Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-05-11
VIRGINIA. FREE PRESS AND FARMERS REPOSITORY.

After he most careful examination, ! End bat
Two examplcsir the acts Of Congress which far
nish any rfsredt ni for the present bill and hose
examples viii in ny opinion. serve rather -
waning han . an Endorsement 70 tread in she
same path.
The 6rsrfs he act Of March 81. 1919, granting
q township Of lard 70 The Connecticut asylum 1or
the rdncali1n Of The deaf and dumb.
The see6nd that Of April bih, 1876, making q
sir1Isr grant 10 Ihs Kentucky asylum tos teaching
Ire frs. more lhan % years after he adoption
OF he Conssltufion, and The second more tan
quarter ef century age
These acts uere unimporianl Is 10 The amount
appropriated, and, 50 far as can Ascertain, were
passed or Two croands; ffst that The object was
charitable one. and secondly hat Il was nation
al. To say that il was charitable object Is only
70 say lhaf Il was an o. eet Of expenditure proper
for The competent authority b8t il no more tended
y show that Il was proper Object q Ell enoitnle
y the United States. ihaa IS any other purely 10
cal object appealing % me oesi Pa'hies OF me
human heart in any Of the States
And The suggestion thai school for The mental
culture Of The deaf and dumb ia Connecticut or
Kentucky IS national object. only shows how
loosely this expression has been used when he
p1rpose was 10 procure appropriations oy Congress
L Is not perceived how school cf this character
is Otherwise national Than Is any establishment Of
religious or moral instruction. All The pursuits Of
industry everything which promotes the material
1 or intellectual well being of all the race every
ear Of corn or boll Of cotton which grows is ma
iionaI in The same sense; for each one OF these
things goes 10 swell the aggregate OF national
prosperity and happiEes Of the United States
ba, il confounds ali meanings Of language 10 say
that these things are national" as equivalent 10
g FEDERAL" so as 10 come within any Of the classes
OF appropriation for which Congress is author
lied BY the Constitution TO legislate.
Iris marked point in the history Of the Consii-
tuition. that whe IL was proposed 10 empower Con-
gress 70 establish university, the proposition was
confined the district intended for The future seat
Of Government Of the United States. and that
even that proposed clause was omitted in consider
alton Of the exclusive powers conferred OF Cen
gress TO leeislaie for thai District Could more
| decisive indication OF the true construction and
spiriI Of the Constitution in regard 10 all matters
OF this nature have been given2 II proves that
such objects were considered by The convention as
appertaining 10 local ifgislaIion only, that they
were not comprehended either expressly or BY i'm
picalon, in the grant Of general power to 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 States
and Of the Federal Government which have long
entertained, and often expressed and in reference
TO which my convictions do but increase ia force
with time and experience.
have thus discharged the unwelcome duty o!
respectfully stating objections TO this BILL with
which Ieheerfully submit The whole So bject TO the
wisdom Of Congress.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
u H..