Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-23
Mr. Daniels Speech.

As the BLAIR bill is as dead as herring
q is not worth while to discuss its merits
further. Nevertheless we will say that Mr..
DANIELS speech in favor Of that bill, when
f. Just out. fully sustains his reputation as
an able debater. Messrs. MORGAN, FAUX
kER. REAaAy, and HARRIS piled him with
questions. but he managed TO answer all oil
them. We cannot see the difference In
principle between donating million OF
acres of land to State IN aid oil
education and donating q million OF dol
lars for the same purpose. for as Mi.
DANIEL suggested, since the Government
has the right TO sell the public lands and
nut the money into the Treasury, TO ap"
propriate land is TO prevent the money
from getting into the Treasury, and SO Is
equivalent TO appropriating money.
II does seem absurd in the light of facts
o. question the power Of tho Federal
Government to appropriate money in aid
of the public schools Of the several
States. Mir. DANIEL gave volume and page
for congressional appropriations to suffer
ers by earthquake in Venezuela; same IN
New Madrid, Missouri; TO sufferers by IRE
In New York; to sufferers by Indian depre-
dations in Florida: 10 sufferers by fire IN
Norfolk, Va: to sufferers by fire in New
Hampshire; TO sufferers from famine III
ireland; to sufferers by accident In Gov
eminent arsenal for seeds TO the South;
for destitute southern people in this coun-
try: for destitute people in France and
Germany; to sufferers by the Chicago fire;
tosuferers by overflow Of Mississippi
river: seeds to sufferers by grasshoppers;
for yellow-fever, refrigerating ship, etc.,
etc. Now, read that list of appropriations
over. and say If you can that the Govern
ment which had the constitutional
right TO make those appropriations has not
The right to appropriate money to the
cause of education. Tho very class OF
eticklers who deny this power TO the fede-
ral Government voted for these numerous
appropriations which we have just men,
Toned. and also voted to give away seventy
millions of acres of the public lands to the
States in which they lie.
One of the senators objected that the
BLAIR bill was en- appropriation continuing
for eight years. This was valid objection
perhaps: but practically one Congress
could not thus bind Its successor. We
know of no reason why the next Congress
could not have repealed the BLAIR bill II 1t
had become law last week.
Messrs. Harris, REAGAN, and COKE on
one side, and Mr. DANIEL on the other, had
q colloquy IN regard to the meaning OF that
paragraph of the Federal Constitution
which provides that the Congress shall
have the power to dispose Of and make all
needful rules and regulations respecting
The territory or other property belonging
20 the United States. Mr.. COKE said that
the term "other property" used IN the
Constitution refers to the property In the
possession of the Government at the time
of the adoption of the Constitution-ships
arms, and all property which was IN the
hands of the Government at that time.
We began to think while reading the re-
port of the colloquy that the Constitution
meant to say that the Congress should have
power to dispose of all the real and per-
sonal property of the Government. What
ever the fathers meant, their successors
have thought proper to put their own con-
etruction on all these sections.
But enough. The BLAIR bill is hereafter
% be only a memory.