The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-10-15
Ibe Gnqulrer.
RICHMOND, OCTOBER Is 1911
A PROPOSITION


tains II Pronoslfion for "rhe establishment
o. an ;nstisutio0 .nunficently endowed and
extensively ramifed tor the. promotion of
agriculture. THAI paper urges with great
iotce, hat "we are next perhaps to the
Chinese, the most agricuit ara, people IN the
world y that there is no OBJECT more suscep-
'ioie OF promotion by the aid of government,
tnan agriculture; that we al know how nu
merous the public institutions or Its prone
tion are In Engiand, which claims pre-. chi
nence In this respect over all he nations of
Europe and in China, 1.-The emperor himself
periodically applies himself IN he most pub
lie manner to its labors that institutions
TOT the concentration. and iii flu on OF new
agricultural discoveries and improve ments.
las well as tor testing their applicability 10
particular countries or districts, can only be
founded and adequately maintained by the
united resources of nation; that they are
beyond the power of individuals; and that
it Is fundamental principle of our system,
mat as government is not 10 invade the pro-
vince OF individuals, so is its duty to assist
them' vine one or small number of them
are unable to effect great public object:
has this duty must devolve either on the
general or state governments that OF
&C urse, the latter possesses less power and
covers. less territory than the former; and
mat TINS great duty Can then only be dis
charged on hrofer scale by the general
government; it is du,y from its nature and
tendency strictly FEDERAL; that the way to
effect II, Is by the establishment of a central
agricultural board and extensive botanical
garden, with at least one subordinate board
ana garden In each state. possessing The
means # collecting and diffusiDg informant
on; and that this iltrequire considerable
sum. The InfeiHs encer then proceeds to
oPeni,s Budget Of Ways and Means--and
here we meet with "Jvationak Louer1
the annual profits of which shall be excIu-
siveiy devoted to this great object-~let it be
annually drawn--let the tickets sold produce
b l,0o0 O0o--this with the usual deduction
anu expences, will annually nett about s
us ,OOO--and this sum may be devoted 90
lone great central establishment and 90 af
hliated subordinate nsti ution5." The In.
felhSenceT says few words to do away the
OBJECTIONS, that may be urged to the Lonery
we applaud the motives of: the Inielligen
Ger Tor making this proposition, The in :
terests OF agriculture are the great staple
Interests Of this country; and the improve
ment OF this national Art has been too much
neglected. So far we agree with the Intel
HSeHceT--bui let us not suffer our attach.
nienl 10 the object TO warm us into an 40
PROBATION OF Che means which are proposed
ana here 1t is nos so much our objection. To
lotteries as to the syhoie scheme. We 90
upon his broad ground; that as. the Con
Shfntion now stands the u 3. have nothing
at all TO 90 with agricultural boards or bota
meal gardens. Tue Constitution is a draft
OF specified and restricted powers. Apply
the only two tests, that we possess, of
the constitutionalty of any power. The
hrst question is, whether the power be e.x-
pressed III the Constitution. At It be, the
question IS decided. 1t II be not expressed.
the next enquiry must be, whether t is pro.
perry an, incident 10 an express power and
necessary to its execution, If it be, il may
be exercised by Congress- II 1t be not, Con
gress Cannot exercise it, (Rehorl of the
Virginia Legislature, On the Alien and Sc
ditIon Acts, p. Is, drawn up By Mr.. Madi
sop.J VIII the InseNgenecr put its finger
upon that clause Of the constitution winch
speaks of agriculture, Agricultural boards,
botanical garden, eDdowmenis, &c, &c. ;
Again, it they are not expressed, how are
fhese he Incidental mSGaS to the execution
OF any power that 10 so sz.presseds
But the trouble o, mDent is saved, 10
our hands, by another luminous passage from
me same Rehort--in which this very pro
position rs mentioned Mr.. Madison IS speak
ng OF .he design 4hich had been indicate d
70 expound certain PHRASES N the coastitu-
Hhe l''srsGt uf COLUMBIA being exseptec.