The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-01
R,aine's Rid.

~ - WORTHY VI nVtftt tbas @'tts otnfs''
raises TO his proposed scheme OF distri-
bufing the money derived from the tax on
liquors not single strong objection. He
does not even so much as mention the con-
stitutional objections which must instantly
suggest themselves TO every statesman and
constitutional lawyer. All that he says on
this point Is, that he may "possibly have
overlooked objections which others may
suggest" Let Us refer TO some Of those
oyerslaughed objections
strict constructionists win OF course
deny that Congress has power to collect
money TO carry on the State governments.
When thlrty-odd years ago II was pro-
posed TO distribute amongst the States the
proceeds OF the sales of the public lands OF
the United States. il was held by the DEM
ocratic party that Congress had no right
thus 10 dispose Of the national revenue.
The distribution measure was soon con-
demned by the people, and abandoned;
and we think the Federal Government to
this day owes 10 Virginia some forty thou
sard dolIars-ihe sum placed to her credit
more than thirty years ago. Ii would be
difficult, therefore, TO find warrant in the
Constitution for Mr.. BLAINE's scheme.
For what purposes does the Constitution
declare that taxes may be laid? Read:
1.-THE Congress shall have power
81. To lay and collect taxes, duties,
imposts, and excuses. TO pay the debts, and
Drocide for the common defence and gene
-. q H.. If,sf o,fG frfSg -
II would seem as IL this language mega
lived the idea that any taxes could be laid
and collected "to pdYthe debts or "pro-
vide for the welfare Of the several States.
so rigidly is this teaching enforced by con-
sti.utional lawyers That the iree-traders
constantly affirm, and defy anybody to
deny the proposition, that Congress has no
power 10 lay q tariff for protection alone,
or making protection, instead Of revenue,
its object.
Congress has, it is true. power to eds
pose of all property" belonging TO the
United states but money" is not "pro-
perry" in the sense in which the latter
word is used in the Constitution.
Again Article 10, of amendments, pro-
yides;
"The powers not delegated TO the United
States by the Constitution, nor pro-
hibited by it to the States, are reserved to
the States respectively, or to the people,"
Surely the power to levy taxes to sup
port the State governments is not among
the powers delegated to the United
StateS.r
viii il be said that II Congress bas pow
er to distribute the proceeds of the public
lands among the States, or to extend pecu-
MARY aid TO the educational systems Of the
several States, il has power TO carry out
Mr.. BLAINE's scheme? Well, there is force
in that point. and we will ponder it. But
as at present advised. we are inclined to
think that a constitutional amendment is
needed by Mr.. BLAINE. Perhaps he eX-
poets his scheme to be so popular that an |
amendment making il constitutional could |
be passed through Congress and ratified by |
three-fourths OF the States during the next |
presidential term, OF even in two years.
MIR. BLAINE says "you cannot have tie
National and the State Governments joint
owners in the same treasury without mis-
chievous conflict" That is as good an OBJ
lection TO his scheme as 10 the Pennsyl- |
yauia scheme against which he uses it.
Nr. BLAINE further objects to the Penn |
syIvania scheme that il would not be
.steady =; that it would give to the States
much one year and little another. So as to
his scheme. Congress could at any moment |
cut off The national income Of every State;
and as the States would then have no in
come. 0he amount assigned to Virginia
would pay all the necessary expenses OF the
State goyernment,) they would be in bad
way. Either this, or else unbounded eX-
travagance would result il the States
should keep up their present rates OF taxa
ton besides pocketing all the money UNCLE
SAN could collect for them. a cOnstitu-
tional amendment might obviate this OBJ
lection, too.
But let nobody suppose that MIR. BLAINE's
scheme is to be whistled down the wind.
L. has too much vitality--too many ele-
ments OF popularity. II is an offset to the
Democratic proposition TO abolish the whole
internal-revenue system. Above all, it
means that Mr. BLAINE is again in the
field as an aspirant to the presidency OF
the United States. We warn our Demo-
cratic friends in Congress and everywhere
else that Mr.. BLAINE means "business,"
and that when he lays down plank in his
platform he calculates that it is strong
enough TO hold the biggest OF political ele-
plants. In word, the scheme, If prac-
iica5le, is likely to be exceedingly popular