On the Memorial of the Relief Committee of Baltimore, for the Relief of St. Domingo Refugees. House of Representatives, January 10, 1794. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general.
Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.
It would puzzle any gentleman to lay his finger on any part of the Constitution which would authorize the government to interpose in the relief of the St. Domingo sufferers. Though he was of opinion that the relief contemplated could not be granted in the way proposed, yet he supposed a mode might be adopted which would answer the purpose without infringing the Constitution. He considered the Constitution as defining the duty of the legislature so expressly, as that it left them no option in the present case. He was in favor of going into a committee on the subject, but wished a short delay, that he might revolve the question more fully in his own mind.