The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-06
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.

The Disagreement of the two houses of
congress on the army appropriation bill
will, probably, necessitate the calling Of q
special session of congress; although, as the
appropriations made q year ago cover the
period until July, there will be no necessi-
ty for an immediate session. The point OF
disagreement was the insertion, by the
house, of a section providing for the grad
ual reduction of the army to seventeen
thousand men, and a section prohibiting
the president from using the army, or any
part therof, in sustaining the state govern
ments in Louisiana and South Carolina.
We believe that the policy which the
house thus attempted to %inaugurate to be
unwise, in~cxpedient and dangerous. The
army is now limited to twenty five thous-
and men, which is small enough even for a
peace establishment when we consider
our vast extent of territory, the extended
frontier to be defended, and the number Of
forts to be garrisoned. 1t is certainly none
too large to provide against emergencies
which may arise, and is small enough for a
nu ;leus around which to gather an army
In case of actual war or threatened inva-
sion, to say nothing of domestic complics-
tions. II is, moreover, in bad taste to en-
deavor to hamper the incoming executive,
especially when his policy towards these
southern states is understood to be a pacific
one, and one which does not contemplate
the use of military force. But there may
be contingencies in which the use of the
army in Louisiana and South Carolina
would be wise, e~xpedient and the only
means of preventing bloodshed and prcserv-
ing peace.
We have no doubt, however, but what it
was within the constitutional power of con-
gress to insert these p~rovlsos in the appro-
priation bill. Indeed, it would be perfectly
competent for congress to legislate the
army out OF existence by refusing to make
any appropriations for it's support. BY
the very terms of the constitution the
army annot exist without the consent of
congress, and congress cannot, in any
event, appropriate money for its support
for a longer term than two years; so that
whether congress shall, by special enact
ment, dlsband the army, or shall legislate
1t out of existence by refusing to vote IT
supplies, it is acting within the strict limit
of it's constitutional powers. But because
the measure is constitutional, it is none the
lees foolish, inexpedient, dangerous. The
responsibility for the f~ailnre, the expense
OF a special session, and all the inconveni-
ence which may arise from the failure OF
the appropriation bill, rests with the demo-
cratic majority of the house.
The course pursued by the house is,
however, not entirely new. In 1856, dur
ing the first session Of tho thirty fourth
congress, the republicans had a majority
for the first time in the house, N. p. Banks,
still a representative from Massachusetts,
being speaker. 1t was during the Kansas
troubles, and the house passed the army ap.
preparation bill with a proviso prohibiting
the use of the army for the enforcement Of
the acts of the territorial legislature O,
Kansas. The house and senate could no,
agree, the hour fixed for adjournment
~arrived-not the end Of congress as in THU
instance, ..bnt the hour fixed by joint reso
%lution-the speakers hammer fell, and thu
session terminated leaving the army with
out an appropriation for It's support.