The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-29

one oil its ableSt defenders as follows: III B our
duty to repeal these laws. II is not worth while
TO attempt the repeal except upon an appropriation
bill. The Republican Senate would not agree to nor
the Republican President sign bill for such re-
preparation bills may be made in ordinary
elections and NJ the 1i|PH i|5Pe4Hy Sf''' of citizens
are concerned. We have power to vote money.
redress of our grievances" BY another distin-
guished member Of the House it was said:
The right OF the representatives, of the people
to withhold supplies is as old us English liberty.
Commons, feeling that the people were op-
pressed by laws that the Lords would not
consent to repeal by the ordinary methods of
legislation obtained redress at last by refusing
appropriations unless accompanied by relief
measures"
That question OF the gravest magnitude, and
new in this country, was raised by this course of
proceeding, and was fully recognized also BY its
defenders in the Senate.
twas said by distinguished Senator: perhaps
no greater question in the form we are brought to
consider it was ever considered by the American
Congress in time Of peace, for it involves not
only the merits and demerits of the law the House
bill proposes to repeal, but involves the rights,
the privileges the powers the duties Of the Two @
United States 1t isa vast question: it Isl ques-
ton whose importance can scarcely be estimated;
it is aqneston that never yet has been brought SO
sharply before the American Congress and
the American people as it may
be now; it is question which
sooner or later must be decided, and the decision
must determine what are the powers OF the House
of Representatives under the Constitution. and
what is the duty OF that House, in view OF the
trainers of that Constitution, according to its let
Ter and spirit. Mr.. President should approach
possible condition to speak and to argue 1t with
very grave difiidence, and certainly with the ut
most anxiety. for none can think OF it SO
long and carefully as l have thought OF 1t
| tI1z,,f nt M hn0in n n q
perhaps of struggle that may last as long in the
country, as a similar struggle lasted in what we
are accustomed to call the Mother land
There the struggle lasted for two centuries before
it was decided. 1t is not liky to last so long here
but it may last until every man in this chamber
is in his grave"
1t is the question whether or not the House of
Representatives has right to say we will grant
supplies only upon condition that grievances are
redressed. We are the representatives OF the tax
p"yers of the Republic. We, the House OF Repre-
sentatives have alone that right to originate bills
which grant the money OF the people. The Sen
ate represents States, we represent the tax payers
We therefore, by the very terms OF the Constitu-
ton, charged with the duty Of originating bills
which grant the money of the people. We claim
the right which the House of Commons in Eng
land established after two centuries of contest to
say that I'VE will not grant the money OF the
| people unless there is redress OF grievances
| Upon the assembling of this Congress in pursu-
ance of Il call for ap extra session, which was
made necessary by the failure OF the Forty-ffth
Congress TO make needful appropriations for the
support OF the Government the question was
presented whether the attempt made in the last
Congress to en9raft by construction new princi-
pie upon the Constitution should be persisted in
| or not.
This Congress has ample opportunity and time
to pass the appropriation bills and also to enact
| any political measures which may be determined
upon in separate bills by usual and orderly meth
DDS of proceeding. But majority OF both Houses
deemed it wise to adhere to the principle asserted
and maintained in the last Congress by majority
| of the House Of Representatives. That
principle is that the House of Rep
resentatives has the sole right to originate
bills for raising revenue, and therefore has
| the right to withhold appropriations upon which
the existence of the government may depend
| unless the Senate and the President shall give
may see fit to attach to appropriation bills. TIC
establish this principle is to make radical, dan
gerous and uncons itutional change in the char
| acter of our institutions
| The various departments of the Government
and army and navy are established by the Con
| sttution or by laws passed in pursuance thereof
Their duties are clearly Defined and their sup
port is carefully provided for by law, Money re
quired for this purpo,e has been collected from
the people and is now in the Treasury ready to be
paid out as soon as the Appropriation Bill passed
and whittier the appropriations are made or moi
| the collection of taxes will go on and the public
money will accumulate in the Treasury. 1t was
not the intention of the trainers OF the Constitu.
ton that any single branch OF the Government
| should nave the powers 10 tne cOHuluOlS upon
which this Treasury should be applied to the pur-
pose for which it was collected any such intention
| if had been obtained would have been
| plainly expressed i'll the Constitution, and thai
| the majority of the Senate now concur in the
claim OF the House adds to the gravity oil the stu
alton, but does not alter the question at issue.
| The new doctrine if maintained, will result in
consolidation of unchecked and despotit
power in the House of Representatives. bare
majority OF the House will become the Gov
eminent. The Executive will no longer be wha
trainers of the Constitution intended an equal and
Independent branch of the Government. lti:
clearly the Constitutional duty OF the President tC
| exercise his discretion and Judgment upon all
bills presented to him without constrant ol
duress from any other branch OF the Government
To say that majority OF either or both House,
Of Congress may insist upon the approval OF bill
under penalty of stopping all operations OF the
! Government for want of necessary supplies, is tC
deny TO the Executive that share Of the Seventh
Article OF the Constitution.
The people of this country are unwilling to see
the supremacy of the Constitusion replaced by
the omnipitence OF any department OF the Gov
erGment
Believing the bill is dangerous violation oI
the spirit and meaning of the Constitution
am compelled to return it to the House il
which it originated without my approval
desire earnestly to urge upon the House return
days OF the R public By 80 doing you will re-
store to the country that feeling OF confidence and
security and repose which are so essential to the
prosp rty of all our fellow citizens.
| [5lgnedl RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
i