Posted on 03/06/2016 3:43:50 PM PST by NRx
To the House of Representatives:
I return without my approval House bill number ten thousand two hundred and three, entitled "An Act to enable the Commissioner of Agriculture to make a special distribution of seeds in drought-stricken counties of Texas, and making an appropriation therefor."
It is represented that a long-continued and extensive drought has existed in certain portions of the State of Texas, resulting in a failure of crops and consequent distress and destitution.
Though there has been some difference in statements concerning the extent of the people's needs in the localities thus affected, there seems to be no doubt that there has existed a condition calling for relief; and I am willing to believe that, notwithstanding the aid already furnished, a donation of seed-grain to the farmers located in this region, to enable them to put in new crops, would serve to avert a continuance or return of an unfortunate blight.
And yet I feel obliged to withhold my approval of the plan as proposed by this bill, to indulge a benevolent and charitable sentiment through the appropriation of public funds for that purpose.
I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the general government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted, to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that, though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.
The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.
It is within my personal knowledge that individual aid has, to some extent, already been extended to the sufferers mentioned in this bill. The failure of the proposed appropriation of ten thousand dollars additional, to meet their remaining wants, will not necessarily result in continued distress if the emergency is fully made known to the people of the country.
It is here suggested that the Commissioner of Agriculture is annually directed to expend a large sum of money for the purchase, propagation, and distribution of seeds and other things of this description, two-thirds of which are, upon the request of senators, representatives, and delegates in Congress, supplied to them for distribution among their constituents.
The appropriation of the current year for this purpose is one hundred thousand dollars, and it will probably be no less in the appropriation for the ensuing year. I understand that a large quantity of grain is furnished for such distribution, and it is supposed that this free apportionment among their neighbors is a privilege which may be waived by our senators and representatives.
If sufficient of them should request the Commissioner of Agriculture to send their shares of the grain thus allowed them, to the suffering farmers of Texas, they might be enabled to sow their crops; the constituents, for whom in theory this grain is intended, could well bear the temporary deprivation, and the donors would experience the satisfaction attending deeds of charity.
If Grover Cleveland were on the ballot today, I would be a Democrat.
And then oil was discovered and Texas didn’t care about help from the feds.
They had a lot more in common back then. Love of country. Respect for the Constitution and adherence to it. Religious underpinnings. Conservative values. To name just a few but important commonalities they both shared.
Good find!
That’s how they rolled back then; people helped one another out and got ‘er done.
Who’s the candidate closest to Grover Cleveland?
To the House of Representatives:
I return with my approval House bill number ten thousand two hundred and three, entitled “An Act to enable the Commissioner of Agriculture to make a special distribution of seeds in drought-stricken counties of Texas, and making an appropriation therefor.”
And let me add free phones, pick up the house notes and car notes - providing the recipients are registered democrats and voted for me and will vote for Hillary.
Barrrack Hussein 0bbama.
And Oboma’s and Hillary’s and Sander’s free health care, free immigration (except to persecuted Christians!), free wireless, free cell phones, free taxis, free housing, free food, free schools, free water, free heating, free sewage, free garbage pickup ....
As long as they vote democrat.
You know that is the way it is in other third world countries . . . and 0bama has just about completed his mission of turning us into a 3WN.
That era is gone. We are no longer a Constitutional Republic. Congress votes for anything that will buy them votes, and the President goes for anything that will help his party.
Boy - Obama sure has it in for Cruz and Texans! BTW, today is 3-6-2016, not 2-16-1887.
Here’s an out of the box suggestion for those @#^%&@ rice farmers - grow a crop that doesn’t require you drain the lakes hundreds of miles away. You sorry, no good thieves have destroyed the land north of you. Have caused businesses to go bankrupt and close. Have had towns go to great expense to try to find water when their supplies have evaporated. Have had people leave their homes because their private water wells have gone dry. But that doesn’t concern you as long as you can take our water. Thankfully, that practice is being fought and your lobbyists are losing... for now.
As for that new seed, we don’t need Mansanto (and you know it is). Plant what naturally grows in your environment. Don’t try to change the environment to grow what you fancy.
We didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. All that study and those seeds are being paid for with our tax dollars.
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