The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-05-07

where free elections and the liberty
OF the citizens are concerned. We
have The power to vote money. Let
us annex the conditions 10 IL and in
sist upon redress Of grievsnces.n
By another distinguished member of
the House it was said "the right Of
the representatives Of the people to
withhold supplies is as old "a Enxlish
liberty. History recs4, umeruus
instances where the Coulm.ns, feel.
log that the people were oppressed
Dy laws that The Lords would not
consent to repesl By ordinary meth
DDS Of legislation, oblsined redress al
last BY refusing appropriations unless
accompanied by relief measured"
That question OF grsvesr magni-
,ude, and new 10 this country. was
raised by this kind Of proceeding It.
was fully rrc"gnized also by irs de-
tenders IN the Senate 1t was said
by a distinguished Senator: per
bsps no greater question. in the form
We are brought IL consider it, was
ever considered by The American
ca gress ia time OF peace, far il TO-
wolves Nal merely tn merits aud de.
merits of laws wb,ch the II ,use bill
proposes to repeal. but involves the
rights, the privileges, the powers,
the duties of the two branches Of
Congress and Of The President Of the
United States IL Is q question whose
Importance a scarcely be- estimated.
IL is a question that has never yet
been brought 50 sharply before the
American Congress and the Ameri-
lean people rs 1t msy be now. II is
q question which sooner or later
must be decided, aud the decision
must determine what are the pow
ers OF tue House Of Representatives
under the Constituti on, aud what is
J the duty of that House, in the view
OF the trainers of the Constitution sc-
C riding 10 its letter and it's spirit.
Mr. President, l should approach
this question, if were in the best
pes-ible condition to speak, and to
argue to it with grave d,fidence, and
certainly with the utmost snxie,y.
for no one can think over il as loug
AID carfully as | have thought Of
it, without seeing we are at the be
ginning, perhaps, Of q struggle that
may last as long 10 this country ss
q similar struggle lasted 10 what we
are accustom TO call 'Motherland ,
The struggle lasted tor two centuries
before il was ultimately decided 1t
is not likely to last so long here, but
il may last uatil every man in this
chamber IL in his grave. 1t is q ques-
tion whether or no the IL use OF
Representatives have a right to say !:
We will graft supplies only upon
condition that grievances are redress
ed W. are the representatives of the
taxpayers Of the Reptile; we. the
House of Representatives, alone have
the right TO originate money bills we,
the House OF Representatives, have
alone the right to originate bills
which guard the money Of The peo-
pie, The Senate represents the
States W. represent the taxpayers
of the Republic. We therefore, by
the very terms Of the Constitution,
are charged with The duty Of origi-
mating The bills which grant be mon
ey of the people. We elaim the
right which the House Of Commons
in England established after two
centuries of contest to say we will
no. grant the money of the people
unless there is redress Of g~rlevauces."
Upon the assembling of this Oon-
gres-, 10 pursuanoe of u call fer at
extra session, which was made nee
e-ssry by the failure Of the Forty
ffth Congress 10 make The needtul
appropriations III. the support of the
Goverumen,, the question was pre-
-enled whetber. fbsRttemp, made 10
toe Inst CvugresszSengrafs, by Gun
strpctiup, a new principle upon the
Constitution should be persisted 10
or not. This Congress has ample
opportunity aud tiue TO pass the ap-
preparation bills, aud also to enact
any political measures which may
be determined upon In q separate
bill by the usual aud orderly methods
of proceeding. But a maj ,rity of
both Houses have deemed il wise to
adhere to the principle asserted and
maintained in the last Congress by q
majority of the House OF Represents
tives. That principle is that the
House Of Representatives has the sole
right to originate bills for raising rev.
enue, and therefore has the right to
withhold appropriations upqa which
the existence of the Government may
depend unless the Senate and Presi-
dent shalt give their assent to any
legislation which the House may see
ct u attach to appropriation bile
To establish this principle is to make
a radical, dangerous and u%nconstitu-
~tional change in the character Of our
Institutions.
DANGEROUS DOCTRINE
The various departments OF the Gov
eminent, and The army and navy,
are established by tie Constitu-
tion or by laws passed in pursuance
thereof Their duties are clearly
deaued, and their support is careful
ly provided for by the law. The
money required for this purpose has
been collected from the people, and
is now in the Treasury, ready to be
oaiG out as soon as the appropriation
bills are passed. Whether the appro-
priations are made or nos. the coliec-
: ton Of taxes will go on. The public
money will accumulate 10 the Treas
ury. II was not the intention Of he
trainers of the Constitution that any
single branch Of the Government
should have power to dictate the con.
ditions upop which this treasure
g should be applied, or the purposes for
which it was collected. Any such
!, intention, if it had been entertained,
wonld have been plainly expressed
iu the Constitution. That the major
ity Of the Senate now eoneurs in the
: claim of the House, adds to the grav-
ity of the situation, but does not al
Ter the question at issue. The new
DOCTRINE, I maintained, will result 10
The consolidation OF unchecked and
despotic power in the House Of Rep.