Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-14

/ Golden Hleece laQ Deen CspCureu III Aus
tralia, either on tbe gold market or the
price of wool. Laughter ]c,s 43gieq9bsl
} IdI present these ,fanciful questions as an
arg,Smentam ad absaraaus. If such questions
were put by the veterans of the House, what
might we not expect from the awkward
squad? [Laughter.] One thing only they
!, are designed to show : that, ridiculous as
! they seem, they are, not more ridiculous
than the questions of the, English parlia-
mentarians, which are invariably laughed
at OF, avoided. These illustrations, of the
abuse of the legislative by the executive
power are drawn from,a country where the
4, Government is parliamentary, and the re-
sponsibility ministerial, In our country the
Government and responsibility are distrib-
uted between the Executive and the Legis-
lature. and there is no such thing as min
isterial responsibility. The Executive is
responsible to the people, on the expiration
of his term of office and no responsibility
exists to the people or to the Congress
which can, before that time, remove him.
But enough is shown to conclude that il
the Executive by its Cabinet were In con-
tact with the Legislature, the people would
lose, through the aggressions of power and
the pursuasions- of corruption, their share
of the Goyemment and the Legislature,
representatives of their interests, would be-
tive. The democratic element of our ipsti-
tutions would be expunged, and the power
which in England reached Parliaments and
people to corrupt and enslaye, would here
be used for the same purpose. ...yt -tsdi
The Executive here is not above the mo-
tives which have swayed men in high office
in other times. There is constant tenden-
cy in the Executive to enlarge his power.
The princes Of antiquity used to defy them
selves. Even the English kings surround
ed their persons with the jus diviaum." We
find in democratic America perpetual as
cription of glory to power. Even in this
House have heard members say adopt
this policy, because our rulers have ordain-
ed it," Indeed, the committee in this re-
porthave transtixed severalmembers of this
House on this point of passive obedience
to the powers, (see page l5). The gold bill
and loan bill are the acts refer to, and the
gentlemen are from New York, 4 Mr.. Nor
ris, j from Massachusetts, Mr. Hooper, and
Others When the gentleman from Penn
| sylvania Mr.. Stevens spoke he gave anoth-
er voice. II bow, "he says, ito the opinion of
the Secretary of the Treasury-if 10 is right"
/ might well believe that he would not fall
into an unreasoning acquiescence with
the Judgment or wish of any Department.
i read in the debates of the Pennsylvania
Constitutional Convention in 1887, upon the
dangers of Federal and Cabinet influences,
that when Walter Forward sought to di-
voree his State from such dangerous and
fatal connection and patronage, he gave his
earnest support to Mr.. Forward. l reckon
upon his vote against this measure, which
has similar tendencies. s#t5e,
The report dwells upon the practice of
other countries besides that of England. i
will not seek to draw my lessons in legisla-
tion from France, or even Italy or Spain.
We know what degree of liberty is allowed
in those lands. l doubt if France has made
any progress in her assemblies since the
middle ages. 1T is related of the minister
De Marginy, that wishing to crafty the
King, Philip lie Bel, in levy of taxes, he
called the Assembly of States, great scaf-
fold was erected; the kings, lords and bish-
cps took their places on it; and the Com
mons attended at its foot. The minister
! proposed an excise. The king, says an old
chronicle rose from his throne and advanc-
ed to the extremity of the scaffold that he
might second by his looks the harangue of
histreasurer and see echo refused and teh0
consented. This is the idea of the commit
tee. The Cabinet will be here, not to vote,
| but, by their looks, to second the demands
| of the Presidents; and woe to him in all ftl-
ture who dares tovote against the Admin
stration! The eyes of the Cabinet will be
upon him. Bastiles, towers, imprisonments,
may be powerless now, to influence us; but
who has not constituents of influence at
home, anxious for the fat of contracts or
the drippings of office!sV seW !alW 81.
Mr.. Speaker, if did not believe that this
measure would tend to increase the power
of the Executive at the expense of the Leg
| islatEre, would have remained silent. But,
sir, IN times like these would be most care
full of the purity of the Legislature, 1 be-
liove that in these days of usurpation of
power, when unheard- -of-claims and mex
plicable conduct has marked the executive
career; when the powers of Congress in
foreign affairs has been denied at distant
court; when the laws we pass here are set
aside by the, minions of power, and when
the state is afflicted with a civil war and its
incidents Of expense, patronage, and in
creased authority, that we Should guard our
portals as sacred from the intrusion Of the
InhllllsterS u oi tnat power WRlcn depaucnes,r
l my musg entef my negat1ye 70 tne opportlut-i
nlty 1or corruption' l 40 not forget the
prayer that we De moi led INTO temptatlon.gJ
! pase my opposltlon 70 thls measure IN the
uepraVlIy OF our nature. \ remember tnat
nations nave ialien When the rulers ylelded
gothe lureso OF the emercehary. home reared
ner grandeur oy centuries OF virtue, Wis
dom, ana Dlood, When she LOST her virtue
she LOST her grandeur and heE powell Lux
ury favored corruption, anu Venallty gave
70 tne tongue or ner Juvenais the iercest
shaits' OF sanre. y When her magistrates
were elected py prloes, the sentences OF her
Judges were purchased ana the degrees OF
ner Senate were sold, then her liberties fell, 4