(1) They are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare, but only to lay taxes for that purpose. To consider the latter phrase not as describing the purpose of the first, but as giving a distinct and independent power to do any act they please which may be good for the Union, would render all the preceding and subsequent enumerations of power completely useless. It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please...Certainly no such universal power was meant to be given them. It was intended to lace them up straightly within the enumerated powers and those without which, as means, these powers could not be carried into effect. - Thomas Jefferson, Opinion on National Bank — 1791
(2) These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. - Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1 — 1776
On the first point, Jefferson is right: where does it say in the Constitution that the federal government can create a "National Bank," even if needed. The Constitution lays out the powers Washington has and meddling in the financial affairs of the country in that way isn't one of them. The Federal Reserve applies here too, though if it were merged with teh U.S. Treasurer's Office and the Mint I'd have no problem with it.
On the second point, its' one thing to speak on the events of the day. Its' quite another to actually put your lives and sacred fortunes on the line; its' easy to talk but can you back it up? If so, good. If not, stop prattling on.
No comments:
Post a Comment