Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-08-01

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the commoH AintsFesss Of The Union.
and ars especially defined, 20 thai the
particular States retained thsis sover.
esgnty in all other matters. So ss.
Jefferson. n guotesi by Story, Gays:
Congress is not 10 lay taxes aa hbi.
tum, for any purpose they pleass, but
only to pay the debts or provide for
the general welfare OF the Union. In
like manner. they are not 70 do any
thing they please for the general vel
fare. bat only 10 Law taxes far that
purpose. To consider the latter
phrase not ss describing ,he puposc
OF the first. but =. giving distinct
and independent power 10 "a any,
thing they please which might bS for
the good Of the Union. wonld render
All the preceding and snlsaauent
enumeration Of power complessl slg uAs-
less. II would be reducing the whole
instrument 10 a single phrase, that of
institnting Congress with power To
do whatever would be for the good Of
the United States. and as they wouid
be the sole judges Of the good or evil,
II would be power 10 do whatever
evil they pleased
Justice Story, in his Constitutional
Law, Gays: "Nor should it ever be lost
sight OF that the government. of tho
United States is one of limited and
enumerated powers. and that a de-
parture from the true import and
sense Of its power 10. pro taato, the
establishment OF q new Constitution.
IL the clause Ito pay the debts, and
provide for the general welfare of tho
United States Is construed 10 be an
indefinite grant of power, il not only
renders wholly unnecessary and un.
important the subsequent enumeration
OF specific powers, but plainly leads far
beyond this. and creates q general au.
thority in Congress 10 pass all laws
which they deem beat for the general
welfare"
| will not weary yeu by reading
more than one other on this subject.
Tor they might be mnltip,ed indef.
nitely. 1t il from Mr.. Msdison. the
great constitutional lawyer of the con.
vention. AS distinguished member
of that body, he ought TO have known
what spirit was intended 10 be
brsathed into its words. Ia the light
OF subsequent events the words Quoted
read like prophecy. He says There
are consequences, still more extensive.
which az they follow clearly from the
doctrine combat.ed, must either be
admitted, or the doctrine must be-
given up. II Congress can employ
money indefinitely 10 the general vel.
fare, and are the sole aad supreme
judges Of the general welfare. they
may take the care Of religion into
their own hands; they may appoint
teachers in every State. county. and
parish, and pay them out Of their
public treasury. The may take into
their own hands the education Of
establishing. in like manner,
schools throughout the Union"
Comment on these words would bs
useless.
But some Of the adyocatos Of Tho
bill soar about constitutional consid.
erations. The safety of the republic.
they argue, depends upon the enlieht.
eminent Of its citizens. We are mana.
ced by the demon of illiteraey.
Statistics are industriously hunted M
Il will not say twisted-to prove that
we are drifting inse hopelsas and help.
less barbarism. Without the saliva.
ton offorded by this till. We are lost.
The bill is a kind of WAR measure"
and they apply the old maxim, Inter
arma leges silent-laws are silent in
war. Constitutional restraint
to the contrary Notwithstanding. ths
bull ought to become Law. Senator
Hoar, for example. admits that no
does not advocate the bill upon the
ground OF its constitutionalits under
the general welfare clause, bat mon
the higher ground of selfpreseryation.
His words are significant: ~ do not
90, say he, into any subile refine.
ments, as to any distinction between
the right TO give land and the rirht n
give money. | undertake 20 say that
the legislature of this nation has tho
right to save the life of this nation
against whatever dangers may threat.
en- it"
Mr.. President. there is a good deal
Of sophistry and gnsh upon the sub.
ject Of education. Friend as I am of
the canse, ] do not believe for a mo.
nsnt that there il justification for all
these gloomy forebodings. even grant.
ing that education in the panacea for
all the evils 10 which the body poIi.
TIC is heir. Such rhetorical !iourishes
may be convenient safety valve for
the relief Of the pent.np bosoms of
sentimentalists. but they bring no
fear to thoughtful minds. Our pres-
snt common school system IL cornpar.
atively new. Our foreiath srs, whose
mighty deeds challenged the admira.
ion Of the civilized world, and cary.
ID out, We may say. the ,iestinies of
his country, were without it. Yet we
zee the young republic guidesi by the
enlightened statesInanship OF those
lays. stepping boldly TO the front
rank among the powers OF the world.
The alma mater Of many of the heroes
,f our past was the old "feld school"
,f q past we have outgrown and 10
zhich, We will not return-schools
whose teachings often ranged from "a
leep into the mysteries Of the claasics.
md brought fortba progeny of which
ws are not ashamed. Why. then.
Ihould such grave fears be expressed
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