Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-10-02
A SENSIBLE LETTER.
Hon. II. Ill. Norton Deals Out
Genuine Democracy-SOun
on all the Issues of the
Day.
Our Representative Answers Some Lead
ing Questions in a Plain, Prae-
tical Manner.

To Hon. X. H. Norton, Washington. C.
BOWLING GREEN, Mo-, September
10Th, 1S90.-DEAR SIR: At regu-
lar meeting of Prairie Mound Union
No., the following resolution was
adopted:
WHEREAS, There being impend-
ing bills in Congress effecting our
general welfare, Therefore, be it,
ResoEred, That we write our pres
ent Congressman requesting his
views and intended action on the
Sub-Treasury, Federal Election,
Silver Coinage, Mckinley and
Force bills, also on National Bank
ing system.
w. p. MOORE, President.
JOHN APPLETON, Secretary.
To w. P. Moore, president, and ohm Apple
ton, secretary:
DEAR SIRs: Your letter dated
September 18th, and of which the
above is a copy, was received to-
day.
In response thereto, l desire to
say that have received similar en-
ouiries from several Sub. Unions
and from various individuals. and
therefore deem it proper to answer
through the medium of the public
press in order that may meet all
these enquiries and in order thai
the public may be informed as tc
my position.
l fully recognize your right a:
citizens OF this district to know
my views on these Or any othel
public questions for believe tina
as between representative ant
the people whom he represents
there should be the clearest under
standing and the utmost franknesl
and candor. This district which
have the honor ofrepresenting in thu
Fifty first Congress is almost Who'll
ly an agricultural district, and, al
is quite natural, l have given con
siderable attention to those meas
, ures which most affect the peo
pie engaged iii that industry ant
should continue as your represen
tative in Congress, my best effort
will be given to the support of sucl
legislation as will tend to reliev
the farmers and the people of tn
West generally from the system O
robbery and unjust discrimination
that has been so long imposed b.
them.
As to the Sub Treasury bill, l de
sire to say, that one word in so far a
the efforts of the promoters of tina
measure are concerned in seekin
to give relief to the agriculture
interests they have my heart,
sympathy. An examination of tina
bill, however. has convinced N
| that the enactment of the measur
into a law will not accomplish wha
is desired, and I have also bee
convinced that the measure i
a unconstitutional, undemocratic an
! wholly impractical.
I 1t is unconstitutional, beeaus
, there is no grant of authority in tn
: constitution either express or impl
ed which authorizes the Govern
O ment to loan money and you wi
look in vain for such authority
: The Government of the Unite
4 States is one Of limited and dele
e gated power. The language of tn
constitution is "The powers NJ
delegated to the United States b
the constitution, nor prohibited b
: it to the states, are reserved to th
# states respectively, or to the pee
e ple."
AS Democrat, l am in faver OF
strict con struction of the constitr
- ton, and see no way by whic
Congress can authorize the Unite
States to enter into business as
great mercantile concern to deal i
, property and to loan money. Al
good Democrats expect their repre-
' sentatives TO obey that constitution
f which is the bulwark of our libel
d ties, and all good Democrats rea.
ize that it is departure from thi
, principle and constant infringe
ment on constitutional limitation
i and prohibitions by the Republ
q can party that has placed the pee
D pie of the great agricultural state
in their present unhappy condition
1t is undemocratic. The card
nal principle of Democracy il
: Equal rights for all and specis
q privileges for none," aud this tn
Alliance also contends for in tn
ninth clause of its platform recent
ly adopted at Sedalia, Mo. Ho,
then can we in one breath complai
q of unjust class legislation, and &
s the same time seek to remedy
, by legislation just as Objectionable
and palpably in violation of th
: constitution
= 1t is impractical. 1t would co;
t many millions to erect the neces
sary offices and warehouses, est
y mated by some at sixty millions {
dollars. The interest and insu
: ance would amount to an immenf
b sum. An army of Office holder
: would have to be employed an
would be under the control of th
party in power, to be used an
controlled by and for that party
= Products to the extent of at leai
!, 81 900, ,OOO, 900 would be stored pe
2 annum; speculation would run rit
f and spectators and middleme
! would grow fat at the expense {
! the producer large amounts {
produce would be left in the hand
3 OF the Government, and thu
the Government would b
! compelled to compete with th
:, producer in the sale of farm pre-
! ducts; the currency would fiuciuat
and become unstable, and in m
: judgment the whole matter woul
end in ruin to the farmer an
, bankruptcy to the Government,
I AS to the Election or Force Bill
J of course 1 am opposed to it, an
my vote is recorded against il
4 n