The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-03-06
The Tornado Relief Bill Withdrawn

WAsiIINGToS, February 29.-ln the
senate, Mr.. Ransom, from tho committee
on appropriations, reported back adverse
" the juint resolution introduced by him
last Monday. and referred 10 that com.
mittec, providing for an appropriation to
aid tue sufferers by the great storms in
the Southern States. In reporting 1t
back Mr.. Ransom stated that the commit.
tee had given the matter very careful
consideration. kilograms were sent to
the Governors Of the different States
affected, and to other persons in those
States supposed TO be best acquainted
with all the incidents of the storm aud
the subsequent sutlcrings, and while the
first accounts Of the great suilerings OF
certain communities had been fully con-
irm~d, sc. those suiIerngs were not, in
the Judgment Of the committee, of that
widespread, transcendcnt and paramount
character which buillcd nil local, iudiyid
ual, municipal and State relief, SO as 20
demand the intervention of the govern.
inent. lie could not let the resolution
pass, Mr.. Ransom added, without saying
that while in presenting the resolution
he had heen actualed by becoming i'm.
pulse, it IVES proper now that the country
should know nj the earliest moaent, that
Congress would not take steps ior relief
in this instance. He said this in order
that private and local charity may not
be suspended. The example of the
people of those States in their great or.
deal of suffering, should not but command
the admiration of their cOuntrymen
everywhere. He (Ransom) might some.
times be carried away by enthusiasm for
hs own people, but when he looked at
what had taken place among the people
of North Carolina, South Carolina, Ala
bama and Georgia, uud saw their Tssc!a.
tion TO bide their faith and not come to
Congress for relief, even when an effort
had been made to give j. to thea. il 40.
minded him of tho hercism of Fabricius
and Regulus, and the great hihenian,
who sacrificed everything that he might
stand by his country. He hoped the
noble example given by the afflicted
people in this case would be useful TO
the richer and more powerful communi.
ties which might not be worse afflicted.
L. conclusion Mr.. Ransom thanked tho
comrlittee on appropriations for the care
full ind painstnking consideration which
they had given the subject. Il.
Mr. Garland said he supposed the &c.
ton of the committee was based on the
ground that they did not consider, from
the information received, that there was
a necessity for the interposition Of Con-
gress.
Mr.. Ransom said that was the ground.
Mr.. Garland said he did not understand
such interposition to have been declined
on the ground Of the unconstitutiOnnlily
of such aid Of cases where it was shown
to be required.
Mr.. Ransom-Not at all.
Mr.. Garland said he didn't wish 1t TO
be understood that he, for one, doubted
the authority Of Congress to extend aid
in cases calling for it. If the question
had ariaen on that he would have had
something to say.
Mr.. Ransom said if this were the time
to discuss that matter he, Ransom, would
be able to show a line Of precedents fa-
voring the constitutionality of such ac-
tion from the beginning of our govern.
meht to the present day. When the
matter came to be s,inyestigated there
could, he said, be bit one opinion Us to
the constitutional authority of Congress
in case OF such imminent and impend.
ing ruin as tG exceed the capacity o!
local and State aid. ..,