Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-03-20
The New Departure.

All the longhtanding controversies OF
OF our politics. all conflicts. intrigues.
and schemes respecting offices and can.
didates, all the ordinary political aues.
tions of the day, says the New York
Sun, must sink into comparative unim.
portance in view of the more vital and
momentous issue which has been raised
and which il soon TO absorb the atten.
ton Of the people 10 degree without
precedent, unless we may find one in
the times Of the civil war and OF recon.
stTuction.
This great and over.mastering issue
is briefly whether the constitutional
prerogative of the Representatives OF
the people shall be maintained and en-.
forced against the will of party and
the dictation of the Executive.
What Is this prerogatiyeI IL is set
forth in the first article and seventh
section OF the Constitution Of the United
States "All bills for raising revenue
shall originate in the House of Eepre.
sentatives." In other ords, the House
Of Representatives has exclusive origi.
nal power over the purse Of the nation.
II is the right and duty Of the House to
determine for what purpose the money
of the people shall be appropriated
This is what makes the House peculiar.
ly the guardian Of liberty. When il il
called upon 10 appropriate money 10 be
used for purposes hostile 10 liberty. it is
the duty of the House 10 refuse. II is
its duty likewise 10 stand firmly in such
refusal. Not one cent should il grant
for ends antBgcnistic 10 the spirit and
the ancient usuages Of our free govern.
ment.
The cry is already raised that in in.
sisting upon its amendments 10 the ap.
preparation bills, the late House OF
Representatives went beyond its proper
authority, and that il had no right TO
demand that these amendments should
be enacted as the one condition with.
out which appropriations should not be
voted. This is false cry. The author.
ity of the House was perfect, and il was
conferred by the Constitution for the
very purpose of making il barrier and
bul~ark against Executive encroach.
menis aud sgainst all undertakings per.
llous 20 republican selfgovernment
The doctrine upon which the House
stood in insisting upon these amend.
ments, was the essential doctrine Of the
Constilutiou. ItwAS the venerable doc
,rinc Of popular rights, decended TO our
fathers and to us from the ever memor-
able struggles between the King and
the Commons of England
In this doctrine there is nothing new.
nothing revolutionary. nothing uDsound
or doubtful. 1t is a doctrine centuries
old. IL Lies At the root Of our rcpubl.
can institutions. Ii is the very corner
stone Of freedom.
The struggle i to be renewed in the
approaching extra session OF Congress
So We are told by the organs which
speak for the present Executive. Very
Welli welcome it II is a wholesome
struggle, and not renewed a moment
too soon. Ne have no fears respecting
the decision which the American peo.
pie will finally record upon this great
question and once more we emphat.
ically commend those wise and fAr-see.
ing members of the recent Congress
who raised this noble issue, lifting our
political interests out of the lower ruts
OF personal ambition, local disputes,
and petty objects into the high and
clear air of constitutional and perma-
nent principles.