The Portland daily press., 1879-03-27
Senator HOar's Speech.
The Purity Of the RaIIorB OK.

The following is full synopsis of the O.
marks made Tuesday by Senator Hoar speaking
TO his own resolution declaring uncopstitution-
al and revolutionary the Democratic programme
Of legislation announced by Mr., Beck at the
close Of the late session Of Congress. Mr. Hoar
addressed the Senate at length. He said that
Congress had come together under circum-
stances without parallel in our history. The
last Congress applied itself indastriousy to leg
islation. The two houses agreed with singular
uuanimity on the details of public expenditures
There were no differences as to any neeoful
and useful appropriations which conference
committee would not easily adjust. The fall
ure to make appropriations for the support Of
the government, which the President assigned
as the reason for calling this extra session, was
not caused By aUy item needed for the public
service, but by the wlful refusal of one branch
of Congress to give its assent 10 the euactments
to wh ch the other branch had agreed. There
was nothing in our domestic or foreign rela-
tioLs which demanded legislation. 1t was
ti@e of profound peace. There was no coutro.
versy, scarcely diplomatic dispu,e, with auy
power on earth The ex-Prasideut, as he went
from nation to nation aod from Continent to
continent found the rulers OF nations opening
to him Their gates and salutisg the flag with
which his own name was SO inseparably con-
uected. There was no petition from ans part
Of the couDtry indicating public grievance.
Every man who had living to Obtain BY hon.
est trade or labor united in one eager desire for
security which legislation alone afforded. The
purpose of assembling here was not chiefly
legislative purpose. 1t was, If he unders TODD
it, simple, but effective process to do away
with the cond itionsl limits of the Constitution.
Mr.. Hoar then referred to the remarks Of
Mr.. Beck, make toward the close of the late
Congress. giving the reason for the failure of
the army and legislative bill, and stating what
the Democrats demanded and what they insist
UPON in the event of an extra session Of Con-
gress. This exp pose of the course of tie Democ-
rscy was, Mr.. Hoar said, followed b. a remark
from Senator Thurman from which b. quoted,
saying that the scheme as thus stated BY its
leading expOnents, compelled the Senate to
register the edicts Of the house and TO vest In
the house the power Of the government isslf,-
coercion to bs applied 70 the President in re-
gard to law passed under all constitutional
forms, and which there had been ample time to
test 10 the courts If 1t was considered uuconsli-
tutional.
Abiding to what he characterized as vague
impression which prevails Ia some quarters
that there is analogy between the practice of
the English House Of Com mons In refusing to
vote supplies to the King, nd the action Of the
house 10 refusing appropriations TO deirsy the
necessary expenses OF the government, Mr..
Hosr cited numerous examples TO show that
this i'm preston was erroneous. The Commons
never refused a vote Of money for the purpose
of coercing the lords into acquiescence with
their plans. The supplies withheld We're not
those needed in the exercise OF the ordinary
functions of the government. These were OBJ
tsined from the regular revs nues of the coun-
Try, nor were they those required by the houses
hold expenses of the sovereign, which were de-
rived from estates Set apart for that purpose, or
10 other independent ways. The supplies re-
fused were those asked for extraordinary occa-
sons. such as to pay the Kings debts, to eur-
duct foreign war, or when the revenues settled
upon the crown were wasted by exuavagance.
Since 1858 no general legislation has been
attached TO money bills originating in the COM
mons, aud Instances of such practice before
that date were rare. Also proposals looking TO
such action were invariably resisted, de-
nounced and obliged to be abandoned. He
defied any one to point TO an instance in Eng
hsh history where necessary supplies were
withheld to coerce legislatiOD, and no patriot
ever ventured To propose q refusal to provide
for the revenues of the kingdom, the execution
of the laws or the administration of justice.
The pres cut scheme is not blow at the Presi-
no contingency dependent upon the will of the
popular house for his compensation; but it is a
blow aimed at the Con ution and against the
rsrqu,lily and prosperity OF the country
Ahudiug to the perogatves OF the legislative
branch of the gOVernment, Mr.. Hoar pointed TO
| tue fact that, while the obligations resting upon
| its members were morally imperative as
those which deVolved upon the executive and
judicial branches, they alone were not ameDa-
able to punishment for derelicton of duty. To
them belongs the proud distinction OF being
r-spons BILE ouly TO their own sense Of right for
their action as representatives OF the people.
The trainers of the Constitution, however,
guarded Carefully against any possible in
frIugement by any legislative body upon the
functions of the Executive department. He
cited several Instances in our own legislative
history where attempts bad been made tn at
tach general legislation to appropriation bills,
aud drew distinction between cases where
appropriations were refused to BE- agreed upon
utless limited to objects authorized by law and
where merely political legislation was m ade
the subject of a disagreement The former
priUcpai had moth ng IN common with the
present case. He upheld the right of Congress
to leglsla,e for the purity of the baot-oox, aud
said there has been no Tins since the fOuuca-
tiOp of this Government when the Pres deOt
was Dot au horized to order the protecuon Of
the polls by military forces Sucb power ex.
sted aOd Was exercis, 10 all the S sstes and IN
every nation, and was necessary To the preser-
vatOn of any popular government lndeed,
Wnab was Jew III tnie lcglslaLon was prOViS
ion iof citing severe punishment upon any
member of the military who should Interfere
10 any way with the exercise of the right of
| sufftage. He was no alarmist, aud sought to
| see gooi in The situation. de did not consider
| IL necessary for the welfare of the peope that
| one party should constantly hold the re,as OF
| the goyernmen., but he saw indications Of the
| dangerous use OF this power by tha present
| majority. short time ago We heard V said
| tnat Senator from the little State of Rhode
| Islsud WAS rs powerful as one from the large
| State of New York, and now we are told that
| this President is only Que man against many
men. Toe Senator from Indiana lVoorheesI
| yesterday reminded Us that his party now con-
\ troed aud would control the destinies Of the
| couRtry. We did not heed this sdmonition.
| We see its truth aud feel its force in the en-
| desvor made oy that party to override coosti-
| tutionsl methods Disastrous consequences
must result from suco a policy uuless We can
succeed in checking Its progress aud restoring
legitimate practices in legislative proceedings.