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Cleveland's veto of the Texas seed bill
===Expanding the federal government role in the economy===
===Expanding the federal government role in the economy===
The Supreme Court's rejection (1886) of a state law regulating railroad rates convinced Cleveland that national controls for railroads engaged in interstate commerce were necessary. Congress agreed and in 1887 created the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]]; it was the federal government's first significant regulation of a major business sector. Cleveland approved the Hatch Act (1887), providing federal subsidies to state agricultural experiment stations. Congress upgraded the Department of Agriculture to departmental status (1889) and Cleveland supported its emerging role as a major research center for agricultural science.
The Supreme Court's rejection (1886) of a state law regulating railroad rates convinced Cleveland that national controls for railroads engaged in interstate commerce were necessary. Congress agreed and in 1887 created the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]]; it was the federal government's first significant regulation of a major business sector. Cleveland approved the Hatch Act (1887), providing federal subsidies to state agricultural experiment stations. Congress upgraded the Department of Agriculture to departmental status (1889) and Cleveland supported its emerging role as a major research center for agricultural science.
===Texas seed bill===
In 1887, a severe drought was affecting the southern half of the United States, with Texas in particular being hardest hit. In response, Congress put together a relief bill for the farmers affected by the drought, with roughly $10,000 going for the purchase of seeds. When the bill got to his desk, Cleveland vetoed it.<ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/article/216932/grover-cared-lawrence-w-reed Grover Cared], [[National Review]]</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.org/publications/article.asp?id=1329 Why Grover Cleveland Vetoed the Texas Seed Bill]</ref><ref>[http://www.fff.org/2012/08/01/socialism-for-texas-farmers/ Socialism for Texas Farmers]</ref>
In his veto message, Cleveland explained his reasoning:
<blockquote>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.<ref>[http://millercenter.org/president/cleveland/speeches/veto-of-texas-seed-bill Veto of Texas Seed Bill (February 16, 1887)]</ref></blockquote>
The result of this veto accomplished two important things. First, it protected the people from the malady of socialism and paternalism. Second, it firmly grounded the government on a Constitutional footing. As a result of the veto, charity from the American people rolled in, resulting in an amount in excess of over $100,000 dollars - more than 10 times the paltry sum Congress had appropriated. Historian Burton Folsom notes that "The Founders' view of charity, which was not always consistently applied, was vindicated by Cleveland's veto and the nation's generosity."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HwTPk00QMHIC&pg=PA77 New Deal Or Raw Deal?: How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America]</ref>
==1888 campaign==
==1888 campaign==
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|1}}
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
==External links==