The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-21
THE SYSTEM OF JEFFERSON.

the simplest and clearest expositionS OF
which they were capable Such exposi-
tons, precise and beautiful, at once exact
aud comprehensive. are found scattered
throughout his political writings. The
most familiar are those in the first insug-
ural, and in the letter to Mr.. Gerry Up. 257,
vol 4 of his works. The following. brief
statements comprise the whole system:
The tenth amendment to the constitution
is an inilexible rule of construction. the
sacred and comprehensive guarantee Of
American liberty.
Tho support of the state governments in
ell their rights, as the most competent ad
ministrationS Tor our domestic conc ems
and the sureSt bulwsrks against anti-Re-
publican tendencies; the preservation OF
the general government in its whole consti-
tutional vigor as the sheet anchor OF our
peace at home and safety abroad"
An honest administration Of the govern
ment, which implies not merely just ap-
plication of the public moneys to the public
service, but a faithful observance OF the
limitations of the constitution OF appli-
cants for office, three questions only need
oe asked: rs he honest. Is he capablei
Is he faithful to the constitution"
A number of officials sufficient for the
transaction of the public business; no su-
pernumeraries 10 eat out the substance OF
the people.
A diplomatic establishment limited to the
pubic necessities; nothing for parade !;
nothing for patronage.
A sleepless jealousy of standing armies "a
mercenary force always dangerous to lib
erty; the military embodiment of the PEG
pie in the states the surest safeguard Of
public peace and domestic rights.
The money raised by taxation 70 be ex-
pended only on the objects specihed in the
constitution IL may not be distributed to
favorites in the form OF oonnties or of sub
sides, nor given away In charity. He
ur ged the state OF Virginia TO be liberal to-
ward the San Domingo sufferers, but he
denied the right OF Congress TO grant them
q dollar.
Economy in the public expenditures. lot
only that the people may ne tightly burden
ed, but that the purity Of the admtnisL ra-
ton may &c preserved. Extravaganza is
the parent OF corruption, and corruption is
the parent of usurpation. A punlic thief Is
q public enemy. During the eight yei rs Of
his admins tration there was not even an
Indian war, simply because there was no
swindle TO provoke one. Every word of
promise was kept, and every dollar was
sacredly applied TO the purpose for which il
had been appropriated.
No power in the general government to
lay one class OF citizens under tribute to
another; duties levied for revenue, and dis
ordinations permissible only against those
't'ree commerce with all nations, entang-
ling alliances with none" he held that all
restrictions upon the freedom OF trade were
but remnants of bsrbarisn, and that a state
of things in which any people, wherever
situated, might freely exchange its surplus
for the surplus of any other would produce
the greatest sum OF human happiness.
The power to prosecute internal improve
ments belongs TO the states; whether WISE
" or not, it was certainly withheld from
the general government. In order to apply
even and inconvenient surplus in the treas
ury to such objects an amendment would De
necessary.
Congress has no power to erect private,
or q mixed private and public corporation,
20 do that by indirection which the United
States may not do directly.
Eternal hostility to monopolies; no
power to create them is granted: the whole
spirit Of the constitution prohibits them.
But such was Mr.. JefYerson's dread CT these
subtitle and formidable enemies OF freedom
that he earnestly recommended q separ-
ate clause In the bill of rights ssto guard
against them" forever. But the danger at
that time seemed 20 remote to all but this
far sighted sentinel on the watch tower that
his solemn warning passed UNDECIDED, and
posterity 10 Dsying the penalty.