Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-04-29

does net altogether take away, the power OF the
National Government d project the Federal
elections By the civil authorities, L am forced
to the conclusion that thought not to receive my
approval.
| This section is, however, not presented 10 ne
IS separate snd Independent measure, but IL,
| ss has boon stated, attached to the bill making
tho usual annual appropriations for the support
OF the army. It makes 8 vital chsnge ID Inc
election laws Of the country, which IS in no way
connected with the uso of tho srmy. 1t prohlo,,
\ lts, under heavy penalties, any person engaged
in the civil service ofthe United STATES from nav,
iEg any force at thoplace of shy election prepared
| to preserve order, to make arrests, TO kceo tho
peace, or in any manner 10 enforce the lsWs.
| This is altogether foreign TO the purpose OF an
army appropriation bill. The practice CT tack
ing 10 appropriation bills measures not pertinent
to such bills did not prevail until more than for.
~ years after the adoption Of the Constitution.
| when in power have adopted it. Many abuses
and great waste of public money have in this
way crept Into appropriation bills. The pub
| lie opinion Of the country is against 1t
| Tho States which have roconlly adopt
cd constitutions have generally provided q
remedy for the evil by eDacting that no law shall
contain more than ono subject, which shall be
plainly expressed in its title. The constitutions
of more than half of the States contain sub
stsntialIy this provision. Tho public welfare
will be promoted 10 many ways by return to
the car y practice Of the Government, AID to
the true principle Of legislation, which requires
that every measure shall stand or fall according
to it's Own merits If it were understood that
to attach to an appropriation bill measure
irrelevant to the general object Of the bill would
imperil and probably prevent its foal passage
a1d approval, a valuable reform in the par
liameutary practice of Congress would bo &C.
complished. The best ratification that has
been offered for attaching irrelevant riders 10
appropriation bills is that it is done Tor conve'
nience sake, to facilitate the passage Of meas
urcs which arc deemed eXpedient by all the
branches Of Government which participate in
legislation. 1t cannot be claimed that thorc Is
any such reason for attachiog this amend ment
of the election laws to the army appropriation
BILL The history of the measure contradlcts
this assumption. A majority of the House OF
Representatives in the last Congress was in
favor Of section six OF this bill. L! was known
that 4 majority OF tho Senate was opposed to
it,, AID that as separate measure II
could not be adopted, 1t WIZ attached 10
tho army appropriation bill TO compel the
Senate to assent to it. 1t was plainly anuounc.
ed to the Senate that tho army appropriation
bill would not bo allowed to pass unless the
| p1ODOSpu VI tbC ClCC.lOu laws HSlS
adopted With ii. The Senate refused 10 as.
sent to the bill on account OF this irrelevant
section. Congro:s thercupoa adj ,urned With
cut posing on appropriation bill for tho Amy,
snl Tic present extra session Of the Ferry sixth
Congress became necessary to furnish tho means
to carry Oh tho Government.
The ground upon whlch tho action Of the
House Of Representatives is defended hiss been
distinctly stated By many O! lis advocates. A
; week before The close of the las! session OF
Congress- the doctrine in question 8Ga stated
by one Of lis abest defenders, as follows:
III is 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 tho republican
President pign bill for such repeal. What
ever obi,otion 10 legislation upon approprla'
ton bills may be made 10 ordinary cases does
not apply where free elections and the liberty
OF the citizen arc o)uoer1ed. we
lave the power to vote money; let Us annex
conditions to it, aud insist upon the redress ct
grievances.
By another distinguished member Of the
House it was said:
Tho right Of the representatives. Of tho people
to withhold supplies is as old as English liberty.
History records NUMEROUS Instances where
the Commons, feeling that the people were op
pressed by laws that tho Lords would not con-
sent to repeal by tho ordinary methods cl lcgis.
la,ou, obtained redress at last by refusing
appropriations unless accompanied by relief
| measures.
That a question Of the graVc5L magnitude.
aul new ia this cjuntry, vas raised by This
course Of prdceeilog, WAS fully recognized also
By it's defenders in the Senate. |, Waa said by
q distinguished Senator:
"Perhaps no greater question ID the form We
arc brought 10 coD5idcris was ever considered
by the American Congress- 10 time Of peace; for
il involves not merely tho merits or dement's Of
tho laws which tho House bill proposes to re-
peal, but involves the rights. the privileges,
tho powers. the duties oil the Two branches oil
Congress aud Of The President If tho Uulted
States. 1t is g vast question; it il question
whose importance can scarcely DO estimated; it
is o question that Devcr yet has bean brought 50
sharply before the American Congress and the
American people as it may be now. 1t is q
alestiou which aoouer or later must be decided,
and the decision must determine what tro the
powers OF tho House of Representatives, under
the constitution, and what is ths duty OF that
House 10 the view of the trainers of that c1u.
situion according to its letter aud its spirit.
"Me. President, should approach this ques.
tl0D, II were 10 LUG DesL po5sluie cuuult!Ou 10
speak and to areucit with very grave diff dcnoc,
and certoioIy with tho utmost anxiety, for DO
one c,n think of it as long and carefully as |
have thought Of it without seeing that We are
at the beginning perhaps of struggle that
may last as long in this country as similar
struggle lasted 10 what VIC are accustomed
to call tho mother land. There tho struggle
lasted fer Two centuries before il was ultimately
decided. 1t is not likely to last 50 long here,
but it may last until every man in this cham
b.r is 10 his grave. 1t is the question whether
or no the House of Representatives has right
to say I'VE will grant supplies only upon con.
dition that grievances are rcdreS5ed. We arc
the representatives Of the tax payers Of the
Republic; We, the House of Representatives,
alone have tho right to originate money bills;
ne, the House of Representatives, have alone
the right to originate bills which grant the
money of the people; the Senate represents
States; we represent the tax payers OF the Re-
public; We, therefore, by the very terms Of the
Constitution. are charged with the duty Of
originating the bills which grant the money Of
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