Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-05-07


BY another dstings ished member OF the house
ii was said: The right of representatives of the
people TO withhold supplies is as old as Eurish
liberty. History records many instances where the
common feeling that the people We're oppressed
by laws that the lords
WOULD NOT CONSENT TO RErEAL
by ordinary means OF LEGISLATION obtained redress
at last by refusing appropriations unless accom-
panied by relief measures"
Tat this question OF gravest magnitude, and
II W In this country, wa. raised by this course of
proceeding was fully recognized also by its de-
Tenders. lt was said by distinguished senator;
Perhaps no greater question OF reform Was ever
considered BY the American congress in time of
peace. for IL involves not only the merits and de
merits OF laws which the house Dill proposes 10
repeal, but Involves the rights the privileges the
powers the duties of the two branches of coz
aress, ana Of the president of the United States
Ii is question whose Importance can scarcely
be estimated, IL is quest, N that never yet has
been brought so sharply before the american
congress and the American people as II may he
now. 1t L. n questouwh ich sooner or later must
be decided and the decision must determine
WHAT ARE THE POWERS OF THE HousE OF RkrRE-
sENrArIvEs
under the constitution and what is the duty Of
that house in the view oi the trainers OF that con
sututlon according to its letter and It's spirit. Mr.
President, / should approach this question II !
were in the best possible condition 10 speak ava
to argue IL, with very grave sifhdence, and Ger
tanly with the utmost anxiety; Tor no one can
think over II as long and carefully as l have
thought Of IL without seeing We are ut he begin
ming perhaps ola struggle than may last long III
this country as "A similar struggle IN what we are
accustomed 10 call 'motherlaud' lasted Tor two
centuries before II was ultimately decided, II Is
rot likely TO last so long here, tut II may last IN
I'll every man III this chamber u IN his grave. Ii
is question whether or no ,he house CT repre-
sentstlves has the right 10 say We VIII grant
supplies only upon condition uat grievances are
redress d, We are the representatives of the tax
PAYERS OF the republic, We. the house OF repre-
sentatives, alone have the right to originate
monev bills. We the house Of representatives.
have alone the right To originate bills which grant
money TO the people. The senate represents
the states: we represen the tax payers of the re-
public We therefore by the very terms OF the
constitution, are charged with the duty of origi-
mating bills Which grant the money of the PEG.
Pile We SLAIN the night which the house of com
mons in England established after two centuries
OF contest to say we viii not grant the money of
the people unless there Is redress of griev-
anceS.'H
Upou the assembling of this congress in pur-
suanct OF the cal Tor an extra session, which
was made necessary by the failure OF the 4Aih
congress- to make neediul appropriations for the
support of the government, the question was pre-.
scented whether the attempt maze III the last
congress 10 engrait, by construction,
ANEW PRINCIPLE ON THE CONSTITUTION,
should be pers Isted In or not. This congress
has ample opportunity and time 10 pass the ap.
preparation bills and also TO enact any political
easures which may he determn on IN separate
bills BY the usual aud orderly mtahods OF proceed
ings But the majority of both houses have
deemed 1t wise TO adhere to heprinciple assert
ed and ma ntained IN the last congress by the
majority OF the honSc of representatives. That
principle is that the house of representatives has
the sole right 10 originate bills Tor raising revc-
nue., and therefore nas the right TO withhold APP
preparations on which the existence of the gov
ernment may depend. unless the senate and
president shall give their assent To any leglsa-
tion which the house may see fiji To attach to the
Appropriation bills
TO establish this principle Is to make a radical,
dangerous, nd unconstitutional change i'll the
character Of our institutions. The various de-
parlmVnts of he government and army ana navy
are established by the constitution or by laws
passed IN pursuance thereof Their duties are
clearly defined and their support is carefully pro
vided flr by law. he money required Tor this
purpose has been collected from he people and
Is nos III the treasury ready to be paid out AZ
soon az the appropriation bills are passed,
whether the approp riatlons are made or not, the
collection OF taxes viii 90 on,
THE PUBLIC MONEY WILL ACCUMULATE
in tile treasury 1t was not the intention OF the
trainers of the constitution that any single branch
of the government should have power dictate the
conditions upon which this treasure should h" "p-
piled to the purposes for viii h II was collected
Any such intention, If it had been entertained,
would have been plainly expressed in the consttu-
ton. That the Majority OF the scntie now concurs
in the claim of the house, adds to the gravity OF the
situation but does not ait the question at issue.
The new doctrine, if maintained, will result in the
of the unchecked and desilotc power
in the house of representatives. bare majority of
the hous" will become the government. The eNecu-
tive will no longer be what the trainers OF the con
sttu,ion intepded-an equal and independent
branch of the government.
1t is clearly the
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY OF THE PRESIDENT
10 exercise his discre ion and Judgment upon all bills
presented to him without constraint or duress from
any other branch of the government, To say that
the majority OF either or both houses OF congress
may insist the approval of bill under penalty of
stopping the operations OF the ent for want
of necessary supplies Is to deny to the executive that
duty of legislative power whmn is plainly conferred
by a section of the seventh aitcle OF the copstu-
t on. 1t strikes from the constitution the qualified
negative Of the president.
1t is said this should be done because II Is the pc
culiar function of the house of representatives, to
represent the will of the people, but no ngle
branch or department of the government has exc n
sye authority to speak for the American people
will is contained in the constitution of the United
States. by that constitution they have ordained
and estab ished a government whose powers are dis
trlbuted among coordinate branches which, as lar
as possible cousste tly with harmonious cooper.
atson, absolutely Independent of each other The
people OF the country are unwilling to see Inc su
premaCy of the constitution replaced by the ON
impotence Of any department of the government
The enactment Of his bill iuto Jaw
WILL EarABLIsH A PRECEDENT
which win tend to destroy the equal Importance
of the several branches Of the government. lis
principle places, not merely the senate and eX-
ecuIiye, but the Judiciary u! under the ooetcive
dctat on of The house. The bou>e alone wll be
the Judge of what constitutes grievance and also
Of the means an measure OF redress An act OF
congress pr otect elections is now the grievance
complained OF but the house may on the same
principle determine that any other act OF con
gress already made by the president with the adj
vice and consent of the senate, nomnition or
appointment 10 office, or that a decision or upln'
nf q ~ liz "A
the measure of redress il to withhold app Opra
lions required for the support OF the offending
branch OF the government.
Believing that this bill is a dangerous violation OF
the spirit and meaning Of the constitution, | am
compelled 20 return it to the house in which II orgi-
mated
WITHOUT APPROVAL.
The qualified negative with which the constitution
invests the president is trust that involves duty
which / Cannot decline 10 perform conseientionsiy