Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-25
BACKING UP BLAlR'S BILL
THE AUTHOR AND MIR. GEORGE
EACH TAKE A HAND.


The Senator from Mississippi Quotes
Precedsnts in support of the COnsti-
tutIORality of the Measure-Many I'm
DOrtans Appropriations in the Same
Light as this One.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-Discussion of
the education bill was resumed to-day,
and Mr., Blair addressed the Senate. In
reply to the objections and criticisms
made against it, he conteRded that the
Legislature of Alabama had given unani-
nous Endorsement to the principle of the
bill, and to the bill itself 80 far as its
essential features were concerned. He
denied that the people of the South were
opposed to the measure, and insisted that
they favored it. He dwelt at some length
on the benefits to come. not only to the
South but the entire country, from the
removal Of filliteracy in the South. Among
those to come to the South he included an
Increased immigration, and consequent
Increased activity and prosperity.
Mr.. George said the House of Repre-
sentatives OF his State (Mississippi) had
passed resolutions requesting the United
States Senators from Mississippi TO sup
port this measure. Mississippi was not
here, however, Mr.. George said, as a sup
plant for national bounty. 1t regarded
the measure as a generous offer from
Northern States toward removing the
illiteracy prevailing in the South, Mr..
George would be compelled, however, to
decline the offer il be believed II to be un-
constitutional.
INSTANCES OF VIOLATIONS.
He cited anumber of instances in which
money had been appropriated from the
National Treasury to purposes not in any
manner enumerated in the constitution,
which amounts, if the theory OF the oppo-
nents Of this education bill were correct,
had all been unlawfully and improperly
paid out. Among the items specified by
Mr.. George were the following: The pur-
chase of the Louisiana Territory by Presi-
dent Jefferson, the acquisition of Florida,
the purchase Of Alaska. the payment of
several thousand dollars TO refund the
amount paid by American citizens cap
tured by Algerine pirates, the apprOpria-
tion of $50, 600 in 1872. approved by Presi-
dent Madison, to relieve the people of
Venezuela who had suffered from an
earthquake.
RELIEF APPROPRIATION.
Where did the Senators find authority
for these appropriations on their theory
of the constitution, and where In their
view Of the constitution did the Senators
find authority for the sending of ships in
lS47 to Ireland, and in 1915 to France and
Germany to relieve the distress in those
countries? In 1876 we had given millions
Of money 20 centennial exposition. We
had last year given good deal of money
to the New Orleans exposition. Where
was authority found in the constitution
| for any one of these acts. If not in the
general welfare clause where was au-
thOrity found to establish the bureau of
agriculture, send expeditions to explore
the North Pole, observe the transit of
Venus, to tax the people to educate the
Indians, establish and maintain Congress
siOnal library, to pay pensionss
A STRICT CONsTRUCTIONIsT.
81 am a States-rights, strict cOnstruc-
ZIONIST Democrat" continued Mr.. George,
''and as my consistency has been assail-
ed on this floor, l mean to prove that
am with the fathers in their construc-
tiOn." Mr.. George proceeded to argue at
some length the bearing and influence of
precedents on the question of the consti-
tutional Interpretation. and quoted from
President Andrew JacKson's messages t1
show that that orthodox Democrat had
found it necessary to change his views OF
the constitution in obedience to prece-
dents.
At O'Clock Mr.. George yielded TO a
motion for an executive session, and the
Senate, after few minutes spent in ex-
ecutive session, adjourned.