr.
Houston, and the ether the Senator from
a. j. e L. ~La~
Mr.. Bigler.l Now, sir, the Senator from
Der of the Democratic party. In fact, do not
know what party he does claim to belong to.
think he is rather q sort of mongrel politician,
and it is very difficult to classify him. He goes
for about anything and everything that suits his
own discretion and taste and his taste is gen.
orally very correct. He can advocate this thing
and that thing and the other, and anything he
chooses with out being inconsistent 90 far as re-
CARDS his political principles, because / do not
understand that he possesses any political prin.
ciples. But the Senator from Pennsylvania,
within the sound Of my voce-be is not in his
seat, but should like him TO come in, because
l want to catechise him for q moment-pro
fesses to belong to the Democratic party at
least, he is a member of the Democratic organ
ization; aud the cardinal principle of that party,
if / understand it, is, that Congress can ex
ercise no power, except the power be granted
in the Constitution, or it be necessary and pro-
per in order to carry out some specific grant
SNOW, sir, ask the Senator from Pennsylva
MIA for httle Information. l am q mere tyro in
politics, and he is q very experienced aud dis
tinguished man. | desire him to point out to
me the clause in the Constitution which author.
ICES Congress to expend money to buy seeds
for the planters. l ask for inform alton be.
cause if there is such clause, / have never been
able to discover it. Perhaps the greater acute
ness of that Senator may have enabled him to
discover the clause which authorizes this ap.
preparation. l wish to be informed I am
scholar ready to receive information. want
the Senator to point out to me the clause in the
Constitution of the United States which author
ICES the expenditure Of money out of the pub.
lie Treasury to buy seeds to distribute to the
planters Of this country, or buy ony other prop
erty for general distribution. The Senator, like
myself, went to that desk, when he was intro
dnced into this body, and took solemn oath to
observe the Constitution CT the United States.
This is Government of limited powers 1t
can exercise no power except that which is
specifically granted. Now, sir, want that
Senator to answer me, how be reconciles it to
HE conscience, as an honorable and honest man,
to vote for such q proposition as this? He is
q member of the Democratic party; the cardi.
nal feature of that party is, that this power can.
not be exercised and yet be votes for it.
"Sir, it is said tina. that Senator is the fright
bower speaking in common parlance, laugh.
teri mean in gamblers phrase-of q Demo.
cratic Exc catve. Well, cir, should be very
sorry to think that the present Democratic Elk.
ecutive would vote appropriations OF this sort,
or sanction them. If he would, then he is not
the Democrat take him to be; he is not the
Democrat took him to be when / voted for
him. IF he is that 6shy Democrat that might
be inferred from such a proposition as this, l
would not vote for him again. There are q
great many Democrats, in the Northern States
especially, who go eff upon these large con.
structive powers of the Government. TIE
Senator from Pennsylvania and others. some.
times vote for internal improvements. How do
they arrive at it?"
Mr.. Bgler, of Pa, Mr.. Buchanan's mouth.
piece-feeling for once little unpleasantly,
under the Southern last-responded:
Mr. Bgler. l have net been in the habit,
sir, if understand myself at all, of regulating
my action by reference to popularity. I think
cen rerel that charge with about as much
safety as my honorable friend from Georgia.
TIE question that occupied this country. for
four long months Of this session, may have
been or may net have been question of popu.
larity for the Senator from Georgia; it was q
question in which that honorable Senator felt
deeply interested, because his constituents we're
interested. Sir, if had feared popular feeling,
should not have stood by that honorable Sen
ator on that question. When the Senator from
Georgia shall have met what Northern Sens
tors and Northern Democrats have met year
after year, in struggling for the constitutional
rights Of his people, then he may be at liberty
to talk about the responsibility of voting for or
against garden seeds, radish seeds, turnip
aeeds, onions, cabbages, and sugar cane.
Laughter Why, Mr.. President, no man
would suppose that the honorable Senator could
be SO excited about sugar cane and onions.
Laughter 1t is scarcely generous in the
Senator to rise here and catechise an expert.
snced member like myself, on a great constitu
tional question-the question whether onion
seeds have been constitutonally sent abroad.
fLaughter.l He appeals to me on the solemnity
of my oath. He says that, like him, took an
oath here to sustain the Constitution; and if /
vote for these seeds to the people of Pennsyl.
vania, shall have done violence to nv con.
science. LAughter.] I am not going to do
any such thing. am going to vote for the
seeds conscientiously. Renewed laughter
But, sir, am not wiling that garden and onion
seeds, and garlic, shall be test of the Demo.
cratic faith. [Laughter."]
And Gen. Houston, too, repudiated the over
seership Of the Georgia taskmaster !:
Mr.. Houston. was very much asst onished.
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