Everybody should read the anti Federalist papers. Patrick Henry for one expressly objected to the “General Welfare” clause and pointed out there were no express limits to it.
That’s exactly what Jefferson is getting at here. Jefferson also expressed the view that the single biggest oversight in the Constitution was the lack of a limitation on the federal government’s ability to borrow money. He was of course, 100% correct about that.
I wonder whether the Louisiana purchase was undertaken under general welfare reasoning
He also took exception to the treaty power. His main objection was that there was no specified penalty for Federal officers violating Constitutional limitations.
I'm with him on that one. See tag line.
“General welfare” in the preamble is only a statement of the intent of the Constitution and is not an enumerated power delegated by the Constitution to the feds by the states and the people.
The enumerated powers in the body of the Constitution are listed mostly in Art. I, Sec. 8.
Proper application of the Constitution is as written and originally understood and intended.
Exactly correct— the “General Welfare” has been stretched into TOTAL Welfare delivered (doled out) to the undeserving and non-taxpaying non-productive elements of States signed to the “Compact”.
Jefferson was NO friend to a National Bank, conceived and executed by Alexander Hamilton, ironically shot in a duel by Burr who was pursued by President Jefferson for true insurrection against the Constitutional powers. Arrested him- trying to create his own country in... Mexico!
From the get go- Jefferson and Hamilton did not get along well (for that matter neither did John Adams and Hamilton over a different part of the banksters plots against the States).
This clip from Hbo’s “Adams” is a well written discussion of the “Bank” between Jefferson (newly returned from Amb. to France) and Hamilton- it is a saver- whom is beholden to whom?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy7FJJ_ud84
The greater the debt the greater the foreign credit!!!!! Yeah right.
And this later between Adams and Hamilton over foreign policy and.. armies!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaWBs46USqE
In memory RIP of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams who both passed away... on July 4th,1826! Two giants who renewed their friendship over ripped asunder political evilry between them. Two FOUNDERS, and... geniuses.
Note that the first secession was threatened by New England states- which they have long ago neatly forgotten. The first real destructors of our Constitutional Republic. As the Progressives of New England have been since before Woodrow Wilson.
When he agreed to buy Louisiana from Napoleon, whose money did he spend, and from whom was it borrowed?