Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-05-08

ASRANSSA4SAbAhOo 20 "a W
supplies is as old as English liberty. His
tory records numerous instances where
the Commons, feeling that the people |
were oppressed by laws, that the Lords /
would not consent to repeal by the ordi-
nary methods of legislation, obtained re-
dress at last by refusing appropriations
unless accompanied by relief measures -
The question of the gravest magnitude,
and new in this country, was raised by |
this course of proceedings, and fully rec
also, by its defenders in the Sem
ate. 1t was said by distinguished SEN
ator:
Perhaps no greater question, in the |
form we are brought to consider it, was |
ever considered by the American Con-
gress in time of peace, for it involves |
not merely the merits and demerits of !
the laws which the House bill proposes
to repeal, but involves the rights, the
privileges, the powers, the duties of the
two branches of Congress and the Presi- |
dent of the United States. 1t Isl ques-
ton whose Importance can scarcely be
estimated. 1t is a question that never
yet has been brought so sharply before
the American Congress and the American
people, as it may be now.- 1t is aquestion
which sooner or later must be decided,
and the decision must determine what
are the powers of the House of Represent
atives under the Constitution, and what
is the duty of that House in view of the
trainers of that Constitution according to
its letter and its spirit. Mr.. President, 1
should approach this question, if 1 were
in the best possible condition to speak
and argue it, with very grave diffidence,
| and certainly with the utmost anxiety,
for no one can think over it as long and
carefully as 1 have thought of it, without
seeing we are at the beginning, perhaps,
of struggle that may last as long in this
country as a similar struggle lasted in
what we are accustomed to call the Moth
erland.. The struggle lasted for two CEN
turies before it was ultimately decided.
1t is not likely to last so long here, but it
may last until every man in this Cham
Der is in his grave. It is the question
whether or no the House of Representa-
tives has a right to say, I'VE will grant
supplies only upon condition that griev-
ances are redressed. We are representa-
tives of the taxpayers of the republic.
We, the House of Representatives, alone
have the right to originate money bills.
We, the House of Representatives, alone
have the right to originate bills which
grant the money of the people. The SEN
ate represents States; we represent the
taxpayers of the republic. We, there
fore, by the very terms of the Constitu-
ton, are charged with the duty of origi-
mating bills which grant the money of
the people. We claim the right which
the House of Commons in England estab-
lished, after two centuries of contest, to
say we will not grant the money of the
) people unless there is redress of griev-
ances.' -
Upon the assembling of this Congress
in pursuance of the call for an extra ses-
sion, which was made necessary by tie
failure of the Forty-fifth Congress to
make heedful appropriations for thesfp-
port of the government, the question was
presented whether the attempt made il
the last Congress to engraft by construe
ton new principle upon the Constitu
tion should be persisted in or not. Thi.
Congress has ample opportunity and time
to pass appropriation bills, and also It
enact any political measure which MAJ
be determined upon in separate bills, b,
the usual and orderly method of proceed
ings.
4 But majority of both houses deemet
it wise to adhere to the principl
asserted and maintained in the last Con
9 gress by a majority of the House of Rep
{ resentatives. That principle is that tn
IL House of Representatives has the sol
{ right to originate bills for raising reve
{ nue., and, therefore, has the right to with
hold appropriations upon which the ex
istence of the government may depend
" unless the Senate and President shal
give their assent to any legislation whicl
- the House may see fit to attach to apprC
priation bills. TO establish this princ
4 pie is to make radical, dangerous, an
unconstitutional change in the characte
- of our institutions. The various depar
ments ofthe government, army, and navy
- are established by the Constitution or b
laws passed in pursuance thereof. The
- duties are clearly defined, and their SUI
to port is carefully provided for by law.
The money required for this purpos
. has been collected from the people, an
in is now in the Treasury ready to be pal
GO out as soon as the appropriation bills al
i passed. Whether the appropriations al
h. made or not, the collection of taxes will 8
M on. The public money will aceumulat
a in the Treasury. 1t was not the intentio
oo of the trainers of the Constitution tn
N any single branch of the governmel
r should have the power to dictate the CO
ditions upon which this treasure shou
~ be applied to the purposes for which
Il. was collected. Any such intention, if
n had been entertained, would have be-
ba plainly expressed in the ConstitutiO
A That a majority of the Senate now co
90 ours in the claim of the House adds
he the gravity of the situation, but does n
+ alter the question at issue. The new dc
If. trine, if maintained, will result in a co
Id solidation of unchecked and despotic po
he er in the House of Representatives.
no bare majority of the House will becoI
m the government. The Executive will
m longer be what the trainers of the Co
70 stitution intended-an equal and inC
of pendent branch of the government.
#, is clearly the constitutional duty of
ill President to exercise his discretion a
IN. judgment upon all bills presented to h
)ut WlIhou6 cohs6ralhG OF uuress IrOul d
ar other branch of the government.
the To say that majority of either or b.
,rv houses of Congress may insist upon
ov- approval of bill, under penalty of ST
ping all the operations of the governm
of for want of necessary supplies, is to dc
,oa to the Executive that share of legislat