Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-18


From the Boston Journal.
/ Legislation in Appropriation Bills.
The democrats in Congress who are now
plotting to repeal portions of the revised
statutes of the United States by inserting
repeal provisions into appropriation bills
which are entirely foreign to those meas
ures. will find that their policy is directly
opposed to the opinions and practices of
the distinguished lights of the democratic
party in the past. In 1880 the House of
Representatives attached section to the
Sundrv Civil bill amending the existing
tariff laws. When the bill thus amended
came to the Senate. leading democratic
Senators denounced the action in unmeas-
urcd terms and rejected the section. The
tariff question was sharp issue at
that time, but the arguments of the Senate
or some other cause led the House to aban-
don its design. When the subject was I'M
der discussion in the Senate. Mr.. Bayard,
father of the present distinguished Senator
of that name, said
Il am not willing by my vote to sanction
the adoption of general system of legisla-
ton on appropriation bills. for any and every
purpose that the majority may see fit to place
them The effect must necessarily be to stop
the discussion of matters of general legisla-
ton. and then what becomes of our country
as free country. and what becomes of our
legislative bodies in which there is to be
full, fair and free discussion and investigation
Of measures. the effect of which is atterward
to be judged Of by the people of the country!
if Won can coerce the minority by placing
them in this position-that either they must
abandon the discussion of the principles of
measure and adopt it, or they must stop the
wheel, of government by voting down an APP
preparation bill which is necessary for its sup
porto what fearful consequences may il not
lead, and yet this is the effect of the system
Senator Benjamin of Louisiana advocat-
ed an adjournment of Congress in order
that the members of the House might have
an opportunity to reflect upon the conse-
quence, of its action, predicting that its
members would ''hcstate before they will
bring this government to a stand by resort
ing to ~uch revolutionary expedients for so
questionable an end In conclusion Mr..
Benjamin said
If however, under the circumstances. and
after such reflection, they shall think proper
to persist in that course, those who, with the
honorable Senator from Delaware, who last
spoke Mr. Bavard), believe that selfgov
ernment by delibcrative assemblies cannot
exist under the pressure of cocrclve princl-
pies like these now sought to be applied to
the minority: those who believe that the bit
ter chaire which is now recommended to
some lips may at some future day. with ten
fold effect, be turned to the lips of those who
now OTTER that chalicc to others; those of us
who believe that under no circumstances, and
in no event, is it proper to allow the ordinary
appropriations for carrying on the govern
ment to be embarrassed by measures nvolv-
ing the great interests of the country to the
extent to which this measure does involve,
without examination, without consideration,
without an opportunity for examination or for
consideration, will be compelled to resistths
expcdient to the bitter end, and let the coun-
try determine upon hich side shall rest the
responsibility"
stephen 4. Douglas, then Senator
from the State of Illinois, said
EVEN II the Dill were rlgnt IN Hscn. II Ms
provisions were correct could not consent
bv my vote TO put it on this appropriation
bill. for the reason that such course is
revolutionary in Ss character. You have to
override all the rules, all the usages. all the
safeguards which time and experience have
thrown around your legislative proceedings.
in order to insert this provision in your Civil
and Diplomatic Appropriation bill"
Mr.. Clayton of Delaware, another dem
ocratic leader, in the course of the debate,
said:
But, sir, if the proposition were even
JUS, it has been rightly described by my col
league Mr. Bayard) and others, in its pres
ent form and place, as measure of coercion
"A revolutionary measure, that will be attend
ed in the future with the most disastrous con-
sequences to the country
The remarks of Senator Thurman and
other democrats defending the action OF
the House in attaching general legislation
to the appropriation bills are widely at
variance with the sentiments of the DEM
ocratic leaders of a quarter of century
since.