The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-23

specifically limited the powers OF the Gov
eminent they were constituting over them
selves and their posterity. Hence. when
they conferred upon Congress the power to
'.lay and collect duties, etc; to pay the
debts, and provide for the common
defense and general welfare of the
United States" (Article l, Section 8,
clause l,) they distinctly limited the pur.
pose of these duties to that of revenue. 1t
is not conceivable that they intended TO al
low the Government function, by the OK
ercise of which, being under the control Of
any section. party, or fraction, that Gov
eminent could deny to the country a.
large, or any section of it, the right of free
dom in trade power by which the Gov
ernment could enrich the section controll
ing II, to the impoyerishment of those not
controlling it.
1t is not probable that they intended to
concede this power when they had but just
freed themselves by lohg and determined
struggle. from a TYRANNY which, in the
Declaration Of Independence, they had
distinctly blamed 'for cutting off their
trade with all parts of the world.
The Convention which ratified the Con-
stitution in New York, and that by vote
OF 81 to ga majority of only three, re
solved THAT nothing in the said Constitu
ton contained shall be construed tn autho-
rize Congress to grant monopoies," etc.
Is il reasonable to suppose that they eyer
dreamed that, under that Constitution,
Congress could usurp the right to grant
monopolies by the wholesale, in order to
drive the earnings Of the many into the
Golfers of the few?
1t is not conceivable that the Constitu-
ton does, or ever was intended, to en-
power Congress to lay prohibitory duties
or import duties for the benefit of any see
ton or OF any interests. Our whole tariff
system, from its conception. exists uncon
| stitutionaly, and will till its death and
burial, never to be resurrected 1t is
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
1t is an unconstitutional monster, whose
existence is imperiling the liberties and in
dependence of the people, the integrity of
the Union, and sullying the purity of the
Government. Those that advocate it and
profit by it know not only it's iniauity, but
wrong, constitutional or unconstitutional,
they fought tor it, they intrigued for it,
and they mean to have it, If political
ppNCI, COIIulttiuu, Ut iotcS can iAdlutdl0 IL
| The time has come, | believe, when it is
useless and dangerous longer to daily with
this evil. 1t must, with all its terrible
propensities, be put down. or it will utter
ly consume us. The time has come to
fight it from the press an. on the floors of
Congress, upon the ground of its unconsti-
tutionality Let US at least learn whether
the Constitution is still the supreme law
over the government, as we'll as the govern
ed; or whether. when greed. and avarice,
and corruption fill the seats and riot in the
lObies of Congress, it is no longer a safe
guard and sure defense to the freedom
and rights of the people.
| LET US AT LEAST LEARN
whether it is function of our Govern
ment to turn loose n horde of princely
thieves to levy tribute from the industries
and earnings of the people; or whether il
is It's duty, as preserver of social order
and domestic tranquility, to guard the peo-
pie in their peaceful pursuits, from de-
struction by these surreptitions and lurk
ing foes. FRED b. WARD.