The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-02-03

18 au4 smoke. eaaso3 ~ eaea sac
cesslve ekpinassa. hal CLEARED away
we haad shas il wAs simply "saaud
e. fury. agnhyinF usthiar laat
IKE d. geliAcnaa ifoa ln1.ara who
sutmp&ea &c navigate his initiation
balloon through Tile House agaius. a.
a3terse carreut they lad goue ap
IKE rockets bet come dawa IKE
ascEs
ahilc caebua therefore tast abe
aea3s q ihis measure have utterly
ANS eouiessedly failed 70 addaee a
so9A reason o. present single sound
ar4ament ia favor u It's passage, !
propose 10 the brieiest manuer 70 as
same the offensive and u state briefly
some lev u the many considerations
which have leA me TO oppose this bill.
IL the first place. Mr.. Chairman,
wnHe / have ncithcF time nor dispo-
siuou Is enter toto 81 extended arga
ment upon this branch q the subject,
emphatcally deny the doctrine that
the Constitution either 10 letter or
spirit authorizes Congress to make a
eif, Or to lcan money 70 any individual
1r corporation for any object or pur
pose whatever,
am aware that II Is claimed by
learned gentlemen upon this door that
this appropriation Is IN no sease gait
or a luAa, that It is not voted 10 any
individual or corporation; bat the act.
although carefully II not artiully word
"a with view evidently TO escape
this objection, conclnsively refutes
this false theory aud expressly declares
that this money is 70 70 be paid over in
astallments 10 the centennial board Of
6uance for the purpose Of completing
the centennial buildings and other
preparations.
By reference 10 the acts Of 1871 and
1872, 1t will DO seen that the Board Of
Centennial Commissioners aud the cen.
,eunial board OF finance were created
by Congress With well-defned powers
aud duties, the scope and extent Of
which were well known. and under
which organizations were duly effected
and the work commenced and carried
forward in the most vigorous and pru-
dent manner 10 its present near com.
pIeuon.
Down to this time the Government
has had DO part or lot in the matter,
has not sought or exercised the least
control over it, and has on all DC.
casions absolutely and in the most
positive and emphatic manner refused
10 become in any way responsible fol
its conduct or liabilities,
Now, after all this has TRANSFERRED, a
bin is brought in, and supported by
both democrats and republicans, ask
ing Congress TO vote a million and q
half of dollars TO the president and
treasurer OF the centennial board o
finance to finish the buildings and com
plete all the preparations for the grea
exhibitions; and we are coolly told by
the friends and promoters of this ap
preparation that the Government has
taken charge of the enterprise and
ought TO furnish the money; that be
cause the Government has, at the re
quest Of these corporations, given on
the invitations to this entertainment a
it's own expense, therefore it is bounC
to entertain those who come and pay
all their expenses.
To those who are at all acquainted
with the result OF schemes aud enter
prises like this, it is well known thai
the effect of the passage OF this bill
would be to bind the Government, b,
implication at least, to close up thu
concern and liquidate all the outstand
ing debts and liabilities at the close 0
the exhibition.
To all this L most solemnly and ear
nestly object and protest, not only be
cause it is, as think, in direct ant
open violation of the Constitution, bu
because it is in opposition to the plain
est dictates of sound and health,
public policy.
! do not desire TO become party t,
such transaction or to be instrumen
tai in opening gate and establishing
precedent which under a corrup
administration might drain the Treas
ury aud bankrupt the Government
We have been entertained here witt
quotations from every writer upoI
constitutional and national law iron
Braxton to Story, with view to con
vince the members of this House tina
they have authority TO make this APP
preparation under the clause in thu
Constitution which empc wers Congress
( to regulate commerce with foreign
nations and among the several States
Such proposition, it seems to me
needs only 10 be stated to reveal it
utter faiiacy aud convince any intelli
/ gent and candid man that the provision
/ Of the Constitution referred 10 has d
/ application TO this bill, and gives az
power to Congress to make gifts or t
set the Government up as a stockhold
I er ia Il private corporation
1 If Congress has the power to vot'
Z this money because the exhibition i
/ designed to, and very likely will, pro
mote aud stimulate commerce will
+ foreign nations and among the severa
states, then Congress may charte
fairs and agricultural shows in every
county in the Union aud appropriate
/ the necessary money TO carry them on
/ The theory advanced that the money
appropriated by this bill is to carry
into effect treaty or compact mad
by Congress or the Executive witt
those nations who have accepted in
( vtatious to be present at the exhibition
hardly admits OF serious consideration
aud, while ii rouses our mirth at il
exceeding thinness, it at the same TIM
excites our wonder that any maj