Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-29

AAO AhplIg AuNG III lllo way CltpO llbO
appropriation bills. The public opin-
ion of the country is against it. The
States, which have recently adopted
the constitution, have generally pro-
vided remedy for the evil by enact
ing that no law shall contain more
than one subject, which shall be plainly
expressed in its title The constitu-
tions of more than half of the States
contain substantially this provision.
The public welfare will be pro-
NOTED in many ways by a return to
the early practice of the government
established 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 pur-
pose has been collected from the peo-
pie and is now in the treasury ready
to be paid out as soon as the appro-
priatiOn bills are passed. Whether
the appropriations are passed or not
the collection of taxes will 90 on:
the public money will accumulate in
the treasury. 1t was not the inten-
tlon of the trainers of the constitu-
tiOn that any single branch of the
government should have power to
dictate the conditions upon which
this treasure should be applied to
the purposes for which it was collect
ed. Any such intention, if it had
been entertained, would have been
plainly expressed in the constitution.
That the majority of the senate
now concurs in the claim, and the
house adds to the gravity of the stu
alton, does not alter the question
at issue. The new doctrine, if main
tanned, will result in the consolidation
Of unchecked and despOtic power in
the house Of representatives. A bare
majority Of the house will become the
government. The executive will no
longer be what the trainers of the
constitution intended-an equal and
independent branch of the govern
ment.
1t is clearly a constitutional duty of
the President to exercise his discre-
ton and judgment upon all bills pre-
sented to him without constraint or
duress from any other branch of the
government. To say that the maiori-
ty of either or both houses of congress
may insist on the approval of the bill.
under penalty of stopping all of the
operations of the government for
want Of necessary supplies, is to deny
to the executive that share of legis-
latiye power which is plainly confer
red by the second section of the sew
enth' article Of the constitution.
1t strikes from the constitution the
qualified negative of the President.
1t is said this should be done because
it is the peculiar function of the house
of representatives to represent the
will of the people. No single branch
or department of the government has
exclusive authority to speak for the
American people. The most authentic
and solemn expression of their will is
contained in the constitution of the
United States By that constitution
they have ordained and established a
government whose powers are distrib-
uted among the coordinate branches
which, as far as possible, consistently
with the harmonious cooperation, are
absolutely independent of each other.
The people Of the country are un-
willing to see the supremacy of the
constitution replaced by the omnipo-
tence Of any department of the gov
ernment. The enactment of this bill
into law will establish a precedent
which will tend to destroy The equal
independence OF the several branches
of Che government. Its principle
places not merely the senate and exec
utive but the judiciary also under the
coerciye direction Of tho house, and
the house alone will be the judge of
what constitutes grievance, and also
the means and measures of redress.
An act OF congress to protect elec-
tions is now the grievance complained
of, but the house Way, on the same
principle, determine that any other
act of congress, a treaty made by the
President with the advice and consent
OF the senate, nomination or ap-
polntment to Office, or that a decision
or opinion of the Supreme Court is
agrievapQe, and that the measure off
redress Is to withhold appropriations
required for the support Of the offend
ing branch Of the government
Believing that this bin Is a danger
Gus violation OF the spirit and meaning
OF the constitution, | am compelled to
return it to the house, in which itI
originated without my approval.
l desire earnestly to urge upon the
house Of representatives a return to
the wise and wholesome usage of the
days Of the republic, which excluded
from the appropriation bills all irrele-
want legislation.
By TINS course you will inaUguTate
an important reform in the method of
congressional legislation. Your action
will be in harmony with the funda-
mental principles of the constitution
and patriotic sentiment of nationality,
wmchlst theiriirm support, and yQa will
restore to the country ths, feeling ofI
confidence and serenity and repose
WniieA age 50 essential to the prosperity
of o.! our felllow-ci citizens, ''