Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-01-09

(Jeflerson) charges that Hamilton's system
"howed from principles adverse to liberty"
Hamilton and Jefferson were both members
OF Washington's cabinet. Having no prece-
dents 10 guide them, they at once disagreed.
radically, as 10 the construction OF the new
constitution, and the country has not yet
decided who was right and who was wrong
They differed widely in temperament and
habits OF thought, and unfortunately became
personal enemies Had Mr.. House published
WashIngton's ca m and rather reproachful
reply to Jefferson's angry letter, he would
have given 10 his readers what l believe to
be the deliberate Judgment OF posterity upon
the quarrel of the two men.
~ regret, deeply regret" wrote President
Washington, "the difference In opinions
which have arisen and divided you and an
other principal officer of the Government,
and wish devoutly there could be an accom-
mediation of them by mutual Weddings. A
measure OF this sort would produce harmony
aud consequent good in cur public councils.
The contrary will inevitably introduce con-
fusion and serious mischiefs, and for what
Because mankind can not think alike, but
would adopt different means to attain the
same ends. For | will frankly and solemnly
declare that believe the views of both OF you
to be pure and well meant, and that expert
ence only viii decide with respect to the salu-
fairness Of the measures which are the subjects
OF dispute" life and Writings OF Washing
ton, vol. 10, PIP. 3O5-SO7.)
In MeMasters admirable "Hlstory of the
American People," a work which has not yet
been completed, the author thus sums up the
character of Hamilton (Vo Il, p. 1851 ''of all
the men who In the jud gment of posterity are
ranked high among the founders OF the Re-
4 public and the trainers and defenders of the
constitution, by far the most brilliant and
versatile was Hamilton. His temper was
gentle; his manner engaging; his spirit, high
and resolute, was raised above the influence
| both of cupidity and fear; his parts were
quick; his industry unwearied; his attain
ments varied. He was at once a sllllful OFF,
Ger, n brilliant pamphletser. an active politi-
cal leader, an impressive debater, a wise
Statesman, an able financ err a political econ
ornlst of raj e sagacity."
Such is the Judgment OF the impartial his
/ torian upon the character of Hamilton. 1t IL
| this "framer and defender of the constitution"
whose testimony Mr.. House finds its neces-
sary to set aside before he can establish the
correctness of his position as to the Blair BILL
even viewed from the stand point from which
he regards it.
A careful reading of his argument, however,
and reference to all the authorities cited by
| him, viii show that he has sought throughout
to prove that Congress could not under our
constitution feuy tar to be used for educa-
81.
he says, sis measure which proposes to raise
money by taxation from the people in order
that it may be paid back to them" Ifthat is
so then we will all unite with him in oppose
ton to the Blair bill. If tLat is not so then
all his authorities are inapplicable and his
whole argument falls to the ground. The
question between Mr.. House and many of his
brother Democrats, is more question of fact
than anything else. He opposes what he
considers to be a proposition to levy a tax.
We endorse what we consider to be a propo-
sltion to distribute surplus. With 1t seems
to me, singular inconsistency, he insists that
the bill is not one to distribute surplus be.
cause the word surplus is not in it, while he
claims it is bill to levy a tax, though the
word taxation is not in 1t, and no tax can be
levied without an express enactment 10 that
effect.
The bill certainly is not bill to levy q tax
Taxation will be none the higher if it be-
comes law and none the lower If it fails
There is nowhere in it any proposition to in.
crease taxation-it proceeds upon the idea
that taxation is already too high. 1t is based
upon the undoubted fact that our revenues
are already far in excess of the needs of the
Government. Should any unexpected acct
dent greatly increase our expenses or decrease
our revenues within the next eight years, the
bill would simply fail as to the undistributed
portion of the seventy millions proposed to
be turned over to the States. The surplus in
1886 was distributed by installments. The
financial crash which Unexpectedly came
soon after so diminished the revenues thai
} the eeds of the Government consumed it all
and the last instalment was never paid tc
the States The Treasurer could not distrib
) ute surplus when there was no surplus tC
distribute. Men, even Congressman, are hu.
man, and must act with the lights before
them. A great surplus in the National Treas
} ury Is dangerous evil, and one that ough
, to be promptly dealt with. This evil, firmly
believe, can be changed into blessing by
simply transferring the surplus cash from 9
I place where it is not needed, to points where
y it is needed, and sadly needed-by the dis
tribution of heavy surplus, which so higt
! an authority as the President of the United
States tells US is now in the National Treas
ury and is rapidly accommodating.
1t is strange to me that any objection to {
measure like this should come from the South
l know that few able and pure gentlemen
at the South do oppose it, but am at los
, to understand by what process of reasoning
they persuade themselves that their course il
either right in itself or just to their people
> AS one of the results of the war slavery wa!
abolished. OF course we all accept the results
of the war cheerfully, and have no doub
but that in time the abolition of slavery viii
prove great blessing to both races; but Ger
tain ii is that the National Government, actinl
by and for the whole people of the United
, States, lifted suddenly from servitude to free
dom four millions of people in our midst, ant
threw upon us the burden and responsibility
of their education. This burden is one will
which the people of the South-themselve
impoverished by war and its attendant evils
have struggled for twenty years, and in man!
sections have struggled in vain. Now thu
( people ofthe whole country, speaking through
y Congress, offer to bear portion of the burden
4 which they themselves have imposed on US