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Show TI1K VKrO. Mr. Hhj-ps l)tfiaiirv- lliei Army Aiiruinuiiuu Bill ,1ml link! m M.nuz ArtUiu-nt in nuppui-t ttl Ills I'OMIHIH. Washington, ''J FdIIowid i the meps-aaeoi ttie Prr,i iei t of tbe Umttd dtnttB, rt-iurnii-y tn the hciii-i of1 representaf.vts a b:li en tii led, "An Act making mjropriationi lor the support of tho army for the tiicdl ytr ending June liUiti, 1SS0, and lor tittier purpoaeu:" To th-; Ifoint of JiKprestnlulices: I h-tvo iii'itiju-ly e.jiind jf 'd the im-ui'tLntl im-ui'tLntl fj'p alioiifj prrm'titcd by Ibe t,i I Mut.tiuJ 'A:i A -j I mikiui; p pr-priitionH (iir ihu ciipport ot" the trrny Inr rtn; tH,-,t yn,r ending Jun liUiii, 18S0, and lor oihur purpuaes," ni I now rfiturn it t tlio home of r-pivt Unlives, in wnich it .iniualtd, with my otj;:i:tiu!ia tn its approvii. Ttjd bill prowidei', in the u.tja! form, inr ibo appropriaiiui.a n quired fur tlie Hiipprjrt of the army during the null fiscil year. If it contained i.o o:her provioiouo it would receive my prompt appruvul. It- include.-', huw ever, further Isolation, which, ul- t,.,.Unrl ,m i) In a l r. mnr I t Idiii tl llicll uro requisite for the eflicient per furmance of some of the moat necessary neces-sary duties of poverntiier.it, involves questions of the gravest character. The siith section of the bill is amendatory amend-atory of the Btatulo now iu fjrcj in regard lo the autuoiity of persona in the civil, military and naval service uf the United Stales at ibe place i where any general or special election is htkl, in any state. This statute was adopted Fthruary 2oth, lStio, ; alter a protracted debate in theseuate J and almost without opposition in the , house of representatives, by tho con-i con-i eurreut votes of both of tbe loading . political parties of tho country, aud became ft law by the approval of President Lincoln. It was reenacted in 1S74 in the Itsviaed Statutes of the United States, Sections 2002 and 5528, which are as followe: Section 2002 No military or naval oLUcor, or other porsou onayed in the civil, mi.ilaiy or naval service of tlm United Stat s shall ordt r, bring, keep or have under his authority or cuhtrol any troops or armed uica nt a place wbure any general or special election is held in any state, unless it bo uecesary to repul aruud oncmies of tbe United Slatci or to keep peace at ihe polls. tJec. bo'lH Every utlicor of tho army or navy, or oilier pi-rton in tho civil, military mili-tary or naval service of tbo (Tnitud citaies who ordera, briD?, keeps, or lias under his biilbority or control any trtups or armed men at any place where a Rccoral or special election is held in any state, unless mch force be necessary to repel ariuud enomios of tbo United Slates oi keep peace at tbo polls, shall ho lined nol more than ?f,000 and sudor imprison menl at hard labor not less than three months nor more tban live years. The amendment proposed in thii statute in the bill before me omitt iiuiu uuiu ui nit) luifyuiug euuiiuua' the words "or to keep ttie peace nt the polls." The ttl'ect of lho adoption adop-tion of this amendment may be considered, con-sidered, first, upon the right of the United States government to uee the military force to keep peace at the elections for members of congress, and second upon tho right of gov-erumeut gov-erumeut by the civil uuthority to protect pro-tect these elections from violence and iraud. In addition to tbeueclious of the statute above quoted, the following fol-lowing provisions ot law relating to the use of the military power a', elections are now iu force: Sec. 2003 No officer of tbo army or navy of the United States ih-itl proscribe or Hi, or attempt lo preicribeor lis, by proclamation, order or otherwise, the qualifications of voters in any stiito or in nny matjiior interfere with tbo freedom of nny election in any stale, or wilh ibe exercise cf the fiee rights of euUrn0 in any state. dec. 6o'i9 Every officer or oilier person per-son in ibe military nr naval Eerv.cowuo, by force, threat, intimidation .order, ad vice or otherwise prevents or attempts to pre vent any qualilied vuttr of any stale from freely esorcifcing tbe tight ofsuflruge at nny general or spec aij election in mch state sh 11 be li;iod not mora tban $5,1)00 and imprisoned at hard labor not more than live years. Sec. 6530 Every officer ,f the army or navy who preserir.es or fixes, or attempts to prescribo or fix. whether by proclamation, proclama-tion, order or otherwise, ihe quni ideations idea-tions of vo'.ors at any eleeli in in ai-y slate, shall bo punished as provided in Ihe pracoding section. fec. 6531 Every officer or ollnr person per-son in the military or naval service who, by force, throat, intimidation, or othor- i?e, compels or attempts to compel aDy officer holding nn okclion in any stnto o receive a vota from a person not legally quilitk-d to voto, or who imposes oral-tempts oral-tempts to ini) oso any regulations for conducting noy general or special election elec-tion in any sUle d'tl'erent from tlnee iro-ficiibed iro-ficiibed by law, or who interferes in any mhLiier wun snv oincer oi e.eclion in ihe discharge of his duty, 'hall bo punished as preEcribcl in scciion 0229. Sec. 5032 Evtry pors n conric!od of nny of the otleiuea specified in tho iWo preceding toct ons bIiiII, in addition to the punishments therein severHlfy proscribed, pro-scribed, bo diiqualilied from holdii g any offico cf honor, preiit or trust under lho United Stale1, but nothing in thoe sections sec-tions shall be construed lo prevent any officer, soldi-ir, sailor or marine from eiercisiug the right if suflragj in ny eioct'on to winch ho my belorg if otherwiso qualilied according to the laws of the state in which he otters to vote. The foregoing enactmeD's w uld seem lo be Butnoieut to prevent military mili-tary interference with ejections, but tbe last ccogreis, lo remove alt apprehension ap-prehension of such interference, added to this body of law section 15 of an act entitled "An Act making an appropriation f.r the support of the army for tbe fidcal year ending June 30th, 187i, aud for other purposes," pur-poses," approved June 18:h, 1878, which ie as oliuwe: Sec. 10 From and after iho passage of this act it shall not bo lawful lo employ any part ot the army us a posse comitatus or otherwise for tbo purpose ot'exeeut ng tho laws, except in such cases and under such circumstances as such employment of said force may be oipressly authorized by the Constilu'.ion or by act ot congress, and no money appropriated by this act sha'l be Uicd lo pay any of the exper st-s incurred in the emuioyim nt of nny troopj in violation f tLis section, and any person per-son wilfully violating tbo provisions of ihis section shall bo deemed guiiiy of misdemeanor, and ui oa convict io-tneruof, io-tneruof, shall bo punished by a fine i.ot exceeding $l0,UOD or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both such fmo and imprisonment. ! This act passed tho senate after full considerat on, without a aingle vole recorded against it gu i - jual p.s sage, aud by a maj niy of more than two-thirds it was concurred in by ttie bouse of representatives. Tbe purpose pur-pose of Ibe section quoted was slated in the fenate by one of its supporters as follows: Therefore I hepa without getting into any controversy about ibe pist, but acting act-ing wisely for tin future, that wo shall laLe away the idea thai ihe army can be used by a general or special deputy mar-ibal, mar-ibal, or any marshal merely for election purpose, or a pos;e, ordering them about tbe poils, or ordering them anywhere else where there is no e.eetion gjing on, t prevent di-orders or suLpreii disturbances disturb-ances ihtt should be sujiprrisad by peace o Hirers of .he stale, or it thy miiit bring oliiers to ihcir aid lii""y tbouij summon utmrganizd eiliz-.-ni, and not summon i t!i -ors and men of the army as a pv.i.se I'omttaius to quell disorders, aud thus g -t up h fL-e:i:g wliicb wih be diaaetroui lo .eace among the peopled ihecouatrj'. In the house of representatives tbe object of the act of 1S73 was stated by tiie gentb mn w Lo liiut it in el are j in Bjiiiibi: ttrtna. He n'd: Hut Ihco ar. all n.ir.ur noi-.ts ntid in-.si;r:.ilji.-arit l"i-its corn pared w i: b tliH gr..-nl , (iniicple which was incorporated by itiu 1 li'jiiiu in tho bill in relerenee to the ue'o: krmed men in Lui-ot peice. Tne sL-nnte bid alretdy iocludt.-d what thy cullo-i, tmd what we inilit accept as lho p-inci-ple, but lhe-y had stricken out the penalty and hid striken out tlie word "expressly," Eothittli4 army might bo u-ed in all cus;a where itn plied auiborky migii: be interior- d with. The hoine coniiuit-te coniiuit-te planted themselves lirm'y on Uie doctrine that rather Utin ield mis fundamental funda-mental principle, f-r whieb. fT three ycare, Ibis huuso f a 1 struglel they would allow the bill to fail, notwithstanding notwith-standing the reforms tli it we had secured, reg irding these refui m i of but litila con-se(uence, con-se(uence, alousidu the great principle lint iho army of the Uni'.od bwte, in lime of peace, shuu;d be un ior ih i control con-trol of congress, and obe iient lo iti law. After 1 -ng and protracted ueo'-ialions the senile ce-mmillOJ have conceded that principle in all Us ler glh ai.d breadth, including iha panally which ihe eiiate bad flnoivon mil. We bring you back therefore, a rep rt report with the itlloraiion of a siijglo word, which lawjers assure mo is proper to bo made, restoring 10 this bill .the prii ciple for which we have- contended so long and w hieo is s vital to secure tne rigots and liberties oi tbo rojpie. Tb'JS hvu we tins uny so-curtd so-curtd to the people of this country ibo same great protection i g tiusl a standing army which cot the strugg.o of 00 years for tlie commons of England to secure for the Urilish people. From this brief review of the sub )ect it Bumciem ly appears tnat under existing laws there can be no military interference with elections. No caae i ul such interference has iu Tict oc- j curred since toe p usage ol Ihe act la-t referred to. No otlicer of the Utiitt'd Stales I fti appeared under ordere nl any place ol election in auy elale. No complaint, even of the presence of United Slates troop:, has I been made in auy quarter. It may i therefore be ccnfidetitly blated there is no uecetaity Inr the enacimeut ol eecliou six, ol Die bill before me to prevent military interference tt e!ee tiuns. The laws already in force ure till thiit in renuired fur that end. but thai part of section six, of this bill which is siguiticanl and viltiily important, im-portant, is tbej clause ,wtiich (iL adopted) will deprive the civil author ities ol ttie United States of all power lo keep peace at congressional elections. elec-tions. O .jug Tension a 1 elections in every district, in u very important sense, are justly a matter of political interest and concern throughout Ibe whole country. E ech atate, every pohli cal party is ntuhd lo a share of the power which -is conferred by legal and constitutional tutlrage. Ii is the right o eery citizen possessing tlie qualifications prescribed by law to cast one unitimidated ballot and to . have his ballot honestly counted. So long as the exercise of this power and the enjoyment of it is right are common and equal, practically a well as formally, hubmission to suffrage ' wiil be accorded loyally aud chewr-, chewr-, fully, and the departments of government govern-ment will feel ihe true vigor of tho popular will thus expressed. Two 1 precisions of the Constitution aulhor-1 aulhor-1 ize legislation on congressional elec tions. Section four of Article 1 of the Const. t'Uion declares that the times, places and manner of holding elections elec-tions for senators and representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof, but congress may at any time by luw, make or alter such regulations except as lo Ihe places of choosing senators. The Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution Consti-tution is as loliows: S'.'C 1 The right of citizens of the United Stales to vote sb.tl nol b t denied or abridged by the United Stales or by any state en account of race, color or previous cutidition of servitude. Sec. 2 Congas shall have pnw'er to enforce this article by apprcpria'.y legis.-laiion. legis.-laiion. The supreme court baa held that this Amendment invests citizens of the United 3lutce wilh a new constitutional consti-tutional right which is wunin the protecting pro-tecting power of congress. That right tbo court declared to be Ihe exemption exemp-tion from discrimination in the exercise of the elective lranchise on account of race, color or previous condition con-dition of servitude. The power i,f congress to prolect this right by appro- priate legislation is expressly aflirmed by the court National legislation lo ' provide safeguards for free and houeat , eleciioos is necessary, as experience I has shown, not f.nly to secure the right 1 to vote lo the enfranchised race at the south, but also lo prevent fraudulent j voting in large cities of tne north. ! Cjngress has theretore exercised tbe power conferred by the Constitution aud has enacted certain laws to prevent pre-vent discrimination on accouut ol race, color, or previous condition of servitule, aud to punish fraud, violence viol-ence aud intimidation at federal elections. Aueutbn is cilled b) the followiog peciium ol the llevised Statu tee, United States, viz: Section 2001. which euu tilths to ail citizen the rigot to vutj without diniinctijo, on account uf rcd col ir, or previous condition uf servitude; Hectijns 2005 and 2006, which guarantee ro all citrus equ.l opnorluuity without discriminaliun to per limn all the a Ij required by law as a prercquejile or qualification for voting; sec. ion 2022, which authorizes the Uuiled States marshal and hs de-puticB lo keep peace aud preserve crder at federal election?; section 2)24, which expressly ex-pressly aulhor zes tne United States marshal and his deputies ti mm-iicn a 2)0:sc comitatui whrnevar they or any of them a:e forcibly ristid in tbt' execution o.' Iheir duties under the law and are prevented from executing their duties by violence; section 5522, which provides pro-vides for the punishment of ibe crime of interfering with supervisorsof election elec-tion and deputy marshals in the dis- ' charge ol iheir duties at elections of representatives in congress. These are Borne of the laws on this subject which it ii the duty of the executive deparlmentof government lo enforce. The iulent ami tiled of the Sixth section of this bill is in prohibit b11 civil officers of the United States under tho penalty of fine and im-prisojment im-prisojment from employing any adequate civil force for toe purpose at a place -where tneir enforcement is most neetssary. The nation wiil be powerless to enforce its own statutes. The states may employ both ttie military mili-tary and civil power lo keep the peace and to enforce the lawa at ulate elections. It is now proposed to deny lo the United States even the necca ary civil authority to protect national eleclious. No sutlicunt reason has been given for this discrimination in favor of the siate and against national authority. If well founded objections ob-jections exist against the present ualiooai election Jaws, all good cili-zens cili-zens should uoila in their amendment. amend-ment. Laws providing safeguards of elections should be impartial, just and efficient. They should, if possible, be so nou pari ir an and fair io (heir operation that !he minority party out of power wit i have no jusl grounds to complain. Tne present laws have, in practice, unquotionubly ojnduced to the prevention of fraud and vioieoce at elections. - In several of the states members ofdifljrenl political pirliea nave applied for the eafegu-irds which they furnish. It h the right and duly uf the national povernment to enact and eo'orce laws which will secure free aad fair cougrettional elections Toe lawi now in force should not te reoealt-d except in cocneciion with tbe eoaclmeut of measores which will better accomplish that important end. Believing that ecctiou e;x of lho bill hfiiore me will weaken, if it dots not altogether take away the power of the national government to protect federal elections by civil authorities, I am forced to the conclusion that it ougot not to r. ceive my approval. Thai sec lion is, however, not preeentel to me as a Beoarite and independent measure, but is, as has been eta'.ed, attached to the bill making Ibe uual annual appropriation for the support of the army. It makes a vital change in the election laws of the country which is in no way connected with the use ot tlio army. It prohibits, under heavy pjnalttes, any person encngrd in the civil service of the Unite! States from havii.g any force at the placu of an? election prepared to preotrvo order, to m iko a:i arrest, to keep the peace, o: in any manner to (uforce the laws. This is altogether foreign lo the purpose of any army appropriation appropri-ation hill. The practice of tacking to appropriation bills a' measure not pertinent L such bill did not prevail till more than forty years after the adoption of the Constitution. It ba become the common practice, which all p.ir-lieii p.ir-lieii when in power hav adopted. Minor abuse and gn-at waste of public pub-lic money have in thU wy crept into appropriation hi lid. The public opinion of t he country is against it. Tbe frtat.'s which hive recently adopted coustituiions have generally provided a rem eel y for the evil by en m'tinf tli ill no !nw shall font-tin more than one subject, which shall he plainly expreised io its title. Toe constitutions of more than bilf of the states contiin uuhtanliay this provision. pro-vision. The public welfare will be promoted iu many ways by a return to tlie early practice of government and to the true principle of legislation, legisla-tion, which rt quires that overy measure meas-ure shall Btai.il or fall, according to its own merits. If it were understood that lo attach to an anprupt lation a measure levant to tho general object of the bill would imperil and probably prevent its pae-Miie and approval, a valuable reform in ihe parliamentary practice oi coii:res wnuin ne accomplished. accom-plished. Th& hi st just'fioA'.ion that lias been ollred lor attaching irre I le-vanl ridi-rj loan appropriation hill io thai it ia done for couTenience t.tke to 1 udlitalo the passage of measure which are deemed expedient by all branches of government which participate parti-cipate in lho legislation. It cannot be claimed there is any atiah reason lor attaching Ibis amecdmeut ol election laws to the army appropriation appropria-tion bill. The history of the measure Contradicts this nesumption. A majority ma-jority of the house of representatives in the last congress was in favor of r.iss?ction to this bill. It was known lhat a majority of the senate was opposed op-posed to it, and lhat aa a Beparale measure it could not be adopted. It was attached to tho army appropriation appropria-tion bill to compel the senate to assent to it. It was plainly announced to tlie senate that the army appropriat'ou bill would not be allowed lo pass unless un-less the proposed amendments ol election laws were adopted with it. Tbe senate refused to assent to the bill nn ,rfr.iint nt I li ia irrnlciinl oiMinn Congress thereupon adjourned with-j out passing the appropriation bill for 1 the army and the present extra session of thfl Forty sixth oongrejs becamu necessary to furnish menus to cairy on tho government. Tbe ground upou which the aclion of the house of represent itives is defended has been distinctly slated 'y many of its advocates, A week before tho close of the last sesoiou ul congress the doctriue iu question was stated by one of its ablest defenders as follows: It is our duly to repeal thoso laws. It is not worth while lo attempt a repeal exempt ex-empt upon nn appropriation bill. The republican senate would not agree to, nor iln republican president s'gn a bill f r such repeal . Whatever objection to legislati"!! upon ai proprialion bills may bo made in an ordinary case does not apply whe o froe olecii jni and Ihi liberties liber-ties of cit'zens are c mcerued. We h tvo power to vo'.e moncv Let us annex condilions to it and insist upon lho redress re-dress of a gi ievar.c ) By another distinguished member of the house it was said: The right of representatives of tbo people to withhold supplies s as ol J rs English liber y. ll'stoty records numerous numer-ous instancoj where tbe commons, feeling ttiat tho p-'opl.i were . oppresod bylaws ir.at Iho U rds would not consent to re peal by ordinary method: of l.gislanon, obtained redress at last by refusing Appropriating unless accompanied by tbo relief measures. That queilion of the gravest magnitude magni-tude and new in thii country, was j raited by this course of proceeding, ! and was fully recognized also by iib defenders iu ihe senate, it was eaid : by a dtetinguiihed eenator: Perhaps ao greater question in the form we aro brought lo eondder it was ever conceded by an American congress intime of peace for it involves not only the merits Mid djmerUs of laws which the uuurs ein piwiKiau? lo repeal, uuv involves tho rights, the privileg s, the powers, tbe duties of tbo two branches of crgress and of tbe President of the Uni cd States. It is a question whose importance can scarcely bo estimated. It is a question that nevor yet has baen brought sharp 'y before congress and th.3 Ann-ncan people- as it may be now. It is a question wbi h, soontr or late-, must be decided, and lho decision niu3t celermino what are tho powers of the house of representatives repre-sentatives under tho Constitution, mid what is the duty of that h use. In view of tho framers of that Constitution, relating re-lating to ils letter and its spirit, Mr. Presid.-Jiil, I should approach tliis question, ques-tion, if 1 wore in the best p s:ible condition con-dition to Eponk and to argue to It, with very grave diffidence, and certainly, wilh the uimost anxiety, for no one can think over it, as long and carefully as I have thought of it, without seeing wo are bo-ginun bo-ginun g, perhaps, a struggle mat may last as long in this country as a similar struggle lastod in what we am accustomed accus-tomed to ca'l tbo motherland. The struggle lastod f jr t o conturks before it wus ultimately decided. It is not likely j to lat so long here, but it may last until overy mau in this chamber is in his grave. It i3 a question -whether or no the nouso of representatives has the right lo say, wo will grant supplies only upon the condition con-dition tint grievances are rcdreisod. Wo are repreaeataliro' of ihe taxpayers of lho republic. We, lho bou'O of representative?, repre-sentative?, alone have tho right to originate origi-nate money bi Is. The bouse of ropra-lenial.ves ropra-lenial.ves have ulono the right, to originate bills which grant money of lho people. The senate repre;cnta tho slates. vVe represent re-present the taxpayers of lb republic. We, therefore, by the very terms of tbe Constitution, are charged with tho duty of originatir g tills which grant the money of thu pooplo. Wo claim tbe right which the house of commons in Ei.gland ostabli-bod af.er iwj centuries ot eontest, lo say we will not grant the money of ihe people unless there is a redress re-dress of grievunces. Upon the assembling of this congress con-gress in puriuance of the call for the extra .lessiou, which was made necessary neces-sary by the failure of ibe Forty-fifth Congress to make needful appropriations appropria-tions for the support of government, the question was presented whether the attempt made in the last congress to engraft, by construction, a new piinciple upon the C institution ohould be persisted in or not. This congress has ample opportunity and time lo paea the appropriation bills, and also lc enact any political measures meas-ures which may be determined upon in separate bills, by the usual hoj orderly methods of proceedings, but the majority of bjtli hous Live deemed it w;;e to adbere to ihe prm ciple asserted and maintained in ihe last con lire.' by the majority of the house of representatives. Tnat principle prin-ciple is that Ine house of reprewenta- 1 tives has loa sole right to originate biiis lor raising revenue, and tuere-fore tuere-fore baa the riht to withhold appro- priatioue upon which Ihe existence of, government may dipend unlets thoj senate atd President shall give their: assent to auy legislation which j the housa may see fit lo attach ! lo ihe appropriation bills. To establish estab-lish tliis principle is to make a radical, radi-cal, dangr re us and uucomlilutioral change in lho cha:ncler of our insti- lulious. Tlie various departments of ; government, and the army and navy arr established by tlie Constitution on by liiwa paesvd in pursuance thereof. Their duties arc clearly dt fined aud their support is carefully provided for by law. The money required for this purpose has been collected from the ppopie and is now in the treasury i ready to be paid out as soon as tbo appropriation bills are passed. Whether ihe appropriations are made or not the collection ol taxes will go on. The pab ic money will accumu late in the treasury. It was nut the intention of the framers of the Conati tution that any single branch of gov eminent should huvti power lo die tale condi tiuns upon which this treasure should ba applied to tiiu purposes fir which it was collect! d. Auy eiish inti ntiou, if it had been entertained, vrould have been p'ainiy expressed in lho Constitution. That the majority of the senate now couch cou-ch rs in lho claim ol the house adds to the gravity uf the situation, but does not alter tlie question at it-Kiie. The new doctrine, if maintained, will result re-sult in lu f-o:t.tr,li.li.rinn of diipi- pected and despotic power in the housrf of representatives. A bare majority o' the house will hec jmc ibe government. The executive will no longer bo whht the frauicra of the Constitution intended, an e-tpial und independent branch of government. It is clearly the constitutional duty of the President lo exercise his diiere-iiou and judgment upon all bills presented lo him without eouulrainl, ur dima-, from any other branch ol government. govern-ment. To say that a mijo:ity of eithir or both Ihhush ot congress may insist on tho approval of a bill under penalty Ui oioppiiis n'1 eji nits opi-i iiliooo .i government for waut ol uece-esarv supplies is lo deny to ihe executive that shareof legislative power wnich is plainly conferred by ilwa'cmd stct'On of the seventh uriiela ul the ontrli-luiiou. ontrli-luiiou. llslrikec from tho Cun?ti'.u-tiou Cun?ti'.u-tiou iho qualified nea'.iva of ihe president. It is eaid this should be done becauss it is ttie peculiar luuc-lion luuc-lion of the house of representatives io represent the aid of lht3 the people; but no eingle branch or department ot government lias exclusive authority to apeak lor the American people. The most authentic and solemn expression ex-pression uf iheir will is contained in the Cuuelilution of Ihe United SiateB. Ey that Couslilution ihey have ordained or-dained and established a government whose powers are distributed among coordiuato branches, which as far as possible consistently with a harmonious harmon-ious cooperation are " absolutely independent of each other. The people of the country are unwilling un-willing to see the supremacy of the Constitution replaced by the omnipo-tflnnR omnipo-tflnnR nf anv denartment of govern ment. The enactment of this bil! into a law will establish a precedeul which will tend to destroy the equa independeLco of tlie several branches of government. Its principal placei not merely tho senate aud executive; but the judiciary also under the coercive coer-cive dictation ot the house. The house alone will bo the judge of whai conBlitutes a grievance, aud also tht meaus aod measures of redress. Ac act ot congress to protect elections iE now the grievance complained of, bul the house may on the samo principle determine that any other act of congress, con-gress, a treaty made by ihe president with ihe advice and concent of the senate, a nomination or appointment lo office, or that a decision or opiniot of the Supremo court, is a grievance, and lhat the measure of redress ia Lc withhold appropriations required loi tho supoort ol the oflsnding br-mct: of governmenl. Believiog that tni: bill is a dangerous violation of the spirit and meaning of tht Constitution, I am cr.mpellec to return it to the house in which i originated without my approval. Tb qualified negative wilh which tht Constitution invests lho President is t trust lhat involves a duly which cannot decline to perform, wilh a firrt and conscientious purpose lo io wha lean to preserve, unimpaired, tlx constitutional powers and etiial iode pandenco, not merely of the executive, execu-tive, but of every branch of guVJrn ment, which will be imperilled by thi adopiiou of tbe principle of this bill I desire earnestly lo urge upon thi house of representatives a reluri to the wise aod wholesjme usagi ol Um earlier days of lho republic which excluded from apprrpriatior bills all irrelevant legishi tiou, B; this course yt.u will inaugurate at important, reform in the method o congressional legislation, your actioi will he in harmony with the fundamental funda-mental principles of the Constitution and the patriotic sentiment t-.f nation ality, which is their firm vuppoit, ant you will restore to the country tha feeling of confidence aod security am repute which are eofBenti.il to thi prosperity of all our fellow citizens. (Signed) Rutheiiford B. Hayes, |