Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-29
The RIair Bill,


The Blair Bill.
To the EdifOr Of the Dispatch:
Your issue of January Dist cOntainsan
article beaded "a Settled Question"
which alludes to the resolution passed
by Congress appropriating $50, 900 to the
Melbourne Exposition, and then goes on
to say:
How many Of the House of Repre-
sentatives who voted in the affirmative
on the question of the passage of that
ioint resolution will vote in the negative
on the question OF the passage of the
Blair bill? How many of them will have
the face to declare by their voices or their
votes that Congress can appropriate
money to an exposition to be held III the
antipodes, butcannot appropriate money
TO the education of the children OF this
country? Those members, if any such
there be, are like those men spoken OF
nineteen hundred years ago as stralnlDg
at gnats and swallowing camels.
Now. Mr. Editor, | am Democrat.
and believe in a strict Interpretation of
the Constitution OF the United States,or,
a phrase [ like better Democratic in
terpretation. and cannot see, 10y looking
at that instrument by the light of the
Interpretation placed upon 1t by our
Democratic forefathers, how a Demo-
cratic Congress can pass such a measure
az the Blair bill. In the abovemen-
toned article You seem to draw paral-
lei case between appropriating money for
the encouragement of commerce with
other nations aud the giving of money
by the National Government for pur-
pose that is entirely within the jurisdic-
ton of the different States.
The Constitution gives Congress the
right TO mako treaties with other nations,
provide for reciprocal commercial rela-
lions. and in fact, TO deal with all mat
ters that concern the States as whole.
The appropriation made to tine Mel
bourne Exposition is intended to i'll
crease our trading relations with Aus
tralia, and tho Constitution distinctly
gives Congress the authority for such
acts, while it as distinctly forbids the
different States, but where does the Con-
stimtion give Congress the right to tax
the people of Virginia for the support
of the schools OF Maine, or rice UerSG
This is practically the working OF the
Blair bill. This is in the internal govern
ment of each State. and does not and
cannot apply to the different States
alike. This is not the governing OF the
States. which is the duty of the National
Government, but the governing of in-
diyidrals. and that is the duty and right
of each State. There are a few other
noints with regard to the Blair bill,
which, if YOU will allow me space,
would like to present
This bill appropriates money that has
not been collected, and for which collec-
ton there can be no provision made.
Such an act is unconstitutional One
Congress has no right to pass any act
that will bind upon another Congress.
Each Congress has to passapproprlatlons
for the different departments, and no APP
nronriation can be made for more than
Two wears. Yet the Blair bill makes one
for ten wears. Is this one OF the gnats
the gentlemen of the House will be
Obliged TO swallow? To my mind 1t is
camel of the largest size.
tional in that it usurps the duties OF the
States-that of sustaining their own IN
stitutlons. If Congress has the right for
the schools, then there is no limit to Its
authority. 1t will likewise have the
RIGHT to regulate all police matters nay,
more : under the same "general-wel-
fare !" clause they will be appropriating
money for the building OF churches and
EMPLOYING proper religious instructors.
For what can he more necessary as
safeguard to the republic than proper
and enlightened national religious faith?
In fact. MIR. Editor, | can find no au-
thoritv giving Congress the night to pass
This bill or any measure like 1t. The
root CRY that has been raised through
ont this State that as we have paid so
mich into the national treasury, now
that we have u chance to get back q
mall amount it would be foolish to re-
fuse is not only absurd and misleading
but undemocratc.
Get back ? They mean, on the con-
trary. to pay more out. For where IS
the money coming from to pay this I'M
mense appropriation Have not the
neonle cot to furnish 1t ? For every
dollar that Virginia would receive under
the provisions OF the Blair bill she will
be obliged to pay three into the national
treasury, and who is to say how much
more the monopohsts will be benefited
and enabled to pocket by reason OF the
high protective tariff that will he neces-
sary TO raise this large amount ?
The Blair bill is but a sop that IS
flung to the laboring men ofthe country,
bopine 10 deceive them as TO the real
eject Il will have. and to obtain their
consent to longer continuance OF the
present excessive high taxation. The
real effect of the measure will be to
male the poor poorer aud the rich
richer. D n ,oea
iSplithriHe, Va, January 20, 1883.
"Democrat does not even claim to
be a lawyer yet he argues the question
of the constitutionality Of the BLAIR bill.
We do not wish to discuss the question
with him. But we will quote Mr. JUS
tice LAMAR on that point In the United
States Senate he said:
~ have bestowed upon the constitu-
.ional question involved in this measure
the study which its importance deserves.
/ shall not go over the ground already