Constitutional history -- United States -- Sources; Constitutional law -- United States
Let us examine whether there be any comparison, in point of efficacy,
between the provision alluded to and that which is contained in the new
Constitution, for restraining the appropriations of money for military
purposes to the period of two years. The former, by aiming at too much,
is calculated to effect nothing; the latter, by steering clear of an
imprudent extreme, and by being perfectly compatible with a proper
provision for the exigencies of the nation, will have a salutary and
powerful operation.
The legislature of the United States will be OBLIGED, by this
provision, once at least in every two years, to deliberate upon the
propriety of keeping a military force on foot; to come to a new
resolution on the point; and to declare their sense of the matter, by a
formal vote in the face of their constituents. They are not AT LIBERTY
to vest in the executive department permanent funds for the support of
an army, if they were even incautious enough to be willing to repose in
it so improper a confidence. As the spirit of party, in different
degrees, must be expected to infect all political bodies, there will
be, no doubt, persons in the national legislature willing enough to
arraign the measures and criminate the views of the majority. The
provision for the support of a military force will always be a
favorable topic for declamation. As often as the question comes
forward, the public attention will be roused and attracted to the
subject, by the party in opposition; and if the majority should be
really disposed to exceed the proper limits, the community will be
warned of the danger, and will have an opportunity of taking measures
to guard against it. Independent of parties in the national legislature
itself, as often as the period of discussion arrived, the State
legislatures, who will always be not only vigilant but suspicious and
jealous guardians of the rights of the citizens against encroachments
from the federal government, will constantly have their attention awake
to the conduct of the national rulers, and will be ready enough, if any
thing improper appears, to sound the alarm to the people, and not only
to be the VOICE, but, if necessary, the ARM of their discontent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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