The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-12
THE DANGER OF CENTKALIXA-
TsON.

We continually hear talk about the dan
gers of Capitalization. At an early day in
our history, many Of our most patriotic
men, Hamilton and others among the num-
Der, favored strong, centralized govern
mcnt. instead of a government with limited
powers as the constitution was ultimately
agreed to, and as it now exists Hamilton,
even, went so far as to favor Il limited
monarchy When the war Of the rebellion
broke out, during its continuance, and,pcr-
haps, for time thereafter, there were rca-
sons why the general government should
assume doubtful powers tending, in a
measure, to Capitalization a matter Of
military necessity" and as the easiest
means for preserving the Integrity of the
nation. That necessity is all over now 1t
is too late, even, to enquire whether the
Union could not have been preserved with
out resort to these doubtful measures The
precedent is likely, however, to prove n
dangerous one. We must confess that we
have, heretofore, been among the number
who have been inclined to ridiculc the idea
of any such danger 1t has seemed to us
that there was too much sense in the Am
crican people to allow of such an idea
gaining even respectable foothold. The
proceedings in the Senate Of the United
States, Wednesday, has served, in meas
ure, to disabuse us of this idea The pre-
amblc of the constitution of the United
States declares, among other things, that it
is ordained and established TO ''promote the
general Welfare" while. in the body of the
instrument, it is provided that "the Con-
% gress shall have Power to
= provide for the common Defence and
general Welfare of the United States. -
What these provisions mean ought to be
understood by every person OF common
sense, but they are not
Look at the proceeding. in the Senate
Wednesday. \ petition WAS presented by
Mr. Scott OF Pennsylvania, 'Irom the
" Young Mems Christian Association
q" asking that the sale OF liquors be pro
" hblted" by the general government; and
six other senators, At least, presented pc
titions Of similar import The thought is
of course. that Congress can pass n pro
hihtory liquor law under this genera
welfare clause. Perhaps it can, but if so
the whole theory of our government il
changed The general government, by TIT
assumption of such powers, becomes Il
once centralized dcspotiSm. We adm
that the suppression of the sale or use o
intoxicating liquors, except for certaiI
purposes, would promote the genera
welfare So, it probably, would to enac
stringent laws 10 keep boys out Of tn
streets at night to compel every one t.
attend religious worship on Sunday t
have the streets Of villages and cite
lighted to have proper police forces t
regulate the diet of individuals and t
compel the people to do many other things
One man thinks it would promote tn
general welfare to force every person I
be baptized in a certain way another
sure that the same end would be obtaine
by compelling every person to attend
particular church still another is assure
+ that the general welfare would be pre-
Q NOTED by certain kinds Of bodily exercise
a and SO we might 90 on in every conceive
: able direction, and find respectable bod
S of supporters for every proposition mad
d Congress, under the clause referred to, Il,
l the same right to legislate in one drectic
C as in the other. We have no fear tn
u Congress will, at present, assume the
C powers. The danger is that centralizatic
J, is being taught, and will become instllt
G into the minds of the people. Congress
G looked to remedy evils over which thu
q have no control, and can have none uni
: we become centralized despotism, 1t
in our judgment, far better to suffer Il