The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-20

mort shows IL to be toalIy devoid or con-
sjstency or sense. The power given TO
Congress IL power to borrow money.
The Government can borrow money
whether state banks issue notes or
whether they do not The issue OF notes
by state banks cannot possibly AFFECT the
general governments credit and power TO
borrow money In one way or another 1t
Is therefore simply nonsense TO say that
an act OF Congress forbiddlng state banks
TO Issue notes IL an act necessary and op-
propriate for making effective power 20
borrow money The two things have no
sort Of relation 10 each other. IL Is as
| plain. therefore, when Congress foroihs
| state banks to issue notes that IT is doihs
something that the Constitution never III
| tended that Congress should have power
10 do. as the sun Is at MONDAY the war
decision OF the Supreme Court OF me
| United States TO the contrary notwi-h-
standing. Now. IT was never intended by
the trainers OF our Government that the
Congress OF the United states should nave
authority TO legislate upon the ordinary
matters OF everyday life amongst the
people. 1t was intended that all iegisla-
/ ton for these should come from the leg
| islatures Of the States. IL was intended
that the legislation by Congress should be
| confined to certain matters OF genera
welfare in which all the people were
equally Interested. which were named In
the Constitution itself And, in vast
country like ours, with such a variety
and contrariety Of interests, this principle
of government is absolutely necessary.
II we had only one central government TO
make our laws It would not be possible
for It to make them wisely for all parts
Of the country. Representatives from
Virginia and North Carolina cannot posi-
bly know the sort OF local legislation
which the interior interests Of California
call for, and vice versa Our Constitu-
ton, therefore, in comforting on Congress
control over certain specified matters OF
general concern like peace and war, and
in retaining to the states control over all
those matters that affect the daily life or
the citizen, is not only the greatest posi-
bic monument to the wisdom OF our ances-
tors. but II is the embodiment OF prin-
ciple absolutely necessary to our exist
ence as a people. We cannot have peace
and order and good government unless the
people Of Wisconsin, WHO know their local
needs, are permitted to make the laws
that regulate their local affairs.
Now the principle announced by the
Supreme Cour. breaks down eyey barrier
between the authority Of Congress and |
the authority Of the States. 1t abrogates |
and destroys the vital principle OF our /
union. II Congress may stretch out Its |
hand and take control over State matters |
in this instance, on this frivolous and |
contemplate pretext, it may stretch 1t |
out and monopolize control OF all State |
affairs on other frivolous pretexts. 1t is |
vain for the Supreme Court TO declare |
as It did in United States VS.. Dewitt. |
9th Wallace. IL. that a revenue act OF |
Congress forbidding citizens Of a State |
to sell naptha that kindled at less de- |
gree than 10 Fahrenheit is uuconstitu-
tional and void, If Congress is to be per
mtted to forbid banks. that receive |
their charters and existence from their |
States, to do banking business on the |
pretext that such banking business will |
interfere with the United States when |
1t goes into the loan market TO borrow
money. The doctrine is one which can
not be tolerated II we are to hold on TO
our form Of government. And The Times |
will go down and perish forever from the |
land before IL will give up the principle |
OF government that the Congess Of the |
United States shall be confined in it's leg |
islation to those objects Of a general |
character which are named in the Con- |
stituuon, but that the State legislatures |
shall have full and undisputed control |
over all others.