Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-12-15

port Of lighthouses, bc@cons, hu"yS and
public piers, within the bays, iulctS, har-
bors and ports Of the United States, to
render the navigation thereof safe and
easy, is cocyal with the adoption OF the
constitution, and has been continued with
out interruption OF dispute.
A. our foreign commerce increased,
and as extended into the interior OF the
country by the establishment OF ports OF
entry and delivery upon our navigablc
rivers, the sphere OF those expenditures
received corresponding enlargement.
Lighthouses, bcacons, buoys, public
piers, and the removal Of sand-bars,
sawycrs, and ether partial or temporary
impcdmcnts in the nayigab!c rivers and
harbors which were embraced in the
revenue districts from time TO time cstab-
lishcd by law, were authorised upon the
same principle, and the expense deiray
cd in the same manner That these cx-
pcnscs have at times been cXtravagant
and dispropotionate, is very probable.
. The circumstances under which they are
incurred arc well calculated to lead to
such result, unless their application is
sub to the closest scrutiny. The
local advantages arising from the dis
burscmcnt Of public money too frequent
ly, it is to be feared, invite appropriations
for objects Of this character that arc
neither necessary nor useful. The mum
bor of lighthouse keepers is already ye-
ry large, and the bill before me proposes
to add TO it liily-one more, of various de-
scriptions. From representations upon
the subject which are understood to be
entitled to respect, | am induced to be-
licyc that there has not only been great
improyidcnce in the past expenditures of
the Government upon these objects, but
that the security Of navigation has, i'll
some instances, been diminished by the
multiplication of lighthouses, and consc-
quent change Of lights, upon the coast.
Il is in this, as in other repccts, our duty
10 avoid all unnecessary cXpcnsc,as we'll
as every increase Of patronage not cal
led for by the public service. But in
the discharge ofthat duty in this partlcu-
lar, it must not be forgotten that, in rcla-
ton to our foreign commerce, the burden
and benefit of protecting ard accommo-
dating it necessarily go together, and
must do SO as long as The public revenue
is drawn from the people through the
custom-housc. 1t is indisPutablc that
whatever gives facility and security to
navigation, cheapcns imports, and all
who consume them are alike interested
in whatever PRODUCES this effect Ifthcy
consumer they ought, as they now do, to
pay; otherwise they do not pay. The
consumer, in the most inland State de-
rivcs the same advantage frcm every
necessary and prudent expenditure for
The facility and security of our foreign
commerce and navigation that he does
who resides in maritime State. Local
expenditures have not of themselves, a
correspondent operation.
From bill making DIRECT appropria-
tions for such objects, | should not have
withheld my assent. The enc now re-
turned does so in several particulars, but
ii also contains appropriations for surveys
OF local character, which | cannot ar-
prove. Ii gives me satisfaction to find
that no serious inconvenience has arisen
from Withholding my approval from this
bill nor will it trust, be cause OF regret
that an opportunity will be thereby afford
cd for Congress to review its provisions
under circumstances better calculated
for full investigation than those under
which it was passed.
In speaking of direct appropriations,
mean not toinclude practice which has
obtained to some extent, and to which |
have, in one instance, in different ca
pacty given my asscnt-that of subscrlb-
Ing to the stock of private associatlons.-
Positive experience, and more thor
ough consideration of the subject have
convinced me of tlc impropricty as well
as incxpcdicncy of such Investments
All improvements effected by the funds Of
the nation for general Use should be OPP
en- to the enjoyment of all our fellow cltl-
zcns, exempt from the payment of tolls,
or any imposition of that character. The
practice of thus minglng the concerns oi
the Government with those of the States
or of individuals, is consistent with the
object of its institution; and highly I'M
polite. The successful operation OF the
federal system can only be preserved by
coniining it to tho few and simple, butyet
important objects for which it was de-
signed
A different praticc, if allowed to pro-
cress, would ultimately change the cha
ractcr of this Government, by consolida-
ting into one the general and State Gov
crnmcnts, which were intended to be
kent forever distinct cannot perceive
how bills authorizing such subscriptions
can hc otherwise regarded than as bills
for revenue, and consequently subject to
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