Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-05-18
A Presidential Veto.

Message, vetolng the bill appropri7
ating lands for the benefit Of the
insane. OF it, the Nash
vile Union and Al nerican says:
We venture to say that, if the
reader be a true democrat and
tn roughly impressed with the gem
uine and time-honored doctrine of
States Rights. he is more than sat.
islied with the Presidents course
and, in the main, with the argu-I
lhents which be adduces to Justify
il. The President rests his veto
upon constitutional grounds, and
sustains it by a sound aad states
manllke view of the powers and
duties of the federal government.
He Justly views the ''insane bilF'
as the first of a series of measures
destined to make the federal gov
eminent the great almoner OF pub
lie charity throughout the United
States, and to undermine the SOW
ereignty of the States by making
them humble suppliants for the
bounty of the federal government.
If it is constitutional and proper
for the general government to pro-
vide for the INDECENT insane ih the
States, it is also constitutional and
proper for it to provide for tho poor
and afflicted generally, and I'll uS to
assume duties and responsibilities
which hitherto have been wisely
regarded as devolvingN exclusively
upon the States, and which would
prove an endless and exbausting
drain upon the national Golfers. II
The results of such an 'insane''
policy is strongly set forth in he
message, and we cannot do better
than call to the readers attcnti ion
the several passages in which ilese
results are depicted. We cannot
TOO highl, commend the orthodox
and patriot tic spirit Of these ex-
tracts:
at cannd be question ed that il
Congress hi Ave power TO make pro-
vision for THE INDECENT insane, with
out the limits Of this Dist Fict, ii has
the same power to prov vide for the in
digent who are not insane; and thus
transfer to the Federal Government
the charge of all the poor in all the
States. 1t has the same power to
provide hospitals and other local es-
adjustments for the care and cure
of every species Of human infrmity,
and thus to assume all that duty of
either public philanthropy, OF public
necessity 10 the dependent, the or
phan, the sick, or the needy, which
is now discharged by the States
themselves, Or by corporate institu-
lions, or private endoWments exist
ing under the legislation of the
States. The whole field Of ublic
benelieence is thrown open to the
care aud culture Of the Federal Gov
ernment. Generous impulses no
longer encounter the limitations and
control Of our imperious fundamen-
tai law. For, however worthy may
be the present object ITSELF it's only
one of class. Whatever considera-
tons dictate sympathy fof this par
ticular object, apply, in Iii Ike manner,
if not in the same degree, to idiotcy,
to physical disease, 10 extreme des-
titution. If Congress may and
ought to provide for any one of
these objects, it may and ought to
provide for them all. And if it be
done in this case, what answer shall
be given, when Congress shall be
called upon, as it doubtless will be,
to pursue similar course of legis-
lation in the others? 1t will, OBJ
viously, be vain to reply that the OBJ
ject is worthy, but that the applica-
ton has tax en a wrong direction ?
"The' power will have been DELHI
erately assun led, the general obliga.
tons will, by this act, have been ac-
knowledged, and thequestion of means
and expediency will alone be left for
consideration. The decig bon upon
the principle, in any one dase, deter-
mines it for the whole class.
81 readily, and | trust feelihgly,
acknowledge the duty incumbent on
US all, as men and citizens, an as
among the highest and hottest of our
duties, to provide for those who, in
the mysterious order of Providence,
are subject TO want, and to disease
of body or mind, bat ] cannot Fl nd
any aut hority in the Constitution for
the Federal Government the
great almoner of public charity
throughout the United States. II
To do SO would, in my judgment, be
contrary to the letter and spirit Of
tba Constitution ond snhvaro;vo IF