American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-05-10
NUMBER 20.

question that never yet has been Drought &C
is question which sooner or ia.ei
termine what are the powers 1T the House OF
Representatives under the Consffthston,. and
what is the duty Of that House in view OF the
letter ana its spirit. Mr.. President. should
abprpaeh this Question. If were in the best
vefy rave an1 ID
With the utmost anxiety f9f one can not
ssens .nas w " ARE
the beginning Perhaps q 4 struggle that may
last as long dn this c5tfy y sniis az
years before 4 vas decided. Il Is s. not likely
o asfs nsy III
question whether or not the HJtss of Repre-
supplies only upon condition that grievances
e ths taf-psSsrs Of The kepublle; we, the the
WEE Hs. f the 70 HOUSES s'na' Of money sp!essns
which grant the money of the people; the
Senate represents the States; we represent
BY he psIy sepms q she are
charged with the duty of originating bills
s% rs hs e. # sns
in England established otter two centuries of
to sEy WE yin tb not eEsns the rss.
81 sNs sn unless 'nere rs q fe''e'' o,
THE PREsIDEtfs POSITION.
Upon the assembling of this Congressfn puf-
euence 81 the call for an extra session which
Forty nth 5Sasrs:. % make needfni sppro.
the question was presented whether the at
tempt made in the last Congress TO engraft
S y sson,d de b persisssd IN Or not
s,%s s % pass. mas ap n iis and
ures which may be determined upon IN
separate bills by the usual and orderly meth
in 20
.1 Thas % Hspss
of Representatives has the sole right to 6rief.
nate bills for raising revenue, and therefore
which VII, the exi Isl Of the tGoyernment may
depend unless the Senate and President shall
House s ses a. astseh to apprcpration
bifls. To establish this principle is to make
radical, dangeSeus snd ti9sOns s,r sSssi.
tut tSsioGs TIE VARIOUS Departments art snty a9 o.
are clearly defined. and their supi,oft Is care
sor this qr p has
ready e Be paid out as soon as the approprf-
lions are made Of not: the collection 81 taxes
viii go on and the public motley will accumu-
Of s
gle branch of tie G6vernmeht should have
the sSfs to he to P te
such Intention, II it had been entertained,
CONSUMPTION That the majority Of the Sen.
ate nov eoncns n ne claim 81 the s H Soss
NOT liter the az se The new doc
trine. If maintained. will result In the sonsol-
,,x ~ ~ vc Dv.por,c poxvrp
IN the House of Representatives. bare MA
3ority of the House will become the Gov
shas me y ne
tended, an independent branch OF the Gov
Il is clearly the Constitutional duty of the
President to exercise his discretion and tudg.
ment upon all bills presented to him, without
Of the Government. TO say that the majority
of either or both houses of Congress may ID
siss on the approval OF the bii; under me ne
the Government for the want of the necessary
supplies. is to deny to the Executive that
plainly conferred BY the Second Section of
the Seventh Article of the Consultation Il
strikes from the Constitution the qualified
negative of the President.
II is said this should be done because it is
the peculiar function Of the House OF Repre-.
sentatfves to represent the will of the people;
but no single branch OF department Of the
Governments has the exclusive authority to
authentic and solemn expression of their
will Is contained in the Constitution of the
have ordained and Established a Government
whose POWERS are distributed among CO or
dinate branches, which. as far as possible,
consistently with harmonious co operation,
are absolutely Independents OF each other.
The people of this country are unwilling to
placed by the omnipotence of any depart.
ment of the Government. The enactment of
this bill into q law will establish precedent
DESTROY THE EQUAL INDEPENDENCE
of the several branches of the Government.
and executive. but the judiciary also. under
the coercfve direction of the House. The
be aad Also the
and measures of redress.
An act of Congress TO protect elections Is
now the grievance complained of; but the
House may. on the same principle, determine
that any other act of Congress- treaty
consent of the Senate; a nomination or ap-
pOintment to on1ce-or that a decision or
Spd sHat the enc Of redress to with.
port of the offending branch of the Govern
Believing that this is a dangerous violation
of the spirit and meaning of the Constitution,
which it originated without my approval.
THE QUALIFIED NEGATIVE
with which the Constitution invests the Pres
can not decline to perform. With firm and
purpose to do what | can to
unlmp6lreQ tne cOuetltutiOnhi pOW-
ers and independence. not merely OF the Ex-
ecutive but of every branch of the Govern
ment which will be imperiled by the adop-
ton of the principle of this bill, 1 desire
earnestly to urge uron the House of Repre-
sentatives a return to the wise and whole
some usage of the earlier days of the Repub-
lie, which excluded from the appropriation
bills all irrelevant legislation. ..
By this course you will marguerite an i'm
portant reform in the method of Congress
siOnal legislation; your action VIII be IN
harmony with the fundamental principles OF
the Constitution and the patriotic sentiment
of nationality which is their firm support.
and you will restore to the country that feel
ing of confidence and security and repose
which is so essential to the prosperity OF all
our fellow citizens.
[SignedJ RUTHERFORD b. HAYES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, ID. u,
April %, 1879.
The Return from Leadville.