The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-09-11
Constitutional Objections

UCCluoC VI ~ ottttCLuOuU OCo1SS ou6GD-
raising. Or wool-clipping, an industry of
that county. He assumes that sheep-rais-
ing in Highland has not risen to that dig
nity-that cattle-raising is the staple bust
ness, and that it is cattle from which the
people of that county are to prosper or
retrogade. The Recorder sufficiently meets
the objection of "a. T. S." and takes care
of itself, as it is abundantly able to dc. and
shows that Mr.. fuckers. vote against the
increase of the tariff on wool, or the res
toration of the rate of 1867, was hurt
full to one of Highlands products. But
the admission of "A. T. ST." that cattle
raising is the main dependence Of the far
mers and grazers of Highland for remu-
nerative returns for their investments and
labor, is infinitely more fatal to the claims
of Mr.. Tucker as a fit representative of
that people.
1t is we'll known to every one acquainted
with current news and especially to those
who are interested In stock raising. that
last spring and winter the whole country
was alarmed over the spread of the cattle
disease known as pleuro-pneumonia which
was sweeping off whole herds of cattle in
the Western States, and threatening to
invade everyportion Of the Union. Indeed
at this time, in Illinois, Pennsylvania and
New York. a panic prevails among stock
owners because.of the appearance of this
cattle plague, and the head of the Depart
ment.of Animal Industry. is calling to his
aid every expert in the country to assist
in arresting the disease and stamping it
out. if possible.
In February last the bill to create a
bureau of animal industry was up for
consideration in the House. After a
certain clause of the bill had been stricken
out and the bill as amended was about to
be finally acted on, Mr.. Randall, Demo-
crat. from Pennsylvania, offered a reso-
luton providing that the bill as amended
be recommitted to the Committee ON Agri-
culture, to the end that more thorough
system of investigation be devised. This
resolution was designed to kill the meas
ure, as was openly charged by its friends
at.the time. On an aye and nay vote being
called, Mr.. Tucker is recorded as having
voted for the resolution, the effect of the
adoption of which would have been to
have buried the bill in the Committee. at
least for that session. Mr.. Randall's res
olution was defeated, and the bill coming
up on its passage. 155 ayes were recorded
and 127 nays, Mr.. Tucker being among the
latter. So Mr.. Tucker is found voting
against a measure, the object of which was
to arrest the spread CT a fatal cattle dis
ease, and if possible eradicate it.
There was not a stock raiser or dealer
in the United States who was not deeply
concerned in the enactment into law of
this measure. 1t looked to the protection
of the vast herds of cattle throughout the
country from the universal apprehension
of cattle malady. 1t was confined to no
State. and consequently State action would
have been inadequate to the evil. 1t was
and is spreading all over the West, invad-
ing the East, and no section or locality is
defended against it. Yet, Mr.. Tucker S
constitutional scruples-his strict con-
struction, State Rights views would not al
low him to vote for bill that placed it in
the power of the government to save
the property and preserve the health of
the people from the spread ofpleuro-pneu-
monia among cattle.
We do not charge that Mr.. Tucker
would like to see the cattle disease spread
and the property and lives of the people
endangered, no more than we would
charge that he was in favor of polygamy
because he voted against the bill to check
and stamp out that moral blot, or that he
was insensible to the sufferings of his fell
lOw-creatures in the Ohio and Mississippi
valleys when the floods carried desolation
and death to them. But we do charge
that his Interpretation of the constitu-
tional powers of Congress refining
and hair-splitting theories about the re-
strictions of the fundamental law of the
country are such as to deny the govern
ment the means to protect it's citizens in
their property and lives and guard the ma
ton from the spread Of moral blight.
Disease and death might come as a Bosom
of Observation-Disclosures valleys might be de
vastated by the angry waters and homes
and property swept away, leaving nothing
for human subsistence, and the calamity so
huge and pressing as to overreach the re-
sources of private charity; the cattle
plague might embrace in it's area whole
States and geographical divisions of the
Union, or indeed, the entire cattle-grow-
ing regions polygamy might invade every
Territory in the Union, fed by missiona-
ries in the States and across the ocean. -
The beneficence of the government might
be rendered to aid in the education of the
children of the State, by a donation
of millions of dollars. Yet. under Mr..
fuckers view of his constitutional OBJ
legations, he could not vote dollar or
authorize step to be taken by the
government to arrest any of these evils
or embrace any of these advantages.
We believe Mr.. Tucker is wrong in
this. We recognize THAT congress can
legislate for the general welfare-that fair
ly implied powers will warrant the enact
ment Of laws to relieve the sufferings and
save the lives of our citizens in great
emergencies, such as prevailed in the Ohio
and Mississippi floods: to protect the
property Of our people and preserve their
health, as in the case of the cattle disease,
and exert it's power to eradicate, if possible
the putrescent moral scourge of polygamy.
We not only believe this, but we are con-
fident the people believe it, and that they
will not commission MI. Tucker to repre-
sent them in Congress. SO long as he holds
to his views of constitutional sanctities.
when all these matters have been up for
consideration and may and doubtless will
be up again for legislative action.
Bath County.
A correspondent at Warm Springs, UNI
ker date of Sept. 9th, writes Mr.. Mas
sey preached to-day to a few so-called
Democrats an old Readjuster sermon, one
of tho 1r;o IN, l,;c locality