Litchfield enquirer., 1830-12-16

'.an act for making appropriation foF building flght-houses. light boats !hAAeons, and inonn- ments, placing bnoys, and for iEnnrOving haf- bOrs and directing surseys,' and the other. " An act tO authorize a snbscfiptiOn for stock in tlSes sEOSisville and Portland Canal Cornpa- n.y." we're submitted for my approval. It was nut possible; within gheIime allowed me, be-. fore the clOse ofthe session, to give these bills the consideration which was due to their cha racler and importance; .andl compelled to return them for that purpose. now avail myseI Gt this early opportunity to eturnthem to the Houses in whichJhpy fespectively ori. ginated, with the reasons which. alter mature deliberation. compel uue tolwithhold my stSs pFOval. efs 5tsf
 The practice ol ,lefFa y;ne out Sg iSs sf,.. suty of tie Unted Es M, w redby the establishment and supnOrt oflieht- houses, beacons, buoys. andpnbiic Diers. with Tn the bays, ihlets, harbofs, and ports of the United States, 10 render the navigation there of safe and easy, is coeval with the adoption 0f the COnstitution, and has been continued without interruption or dispute.
 As our foreign commerce increased, and was extended into the interior of the country by the establishment of ports of entry and de. livery upon our navigAble rivers, the sphere of those expenditures received c0rfeapnndine enlargement. Lighthouses, beacons, buVve,s public piers, and the removal of sand bars, sawyefs. and other partial or temporary im- pedments in the navigablc rivers and harbors which were embraced in the revenMe disiricts from time to time established by law, wrrS authorized upon the same prineiple. and the expense defraycd in the same mani1ef. That these expenses have at times been extravagant and disproportiOaate, Is very probable. The circumstances. under which they are incurred are well calculated to lead to such resultun- less their application is subjected to the closest scrutiny. The local advantages aris,ng from the disbursement of public money too free quently, it is to he feared invite apbropriaiions for objects of this character that are neither necessary nor useful. The number of light house keepers is already very large, and the bill before me proposes to add to 1t Anyone more, ofvario1s descriptions. From repfesen- tations upon the sHbjsct,w hich are nnderstOod to be entitled to respect. am induced to be- vidence in the past expenditures Ofi the Gov ernment upon these objects, but that the se- curity Of navigation has, in some instances, been diminished by the multiplication oflight- houses, and consequent change of lights, upon the coast. It Is in this, as in other respects, our duty to avoid Hll unncenssnry expenses.as we'll as every ihereasu Uf patronage not caiied forby the public service. Bnt.in the discharge of that duty in this particular, 1t must not be forgotten that, in relation to our foreign com merce, the burden and benefit of protecting and accommodating 1t necessarily go togeth- CT. and must do CD as long as the public rev. enue is drawn fro,n the people through tho custofn-house. It is indisputable that whatev- CT gives facility and security to navigation. chcapens imports; and all who consume them arc aliko interested in whatever produces this effect. If they consume. they ought, as they now do, to pay; otherwise they do not pay. The consumers in the most inland State de- rive inc same advantage from every necessn- " and prudent expenditure for the facility and security Of our foreign commerce and nayiga- ton that he does who resides in a maritime State. Local exnenditurss. have not, of thena- selves. correspondent opcrasion. <sr....'
 From bill making direct appfopriaiioRs for such objects, | should mt have withheld
 my assent. The one now returned does SO in
 several particulars, but it also contains appro4'
 priations for surveys ofa local character, which
 cannOt approve. It gives me satisfaction to
 find that no serious inconvenience has arisen
 from withholding my approval from this bill;
 nor will it, trust, he cause of regret that ap
 opportunity will be- thereby afforded for Con-
 gress to review its provisions under circum- HtdUCcS UcttGV CuIEuiAteu tOE tUu tuvSStb&a@Uu
 than those under which it was passed. ,
 In speaking of direct appropriations,I mean not to include practice which has obtained to some extent, and to which have, in one instance, in different capacity, given my as- sent-that of subscribing to the stock of pri- yate associations. Positive experience, and more thorough consideration of tho subject. have convinced me of the impropriety as well as ineXpedicncy of such investments. Allim- provementa effected by lhe funds of the nation for the general use should be open to inc en- joyment of our fellow citizens, exempt from the payment oftolls, or any imposition of that
 character. The practice ofthus mingling the
 concerns of the government with those of tho
 states or ofindividuals, is inconsistent with the
 object of its institution, and highly impoliiic.
 The successful operation of the federal system can only be preserved by confning 1t tO the
 few and simple, hut yet important objects for which t was designed. esse oaesst 4 different pi aetice, if allowed to progress,
 would ultimately change the character of this government, by consolidating into one the
 general and state gossfnmsnts, which were
 intended to be kept forever distinct. cannot
 perceive how bills authorizing such subscrip-
 tons can be otherwise regarded than as bilIA
 for revenue, and Consequently subject to the 1 rule in that respect prescribed by the Constr
 tuition, 1.-the interest of the g0ssrnment b \ sM :.- afv. AN.Ak Akoa