Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-29
TWO CENTS.

dent sign, a bill for such repeal. Whatever OBJ
lecuon TO legislation upon appropriation bills
may be made In ordinary cases does not apply
o wnere Tree elections and the liberty OF the clf
power to vote money; let us annex conditions
ances." f- '''0 A0>e'' VI siio''
BY another distinguished member Of the
haqTS TSe II risss Mas said; aa qie
| PIE 10 wIhhold supplies is as old as English
| Hoerty. History records numerous instances
%neIe ntd e. the Commons, feeling that the people
| were oppressed by laws that the Lords would
| not consent to repeal by the ordinary methods
OF legislation, obtained redress at last by refus
ing In e. appropriations unless accompanied by relief
That question of the gravest magnitude.
ana new IN this country, was raised by this
course rs OF proceeding, was fully recognized also
| oy its defenders In the Senate 1t was said by
| distinguished Senator: -
| fernapS no greater question In the form we
hI e ,b 10 consider it was ever considered
| ~ lne american Congress In time OF peace: for
IL involves not merely the merits or demerits or
rne oe, laws which the House bill proposes to re-
powers, the duties of the two bropches 9s o one
gress and Of the President OF the United States
~ Is vast question; it is question whose i'm
Question: than than Scarceiy scarce be estimated; it is
SHARPLY before the American Congress and the
%An1eiican % people as 1t may now be- It fs a
l HNOh !" "uiCh oOOuST OT l3I6r must he 0Qct,ia1
and the decision must determine What are ia
powers OF the House of REPRESENTATIVES nndar
nnn nS Sonstitutlon, and what is the duty OF that
st1tution according to fits letter and ito snlrit
! ~ MI President, / should approach this anes-
, Gon, were In the best possible condition to
dence, and certainly with the utme,st anxia. L,
toT t no one can think OF 1t as long and as care,
that we are navs a the efougn1 OF It without seeng
gie that may last as long In this country as a
similar struggle lasted In what we are acous.
S4mea 70 cal the mother land. There the
sIIuggle lasted for two centuries before 1t was
uitlmateiy decided. 1t is not likely to last so
Iong mere, but 1t may last until every man In
Ihis chamber Is In his grave. 1t is the question
whether or no the House OF Representatives,
mas right to say "We viii grant supplies only
upon condition that grievances are redre ssed,
we are the representatives OF the tax payers of
tne republic; we, the House OF Representatives
alone have the right to originate money hills:
we, the House OF Representatives, have alone
the right TO originate bills which grant the
money OF the people; the Senate represents
states; we represent the tax. payers of the re.
pubic, We, therefore, by the very terms of the
Sonstltution: are charged with the duty of ori
gna5Ing nnIi, tne oils which grant the money OF the
OF commons In England established after two
centuries OF contest, to say that we will not
gadn. gedrss sas f money o the people unless there
Upon the assembling Of this Congress- I'm
pursuance OF an call for an extra session, which
Was was made necessary by the failure OF the Forty
NTH Congress to make the needful appropria-
tions for the support OF the government, the
question was presented whether the attempt
mace IN the last Congress to engraft by con-
should be persisted In or not This Congress-
mas ample Opportunity and time to pass the ap-
propl iation bills, and also to enact any political
separate bills by the usual and orderly methods
or proceeding. But the majority of both Houses
nave nave deemed ft wise to adhere to the principle
asserted and maintained In the last Congress
0y the majority OF the House of Representa-
ives. That principle Is, that the House of Rem
ffesentaESes mas the sole right to originate bills
10 withhold appropriations upon which the
existence OF the government may depend un-
iess the senate and the President shall give
establish this principle Is to make a radical,
dangerous csSngelous, and UNCONSTITUTIONAL change in the
paItments OF the government, and the army
ana navy, are established by the Constitution,
or; or ny laws passed In pursuance thereof. Their
duIeS are clearly defined, and their support IS
carefully provided for by law. The money ne.
qulred for this purpose has been collected from
tne people, and IS now In the Treasury. ready
10 De PAID out as soon as the appropriation bills
are passed Whether appropriations are made
OF not the collection Of the taxes viii 90 on.
The public money win accumulate In the Treas
ury. 1t was not the intention OF the trainers OF
the Constitution that any single branch OF the
government should have the power to dictate
SOANAlOu6 uIUu WHICH CQlS treasure Sl0ul6
applied to the purposes for which it was COLES.
ed: Any such intention, II It had been enter.
tained, would have been plainly expressed in
That majority OF the Senate now concurs in
the claim OF theiHouse adds to the gravity Of
tne situation, bf does not alter the question at
ss@e rsf ~ me new ddScine Il maintained w
pOttc power In the House of REPRESENTATIVES,
A bare majority OF the House viii become the
what the trainers OF the Constitution infende6
an equal and independent branch OF the Gov.
ernment. 1t ts clearly the constitutional duty OF
fne nn 70 az eMerse e;9s his and
out constraint OF duress from any other branch
OF the Government. To say that majority of
Fl eo5n 0d Tae aoISss S Of
stopping all the operations Of the Government
1or want OF the necessary supplies, is to deny
10 tae Executve that share OF the legislative
section OF the seventh article Of the constitu-
sos. a0n. IL sIrlkeS lrom the constitution the quail
1ed @ NEGATIVE OF the President. 1t is said that
junction OF the House OF Representatives TO rem
resenI resent tne VIII OF the people. But no single
branch branch or department OF the government has
people. The most authentic and solemn expres-
sion OF their will is contained In the Constitution
OF the United states. BY that constitution they
whose powers are distributed among Co -ordtnate
branches, which, as far as possible consistently
WIN harmonious cooperation, are ABSOLUTELY
independent OF each other. The people of this
country are unwilling to see the supremacy Of
the constitution replaced by the omn1potence of
any department OF the governments,
The enactment OF this bill into law win
establish precedent which will tend to de-
stroy the equal independence Of the several
ora branches OF the government Its principle places
tne judiciary also, under the coercve dictatfon
OF the House. The House alone will he fhe
luoge OF what constitutes grievance, and also
OF the means and measures Of redress. An ACT
OF congress to protect elections fs now the
grievance complained OF. But the House NAV
on the same principle determine that any other
aCt OF congress, treaty made by the President
Win tne advice and consent OF the Senafe a
nomlnatlon or appointment to Office or that a
DECISION or opinion OF the Supreme Court is q
grievance and that the measure OF redress IA to
WInnol0 the appropriations required for the
ment. 0A 'Ao so'oin-
Believing that this bill is DANGEROUS viola.
uOn OF Lhe spirit and meaning Of the Constftu. |
uol, u. am compelled to return 1t to the House
lm Wnicn Il originated without my approvaI
inc quaIned negative with which the Consti-
tuition invests the President is q trust that in |
volveS duty which he cannot decline to per
form. With firm and conscientious purpose |
10 DO what can to preserve, unfmpafred the |
constitutional powers and equal Independence. |
not merely OF the Executive, but of eyery |
branch OF the government, which VIII be TIM /
per1uo0 by the aQOpttOn of the DrfnCiple of this