The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-06-10
10 apply monsy beyend that Of car:

the power 10 apply money beyond that Of car.
rying into effect tho object for which il is ap.
propriated, has, as we have seen, been long
claimed 81 exercised by the federal government,
yet such grants have always been professedly
under the control Of the general principle that
the works which might be thus aided, should
DO "of a general, not locai--national, not
State" charaCter. A disregard Of this distinc-
tio.i would Of necessity lead to the subversion
Of the federal system-That even this is an
unsafe one, arbitrary in its nature and liable,
consequently, TO great abuses, is too obvious
10 require the confirmation ofexperience. 1t
is, however, sufficiently definite and mpera.
tive to my mind 10 forbid my appreciation of a.
ny bill having the character OF the one under
consideration. ! have given 10 its provisions
all the reflection demanded by Just regard
for the interests Of those Of our fellow citizens
who have desired its passage, and by the re-
spect which is due 10 a coordinate branch of
the Government; but am not able TO view il
in any other light than as a measure of pure.
ly local character; or If IL can be conside red
national, that no further distinction between
tho appropriate duties of the General and
State Cove ernInent need be attempted for
there can be no local interest that may not
with equal proprety be dcnoDiinated national.
IL has no connection with any established sys.
lem Of improve mehis; is exclusively within
the limits of State, starting at IA polnt on The
! OHIO river, and running out sixty Iailes to an
intcror town; ard even as far as the state is
interested, conferring partial instead Of gen
eral advantages.
Considering the magnitude and importance
! of the power and the embarrassment TO which
from the very nature ofthe thing, its exercise
must necessarily be subjected; the real friends
OF internal Improvement ought not to be will
| ling 10 conGde II to accident and chance
| Whatever is properly uHionlt in it's character,
or otherwise, 10 an inquiry, which is often ex
tremely difficult Of ISOLATION. The appropri
atoms for one year, for an object which is con
sidered national, may be rendered nugatory
by the refusal of a succeeding Congress tc
continue the work on the ground that il is 10
cal No aid can be derived from tho inter
ven,ion Of corporations The question re
CARDS the character OF the work; not that o
those by whom 1t is to be- accomplished -
Notwithstanding the union Of the Govern
mont with the corporation. by whose inIuedi
ate agency, any work of internal improvement
Is carried on, the inquiry will still remain, i!
IL national and conducive 10 the benefit of the
/ whole, Or local, aIId operating only 10 the ad
vantage of portion oi the Urion
Bot, slthough, might not feel il to be my
official duty to inierpose the executive veto
TO the passage of bill appropriating money
for The construction Of such works, az are au
thorlzrJ by the States, nnd are national II
their character, do not wish 10 be understood
as expressing an opinion, that it is expedcn
at this time, Tor the General Government Il
embark in a system Of this kind aud anxious
that my constituents should be possessed u
my views on this. ~ we'll rs on all other sub
icc,s, WHICH they have cnmmitted 10 my dis
creiion, shall state them frankly and briefly
Besides many MINOR considerations, there ar
two prominent views of tile subject, whic
have made deep Impression upon my mind
which, 1 thini, are well entitled Ia your SER
ous attention, and will hopo, be Ra,orc
weighed by the PeopIe.
lConcluded lrext week.