Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 05 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 05 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
In the Virginia Convention objection was made by Mr. Grayson “to the
power of the Senate to propose or concur with _amendments to money
bills_.” The objection is even to “amendments.” He pronounced this “a
departure from that great principle which required that the _immediate
representatives_ of the people only should interfere with _money
bills_.… The Lords in England had never been allowed to intermeddle
with money bills. He knew not why the Senate should.”[42]
_Thirdly._ This brings me to another consideration, founded on the
example of England, which was obviously present to the framers of
the Constitution. The Senator from Virginia [Mr. HUNTER] is clearly
mistaken on this point. It was often adduced in debate in the National
Convention, and, as we have just seen, in the Virginia Convention also.
In England the rule is explicit, and of ancient date. As early as July
3, 1678, the Commons resolved:--
“That all aids and supplies, and aids to his Majesty in
Parliament, are the sole gift of the Commons; _and all bills
for the granting of any such aids and supplies ought to begin
with the Commons; and that it is the undoubted and sole right
of the Commons to direct, limit, and appoint, in such bills,
the ends, purposes, considerations, conditions, limitations,
and qualifications of such grants_, which ought not to be
changed or altered by the House of Lords.”[43]
In pursuance of this rule, estimates for the annual expenditure are
submitted by the Ministry to the House of Commons, sitting as a
Committee of Supply. This process is explained as follows.
“The member of the Administration representing the department
for which the supplies are required first explains to the
Committee such matters as may satisfy them of the correctness
and propriety of the estimates, and then proceeds to propose
each grant in succession, which is put from the Chair in these
words: ‘That a sum not exceeding ---- be granted to her Majesty,
for the object specified in the estimate.’ … The Committee of
Supply votes every sum which is granted annually for the public
service,--the army, the navy, the ordnance, and the several
civil departments.”[44]
At the close of the session all the grants are embodied in a bill,
which is known as “Appropriation Bill,” and, as it is kindred in
character to that under our system, doubtless has given its name to
ours. This bill is thus described:--
“It enumerates every grant made during the whole session, and
authorizes the several sums, as voted by the Committee of
Supply, to be issued and applied to each service.”[45]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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