Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-29

-t.p al TIC iCuOAoA S'2tNh' 1"oN WI
so'e' ~ rnsafe one, arbitrary in its nature, and
~ 10 consequently, to great abuses, is too OBJ
LIZ - reoutre the confirmation OF experience.
NH S,,eyer. sufficiently definite and impera-
~ wy mind. to forbid my appreciation of any
nc The character of the one under cOnsi-
al have given to its provisions all the
-, demanded By a Just regard for the int
4 those Of our fellow citizens who have de-
=. n,s,age, and by the respect which Is due
|sa orlinate branch of the Government; but
~, able TO view 1t In any other light than as
'l~ a,.or, Of purely local character; or if it can
adhered naSanal, that no further distinc-
tween the appropriate duties Of the Gene
I'D State Government, need be attempted;
@,rs can be no local interest that may not
y, - oonaI p%ropriety be denominated NATIONAL
.b,S no connection with any established system
.,.,,p,ements: Is exclusively within the limits
3, State. starting at a point on the Ohio river,
r,9rina out sixty miles to an interior town;
-l even as far as the State is Interested, con-
ING partial instead Of general advantages.
r,9,niering the magnitude and Importance of
rovpr. and the embarrassuents to winch,
.s he very nature of the thing, its exercise
,,.. necessarily, be subjected; the cal friends
internal Improvement ought not to he willing
.,-,ile it to accident and chance. What is
,a,,ry Rafi0ad IN its character. or otherwise.
an inquiry which is often extremely difficult
+ g[u,i5n. The appropriations of one year.
~ an object which is considered national, may
- rendered nugatOry. by the refusal Of a sue
.ssEag Congress to continue the work, on the
,,rrd that /, is local. No aid can be derived
;oo the intervention of corporations. The
,-s,,ion regards the character of the work, not
arr Of those bv whom it is to be accomplished.
Notwithstanding the union of the Government
yb the corporation, by whose immediate asen-
, auy work Of internal improvement Is carried
d. he inquiry will still remain, is it national
nd conducive to the benefit of the whole, or To-
a. aud operating only to the advantage of a por-
.ca Of the Union.
Bp,, although | might not feel it TO be my Of
ssaIduty 10 iaterpose the executive veto, to the
a,,,ce of a bill appropriating money for the
Instruction of such works, as are authorized BY
IN, States. and are national in their character, |
ID 10, wish to Ge understood as expressing an
ym7ioa. that ii is expedient at this time. for the
General Government 20 embark IN a system OF
his kind, and anxious that my constituents should
D. possessed of my views, on this, as we'll as
N all other subjects. which they have committed
20 NV discretion, I shall state them frankly and
briefly. Besides many minor considerations,
there are two prominent views OF the subject,
which have made 4 dsep impression upon my
mad. which, / think, are well entitled to your
serious attention. and Will, hope, be maturely
weighed bv the people.
From the official communication submitted TO
yOl,i it appears, that if no adverse and unforeseen
contingency happens in our foreign relations, and
10 unusual diversion be made of the funds set
apart for the paymeut of the national debt, we
nav look with Confidence tots entire extinguiSh-
ment in the short period { four years. The ex-
tent 70 which this pleasing anticipation is de-
pendent upon the policy, which may be pursued
IN relation 10 measures, OF the chatacter OF the
one. now under consideration, must be obvious
70 all, and equally so, that the events OF the pre-
sent session are well calculated to awaken pub
he SOlicitude upon the subject. By the state
ment from the Treasury Department, and those
from the Clerks of the Senate and House Of Rep
reseutatives, herewith submitted, it appears that
he bills which have passed into laws, and those
which, in all probability, will pass before the adj
pIgnsent Of Congress, anticipate appropriations
which, with the ordinary expenditures for the
support Of Government, will exceed cOnsldera-
Dis the amount in the Treasury for the year 1880.
Thus whilst we are diminishing the revenue by a
pdlction Of the duties on tea. coffee. and cocoa,
he appropriations for internal improvement are
increasing beyond the available means of the
Treasury: and if to this calculation be added the
amount contained in bills which are pending be-
fore the two Houses, it may be safely atticmed,
hli ten millions of dollars, would not make up
a~eeyceSs over the Treasury receipts, unless the
prneat If the national debt b. postponed. and
tie means now pledged to that object applied to
bp,, rnsmcrated in these bills. Without a
vel ru,ated system Of internal improvement,
TIL, e,hlusting mode of appropriation is not like
Is 20 D. avoided, aud the plain consequence
nG' BE-, either a continuslc zee Of the national debt,
o'ary>as to additional taxes.
Ahhp;.b many Of the States. with laudaole
pd, anu under the influence of an enlightened
N,cy, are successfully applying their separate
't1r', 10 works Of this character, the desire 70 en-
Isl 3e aid Of the General Government IN the
oas.rsc,lon of such as from their nature ought
10 devgiyc upon il. aud to which the means OF the
Individual States are inadequate, is both ration
al aad 1~atriotic; and. if that desire is not gratih,
ID now, it does MT follow that 1t never will be.
The general inteii zenCe aud public spirit OF the