Jimmy Madison Didn’t Do Congressional Charity Work

Mandeville, LA  – You might be wondering if there is any precedent for our continuing, government-funded feed and save the world operations that Congress routinely executes. Kevin Gutzman sheds some light on the subject for us.

1. Congressman Smith on “the committee on the memorial of the Relief-Committee of Baltimore.”

2. Presented a report

3. Smith discussed the situation in Saint-Domingue and the plight of the refugees

4. A “great burthen” had been “thrown on the citizens of Baltimore.”

5. Had been supporting the refugees for six months

6. “[I]t is hardly possible to do justice to the affecting narrative of Mr. Smith—suffice to say, that agreater scene of misery and distress was hardly ever before witnessed, nor a more noble and prompt display of the finest feelings of the human heart exhibited than in the relief afforded by the citizens of Baltimore.”

7. James Madison opposes as not within constitutional purview:

a) “Mr. Madison remarked that he presumed no arguments, no efforts of oratory were necessary to excite emotions of benevolence in the mind of any member the house towards those unfortunate fugitives [from Saint-Domingue].  He had no doubt that the feelings of every man were alive to a sympathy for their situation, but he remarked that the government, confined to specified objects—it is not like the state governments whose powers are more general.  Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government; it would puzzle him to lay his finger on any part of the constitution which would aauthorize the government to interpose in this business; the report of the committee he observed involved this constitutional question.”

Source:  Dunlap and Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, 1/14/1794

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