Daily globe., 1879-04-30

the trainers of the constitution intended, an
equal and independent branch of the govern
ment. 1t is clearly the constitutional duty of
the President to exercise his discretion and
Judgment upon all bills presented to him with
out constraint or duress from any other branch
either or both houses of Congress may insist
upon approval of bill under the penalty of
stopping all of the operations of the govern
ment for want of necessary supplies is to
DENY TO THE EXECUTIVE
that duty of legislative power which is plainly
conferred by the seventh article of the consti-
tuition. It strikes from the constitution the
qualified negative of the President. 1t is said
this should be done because it is the peculiar
function of the House of Representatives to
represent the will of the people, but no single
branch or department of the government has
exclusive authority to speak for the American
people. The most authentic and solemn ex-
preston of their will is contained in the con-
stitution of the United States. BY that con-
stitution they have ordained and established
government whose powers are distributed
among coordinate branches, which, as far as
possible consistently with harmonious CO.
operation, are absolutely independent of each
other. The people of the country are unwil-
ling to see the
SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
replaced by the omnipotence of any depart
ment of government. The enactment Of this
bill into law will establish a precedent which
will tend to destroy the equal independence of
the several branches of the government. Its
| principle places not merely the Senate and
executive, but the judiciary also, under the
coercive dictation of the House. The House
alone will be the judge of what constitutes
grievance, and also of the means and meas
ures of redress An act of Congress to protect
-. ~. ,1oiyoo Of
but the House may, on the same principle. de-
termine that any other act of Congress already
made that q nomination or appointment to
office by the President, with the advice and
consent of the Senate, or that decision or
opinion of the supreme court, is grievance,
and that if measures of redress be withheld.
the appropriations required for the support of
the offending branch Of the government be re-
fused. Believing that this bill is a
DANGEROUS VIOLATION
of the spirit and meaning of the constitution,
I am compelled to return it to the House, in
which it originated, without my approval.
The qualified negative with which the consti-
tuition invests the President is trust that in
wolves q duty which cannot decline to per-
form, and in a conscientious purpose to do
what can to preserve unimDalred the cOnstl-
tutional powers and equal independence, not
merely of the executive, but of every branch of
the government which will be imperrilled by
the adoption of the principle of this bill, de-
sire earnestly to urge upon the House of Rep
resentatives a return to the wise and whole
some usage of the earlier days of the republic,
which excluded from appropriation bills all ir-
relevant legislation. By this course you will
inaugurate an important reform IN the method
of Congressional legislation, your action will
be in harmony with the fundamental princi-
pies of the constitution and the patriotic SEN
timent of the nation, which is their firm sup
port, and you will restore to the country that
feeling of confidence and security and repose
| which are 40 essential to the prosperity of all
our fellow citizens.
| (Signed RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.