The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-02-24
IL &c HI
HON. 81. D. MONEY.
In the House of Representatives, Monday,
February Z, 1881.
Mr.. Money said :

Mr.. Money said
Mr.. SPEAKER: The business of the
executive branch of the Government is to
execute the laws and administer public
affairs The Cabinet Of the President is a
political council with whom the President
advises upon his foreign and domestic policy.
a II matters of mere business are attended
to by the several bureaus and divisions of
the respective Departments but in the
council of state no business, trade, or indus
try, as such, should have any voice. The
Cabinet as a whole represents all the inter-
ests of the Republic and all classes of its
citizens.
There is nothing in this bill, nor is there
anything in the arguments in its favor that
shows that the addition of another officer to
the Cabinet to be called the Secretary of
Agriculture" or by any other name, would
in the slightest particular confer any advan-
tage or benefit upon our farmers. The
present officer the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture," can do all for our agricultural
interests that he could do if admitted to the
Cabinet. This bill does not enlarge his
powers for usefulness nor make more effec-
tive those which he has, and if any new
legislation is proposed in that direction it
can be done for him as the head of bureau
as well as the head of a Department
Gentlemen talk about adding dignity to
the profession of agriculture 1t is insult
ing to this noble profession to say so |
beg gentlemen's pardon, but there is no
power in this Congress to add one jot or
little to the dignity of the profession which
embraces the majority of our population,
owning the greater part Of our property
and the most reliably conservative in peace
and patriotic in war-a profession upon
whose labOrs the prosperity of every other
class is based, and whose industry, economy,
t1lI Ill
ton of our national prosperity and honor.
No, SIR the farmers of our land stand in
dependent of empty compliments, and are
accustomed to confer dignity upon Others
If it could be shown that this measure
could lift even one single burden from the
farmers shoulder, add one single dollar to
his purse, soften a single asperity of his
rugged toll, brighten his life with one added
ray of sunshine, or endow him with high
er conception of the dignity, honor, and
usefulness of his profession, 1t would re-
ceive my hearty support. We have Cow no
vocation, trade, or industry represented as
such in the Cabinet; it is, as was designed
by our forefathers, a political council to
assist the President, who is responsible for
their acts, not they for his. Add to this
council the representative distinctly OF a
class or business calling, and at once you
will be called upon to make department
other of mines, another of railroads or
| transportation, and so on, until the Cabinet,
which now meets to advise the President
upon the affairs of the whole country in the
| interest of all citizens for the common veal,
| would become a wrangle of trades over
conflicting interests, each representative
| member anxious for his own and Indifferent
| to the whole.
represent an agricultural constituency.
l believe l understand their wants. / know
/ fully sympathize with them in all their
aspirations and efforts for improvement,
materially aud otherwise, and my recorded
| votes since / have been a member of this
House show that / have consulted their
interests and provided for them as faithfully
as lay in my power, aud 1 will gladly assist
| in any measure to promote their good but
am convinced that this measure can in no
respect whatever ameliorate their condition,
ennoble profession already of primal Dig
nifty, OF make any weightier their already
preponderant power but, on the contrary,
| that it is an innovation that may lead TO
unhappy consequences For these reasons,
sir, record my vote in the negative.