The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-23

VALLEYVIRGINIAN
sTAUNToN. VA.
sunspAY. December %. 1886
Mr. Tucker and the Constitution.
Hon. J. Randolph Tucker has again ap-
scared in the attitude of holding the Con-
,titution and the country up by the tail
and presenting them as the peculiar and
especial objects of his guardianship. For
the past thirty years, this has been Mr.
fuckers occupation, or possibly, mission,
and no occasion has been permitted to pass
that he did not exploit his views Of that
time:honored instrument, which has been
the subject of great deal of gush and
rodomontade, from just such
statesmen as Mr.. Tucker aspires to be.
Whether he is called upon TO deliver lee
ture before literary society or a chart
table association treaties on free trade |
before a New England audience, or a
political harangue before popular gath
ering or deliberatiye body, the same Old |
threadbare arguments and ossiiied SEN
fences are reyamped and presented with
all the attitudenizing and mannerisms OF
stage actor, as a. fresh creation OF his
The. last time that the representative of
the 10th Virginia district appeared with
the constitution wrapped under, his vest
and covering his palpitating bosom. was
on the occasion Of the consideration of the
bill to create the Department Of Agricul-
ture and Labor, the head of which was to
be member of the Presidents Cabi
aet.'' The measure was advocated by
Messrs. Weaver, Anderson and Hatch,
and opposed by Messrs. Tucker, Reagan
and Breckenridge. In the course of his
remarks Mr.. Tucker said she did not
know whether there was any use in rails
ing voice in behalf of that instrument
drawn up hundred years ago-the old
Constitution of the United States. The
gentleman from Missouri Mr.. Hateh) had
said at the last session that he (Tucker)
always stood up in the aisle and cried out
Unconstitutional" He knew no higher
function that representative OF the-peo-
pie could have than to defend the Constl-
tuition of the United States even against
the proclamation of 30.00O.0O0 of farmers
demanding votes. He would not vote for
the bill, although 100000 farmers de-
rnanded it, because be believed that the
whole tendency was unconstitutional. He
had been one of the seven who had voted
against q similar bill three or four years
ago. and he had gone back to his constit-
uents and had got there all the same. :"
And continuing, he said when l am
confronted as am on this occasion, by the
statement that this is useful measure, |
am constrained to say that [ think that
there is no benefit to this people that is
commensurate at all with the preservation
in all its integrity of the great constitution
which has descended to us as monument
Of Qua liberty from our ancestors. would
rather see the Constitution of the United
States restored in its perfect. integrity, as
gentlemen Of all SIDES will say IS fair
construction, than to see power built up
in high places, and the government become
munifcent in its benefits to everybody and
in its expendituresfo for all jobs and schemes
that can probably be contrived."
We can well imagine that the delivery Of
these imposing sentences in Nh. Tucker S
best dramatic style, and in a loud voice, as
is,reported of him, had an inspiring effect
upon those who had never heard the gen
tlman in one of his.theatrical humors, and
to others probably who have been present
when he assumed to be the sole represen-
tative of the fathers of the constitution.
upon whom their mantle had fallen. and to
whom the only authoritative revelation of
their intention and purpose had been con-
fided-calrying in his breeches pocket the
tables upon which the law was engraven.
But to those familiar with Mr.. Tucker S po-
litical history there was nothing astound-
ing,or startling.eitller in the manner OF the
matter of his speech. 1t was an oft told
tale. which has been repeated on an hun
dred occasions. differing in nature and
object. bnt AL the same to Mr.. Tucker.
for his watch over the constitution has
been perennial, and his utter misconcep-
ton of the wants of the people. equally
ever present. He does not seem to COM
prehend that the constitution was designed
to promote the happiness and prosperity
of the people. and'that the trainers of that
instrument recognized this fact in the
general welfare clause of it. 1t will
str ike the average citizen that if the in
terests OF 100000 farmers would lie
promoted by.tbe.enactment of the meas
ure in question. it would find ample war
rant in the general welfare provision 1t
certainly would appeal as forcibly to the
common sense OF the people as the neces-
stiles which JUST fed the creation of the
Department Of the Interior, or in fact any
ether Department of the government, for
the agricultural and labor interests of the
country stand more intimately related to
national prosperityand power than allothers
combined. The general welfare clause was
inserted for just such emergencies. OF it
was meaningless provision. 1t is an
elastic feature of the constitution to meet
the demands of a growing country, to COW
er the needs Of expanding and multiplied
industries. affecting agriculture, labor,
education. CONNIE ce. and all other out
growths of an advancing civilization. Even
If there were not ample warrant in the
general welfare clause of the constitu-
tion for the proposed Department of Agri-
culture and Labor-intereSts recognized by
all common-sense people, as the source of
our national pIogress-the necessity would
exist for straining the constitution as in
the Louisiana purchase. as Mr.. Jefferson
conceded, if it was essential to the further
and higher development of the agricul-
tural aud labor pursuits The constitu
ton was never designed to be an impedi
ment to national growth and prosperity,
and 1t is merely play upon words, a
constipated view of the spirit of our in
stitutions and misconception of our
national destiny. to assume that there is
anything in the constitution which would
check or restrict the advancement of the
Industrial forces WHICH lie-at the base of
tho rntust health and viporouS life of tho