Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland, (1837-1908) 22nd & 24th US President, mayor and governor in New York state

Grover Cleveland Quote

“I can find no warrant for such appropriation in the Constitution.”

Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
~ Grover Cleveland

written often during his two terms as president when he vetoed Congressional spending.

Ratings and Comments


Anonymous, North fort Myers,FL

If he thought that then can you just imagine how he would feel if he knew what was going on now.

cal, lewisville, tx

What? We have found a Good Democrat.

Mary - MI
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  • Reply
Mary - MI    8/11/11

The authority and limitations placed on the U.S. Congress are enumerated in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. It would seem that Grover Cleveland believed in staying within the four corner of the constitution that he swore a sacred oath to uphold and adhere to, instead of the political Progressive philosophy of legislative, executive or judicial activism which seeks to usurp the Rule of Law.

jim k, Austin,Tx

Would someone please tell me where the Constitution allows for the EPA, OSHA, DOA ,DEA, HUD, IRS and the rest of the zillion government bureaus now infesting our country. I didn't agree to any of these but have to pay for them anyway.

Mike, Norwalk
  • Reply
Mike, Norwalk jim k, Austin,Tx 7/19/21

Jim, simply adding to your alphabet soup the CDC dosn't even profess to be close to a government entity. The CDC is only a 501(c)(3) and is dictating the destruction of the nation. The occupying statist theocracy infesting this land doesn't need Constitutional authority or warrant to activate its local corporate policing entities.

Byron, Fort Collins

Wow. I never knew much about former President Cleveland. The presidency really *has* hit rock-bottom these days. Obama has made it a laughingstock.

Mike, Norwalk

We hold these truths to be self evident and, lost to the occupying statist theocracy that infests this land.

Carol, Georgia

To Cal in TX--Democrats were entirely different in Cleveland's day. It is sad what has happened to the Democratic Party since the Progressives have infiltrated it or should I say, since they took it over. It's not just Obama. If Hillary Clinton decides to challenge him, beware! She is as bad as he is, just a lot more subtle. Her college thesis, which was not made public was in praise of Saul Alinsky, no less. God help us if we fail to elect a Constitutional Conservative.

Carol, Georgia

In checking other of Cleveland's quotes, I find the above is only part of a greater quote. It warrants a full understanding of his comment, so I'm including it here. "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. 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." I've added a second quote which I find just as telling as the first quote if read in full. The "kindly sentiment" to which he is referring is probably the benevolence of churches and philanthropists who cared for the needy and helped them overcome their difficulties. "Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence." Ronald Reagan

J Allen, Arlington, Va

He and Coolidge were the last presidents to take the oath of office to uphold the constitution seriously.

E Archer, NYC

Wow. If only this could become a catch phrase of the next president!

Ronw13, Yachats Or

Socialism must be abolished, not manipulated ! Disinterested benevolence is needed. Socialism within a church is a great evil, freewill offering determines, where Divine Providence is made to show forth, the Truth of Liberty. Sense the siege of the Free Republic in 1865, No President has come forth to abolish socialism. this even with Cleveland's and Reagan's sentiments. " As far as possible " won't do ! If, Obama can do what he has done through mandates, then others can do also, to abolish socialism, and its enslavement through oppression, by way of banking and its practices ! Constructive Fraud perpetrated upon the individual sovereign. Congress and the irs at fault. President Andrew Jackson comes to mind !

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