Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-06
TUESDAY. JANUARY 6, 1885.
Constitutionaiity Of the Blair Bin.


Constitutionaiity Of tho Blair Bill.
We have no interest in the BLAIR
pin except such as is felt by thousands
Of other Democrats. We are anxious
that the Democratic party Virginia
shall enter the campaign preceding the
election Of this year for Governor with
unfettercd limbs. We desire that the
success Of that party shall not be put in
doubt by any unwise action on the part
Of their candidate for Governor, or of
the convention which is to nominate
him.
A real statesman, we may say in
words borrowed from another, takes
practical interest in things that are, not
an emotional interest in things that
might be. The question Of the consti-
nationality Of the BLAIR bill we regard
as settled. The Federal Government
has given to the new States untold mil
lions Of acres Of the public lands. A
gift Of those lands differs in no way, so
far as the question Of constitutionality
is concerned, from a gift Of money.
Much Of the lend was bought by the
United States Government, and paid for
out of the National Treasury. The
Hon. j. L. NJ. CURRY well says that
an argument intended TO draw distinc-
tion between the constitutionality Of
law giving away land and the constitu-
tionality Of a law giving away money
hardly merits serious attention. The
fact is, that every State in the Union has
been the recipient Of public lands, and
has sold those lands and used the money.
Virginia has two institutions of learning
within her borders which have thus be-
come beneficiarics Of the liberality of
the Federal Government. Whilst the
lands turned over to Virginia for educa-
tional purposes were undisposed Of,
almost every college in the Common
wealth, if not every one, petitioned the
Legislature that the money thus re-
cci.ed from Uncle SAM should be be-
slowed upon it. The western and north
western States have grown wealthy on
Federal bounty. Their schools have
been so richly endowed that they are
models schools, at the same time that
the people Of those States have been re-
.1ieyed from untold millions of dollars
81 taxation.
& Is a question of constitutionality never
20 be considered as settled? Shall the
southern States Of this Union still deny
the constitutionality Of Mr.. LINCoLN's
proclamation of warp Shall they still
deny that there is 4" National" (they
once said Federal Government?
Shall they still maintain that the Fed
eral Government has no right TO coerce
a State? Shall they longer deny the
power Of the Federal Government to
appropriate money out Of the National
Treasury for the Improvement Of rivers
and harbors? Shall they deny the
power of the Federal Government to
distribute the proceeds Of the sales of
the public lands among the States, for
getting that the old Wing party, headed
by Mr.. CLAY, claimed, long before the
war, that the Federal Government did
possess this power?
II seems to us that il would be just
MS wise TO raise the question Of consti-
tutionality in any one Of those cases as
in the case under consideration. II it
is violation Of the Constitution to APP
propriate money out of the Federal
Treasury in aid of the public-school
systems Of the several States, then the
Constitution has been violated over and
over and over again--times without
number.
There is another reason why the con-
stitutionality Of the BLAIR bill should
be regarded as settled question. 1t
is TO be found in the fact that the ablest
constitutional lawyers in the United
States Senate voted for it. Mr.. GAR
LAND, who is TO be the next Attorney
General Of the United States, and who
Is considered the ablest lawyer in
that body unless Mr.. EDMuNDs
i. the ablest, voted for the BLAIR bill.
Mr.. EpMuSDs, who is the ablest law
yer in that body unless Mr.. GARLAND
is the ablest, is supporter Of the
BLAIR bill. Hon. j. l.. NJ. CURRy
has national reputation. Nearly
thirty years ago 1--WE beg his pardon for
making him out to be so old) HORACE
GREELEY singled him out amongst all
the young congressman from the South
~ the most promising. He is in favor
Of the BLAIR bill. Senator'S VANCE,
Ransom, JONAS, GEoRar, LAMAR,
HAMPTON, JONES, BRowN, Coll
QuirT, and other men whose opinions
on such question smaller men might
well afford to accept, all, all these say
the BLAIR bill is constitutional.
Yet Virginia is asked to raise the
question Of eonstitusienality on the
BLAlR bill. She Is expected 70 bring
over antc-bellum arguments and ante
be;lum prejudices /" from before tho
food" She is graycly appealed to 70
stsnd forth In the rags and tags IF 8
past generstion. Is this msnifesting