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.
-President Grover Cleveland in a message to Congress explaining his veto of a $10,000 appropriation for the relief of drought stricken farmers in Texas
Wasn't Grover a rather large, rotund, individual who certainly enjoyed a comfortable life?
ReplyDeleteI like that- the gov should be supported by the people and not vice-versa. Very feudal. A type of noblesse oblige in reverse.