The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-30

at the beginning, perhaps, OF a struggl
that may last long In this country as
similar struggle lasted In what we are &C
customed 10 call "AIotherland.n The strup
gle lasted for two centuries before II wa
ultimately decided. It lis not likely TO las
so long here, but 1t may last until ever,
man In this chamber ls In his grave. 1t I
question whether or not the House O
Representatives has the right to say w
will grant supplies only upon condition
that grievances are redrossed. We arc tn
representatives Of the Taxpayers OF III,
Republic. We, the House Of Representa-
tives, alone have the right to original,
money bills. We, the House OF Represen
tahves, alone have the right to originate
bills which grantthe money Of the people
The Senate represents the States. All re
present the taxpayers OF the Republic
We, therefore, by the very terms OF the
Constitution arc charged with the duty o.
originating bills which grant the moneyo
the people. We claim the right which tht
House OF Commons In England established
after two centuries OF contest to say thai
we will not grantthe money OF the people
unless there Is redress Of grievances"
BULLDozlNG THE GOVERNMENT.
Upon the assembling of this Congress in
pursuance Of the call for an extra session,
which was made necessary by the failure
OF the Forty-Fiith Congress to make need.
lul appropriations for the support OF the
Government, the question was presented
whether the attempt made in the last Con.
gress to engrait by constructing a
new principle upon the Constitution
should be persisted in or not. This Con.
gress has ample opportunity and time
to pass the appropriation bills and also to
enact any political measures which may
be determined on in q separate bill by the
usual and orderly methods OF proceedings,
but the majority OF both houses have
deemed itwise to adhere to the principle as.
serted and maintained in the last Congress
by the majority Of the House OF Represen.
tatives. That principle is that the House
of Representatives has the sole right to
originate bills for raising revenue and
therefore has the right to withhold appro-
priations upon which the existence OF the
government may depend unless the Senate
and President shall give their assent to
any legislation which the House may see
fit to attach to the appropriation bills.
10 establish this principle is to make q
radical, dangerous and Unconstitutional
change in the character OF our institu-
tions. The various departments of the
Government, and army and navy, are es.
tablished by the constitution or by laws
passed in pursuance thereof. Their du-
ties are clearly defined, and their support
is carefully provided for by law, the mon.
ey required for the purpose has been col.
leCted from the people and is now in the
Treasury, ready to be paid out as soon as
the appropriation bills are passed. Wheth-
er the appropriations are made or not the
collection OF taxes will go on, and the pub.
lie money will accumulate in the Treasury.
IF IT WE'RE NOT so, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
TOLD US.
ltwas not the intention OF the framers
OF the constitution that any single branch
Of the Government should have the power
to dictate the conditions upon which this
treasure should beapplied to the purpose for
which it was ascollected. Any such intention
II it had been entertained would have
been plainly expressed in the constitution.
That majority, Of Senate now concurs in
the claim OF the House and adds to the
gravity Of the situation does not alter
the question at issue. The new doctrine
il maintained will result in the consolida.
ton OF unchecked and despotic power
in the House of Representatives. A bare
majority Of the House will become the
Government, and the executive will no
longer be what the tramers OF the consti-
tuition intended, an equal and independent
branch OF the Government. 1t Is clearly
the constitutional duty OF the President to
exercise his discretion and judgment up.
on all bills presented to him, without
constraint or duress from other branches
OF the Government. ..UH.
THE CONSTITUTION THE ONLY AUTocRAr,
To say that the majority OF either or
both Houses OF Congress may insist on the
approval of the bill under the penalty OF
stopping all operations OF the government
for want OF necessary supplies, is to de-
ny to the Executive that share OF legisla-
tive power which is plainly conferred by
the second section OF the seventh article Of
the constitution. 1t strikes from the
constitution the qualified negative OF the
President. It 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 ex.
elusive authority to speak for the Ameri-
can people. The most authentic and
solemn expression of their will is con-
tanned in the constitution Of the United
States. By that constitution they have
ordained and established government,
whose powers are distributed among the
coordinate branches, which as far as DOS.
sible consistently with harmonious CO.
operation arc absolutely independent OF
each other.
The people Of this country are unwill.
ing 10 see the supremacy Of the Constitu.
ton replaced by the omnipotence OF any
department OF the government. The en-
actment Of this bill into a law will estab.
lish precedent which will tend to de.
stroy the equal independence ofthe sever
al branches OF the government. Its princi.
Pile places not merely the Senate and
Executive, but the judiciary also under
the coercive dictation OF the House. The
House alone will be tho Judge Of what
constitutes grievance, and also OF means
and measures OF redress.
An act OF Congress to protect elections
is now the grievance complained Of, but
the House may on the same principle de-
termine thatany other act Of Congress, a
treaty made by the President with the
advice and consent OF the Senate, a
nomination or appointment to office, or
that decision or opinion OF the Supreme
Court, is a grievance, and that the measure
Of redress is 10 withhold the appropria-
tions required for tho support Of the OF.
Tending branch OF the government
-'t his soLEMNDuTY.
Believing that this bill is a dangerous
violation Of the spirit and meaning Of the
Constitution, l am compelled to return il
to the House in which It originated with.
out my approval The qualified negative
with which the Constitution invests The
President is a trust that involves duty
which l cannot decline to perform. With
q firm and conscientious purpose to do
what ] can TO preserve unimnaired the
Constitutional power and equal indenend.
enCe. not meFalv of the Exenntiva INT ~