Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-01

of money is concerned they present the principle in its
tmost imposing aspect No less than twenty three diff
ferent have been passed through all the forms oft
Const'ution spproprising upwards Of two millions aud
half OF do lars out OF the National Treasury in sup
port OF that improvements with the appreciation Of every
President Of the United States Including my
since its commencement
independently of the sanction given appropriations
ior the cumberland and other roads and Objects under
this power, the administration OF Mr. adison char
actrsed by act which furnishes the strongest evidence
ot his opinion Of its extent bill passed through
both Houses oil Congress, and presented for his approval
setng apart and pedgng certain funds for constructing
roads and canals, and improving the navigation OF wa
ter courses in order to facate promote, and give
cury to internal commerce among the several States;
and to render easy, and less expensive the means
and provisions for the common Defence Regarding
the bill as asserting power in the Federal Government
to construct roads and canals within the limits OF the
States in which they made he objected its pas
sage, on the ground Of its unconstutionay, declaring
that the assentof the respective States the mode pro-
vided by the BILL could confer the power ques-
toD that the only i'm which the consent al d
cession OF particular States extend the power
Congress, are those specified and provided for i'm the
Constitution, and superadding TO the avowas of his
opinion, that ga restriction of the power provide for
the common defence and general welfare, cases which
are TO be provided for by the expenditure OF
still leave within the legislative power of Congress- all
the great most important measures of MT mo-
ney being the ordinary and necessary of carry
Ing them into execution" have not been able
sder these declarations in any other point OF view than
asa concession that the light of appropriation is Ii
mited by the power TO carry into effect the for
which the money asked was formerly commended.
The views OF Mr.. Monroe upon this subject not
left to inference. During his administrator a bill was
passed through both Houses of Congress, comforting
the Jurisdiction and prescribing the mode by which the
Federal Government should exercise il in the of
the Cumberland Road He returned il with objections
to its passage and in assign ng the took occasion
that in the early stages of the Government he had
Inclined to the construction that had right 10 ex.
pend money except in the performance of acts auhoriz
ed by the other specific grants of power according TO
strict construction OF them; but that further reec
hQp nj hal, IL.
that his opinion then was, "hat Congress have an UNI
limited power TO raise money! and that in its appropria
ton, they have discretionary power, restricted only
by the duty to appropriate 1t TO purposes of COM
mon defence and OF general, not local, NATIONAL not
State beneht;" and this avowed TO be tho gov
ernng principle through the residue of his admins
ration The views Of the last administration are of
such recent date as TO render particular reference
them unnecessary. 1t is well-known that the appro-
priatng power, to the utmost extent which had been
claimed Tor it, in relation TO internal improvements was
fully recognized and exercised by ii.
This brief reference TO known facts, will be sufficient
to show the difficulty if not impactcability, of bring
ing back the operations OF the Government the
struchon OF the Constitution set up in 1885, assuming
that to be its true reading in relation the power I'M
der consideration: thus giving admonory proof of
the force OF implication, and the necessity of guarding
the Constitution with seepess vigilance against
thority oil precedents which have the sanction of its
most plainly defined powers For, although il is the
duty OF all to look 10 that sacred instrument instead of
The statue book TO repudate at all times encroach-
mens upon its spirit which too apt 10 be effected by
the councture oil peculiar and facilitating circum
Stances not less true, that the public good the
nature OF political institutions require that indvidu
al differences should yield well settled acquescence
OF the people and confeeraed authorities i'm partic-
lar constructions of the Constitution on doubtful points
Not to concede this much TO the spirit of insti-
lions, weud impair their stability and defeat the OBJ
Jects OF the Constitution itself.
The bill before me does call for a more definite
opinion upon the particular circumstances which will
warrant appropriations, of money by Congress, aid
works OF internal Improvement for although the extern
beyOnu
ryng into eject the object for which is approp aed
has, as we have seen been long claimed and exercised
Dy the Federal government yet such grants have al
ways been profcssedy under the control Of the general
principle that the works which might be thus aided
should be 'of general, not local national, Sate
character disregard of this distinction would of ne
cessity lead TO the subverson of the federal system
That this is unsafe one, arbitrary in its nature
and liable, consequently 10 great abuses is obvious
TO require the confirmation of experience Ii is how
ever, sufficiently definite and imperative TO my mind,
to forbid my appreciation of any bill having the
ter OF the one under consideration have given to lis
provisions all the reflection demanded by just re gard
for the interests OF those Of our have
desired its passage and by the respect which due to
coordinate branch of the Government; but | ain not
able to view il in any other light than measure of
purely local character; it can be considered nation
al that no further distinction between the appropriate
duties OF the General and State Government need be
attempcd for there be local interest that may not
with equal propriety be denomnatcd national. 1t has
no connection with any established system of improve
fnents; is exclusively within the limits of State start
Ing at point the Ohio river, and running sixty
miles TO an interior town; and far the State is
interested, comforting partial instead of general advana-
Ses.
Considering the magnitude and importance Of the
power and the embarrassments to which, from the very
nature oil the thing, lis exercise must, necessarily, be
suhjscted; the real friends of internal Improvement
ought not to be willing TO conhde il TO accident and
chance. VIVA, is properly national in ts character or
otherwise is inquiry which is often extremely diff.
cult Of solution. The appropriations OF year, for
an object which IL considered national may nder-
cd Dugatory by the refusal OF a succeeding Congress
TO continue the work the ground that IL is local No
aid be derived from the Intervention of cor pors-
tions. The question regards the character Of the work
not that OF those by whom is 10 he accom- -hed
Notwithstanding the Union Of Tho Government with
the ccrporaon by whose immediate agency any work
etll remain is it national and conducive the
OF the whole. local and oper ting only The advan
tage Of portion Of the Union
But, although, might not feel il TO he my official
duty to interrose the Executive Veto TO The passage Ct
bill sppropaiing money for the construction If such
works, authorised by the STATES ard are national
in their character, do wi TO he under,tood as
pressing opinion, thai ii is expsdient t, time for
the General Government TO embark in a sysfem of this
kind, and anxious that my constituents should be pos.
sessed OF my views on Nis, well all other sub
Jects, which they have committed 10 discretion,
shall state them frankly and briefly. Besides MANY mi
considerations, there two prominent views of
the subject, which have made deep impression upon
my mind. which think well emitted 10 your sell
Gus attention, an will, hope, be maurely weighed by
the people.
fiom the official communication submitted TO you
IL appears, that no advsre and unforeseen ingen.
cy happens in our foreign relations, md 10 unusual
diversion be made Of The iunds set spart for The p,y
NAla