Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-13
10 ths Editor efths Dispeieh

YOU have taken in behalf Of the wisest
and most bcnefcent measure probably
ever presented to the American Con-
eress. IL the Blair bill Is not a pro-
vision for the general welfare "
Of the people Of the United States,
il is difficult to imagine what Is.
Mr.. Willis, Of Kentucky, proves
that IL Ia an exact copy $50 far as II
relates to the States taking their quota
Of the money Of the laws under which
We have already received and disbursed
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars with
out point being raised in reference
to the constitutionality Of the measures
under which il was received. No one as
vet, either in Congress or out OF 1t, has
been able TO attack with any sort OF
success the legality Of the bill, but, on
the contrary, it has received the sane
ton ofthe very best lawyers not only
in the Senate, but in America. This
is strong language, but no man can gain
saw or deny 1t. Conceding its consti-
nationality, the opposition to it must be
made ON other grounds, and the CHIEF
and only one Of any Importance is that
il has too strong a tendency to place
power in the hands Of the Federal Gov
eminent and thus menace the rights OF
the people. This argument comes
mainly from that class Of dnte-betfIm
politicians who did not believe in the
right of internal improvements by the
General Goyernmcnt-from men who
have always clamored for distractions,
who went so far as to refuse Virginia s
portion of money arising from the sale
of public lands, while the northern
States of this Union, with practical
common-sensc, were building up their
ports. their docks, their harbors, their
bridges, and their roads with the aid OF
the Government, and thus adding ma
terially to the general prosperity OF
their people. If the war between the
States settled anything, it settled for
ever the fact that our Government is
not mere confederation or league be-
tween the States, but strong National
Goyernment-exactly what the Vir-
ginia delegation to the Convention which
framed the Constitution intended to
make it. If this is not true, then mil
lions of treasure and rivers of blood
were lost in vain. But, outside of
this question, / would contend that the
Blair bill was constitutional even If the
old sArticles of Confederation" were
still in existence. If this be true, then
it is the imperative duty of every south
ern member Of Congress not only to vote
for it but to make every possible effort
to have it passed during the present
session. The splendid letter of DIR. y.
l.. NJ. Curry left nothing whatever upon
which the opposition could stand. The
conception of the bill was the work of
true statesman, and it will bring fame
and immortality to its author. 1t will
mark him as patriot who, in his gen.
ulne philanthropy, rose high above
mere partisan considerations and legis-
lated for the poor, the ignorant, and
the distressed-above all others the peo-
pie who should receive governmental
aid. 1t is temporary in its character,
and therefore it cannot in any event
do any permanent injury. The North
draws millions of dollars each year in
the shape Of pensions from the Govern
ment, the South nothing. Under the
Blair bill the South will get a large
amount in the next ten years. Where
is the wisdom of refusing such a boon
If with our immense majority in Con-
gress we refuse to pass this measure,
then we may as well make up our minds
that William Malone will be our next
Governor, and that he will control the
Legislature, and John S. Wise or F. S.
Blair will be our next senator. We
defeated them by 1900 votes fall
before last, and by 6,l00 mot
quite that much) last fall. A
change Of 3,l00 votes will cause us
to lose the State. Their speakers in
the recent canvass with one accord
favored the Blair bill, and stated
that in spite of their promises the De-
mocratic Congress would never pass it.
1t is now manifest that the Demo.
orats in Congress Of the Watterson.
Carlisle stripe are anxious for free trade
in order that thereby they may keep
the tax on whiskey and tobacco. Now,
if the tobacco-tax remains as it is and
the Blair bill is not passed, will it not
change 3,l00 votes in Virginia? Yea,
verify 1t will be more likely to change
10000, and all the work we have done
for the last two years will have been in
vain. Who are the men both in and
out of Congress who oppose this wise
and beneficent measure? They arc
Virginia Bourbons. What we shall do
with them is problem which has often
suggested itself to my mind. They
are, without exception, men Of high
character, and in many instances
of distinguished talent. They have
not learned anything and have not for
gotten anything since about the time o.
the passage of the Missouri Compromise
bill. They have generally been men o.
good fortunes before the war, and the
reverse since. They were born politi
clans. When the war was over they
were too old to unlearn the past and tc
understand either the present or the flu.
ture. If any one happens to mention
the words "protectiye tariff" in theil
presence, it is like Haunting red ilae
in the face Of bull. IL one happen:
even to hint that the war made this q
National Government they will almost
regard it as an insult. As a rule they
were too young for the war of 1879, and
too old for the recent war. They are
looked upon with the same awe and re-
spect as the Delphic Oracle by many Of
their contemporaries, and when they
get an Office they at once consider thai
they have proprietary right to hold il
forever and they know how to keep it
They supported the Morrison bill to 4
man. and came within 1,100 votes o
defeating Grover Cleveland. But fol
the timely help Of poor old Burchar(
we would have been gone. The Blail
bill is extremely obnoxious to them