Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-12-09

were suhm tied Coz my sspeova Il v,s NOT pos.ibls
WITHIN the ome allowed mo, before the closs Of the
duo TO their character and importance: and WAS
comPehed 20 retain them for that purpose. I now
Avail mysef OF this carly Opportunity return them
20 90: honses in which they respectively originated
with the seasons which, sfer mature delibef ation
compel mo 70 withheld my approval.
me practice OF defraying out Of The Treasury Of
the United States the expenses incurred By tho es-
taoilshment and support of lighthouses. bescons.
eooys, and public piers. within the bays inlets har-
oours and ports Of the United S,aes to render the
navigation thereof safe and easy. 10 coevsl with the
adoption Of the Constitution and has been continu-
ed without interruption dispute.
AS our foreign commerce increased and was OK
tended int tic interior OF the country bv the estab-
shment of Por'sof entry and delivery upon our navi
gable RIVERS the sphere at those
corresponding enlargement Lighthouses, beacons
buoys, public piers, and tho removal of sand-bars
sawyers and o:her partial Temporary ailments
in the navigsble rivers and harbors which were en-
oraecd The revenue districts from time to time es-
eaohshed by law, were authorized upon the same
principle, and the expense defrayed in the same man.
ner. That these expenses have at times been extray
again. aud d'sproportionate, very probable. The
c. 'm under which :hey are incurred
well calculated to lead to such result, unless heir
application Is subjected to the closest scrutiny The
local advantages arising from the disbursement of
Puohc money too frequently, it is to be feared, invite
neither necessary useful. The number of liuh,
house keepers is already very large and the bill De
ore me proposes to add to it fifty one more of ya rious
oescip'"ns From represent, ations upon the subject
winch are understood TO be entitled to respect am
to believe that there has not only been urea,
improvidcnce in the past expenditures of the Govern
mcnt upon these objects, but that the security of
Navigation mas, M some instances, been diminished by
the multiplication of light houses and consequent
change OF lights, upon Inc coast 1t is in this as in
other respects. our duty to avoid all unnecessary OK
Pense "a well IA every increase of patronage not
called for by the public service. But, in the dscharue
H.
Ten 'hat IN relation to foreign commerce. The bur
den and benefit of protecting aud accommodating it
necessarily go together, and must do So as long as
the public revenue is dr,wn from the people through
the custom house. IL is ndisput a BILE ,ba, wbo,evcr
gives facility and security to navigation chcaprns
imports; and oil who then, are alike iu,eres
ted IN whatever produces this effect If they con.
sumo. they ought rs they do, to pay; otherwise
they do not pay The consumer IN the most inland
State derives tho same advantage from every nece,
sary and prudent expenditu for the facility aud Sc.
SurIy OF our foreign commerce and navigation that
he dors who resides in a maritime State Local ex
Pend'turcs have not, Of themselves, corresponding
operation.
| From bill making direct appropriations for such
Objects should not have withheld my assent. The
one now returned does several part; cuars, but
II also contains appropria ions for SURVEYS of local
character, which cannot approve. II gives me sat-
isfaction to lind that no serious Inconvenience has
! arisen from withholding my approval from this bill;
nor will it. trust be cause of regret that an opnor
tuny will be thereby aff,rded for Congress to re-
view its provisions under circumstances better calcu
lated for full investigation than those under which it
was passed
In speaking Of dircc, appropriations, mean no, IN
include practice which has obia ned to some ex,en
and to which We, in one instance in a different
capacity given my asscntthat of subscribing to the
stock Of private associations Positive cxncrienco
and more thorough consideration Of the subject
nave convinced me OF the mproprety we'll mex
pedieney of such investments. All improvements eff
fected by the funds of the nation for general use
should be open 10 the enjoyment of al our fellow cit
liens, exempt from the payment of tolls or any i'm
position of that character. The practice of thus
mnghng the concerns OF that Government with those
States or OF individuals, inconsistent with the
object OF its institution, and highly npolc. The
successful operation of the federal system can only
be preservedby combining it to the few and simple,
but yet importsnt objects for which it was designed
A different practice, if allowed to progress, would
ultimately change the character of this Government
by consolidating into the general and State Gov.
ernments, which were intended to be kept forever
Distinct cannot perceive how bills authorizing such
subscriptions can be otherwise regarded than az hill,
for revenue and consequently subject to the rule in
that respect prescribed by the Constitution IF the
interest OF the Government in private companies is
subordinate to that Of individuals the mann cement
and control of portion OF the public funds is delepa
ted to an authority unknown to the Constitution and
beyond tho supervision of constituents: if superb
or, its officers and agents will be constantly exposed
to imputaions OF favoritlsm and oppression. Direct
prejudice to the public interest, ais alienation of
the affections and respect Of portions of the people
may therefore, IN addition to the general dscrcdt re-
sultng to the Government from ombs rlxino with it's
constituents in pecunary speculations be looked for
as the probable fruit Of such associations IL ia no
answOto this objection to say that the extern, of
consequences like these cannot be great from linn.
tied and small number Of investments, because oxpe-
rence IN other matters teaches Ill., and we are moi at
liberty to disregard its admonitions, that unless an
entire stop be put to them il will soon be impossible
to prevent their accumulation, until they are spread
over the whole connfry, and made to embrace many
ofthe private and appropriate concerns of individuals
The power which the General Government Womb
acquire within the several States by becoming the
principal stakeholder in corporations controlling eve
ry canal and each SIXTY or hundred miles Of every
important road and giving proporonate vote in ali
their elections, Is almost inconceivable, and. in nv
view, dangerous to the liberties Of the peopl..
This mode Of aiding such works is, also in its
nature, deceptive and many cases conducive to i'm
providence in the administration of the national funds,
Appropriations will be obtained with much create
facility, and granted with less security To the public
interest, when :he measure is thus disguised, than
when definite and direct expenditures Of money are