How things used to be

Our Founders never intended for the Federal Government to function in the manner it does today.  As federal power has been passed on through the generations, the vision of America, as seen through our founders’ eyes, is lost in every subsequent generation’s view of normalcy.  It is important to remember the intended role of the federal government and fight to restore that vision.  The following is an excerpt from a book by Burton Folsom Jr.:

“Throughout American history, right from the start, charity had been a state and local function.  Civic leaders, local clergy, and private citizens evaluated the legitimacy of people’s need in their communities or counties; churches and other organizations could then provide food, shelter, and clothing to help victims of fires or women abandoned by drunken husbands.  Most Americans believed that the face-to-face encounters of givers and receivers of charity benefited both groups.  It created just the right amount of uplift and relief, and discouraged laziness and a poor work ethic.”

“The Founders all saw relief as local and voluntary, and the Constitution gave no federal role for the government in providing charity.  James Madison, in defending the Constitution, observed, ‘No man is allowed to judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.’  In other words, if relief, and other areas, were made functions of the federal government, the process would become politicized and politicians and deadbeats could conspire to trade votes for food…”

“In the 1800′s, voluntary organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army were formed to give food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual help to individuals and groups that faced crises.  Sometimes, of course, Congress was tempted to play politics with relief.  In 1887, for example, several counties in Texas faced a long drought and some farmers lost their crops.  Texas politicians helped cajole Congress into granting $10,000 worth of free seeds for these distressed farmers in Texas.  After the bill passed the Senate and House, President Grover Cleveland vetoed it.  ‘I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution,’ Cleveland said.  Such aid would ‘destroy the partitions between proper subjects of Federal and local care and regulation.’  He added, ‘Federal aid in such cases, encourages the expectations of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character.’  As for Texas, Cleveland noted, ‘the friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow citizens in misfortune.’”

“Cleveland was prophetic.  Voluntary contributions flowed into Texas from all over the nation, finally exceeding $100,000, more than ten times the amount Congress had tried to take from the taxpayers.  The Founders’ view of charity, which was not always consistently applied, was vindicated by Cleveland’s veto and the nation’s generosity.” -Quoted from “New Deal or Raw Deal” by Burton Folsom Jr.

If only our leaders had the integrity to actually uphold the constitution in the manner which President Cleveland did.  The dichotomy between today’s leaders and the principled leadership characterized in this excerpt is amazing.  This story correctly frames the ideas the Founders’ of our country had when drafting the Constitution.  There is no authority vested in the federal government for the actions of today or the even many of the actions taken since Roosevelt and the New Deal.   

It is up to us to shake the vision of what is “normal” when it comes to government and remember that the government handed down to us is far from what “normal” would have been even one hundred years ago.  Liberty was the principle behind the success of this country and it will take a return to liberty for it to succeed in the future.  Share these ideas with those around you and remember protect freedom first!