Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-02-02
1'lrgluia frrr grrss.
". ~. b. GALLAHER, Editor.
cha rIesto,en, Jefferson County, West Va
February ., 1855.
Senator Faulkner Indicates His Post
tiOn On the BlGfr Bin.
al relemam 70 Me ITleeItua Reai.,.r.

Senator Faulkner Indicates His POST
tiOn On the BlGfr BiU.
Special telegram to he WGeelipg Register.
WASHINGTON, January lS.-rhe Register
representative called on Senator Faulkner
to day. In the course of conversation the
question was asked:
"Mr Faulkner, if you have no objection
would like to know your position upon
the Blair Educational Bill, and the reasons
which would Influence your action. that IL
may be given to the people Of West Vir-
ginia through the columns'of the Register.
"My position upon the. Blair Bill is one
easily defined" was the reply II shall
vote against it on two grounds. First, be.
cause know of no provision OF the Federal
Constitution which would justify me in
giving to it my support. And, secondly,
because believe it would DE unjust 10 the
people of my State aud be prcudicial To-
the healthy and vigorous growth Of the
free school system Of the State"
Do you think the people Of West Virgin
in favor the bill p
"Our people, fear, do not fully under
stand the provisions of that bill. II ap
propriates, within eight years, the sum OF
s79. 100000 from the Federal Treasury, To
be divided among the States in proportion
to the illiteracy found in each. IL provides
the instruction which shall be given in the
free schools, aud generously authorizes
such other branches Of useful knowledge
as may be taught un1er local law" II
even requires that copies OF all the books
used in the States in the public schools
shall be filed with the Secretary Of the In
terror. And if in the opinion of any citi-
zen of any State, there is any inequality in
raising or distributing the school revenues.
or in the facilities afforded to the two race,
lie can make complaint"
Continuing the Senator said:
1T further authorizes the Secretary Of
the Interior, if in his opinion any of the
States have not performed all of the cond-
tions of this Act, to withhold from them
their proportion of said distributab!e funds
The framer of the bill, being To- ician. ha,
assumed that the Federal Government ha,
the constitutional power to g, into the
States and as ume jurisdiction over their
free school systems, and. rs a consequence
Of thi, premise, draws the legitimate con
clu,ion from it that the Government may
control the system as a majority Of the + ID
eral Congres may deem to be for the gen
eral welfare Of the whole people.
"As am one of those who believe that
in framing this Government the fathers oi
the Republic only Intended to give to il
such powers as were expressly granted, oI
were incident to, or necessarily implied
from those expressed, and that all other
we're reserved the States or to the pecpl,
thereof, I can find no clause Of the Con
,titulion, which, by the most constrained
construction could justify me in giving t.
this b II my support. Prior to the intro
ducton of this bill none would have ques
toned the proposition that the power to 'a2
for the support Of the free school system
WAS exclusively within the reserved power
of the States. Those who now support thi
bill seem to hold, that although the State
have the power Of taxation for this purpos'
it is not exclusive and, therefore, the Fed
eral Government has an equal right to ta'
for the same purpose. Once admit th'
right of the Federal Government to tax the
people to raise fund to be distributed
among the States for the purpose Of The
support Of free schools, you admit its juris
diction over tie subject; and when yol
once admit its jurisdiction YOU at the same
time. by virtue of the provisions Of the Fed
eral Constitution, admit that it, power j.
supreme, and that the States right 10 con
troll and manage one Of is most importan
and essential domestic int re-is j. -ub0rdi
nate 10 il. These advanced ideas Of thl
t power Of the Federal Government 20 fa
beyond any which have heretofore beci
suggested. even by The leaders of ihe Re
publican party, aud, 10 my judrmrn'. ahsi
The vote b. taken doubi whether Mr Bai
will lie Sustained by the can-ersatge lead
81. of that party. The discussion oi tAi
. + biIl ha- caused the people % examine an'
J criicI-e ii. provisions more cI-ss.y tAa'
b thcy dil ai fr-i. aud there has cleary bce'
reaction in p1liic ,rntiment arailsi tH
rrca-nIiinH 90 tle c.n.fnH.loaal cra-.rur
.to4 on aL.ch 90 ma-t uec. .-aiiy rlsL
an .a1.slel that the minority vo.s "a %
passsge n thu bill in tle Scrsr0 viii b