James Madison on the "general welfare" Clause

The "general welfare" clause (p. 136), the statement most often cited by progressive interference in education (not to mention sundry areas) does not apply to extending federal authority. The "general welfare clause precedes the list of enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8, Madison makes it clear in Federalist no. 41 that the general welfare is composed only of those specific powers identified after the clause: `For what purpose could the enumeration of particular powers be inserted, if these and all others were meant to be included in the preceding general power?' Madison asks, `Nothing is more natural nor common than first to use a general phrase, and then to explain and qualify it by a recital of particulars.' The general welfare clause explains why the federal government has been given enumerated powers, but does not itself confer any power."