Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-30

irrelevant to the general object of the bill,
that 1t would imperil and probably prevent
its final passage and the appropriation be
unavailable, q reform In the parliamentary
practices of congress would be accomplish
ed.
The best justification that has been offer
ed for attaching irrelevant orders to an ap.
preparation bill is that it is done for con-
science sake, to facilitate the passage of
measures, which are deemed expedient by all
branches Of the government which partici.
pate in legislation. 1t cannot be claimed
that there is any such reason for attaching
this amendment to the election
laws to any appropriation bill.
The history of the measure contradicts this
assumption. A majority of the house of
representatives in congress was in favor of
the section to this bill. 1t was known that
a majority Of the senate were opposed to it,
and that as a separate measure it could not
be adopted. 1t was attached to the army
appropriation bill to compel the senate to
assent to it. 1t was plainly announced to
the senate that the army appropriation bill
would not be allowed to pass unless the
present amendments of the election laws
were adopted with it. The senate refused
to assent to the bill on account of this ire.
leyant section. Congress thereupon adjourn
ed without passing ar appropriation bill fol
the army, and the present extra session ol
the 10th congress became necessary to fur
nish means to carry on the government.
The ground upon which the action of the
house of representatives ls defended has
been distinctly settled by many of its advo-
Gates. A week before the close of the last
session of congress, the doctrine in question
was stated by one of its ablest defenders as
follows: at is our duty to repeal these
provisions. 1t is not worth while to attempt
their repeal except upon an appropriation
bill. The republican senate would not
agree, nor a republican president eign a bill
for such a repeal. Whatever objections to
legislation upon appropriation bills may be
made in an ordinary case, does not apply
when free elections and the liberty of the
citizens are concerned. We have the power
to vote money, let us annex conditions to it,
and insist upon a redress of grievances"
By another distinguished member of the
house it was said that "the right of the rep
resentatives Of the people to withhold sup
plies is as old as English liberty. History
records numerous instances where the COM
mons, feeling that the'people were oppressed
by laws that the lords would not consent to
repeal by the ordinary methods of leeisla.
ton, obtained redress at last by refusing
appropriations unless accompanied by relief
measures"
That question Of the gravest magnitude,
and new on this country, raised by this
course of proceeding, was finally recognized
also BY it's defenders in the senate. It was
said by q distinguished senator: perhaps
no greater question was ever considered by
the American congress in times OF peace, for
it involved not only the merits and dement's
repeal, but it involves the rights, the pri.
vileges, the powers and the duties Of the two
branches of congress, and Of the president o.
the United States-a question whose import
ance can scarcely be estimated. 1t is 8
question that never has been brought &c
sharply before the American congress and
the American people as it may be now. L
is q question which sooner or later must b.
decided, and the decision must determin,
what are the powers of the house of repre-
sentatives under the constitution, and wha
is the duty of that house in view of th,
trainers of that constitution according to it
letter and spirit. Mr.. President, I SHOULD
approach this question, if I were in the bes
possible condition to speak and argue ii
with very grave difidence and c~ertainl,
with the utmost anxiety, for no enc car
think over it as long and carefully IS Ihav'
thought Of it without seeing that we ar,
At the beginning perhaps Of a struggle tina
may last a. long in this country as q simila
struggle lasted in what Ne are accustomed
to call the motherland. There the struggl
lasted for two centuries before twas ulti
mately decided. It 10 not likely to last q
long here, hut it may last till every man il
this chamber is in his grave. It is q ques
ton whether or no the house of represents
tives has the right to say We will grant sup
plies only upon condition that grievance
are redressed. We are representative tax
payers of the republic. The house of REP
r~esentstives alone have the right to originat
money bills; the house of representative
have alone the right to originate bills whicI
grant the money Of the people. The senat
represents the states-we represent the tai
payers Of the republic. We. therefore, b.
the very terms Of the constitution are char
ed with the duty of originating bills wLicl
grant the money Of the people. We claim
the right which the heRse of commons il
England established, after two centuries o
contest to say We will not grant the mono,
Of the people unless there Is 3 redress Q
~grievsnces."