National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-09

such power upon Congress in terms not TO
be misunderstood Mr.. FrObell contended
that if the author of the instrument did not
know what its language intended, surely no
man of the present day could claim to be
better informed. But the fact that Con-
gress conceded with President Madison in
the measure recommended, and passed a
law in accordance with il, making the nee
essary appropriations to carry it out, was
conclusive as to the opinions of our early
legislators.
Hon. r. NJ T. Hunter said upon this point
that he believed there were a few old State
rights men left, and he would give the
views that were entertained by them in re-
gard to the constitutionality of the Govern
ment lending aid TO works of the character
before the convention. He said that the
State rights party took a much more liberal
view of the subject then than has recently
been manifested. They thought the Gen
eral Government had the power to aid in
the completion of such works only when
the States themselves were not able to do
so, and if they were matters Of national
importance. But, he said, it was held that
in all cases where States could execute
these works they were bound to do so. No
part of the world, he said, could compare
with the United States in its system of in
ternal improvement 1t was better in all
cases to leave such questions to the States
at first than to carry them up to Congress.
In all cases the States would execute them
with more economy. This however, did
not apply to railroads. Let States take the
subject of railroads before Congress and the
chances for republican liberty were gone.
1t was in all cases best to let the General
Government have nothing to do with rail
roads. Ii was difficult now to cope with
one of the railroad kings, and what would
bt the case if all were combined? What
would be the delay, the lobbying, the cor
ruption? What power could resist them?
Ifsuch was the case we would have no re-
publican government, and we would be
among the first TO 60 against such govern
ment. If such works were carried out
they would be in the interest Of a monop-
oily, not for the good of the country.
The members of the convention insisted
that this republican government, this more
perfect Union, formed by the people OF all
the States, was for the avowed purpose of
the maintenance of a general cooperative
foreign commerce and free trade between
the States: TO establish uniform currency
by coming money and issuing bills of credit
which should be alike binding upon all the
people of all the States; to make war and
to negotiate and keep the peace.
1t is idle to pretend that this nation may
tax the people to raise thousands Of m /
lions to expend in the destructive and de-
moralizing ravages Of war, to lay in waste
vast extent of country, destroying railways,
filling up canals and obstructing the navi-
CATION of rivers, and yet may not raise by
taxation and expend a few hundreds of
millions in efforts to reCuperate and restore
that which was destroyed and laid waste in
the war.
And if the people may do this through
Congress, shall it be said that they may not
mobilize their slender means for such
pun DOoC NuNu ldDOl ID CllCulJCSl anu lut
poorer classes are in the greatest need of
employment? The expenditure of thirty
millions per annum upon the various public
works designated by the Window commit
tee until they are completed would so dis
tribute that amount of capital and labor
as to revivify all the industries
of the nation. Besides it would be the
peoples money, their cooperative capital,
which would be expended. A tax of
seventy-fve cents per capita of our popu-
latiOn per annum would meet the eXpendi-
ture. This might be laid upon tea and
coffee, or coffee alone, without occasioning
the least distress. II the laboring classes
have no work they can have no coffee,
while if they are supplied with employ
ment they can afford to have it and to pay
five cents the pound more for it than now.
When the works are completed the devel-
opment of material resources attending
their construction will furnish a cOntinu-
ance of employment, and at the same time
cheaper the cost of living to the consumer
and enhance the prices of breadstuffs and
provisions to be received by the producer
in amounts annually exceeding the entire
outlay.
This being the judgment of the commit
tee of the Senate and Of the engineers, is it
not the best business operation that can be
instituted upon the combined capital of the
nation? Is it not the policy Of true econ
omy?