American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-06-14
A CHANGE OF TUNE.
What the Old-tfme Republicans Thought
OF the Powers of the House of Repre-
sentatives and the Use of Troops at the

"A CHANGE OF TUNE.
What the OId-tfme Republicans Though
Of the Powers of The House of Repre-
ssntatfves and the Use of Troops at tn
from the New York SUM-
The high priests and scrfbes of moder
Hepublicanisfl, so called, cry out in choru
that for the peoples representatives to sa
how the peoples money shall and shall no
De used. and to say it in an appropriation
The fathers of the Republican party dft
not think SO. The new light that has beer
youchsafed to Hayes and De Golyer Gar
held never shone upon the darkened under
standings of William H. Seward, Henry Will
son, William Pitt Fessenden, Benjamin F
/ Wade, John p. Hale and Joshua r. Gid
diHgs.
We again invite the attention of candid
| Republicans to the well considered and
welghty tltterspces of the men who created
their patty. William 81. Seward said:
The time was, and that not long ago
when a proposition to employ the STANDING
lice wSdld have been universally denounced
as a premature rete!ation OF a plot, darkly
subvert the liberties of the people and to
| Overthrow the Republic ITSELF Tine Republic
stands upoh q fundamental principle, that
! the people, in the exercise of equal rights
viii establish only just and eduai laws. and
that their own free and enlightened public
maintenanes and execution of such laws.
This principle is not sven peculiar to our
eminent of every free people on earth. If the
founders 81 She CONSTITUTION had been told
which they laid its SOLID feundations and
raised its majestic columns a standing army
would have been found necessary and indis-
they would have turned shuddering away
fr6tt, ~ massixe despotism which they had
preparation bib distinctly. Il hos power. al
Bill 70 which It has enstitusionai power TT" %
pass. And SO it has a const:t tstional right to-
place the prohibition in the anf1t,al Army
of reaching the object proposed is in some
respects an unusual one, and in some re.
sRerefore, haWeVer, an 1 nneonsttnsionai
one. or even necessarily wrOhss one. 1t is a
and nss Object IS ene that Is
in itself Just, and efHinently important to the
peace and happiness OF the eodntry. or to the
security of the liberties of the peOpfe. The
House of Representatives, moreover, Is en-
titled to Judge and determine for itself
and whether the object Of it is thus impor.'
saint.
Henry Wilson was of the same mind:
Madison. "ean not only reftise, but they alone
can propose the supplies requisite for the
suppor. Of the Government." This declars:
ton is full, ample, complete. If the House
can refuse the supplies requisite for the sup
port of Government, if it POSSESSES this com
redress Of every eriewanee' and for CARVING
into effect every just and salutary measure,
Of that noweF OF the Honse 'p and in is rm
exercise, to use the words of Madison. it will
be sustained BY the consciousness of being
supported In Its demands by right, by rea-
son. and by the Constitution.
We have already quoted the memorable
words Of William Pitt Fessenden. But they
Senator Hunter of Virginia, who had
glimpse Of the revelation that has now, in
the fulIness of time, burst upon Hayes and
De Golyer Garfield, the great Maine Senator
said:
Does he not know well that in the English
have appropriation and revenue bills gone
together, but in cases without number 1t has
the power of the Grown by annering conditions
to their appropriation of money? Does he
ancestors of Massachusetts checked the pow
ers OF their royal governors tcas oy granting |
MONEY! only on eondifionsf The power OF sup
supply have always gone together in Par1ia-
mentary history; and their Joint exercise
luton, or calling for revolution, or tending to |
produce revolution in any shape or form
whatever tbs power essential to the pre-
servation of our liberties.
Benjamin f. Wade was as benighted as his |
Here is his opinion:
The Senator from Virginia tells us that
@ an appropriatfop bill ii Which thew MAKE Il
$ revolutionary. Well, sir, if to resist in any
way measures like these is revolution. 1 say
can people, the principles of the American
demand revolution, if that be
ient3 Must the peoples House Of Repre-
entatfves SIT with their arms folded, and al
.onfers emphatically upon them the power
% originate all revenue bills (which com
,rises the power to place these grants of
must they refrain from exercising their au-
hority in an emergency like thisT Is this the
liberty of the American citizen that tlD peo-
lies House, where there really is a represen-
alton of the people, where the wisdom of the
revoution by cond hie Ing
of the peoples money! most
wholesome restraint, putting a curb in the
i've chair, now stimulating the country, as
asst as he can do It, to civil war?
Even more emphatic, II possible, is the |
anguage of John p. Hale. Speaking of the
light of the House to annex conditions to
he appropriation bills. he said:
Mr.. President, 1 understand this princf
lie to be the great principle of English hber-
y, Incorporated in onr Constitution. and it
the only recourse by which the Parliament
Great Britain have held the King in check. |
we surrender we shall give our own Execu- 6
constitution, and not vested in the King of
ngland. 1t is the only principle that is left
popular government by which the suprem-
cy of the popular will can be maintained in I
his country or in England; and if we give it
y we may just rs wei give up tQe
Experiment. of this Government. .
Joshua R. Giddings talked the same way: !
take the position which have always
here for myself. and which am (
nwflling in the midst of passing events to
ave unprecedented on this floor and that is, | l
lat the people have a perfect. unlimited !
)ntrOl of their own funds. We are the rep
of the people here. We are their
gents, sent here to deal out their funds. and
is not for the Senate or for the Executive to g
" that we shall appropriate them for any ,
oJect revolving to the proper sense of justice
nd propriety. lay down this as a principle I
20 old and too well understood to be disput-
at this day. Il
How these manly utteranees coutrast with 3
,spel proclaimed by Hayes and De Golyer
arfield!
These men were the recognized leaders Of i
lie Republican party of that day. They :,
,oke with authority in its name, and they
tered its sentiments. Its editors, its f
Jump speakers, the rank and file, even the +
mp followers, were with them to a man.
hat was only about twenty years ago. e
Iron in the Atmosphere. +