The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-05-06

tsch TO appropriation bills. To estab.
lish this principle ~ 10 make radical,
dangerous aud unconstitutional change
ia the character Of our institutions. =
The various departments OF the Gov.
ernment aud army aud navy are estab-
lished by the Constitution or by the
laws passed In pursuance thereof
Their duties are clearly defined, and
their support is carefully provided for
by law. The money required for this
purpose has been collected from the
people. and 10 now in the Treasury
ready TO be paid out as soon Rs the APP
preparation bills are passed. Whether
the appropriations are made or not,
the collection OF taxes will go on. The
public money will accumulate in the
Treasury. Ii was not the intention OF
the trainers OF the Constitution that
any single branch OF the Government
should have the power TO dictate con-
ditions upon which this treasure should
be applied 10 the purposes for which il
was collected. Any such intention, IL
IL had been entertained, would have
been plainly expressed in the Oonsti-
! tuition.
That a majority Of the Senate now
concur ia the claim OF the House adds
10 tho gravity Of the situation, but
does not alter the question at issue. -
The new doctrine, IL maintained, will
result in the consolidation OF uncheck-
ell and despotic power in the House Of
Representatives. A bare majority OF
the House will become the Govern.
ment. The Executive will no longer
be what the trainers Of the Constitu.
tion intended, an equal and independ.
ent branch OF the Government
1t Is clearly the constitutional duty
OF the President 10 exercise his discre-
tioa and Judgment upon all bills pre-
sented TO him, without constraint and
dnress from any other branch Of the
Government. To say that the msiori-
~ OF either or both houses OF Congress
may insist on the approval Of bill,
under penalty Of stopping all Of the
operations OF the Government for want
OF necessary supplies. is to deny 10 the
Executive that share OF Legislative
power which IL plainly conferred by
the second section OF the seventh arti.
Gle of the Constitution. 1t strikes
from the Constitution the qualified
negative Of the President. II is said
that this should be done because il is
the peculiar function OF the House OF
Representatives 10 represent the will
OF the people But no single branch
or department OF the Government has
the exclusive authority 10 speak for
the American people.
The most authentic and solemn ex.
preston Of their will il contained In
the Constitution Of the United States.
BY that constitution they have ordsin-
ed aud established government whose
powers are distributed among co-Ordi-
nate branches, which as far as possible
consistently with a harmonious coop
Grafton, are absolutely independent OF
each other The people OF the coun.
try are unwilling to see the supremacy
OF the Constitution replaced 10y the
omnipotence OF any department OF the
Government. The enactment OF this
bill into a law will establish a precs-
dent which will tend to destroy rho
equal independence OF the several
branches OF the Government, not mere.
ly the Senate aud Executive, bat the
judiciary also, under the coercige die.
taiion OF the House. The House alone
will be the judge Of what constitutes q
grievance, aud also of the means and
measure Of redress. An act OF Con-
gress 10 protect elections IL now the
grievance complained of. bat the House
may, on the same principle. determine
that any other act OF Congress, treaty
made by the President with the advice
aud consent oi tho Senate, nomina-
ton or appointment 10 office, or decis-
ion or opinion Of the Supreme COnrt is
grievance. and that the measure Of
redress il 10 withhold tho approprin.
tions required for the support Of the
offending branch OF the Government.
Believing that this bill is danger.
ons violation OF the spirit and meaning
Of the constitution, 1 am compelled %
return it to the House ia which il orig
mated without my approval. The
qualified negative with which the con.
stitution invests the President Is "a
trust that involves n duty which | can
not decline to perform. With a firm
and conscientious purpose To 10 what
] can TO preserve unimpaired the con.
stitutionGl powers and equal independ.
ence. not merely OF the Executive. but
OF every branch Of the Government,
which will be imperiled by the adop-
ton Of the principle Of this bill. | de-
sire earnestly 10 urge upon the House
OF Representatives return 10 the
wise and wholesome usage OF the ear.
lier days OF the Republic. which ex-
GUIDED from appropriation bills all ir.
relevant legislation. BY this course
you will inaugurate an important re.
form in the method OF congressional
legislation; Your action will be in har.
mony with the fundamental principles
OF the Constitution aud the patriotic
sentiment OF nationality which is their
firm support, and you will restore 10
the country that feeling OF confidence,
security and repose which are so essen.
tial to the prosperity Of all our fellow
citizens. RUTHERFORD Is. HAYRs.