The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-19

of his constituents, we fear that Colonel
Joyce has allowed his zeal To run away
with his discretion. We appreciate his mo-
tives in introducing a bill to prevent the
traffic in sprituous or intoxicating liquors
in the centennial buildings or grounds dur
ing the exhibition, but we must question his
Judgment What has the general govern
ment to 90 with the matter, any way? 1t
might, perhaps, "promolo the general wei
" fare and congress is authorized to pass
laws for that purpose--io prevent the sale
of intoxicants on the centennial grounds,
but SO it would, in the sans way, TO pre-
vent il anywhere in the country-and if
congress has the power in the one case, has
it not in the othcr2 But, unfortunately,
that isn't the kind of general welfare"
tue constitution is talking about.
Congress may, to be sure, CIRCULATE com
merce" with foreign nations, between
the several states and with the Indian
tribes, but Il cannot prohibit citizen of
Philadelphia from selling lager TO Ger
man, or New England rum to q Rhode
Islander, or whisky 80 an Indian, provi-
ded the seller and buyer are both in Phila-
delphln, even if they are in attendance on
the centennial, and on The exhibition
grounds too. So congress can declare
war but not war against whisky in the
manner proposed ty this bill. Bristow's
war against whisky is altogether more eff
fectiyc than the kind proposed, because it
has the sanction Of the constitution and
laws and Joyces bill would be wholly
imperative and void it being without the
constitutional powers of congress to pass
such measure. But VIC will endcavor to
treat the matter little more seriously.
The centennial buildings and grounds are
situated in the state Of Pennsylvania, and
are subject 10 the local laws of that state,
and congress cannot, if it would, declare
that those laws shall he imperative in a
certain portion thereof, unless the state,
by formal act of her legislature, cedes
such territory to the UHited States-and
even then it would be doubtful. The con-
stitution only grants exclusive legisla-
" ton to congress over such territory as
may be coded 10 the United States for q
seat of government, aud over places pur.
chased, by The consent of the legislature Of
the state where situated, ''for the erection
4" of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards
and other needful buildings and these
centennial grounds are neither of these, mol
have they been purchased by the United
States with the consent of the Legislature
Of Pennsylvania, nor have they been cedet
to the United States by that state. NJ
mere congressional enactment can author
ize or prevent the sale of spirituous or in
toxicating liquors ON these grounds-un
less, perchance, it should be crooked
whisky, and then Bristow would be afte1
it, without any additional legislation.
The exhibition, to be sure, is declared I,
be held "under the auspices of the govern
men, of the United States, but congress
took pains 70 explicitly provide that tn
United States should, in no way, he direct
~ or indirectly liable for any debts con
tracted in furtherance Of the exhibition
end that there should he no claim for aiC
or pecuniafy assistance from congress o
from the treasury OF the United States
The act declares il to be Irrational cele
bration, but at the same tine creates
corporation to carry it into effect, and thu
very act creating the corporation is decis
i've of the power of congress to pass thu
Joyce bill, for it is enacted that the &C
shall not be so construed "as to interfere
"with the laws Of any state. The constl
tuition will not allow of the passage OF The
bill the act making arrangements for The
exhibition procudes the idea of such
measure and if the sale of whisky ant
lngcr is to be prohibited on the centennia
grounds or buildings, the prohibition mus
come from the state Of Pennsylvania, tn,
city Of Philadelphia, or the centennla
commission, not froIn congress. We fea
that cry of "bcer garden" has led Colone
Joyce, thoughllessly, TO countenance an in
noyaton on the reserved rights of tn
states.