The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-01-18
word necessary admits OF all degrees

word necessary admits OF all degrees
OF comparison. A thing may be
necessary, or very necessary; or ab-
solutcly or indespensably necessary.
The word is used in various senses;
and in its construction the object,
the con ext, the intention, are all to
he taken into view. The power Of
the government we're given for the
welfare of the nation. They were
intended to do for ages to come, and
to be adopted to the various crises in
human affairs. To prescribe the
specific means by which government
should IN all future time execute i,s
power and to confinc the choice of
means to such narrow limits as should
not leave it in the power OF Congress
TO adopt any which might be approp-
riate and conductive to the end, would
be most unwise and pernicious, be-
cause it would be AN attempt to pro-
vide by immutable rules, for ex-
igencies which, it foreseen at all,
must have been foreseen dimlv, and
would deprive the legislature of the
capacity to avail itself of experience,
or to exersize its re"son, and accom-
modate its legislation to circum-
stances. If the end be legitimate, and
within the scope of the Constitution
all means which are appropriate,
and plainly adapted to this end. and
which are not prohibited by the Con-
stitution, as lawful"
1t is plainly within the scope Of the
Constitution that the government
should maintain itself; that the navy
should he maintained. The ways
and means of doing this are left to
Congress to provide. Congress may
do this entirely by taxation. 1t may
provide by law to levy and collect
taxes enough every year to pay the
whole expenses of the war during
each current year, and SO ''pay as We
CO." 1t may issue six per cent bonds
and sell them on the market for what
they will bring-even if they will not
sell for over fifty cents on the dollar
TO raise money to carry on the
war. 1t may iss-e treasury note
payable on demand, and make them
legal tender in payment of all debts.
Either one or all these mode Of pay.
ing the expenses of the government
is left to the discretion of Congress.
Either mode is constitutional; and i,
is left to the sound discretion of Con
gress to decide which mode it will
adopt, or whether it will adopt part
of each. as being the best in the
present crisis.
My own impression is, that it vii
be best for us to adopt, in part, al
OF these modes for providing th'
means.
l. Raise by taxation the curren
year over aud above the amount re
ceived from duties on imports. th'
sum of $l5O,O0O,OOO.
2. Issue 500, 100000 of deman,
Treasury notes in addition to th
$500, 100000 authorized in Jul,
making them legal tender in pay
ment OF debts, and exchangable u
any time for + per cent twenty years
bonds; with further issue o. dc
mand notes if Congress shall here
after deem it necessary.
3. Provide for the issue of all til
twenty years 6 per cent bonds tha
may be net essary to fund the deman
Treasury notes, and other fundabl
Treasury notes that may be issued
(say s5OO,O0O,O0O six per cent twent
years cupon bond>) and pledge $50
OOO, 900 Of the annual taxes to pa
the interest half yearly thereon, an
pledge So, ZOO. 900 more as sinkin
fund to redeem the principal in twent
years.
The tax of 5O,O0O,OOO woul
afford an amble bassis upon which
rest the credit OF the government fo
this large issue Of treasury notes an
bonds. and would insure the punctu:
nevmanf ri the interest tn the can