Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-02

ton was stated by one Of its ablcst defenders
as follows:
1T is our duty to repeal these. It is not
worth while to attempt the repeal except upon
an appropriation bill The Republican Sen.
ate would not agree to, nor the Republican
President sign, bill for such repeal What
ever objection to legislation upon appropria.
ton bills may be made in ordinary cases, does
not apply where free elections and the liberty
OF the citizens are concerned We have the
power to vote money. Let us annex condi.
tions to it. and insist upon the redress OF
grievances"
BY another distinguished member of the
House it was said "'The right Of the repre-.
sentativ,s Of tn people TO withhold supplies
Is as old as English liberty. History records
numerous instances where the Commons feel
ing that tie people were oppressed by laws
that the Lords would not consent TO repeal by
the ordinary methods Of legislation. obtained
redress at last by refusing appropriations uu-
less accompanied by relief measures" That
u question Of the gravcst magnitude and new
IN this country, was raised by this course OF
proceeding was fully recognized also by it,
defenders in the Senate. It was said by a
distinguished Senator
'Perhapi 10 greater question in the form
we are brought to consider it, was ever CON
peace, for il involves not merely the merits
or dement's 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 Of the Prcsi-
dent of the United States. II is vast ques-
ton. 1t is question whose importance can
scarcely be estimated 1t is question that
never yet has been brought SO sharply before
the American Congress, and the American
people, rs It may be now. II is a question
which, sooner or later, must be decided. and
the decision must determine what are the
powers of the House of Reprps natives under
the constitution, and what is the duty Of that
House in the view Of the trainers Of that CON
stitution, according to its letter and It's spirit
Mr.. President, l should approach this ques-
ton, If were in the best possible condition
to speak and to argue it, with q very grave
diihdence, and certainly with the utmost
anxiety, for no one can think of it as long
and rs carefully rs | have thought Of il, with
out seeing that We are at the beginning. per
haps of IA struggle that may last ms long in
this country rs a similar struggle lasted in
what We call the motherland. There the
struggle lusted for two centuries before it was
ultimately decided. II is not likely to last 50
long here, but it may last till every man in
this chamber is in his grave 1t is the qucs-
tiyes has n right to say we will grant sup
plies only upon condition that grievances are
r-dressed We are the representatives of the
taxpayers Of the republic We, the House OF
Representatives alone have the right to orig
inal bills which grant the money of the PEG
pie The Senate represents the states we
represent the tax payers of the republic. We
therefore, by the very terms of the constitu-
ton, are charged with the duty of original
ing the bill which grants the money of the
people. We claim the right which the House
of Commons in England established. after
two centuries Of contest, TO say that we will
not grant the money Of the people unless
there Is "A redress Of grievances"
Upon the assembling Of this Congress in
pursuance Of a call for nu extra session, which
was made necessary by the failure Of the
Forty-fifth Congress to make the needful ap-
for the support of the govern
ment the question WAS presented whether the
attempt made IN the last Congress to engraft,
by construction, new principle upon the
constitution should be persisted in or not
This Congress has ample opportunity aud
time to pass the Appropriation bills. and also
to enact any political measures which may
be determined upon in separate bills, by the
usual and orderly methods Of proceedings.
but the majority of both houses have deemed
It wise to adhere to the principle asserted and
III the last Congress by the ma
iority of the House Of Representatives That
principle is that the House of Representa-
lives has the sole right to originate bills for
raising revenue, and therefore has the right
10 withhold appropriations upon which the
existence of the government may depend nm
less the Senate and the President shall give
heir assent TO any legislation which the
House may see fit TO attach to appropriation
bills. TO establish this principle is to make
radical, dangerous and unconstitutional
'hAnge III the character of our institutions
The various departments Of the government
md the army and navy are established by
he constitution or by laws passed in pursu-
'nce thereof. Their duties are clearly defined,
md their support is carefully provided for by
he law. The money required for the pur-
pose has been collected from the people. and
5 now in the treasury ready to be paid out as
Don a. the Appropriation bills are passed.
" neither appropriations are made or not, the
COLLECTION OF THE TAXES WILL go on.
he public money will accumulate in the treas
Try. 1t was not the intention Of the trainers
# the constitution that any single branch of
he government should have the power to die
ate conditions upon which this treasure
hou.d be applied to the purposes for which |
was collected. Any such intention, if it |
lhd been eutt rtained, would have been plain |
y expressed in the constitution. That u ma
ority of the Senate now concurs in the claim |
f the House adds to the gravity of the situa-
ion, but does not alter the question at issue.
The new doctrine, if maintained, will r. suit |
n n consolidation Of unchecked and
'EsroTIC POWER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT |
ATIyEs
bare majority of the House will become the |
overnment. The executive will no longer be |
That the Trainers of the constitution intended |
an equal and Independent branch of the |
overnment 1t is clearly the constitutional |
uty of the President to exercise his discre-
on and judgment upon all bills presented to
i'm without constraint or duress from any
Their branch of the government. To say that
ma jority of either or both of the houses of |
congress may insist on the approval of IA bill,
nder the penalty of stopping all of the OPP
rations of the government for want of the
ecessary supplies, is to deny to the execu-
We that share OF the legislative power which
plainly conferred by the second section of
le seventh article of the constitution. II is
nd that IAis should be done because it is the
eculiar function of the House of Represen-
.tiVes to represent the will of the people,
ut no single branch or department of the
oyernment has exclusive authority to speak
'r the American people. The most anthem
C and solemn expression of their will is con-
lined in the constitution of the United States
y that constitution they have ordained and
government whose powers are
attributed among coordinate branches.
hich, as far as possible consistently with
cooperation, are absolutely in
apendent Of each other. The people of the
ountry are unwilling to have the supremacy
the constitution replaced by the omnipo-
nee of any department of the government
he enactment of this bill into law will es-
blish precedent which will tend to destroy
lie equal independence of the several branch
of the government Its principle places
OF merely the Senate and executive, but the
ldiciary also under the coercive dictation of
he House, The House alone will be the
ldge of what constitutes grievance and al
} of the means and measures of redress. An
t of Congress to protect elections is now
he grievance complained Of but the House
ay on the same principle determine that
ny other act of Congress or treaty made by
lie President, with the advice and consent of
le Senate a nomination or appointment TO |