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

80 20 ,etefna n1provennents on LEGAL matters, even
~sn ne best inteatlnns ca che part Of Congress.
"a soaea the nslives which have inu~nced mo in
.nas natter may DO already sufficiently stated, am,
nesenheies, induced BY is Importance to add few
observations OF general character.
IN my objections tn tho bill authorizing sub.crip-
IONS 10 the Msysville and Rockville Road Compa-
expressed my views fully in regard to the pow
.. OF congress to construct roads aud canals within
S.Ne, or GO appropriate money for improvements of
,oSai character. at the Same time minated my
se"eI tnat inc right to make appropriations for such
were OF natinnal character had been so general
acted upon and 90 long acquiesced in by the Fed !
c1ai and STATE Governments, and the constituents Of
a. 10 Justify its exercise the ground of
vcrtheless, highly exp"dicnt that opprcpr;a,ions
even OF that character, should, with tho exception
made at the time, be deferred until the National deb,
10 paid and that, in tho meanwhile. some general
ought to DO established.
These suggestions were not necessary to the de
cislon OF the question then before me, and were
readily admit intended to awaken the attention. and
draw forth the opinions and observ aons Of our con-
stituents' upon subject Of the highest Importance
to their interests. and destined to exert a power
u influence upon the future operations Of our polit-
teal system. know of no tribunal 10 which public
man IN TINS country. in q case Of doubt and difficult
~, can appeal with greater advantage or more pro-
priety than the Judgment Of the peoples and although
must necessarily, in the discharge of my official du-
tics be governed by tho die ntrs of nv own ,udo
msnt, have no desire to conceal my apxions wish
tn confirm, as tar as can, the views Of those for
whom act.
All irregular expressions of public opinion arc OF
necessity attended with some doubt as to their
racy, but, making full allowances on that account
cannot think deceive myself in believing that the
acts referred to, as well the suggestions which I
allowed myself to mako in relation to their bearing
upon the future operations ut the Government have
been approved by the great body of he people That
those whose immediate pecunsry interests are TO be
effected by proposed expenditures should shrink from
the application of rule which prefers their more
general and remote in 'ercsts to those which are
personal and immediate. is tn be expected. But ey
such objections must from the nature Of our popula.
tom he but temporary in their Duration and it were
otherwise, our course should be the same. for tho
time IS yet hope, far dist ant when those entrs ed
with power I" be exercised for the good of the whole
Will consider 1t either honest wise to purchase 10,
gal favor at the sacrifice of principle and the general
good.
So understanding public sentiment, and thoroughly
satisfied that he best interests of common coun
try imperiously require that the course which have
recommended in this regard should be adopted,
have, upon the most mature consideration def crmn
ed TO pursue it.
1t is due to candor, well to my owa feelings;
that should express the reluctance and anxiety
which must at all times experience in exercising
The undoub:ed right Of the Executive to withhold his
assent from bills on other grounds than their uncon
stitutionaty. That this right should not be exerc
sed on slight occasions, all will admit 1t is only in
matters OF deep interest when the principle involved
IL
fractions OF the Constitution itself that such atom
can be expected to meet with the appreciation of the
people. Such an occasion do conscientious believe
the present to be. In the discharge of this delicate
ana highly responsible duty, am sustained by the
rejection that the exercise of this power has been
deemed consistent with the obligation Of official duty
by several Of my predecessors; and by the
too' that whatever liberal instf ntons may have to
rear from the encroachments Of Executive power
which has been every where the cause of so much
strife aud bloody contention but little Danger is to
be apprehended from precedent by which that nu
thority denies itself the exercise of powers that
bring in their train influence and patronage Of
great extent and thus excludes the operation of Der
sora interests, every where the bane OF official trust
derive, too, no small degree of satisfaction from the
reflection that, II have mistaken the interests and
wishes ct the people, the Constitution affords the
means of soon redressng the error By selecting for
the place their favsr has bestowed upon me- citizen
whose opinions may accord with their own. trust
in the mean time, the interests of the nation will be
saved from prejudice, by rigid application of that
portion Of the public funds which might otherwise be
applied to different objects to that highest of all our
obligations, the payment of the public debt, and nm
opportunity be afforded for the adoption of some bot
ter rule for the operations of the Government in this
matter than any which has hitherto been acted upon
Profoundly impressed with the importance of the
subject, not merely as relates TO the general pros
perty Of the country but to the safety the federal
system. cannot avoid repeating my earnest hope that
oil good Citizens who take q proper interest in the
success and harmony of our admirable political inst
auo WIN iHCdpuOle Oh QeSiTlngIU convert
opposite stale of things into means for he rrnt
cation of personal ambition, will laying aside minor
considerations. and dscardng local preJudices unite
their honest exertions to establish fixed general
principle, which shall be calculated to effect the
greatest extent Of public good, in regard 10 the sub.
Ject OF internal Improvement and afford the least
grnundfor sectional discomfort
The general ground ri my objection to local ap-
propriations has been heretofore expressed; and I
shall endeavor to avoid repetition of what has been
already urgedthe Importance of aiming the State
sov0egntes rs far NJ is consistent with the riphtfu
action OF the Federal Government and of pre- serving
the greatest attainable harmony between them
will now only add an expression Of my conviction
conviction which every days experience serves TO
confirm-that the POLITICAL creed which inculcaes the
pursuit Of those great objects paramount duty is
the true faith. and one to which are mainly in
debted for the present ofthe entire system
to which must alone lo5k for its future stability
That there diversties in the interests Of the
different Stsies which compose this extensive confed-
crocy, must be admitted Those diversitics arisnr
from situation, climate, population, and pursuit, are
doubtless as IL is natural they should be- oreatv rx