The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-29
THE DANGER OF THE DAY-MR'
FUCKERS ADDRESS.

| The great debt which the science ~
| governing men owes to the United Sti.es
| CT America is that recognition when
they have given to the principle that
! 10, al affairs shall be ordered and ruled
| by the locality, and that the General
| Government Of all shall have power only
| TO deal with those matters that concern
ell, such as the public defense. the com
age OF money. the regulation OF "eisnS
and measures, and the regulation OF COM
merce, domestic and foreign. This Is the
| blessed principle OF government on which
| our forefathefs constructed this Union OF
| States, and whilst the principle IL rec"g-
nized and acted on. and the General Gov
eminent is confined TO action In respect
20 those matters placed under its juris-
ciction, our liberties are safe and every
individual Is given the fullest possible
opportunity 10 work cut his own destiny.
But the curse and menace OF the Gay
is that custom which has grown up In the
Congress Of the United States of legis-
lating so as TO affect matters intended to
be left solely TO the locality, under pre-
tence OF imposing taxes to raise revenue
The American people must rouse them
selves and force the Congress OF the
United States to desist in this balefLl
practice or the principle on which their
Government was so wisely founded, Will
soon be obliterated and forgotten. and
they will come to be ruled by central
lied despotism at Washington.
A friend has sent us copy Of the ad-
dress delivered by Hon. John Randolph
Tucker at the annual meeting OF the
American Bar Association, In August last
which We understand to be the same that
he recently delivered in New York at the
Patria Club. The address is a great
paper, in every way worthy of its distin-
gushed author. We quote from 1t some
pertinent remarks on the subject under
consideration. Mr.. Tucker says:
Take a case. One makes article b.
another article O. The State allows both.
The Federal Government can forbid
neither. nor punish either; nor allow
either If the State forbids. License tax
cases, 5 Wall, 462; 8 Wall, Al; % U. S. r.,
40: 81 Id. sol. No case has ever i'm
pugned the doctrine thus established
mem. con-. that no matters or things not,
under the Constitution, subject to the
Federal power. but reserved to the States
can be forbidden or punished by law of
Congress. but may be forbidden by or
punished by the State, and only by the
State Now take the case above
stated. Can the Government lay such
tax on article O as TO destroy its manufac-
ture and thus give a monopoly TO arti-
Gle Il? The cases | have cited settle that
Congress cannot do this by direct action
and is IL to do so by the indirection Of tax
alton? If 1t can do so. then ii follows
that IL may attack by taxation to their
destruction, any and all industries, en-
terprises and employments in and under
the reserved powers of the States and
build up rivals within the same In other
words by this science of indirection. the
reserved domain Of State authority is
open TO the unobstructed and resistless
sweep OF Federal powers. Can this be
so?
THE member in charge Of the measure
says, he will not allow to be inserted in
the act an avowal of its real object
(Which is 10 forbid the manufacture of
o at alb, but under color of a bill for
revenue, will evade the judicial inspec-
ton of his motive. and prevent the court
from declaring the tax void, on the
ground that no revenue results, because
OF the excessive tax. In view Of the duty
devolved on the member by reason of
his oath, to which I have already re-
ferred. how can he vote to do what he
knows he does for an unconstitutional
object. because he has fraudulently con-
trved that the judge from whom he
conceals that object shall not see the
truth he suppresses and can only see
the falsehood he suggests? If that be
American craftsmanship. God save the
Commonwealth"
These be words fit to be written in let
tiers of gold.