, 1873-01-30
Discussion Of tho Character and
Functions Of Our GOverL-
mont.
Etr. Medill "Sccs No Other Alternative
Than That the National Corpora
lion Must Sooner or Later
Tako Possession of tho
Telegraph"

tho Government to tito Telegraph" prepared by
Hon. David A. Wells and youreolf. In tho ap-
pendlx to tho volume, find your reply to my
aottor OF tho 17th ult.
l would let our exchange Of views in regard to
postal telography terminate with your last letter
wero 1t not for your remark TINT you arc some-
what disappointed, that, instead of meeting
h4nnrely somo Of the points presented in your
letter. sock to turn their flank by comparison
hotwoen the postal service and tho buBinoBs Of
tho e1press oompanIos;" nnd tho serious asser-
tion |" tllat tllore is fundamental difference in
our views concerning tho objects for which our
Government was established and tho bost modeB
or accomplishing thom." This Fundamental
difference ~ you proceed TO explain, aulstato MY
views OF the functions md dntics Of Government
in WY TINT is "pccu1iar," but trust not
!with intent to dccoive.''
RELATIONS 'F THE GOVERNMENT TO nuB1NEss MAT
TEns.
Lot mo state, at the outset Of this letter, my
understanding Of the functions and rotations Of
tho Government towards tho business affairs Of
tho pooplo, which will prevent miBundorstand-
ing or porverrion in tho fut1lro:
T hold tint my businoHs or occupation which
is or can be conducted by inliridunl enterprise,
or by pccuniary corporate efforts, with fair and
oEou competition to regulate prices and prevent
o1tortion, or when tho charges can be regulated
BY Inv, should DO loft to tho management Of
such agencies, Following chat such oourne will
best promote the public welfure,
loldt further, tina, any business essential to
the pubo welfare, aud general in It's nature and
requirements, which can not bo conducted by in
diyidual effort and capital, but only by corporate
organization, and which is not practically nus-
coptible OF fair and open competition, or whose
charges cannot DO limited and reg
ulated by law, but which ia, or de-
genoratoB into, monopoly, may right
fully be taken control Of and managed for
the public benefit by one or other Of the political
corporations hest adapt6d to tho performance OF
tho service, whether that DO tho National, State,
or Municipal corporation.
POSTAL TEIEoRArrT IS CONSTITUTIONAL, HENCE A
FUNCTION or GOVERNMENT.
It Ia nttosiy ugoleBa aud vain to haye any con-
trororsy upon collateral polntu, AZ tl,oy arc
merely side Issues, 60 long as we disagree about
thcso f,.ndamental questions. You deny that it
Ia ono Of the functions Of Government to estab-
ush postal telegraphy. DooB this mean that 1t
would be unconstitutional which, II true, must
end oil controversy But, il 1t bo not unconsti-
tutional, then 1t ia a function Of Government to
establish postal telography, and Its duty to os-
tablsh it, if thereby tho general welfare is pro-
1noted, for Ito promote the gonora1 wolfaso" ia
declared in tho proamblo Of tho Constitution to
be ono of tho purposes Of sstho General Govern-
nlent. I assumo, however, TINT you do not
challenge tho constitutional authority Of tho
General Government to establish system Of
poRtal tolegraphy, aud shall proceed on that as
sumption; TOR II it DO IN violation Of the organic
law the Supreme Court will 80 DECLARE and
render null and void any net OF Congress ut
tempting to create such syaton,'
GOVERNMENT.
You charge. mo with advocating = npaternM
government" such as those OF the "Old World,
VI which havo neon extondng With QUO hand their
boen heaping up burdens upon the people until
debt and taxation arc fast rlpenlng into uaivcr-
sal discontent." Is this quite fair statemont
Did cite any Government Of tho Old World.
except Great britain, In tho matter Of
uniting the telegraph with tho postal
service? And is that constitutional Government
q "pnternal ono! You would mortally wound
tho senBlnllitleB OF any "froo-born lriton' by
saying 90 IN his presence, and ha would be apt to
recent 1t as personal insult. Does the steady
bntaan justify w. assertion you maEe!
| observe that the phrase "paternal goyorn-
tnens nas pocono lhS9tlta sneor win state
sovereignty naSocatea; put II is gross misno-
=, '.N."
country. Ours is strictly jtrat''aat dovern~
tnent-not patofhal. Al aDaol1se M monarchy j. =
patasrnal lor1n OF government. Iho gzar OF Kna, y
sls y cons|leuous eJpg Inolooi ana no 10 calleu
* iH hla .,s subjects tho Father OF hla people.
Mnetg ero ee ~ rp~er voeaod ~ ono Per-
s9n, saotG a., IL gaornnt Gosern,mont, no matter
WneshSi " tno Wfeat rather ia cruel or Find to
~ sniulen. Muero In9 HoYere1en power III yoat-
a ia tia r ~ ~ ~ o non snoao
~ tne ltntott,at 1ol1 VI eo9ernnonG as contra
tnstingalshe9 from tne patornai; Var FORM 10
1has a o. 1fotnorho9o l Or iree aud equal mon,-a
Gauu a1la n'llvotbat conllalofnity OF oltizena,
r'ttoa togethor 1ot sno purposes sot forta III tho
1,t1 1 o. .nc 9enolht and ntete ooSorn-
aen'u M mnu ~ cnarsess at3r1n u n1nc'pa,lIea. 1!
o., "nAr .oSsaitotEs oui. ao'AAsAEST.
ons npTooI' M e1;tioa comprises soyofal stines
pl,n ~ ~ ai, raaant;E ''t w wneos 1
,,,orJ }ntn ~ a"c o}hor 1 III ont ~
onos 1su fro tho T a3 ~ a ~ uoeong
,o,or te oa, 1nn MI " .o hoSescaga
'yni ,ehes cai,a1 'G }a odero1 fn no .mu geess
oa1aI u ro ~
:' @ ;n6 aac1 ~ toen orors1 s@1 e"ora
o1n ca1nI a,,,,t;oa a1 o;.;a , ~,