REPLY OF, MIR. JOHNSON.
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FRANKFORT, KY, Feb 6, 1913


GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 10th of Janu
ary was duly received. 1t gives me pleasure to
make known nv views upon any political subject
connected with the office of President of the Uni
ted States The resolutions enclosed of the Dem
ocratic State Convention of Indiana, embrace the
Bank of the United States the distribution of the
proceeds of the public lands among the States, a
protective tariff, and National Convention. L
will answer in the order in which you have pre-
sented your inquiries,


The charter Of Bank of the United States by
Congress, have always considered unconstitu-
tional and inexpedient- Having given my vote a.
gainst it In 1911, and at each successive presenta-
ton of the subject snce up to the period of the 4th
of March, 1841. when l retired from the public
service of the United States, IN accordance aolth
the aciU of the people. 1t has been my constant
practice and my disposition to construe with strict
ness the powers delegated to the Federal Govern
ment, and to confne my action within the plain
meaning of its constitutional provisions, carefully
avoiding any enlargement of its authority. Not
withstanding the protracted Investigations and E.
laborated discussions of this annoying question,
am confirmed in nv first opinion, that Congress
has no power, constitutionally, to charter Bank
of the United States authorized to issue bills of
credit for banking purposes, or to regulate ex-
changes


The Federal Constitution contains no specific
grant of power to raise money to be distributed a.
mong the States. look upon the act of Congress
relative to this subject as dangerous precedent,
and injurious in its consequences. 1t is unques-
tionably direct interference with theinternal pol
cy and domestic concerns of the States. If the
Federal Government has the right to use fnan-
cial power for munfcence, it surely possesses the
power to exterminate evils which, in the opinion
of Congress- may exist in the several States lhls
power would tend to consolidation, and degrade
and impair the sovereignty ofthe States, by pro,
ducing dependence in them, upon the Federal
Government. for the revenue necessary for their
existence The power vested in Congress to lay
and collect taxes duties, imposts, and exclses,
must be understood as limited by the objects which
are enumerated in the same sentence, to pay the
debts, and provide for the common defence and