The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-05-01
Senator Conkling's Speech,

tGc Hiteu Statcs Setutb l. ilallDtl
and galleries were filed last Thursda,
by the leading men of Washington
am9pg whom were General Sherman
and cabinet and diplomatic officers, t.
listen to three hours speech Of the New
York Senator. The effort was 4 won
derful one. even for Conkling. Senator
iiiil attempted an interruption. but wa:
sci down GA 80 hard ihat his friends arc
inuch concerned for mis- recovery. Old
Judge Davis of Illinois gave but one
squeak when the New York giant held
him up to the world in his true charac-
ter. Conkiing brought out the fact
that of the two hundred and twenty
millions of dollars raised annually by
this Government the States formerly IN
rebellion paid less than fourteen mill
ions. Senator Conkling said;
The vast revenue Of the country is
paid for their use; 10 pay the debt
which has been incurred by the rebel
lion: TO pay pensions of widows and
orphans, and of cripplcs made by the re-
bellion, and 10 maintain the government
at an expense not to 10 estimated by
life or treasure. To exact money and
| then forbid the use for which people
paid it. would indeed be perfidious and
abominable. There was only one made
in which il could reach uses. and that is
appropriation by law. The constitution
SO ordered the constitution parmi,s no
discretion 10 the majority or to Con-
gress whether il made needful appro-
priations or not; the constitution, how
ever. does commit TO Congress the dis
cretioD To ascertain how much money
is needed. but that done. the command
Ia appropriate is positive and absolute.
The command TO make appropriations
Is plain and peremptory: and refusal
To do so is revolutionary and treasona-
BILE: SO, too. when the constitution in
vests Congress with power to provide
money 10 pay debts and provide for the
common defense and general welfare.
The plain meaning is that Congress
shall DO this thing, and refusal TO do
this is disobedience 10 the constitution
and suhvcrsivc of il. If members of the
Judiciary and Executive Departments
failed 10 do their duties under the con-
siiiution they would be liable to inn
parchment. The members of the Leg
islative departments were likewise
amcnabse to punishment for derelction
of duty. 1t would be a brave if not
less guilty act TO violate their exalted
trust liz ordinary times. Truis,ns like
these would be needless, if not ont of
place. in The Senate. because an occa-
sion has arisen unparalleled in American
history. and so far as he knew. in Brit
ish history. If precedent could be
found il should no, be in country pos
sessing q written constitution. plainly
defining tho rights of all living under it.
Ii was not TO transplant. but to leave
behind traditions of the struggle be-
tween subjects and rulers that our
fathers fled 70 these shores it was to
render impressibie caste distinction of
an ill-adiusied society. The party spir-
il aninla!;lg this debate. if il was any,
where misunderstood. was mistaken es-
ps,ially IN this body. To hear what was
called the debate on this subject. one
would think that the majority were
arraigned simply because they were
acting unconstitutional in putting legis-
lailcn on the appropriation bills. This
was not the case. For himself he knew
Of no better reasons than convenience.
common sense and the danger of log
rolling combinations. 10 forbid putting
all appropriations on single bill. 4
bin containing such huddlc Of incon-
gruous provisions. If no objection to its
separate parts was found. il was diff
cult 10 see ON what ground veto could
stand: bnt objections 10 this legislation
wcnld be as strong as if it had taken
the form of separate bills. A resort TO
separate hills might have cloaSed even
the sinister design Of the legislation.
and in that view would have beca 3
mere policy of the other side. In the
case pending the face OF the bin itself
shows that the legislation is NOT such -