The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-19
EiAU Bill.

breakers end quick sands. which NAV
rest beneath the sur ace OF the gate,
placid waters he proposes. to navl'
he would first master the princi-
pies Of geometry and astronomy and
then procure a compass and sound
iuc-ljne and q chart.
: wise ambassador of Chlist, be
fore lie undertakes to expound the
llnscarchabie riches of the gospel,
will study the Bible, the only chart
and compass pointing to heaven; be
fore he undertakes TO expound the
doctrines and precepts taught in that
Book.
: wise statesman, or leg islator be-
fore he makes laws ought above aii
:hinys else to study the constitu
ton o. lis country, the supreme law
Of The land.
Now we are too young and mex
perienced to set ourself UP as an
unerrlng guide in interpreting and
expounding the constitution of the
United States. But We are entitled
to our opinions as to that instrument.
We have studied the constitution
carefully and earnestly with an eye
single 10 find something to sup
port the Blair Bill.
But we searched in vain. The con-
stitution is as silent as the tomb and
as dumb as an oyster On the subject
Of Education.
And why not be silent, when the
United States as a people Or nation
hal lot enc citizen Oh the top side
Of the Earth. and has not one to day
in co3t:a,iistinction to the States as
separate political corporate bodies.
It was never contemplated by that
instrument and lis f. alners, that ;he
United States shnuld lnte' !ere in
any sha,,c OF Io,!n with the internal
w.! hiags OF the States ai,u with the
education Or bhe non education OF
their people. Local SELF go;arnment
&nd police regulations ana the ed
ucation ii tile people IN the States,
were left exclusively and uncondi-
tionaiiv in the hands aud Judgment
OF the people OF the States, uEles-
they should coutict with some of the
delegated powers ny the people to
thu Federal government. The Feu-
er@t government has been 10 opera
lion Tor more ihau one hundred years,
snd III ali ti,s,i time no man or party
has ever discovered that conflict, OF
attempted to control or exercise anv
Influence ovor The education of he
Iao:'le from Federal stand point.
tuiure this bastard child of a dis
c%se>i farmer hno,vn as tue Blair ettu-
c-.,to3ai ilonstvosily, IF the power
- Ivy AMI collect taxes was not
delegated BY the people for educa~
tinnaT purposes, TO theFedcral GOV
eri,iacnJ, it must be one of those re-
served rights to tile people and the
Sjaaes.
The Only power in the constitu
ton given congress to levy taxes, is
found IN the first al ticia and eighth
section and reads as follows: "rhe
congress shall have power to collect
and levy taxes, duties, imposts, and
/ excuses, 10 pay the debts, and pro-
vide for the common defence and
general welfare Of the United
States'
The above is the only power con
ferred on congress to levy and col
lect taxes Now unless the power is
is given by implication in these
words, land provide for the common
defence and general welfare Of the
United Statcs,'' it is not contained
il the constitution among the power:
delegated to the Federal government
Over one hundred years has pass
Ell away under this constitution, ani
no one until this bill was introduced
ever claimed such latitudinariar CO,
struction Of this section. Ifthe peo
pie had intended to confer on congress
power to educate the people in con
teadistinc5ion to the States, they
could and would have said so il
plain language, not 20 be misunder-
stood. No statesman Or expoun3er
Of the constitution has ever eiyel
this elastic iGdiarubber construction
TO that clause of the cons tuition be
fore She days Of the Blairs, the Mi
lcrs, the fiamptons the Browns ano
G.bsons. Eye:y Congresslna an la
taken an oath to support the consti
tuition Of The Z. S.; now if this Blai
bill is unconstitutional as we believe
and If any fnpmhnr heI;avas If so