Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1854-05-16
INTA, TUESDAY, MAY l6, 1854,

NAV sometimes have tailed to distinguish accurate
Nv between objects which are and which are mol
/ w.lhH its constitutional powers. The message Ia
concluded is fOllo.s:
After The most careful examination, find bui
.rro examples ia the acts of Congress which fur
nisA say rTeredeh. fer the present bill, and those
| examples will in my opinion. serve rather as a
warning than as an iuduccment 10 tread in the
The first is the act of March Sd. 1919, granting
/ township OF land TO the Connecticut asylum Tor
/ the education OF the deaf and dumb.
The second that Of April 9Th, 1926, making a
similar grant 10 The Kentucky asylum for teaching
| the deaf and dumb
The first more than 80 years after the adoption
of The Constitution, and the second more than a
| quarter of century ago.
! These acts were unirnportant as to the amount
! appropriated, and far as can ascertain, were
| passed on two grounds; first that the object was
charitable one, and secoudly, that ii was nation
al. To say that il was charitable object is only
to say that il was Ject OF expenditure proper
for the competent authority but it more tended
to show that il was proper object of expenditure
by the United States, than is any other purely To-
cal object, appealing TO the best sympaihisS OF the
human hear, in any of the States.
And the suggestion that school for the mental
culture of the deaf aad dumb In Connecticut or
Kentucky, is national object, only shows how
loosely this expression has been used when the
purpose was 10 procure appropriations By Congress
II is not perceived how 4 schcol Of this character
is Otherwise national than is any establishment OF
Teligotis moral Instruction. All the pursuits OF
industry. everything which promotes the material
or intellectual well being of all the race every
ear of corn or boil of cotton which grows is ma
tional in the same sense; fer each one of these
things gees to swell the aggregate OF national
prosperity and happiness of the United States;
but il confounds all meanings of language to say
that these things national" as equivalent TO
"Federal," so TO come within any of the classes
of appropriation for which Congress Is author
lied by the Constitution to legislate.
II is marked poin; in the history Of the Consti-
tuition, that when it proposed to empower Con-
gress TO establish University, the proposition was
confined TO the district intended for the future seat
of Government of the United States, and that
that proposed clause was omitted in consider
alton of the exclusive powers conferred on Con-
gress to legislate for that District. Could more
decisive Indication of the true construction and
spirit OF the Constitution in regard TO Ill matters
of this nature have been Siven2 Il proTes that
such objects considered by the convention as
apPertaining 10 local legislation only, that they
were not com pretended, either expressly or by inn
plication in the grant of general power 10 Congress-
and that, consequently, they remained with the
several States.
The general result at which have arrived in
the necessary consequence of those views of the
relative rights, powers and duties Of the SAFES
and of the Federal Government which have long
entertained, and often expressed, and in reference
to which my convictions do but increase in force
with time and experience.
have thus discharged the unwelCome duty o!
respectfully stating my objections to this bill, with
which l cheerfully submit the whole sui bjeCt 10 the
wisdom Of Congress