Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-12-10

our foreign commerce anu Navigation tDat ne
does who resides 10 a maritime State. Local
expenditures have not, Of themselves, a cor
respondent operation.
From a bill making direct appropriations
for such objects, | should not have withheld
my assent. The one now returned does so
in several particulars. but It also c~ontaios sp
preparations for surveys of a local character,
which I cannot approve. II gives me, salts
faction TO find that no serious inconvenience
has arisen from my Withholding my approval
from this bill nor Wilt, l trust, be cause Of
regret that an opportunity will be thereby af
forded for Congress 10 review its provisions
under circumstances better calculated for full
investigation than ihose under which j: vas
passed.
In speaking ofdirect appropriations. I mean
not to include a practice which has obtained
to some extent, and TO which | have, in one
instance, in a different capacity, given my as.
senl--that Of subscribing TO the stock of pri
yate associations. Positive experience, and
a more thorough consideration OF The subject,
have convinced me OF the improperly as well
as iaexpediency Of such investments. All
improvements effected by the funds of the
nation for general use should be open to the
enjoyment OF all our fellow citizens, exempt
from the payment Of tolls, or any imposition
of that character The practice of thus
| minglipg the concerns of the Government
with those OF the States or Of individuals, is
Inconsistent With the object Of its institution
and highly impoiitic Tie successful opera
tIcn OF the federal system can only be pre-
served BY coufiDing 1t TO the few and simple,
but yet important objects for which it was de-
signed
A different practice, II ailowed to progress,
would ultimately chafge the character Of this
Government, BY consolidating into one the
general and State Governments, which were
intended 10 be kept forever distinct | can
not perceive how bills au,horising such sub
scfiptions can be others Use regarded than as
bills for revenue, and consequently subject
to the rule in thai respect prescribed b, the
Constitution. II The interest OF the govern.
ment in private companies is subordinate to
that Of individuals, the management and con.
troll of a portion of the public funds is dele
gated TO an authority unknown to the Consti.
tuition, and beyond the supervision of our
constituents II superior, its officers and a
gents viii be constantly exposed 10 inputa
items Of fasofiiism or oppression. Direct
prejudice to public interest, Or an alienation
VI II HtlNS'i6'lo ath iNsDNNt VI IOtt VI
the people, may, therefore. in addition to the
general discredit resulting TO The Govern.
rent from embafking with lis constituents in
pecunIary specula,ions. be looked for as the |
probable fruitsof such associations. 1t IS no
ans er TO this objection to say hat the exten, |
OF consequences like these cannot be grea,
from a limited and small number of invest.
ments, because experience in other matters
tAarIep 40 .al .. 49, - -. -
gard its 4dmoni,ions, that, unless an entire
stop be put 10 them, it will soon be impossi-
bic to prevent Their accumulation, until they
are spread over the whole country, and made |
o.embrace many ns the private and appro-
pirate concerns of individuals.
yhe power which the General Government
would acquire within the several S,al1s by |
becoming the principal stpckiiolder incerpos
rstions. controlling every cansI and each III.
ty or hundred miles Of every important road.
and giving q proportioDaie vote in all their e.
i~ections, is almost uncomfortable, and. in my
view, dangerous 10 the liberties of the peo- |
pie.
This mode OF aiding such works is, also, in
i's nature. deceptive, and in many cases con-
ducive TO i~mprov,dence in the administration
OF the national funds. Appropriations will
be obtained with much greater facility. and
granted with less security to The public inter-
esf, when the measure is thus Disguised, than
when definite and direct expenditures of mo-
ney are asked fer Tie Interests of the ia
'ion would doubtless be better served by a
vo'dlng all such indirect modes of aiding par
ucolaf objects In a Government like ours,
more especially, should all public acts be, AS
far as practicable, simple. undisguised, and
ln'e'iig'ble, thai they may become fit subjects
tor the appreciation or snimadyersion OF the
people The bill auihorising a subscription
to The Louisville and Portland canal affords a
striking illustration of The d ficnlly uf with.
holding neutrality-suspicious. for the same
obJect,when the FIRST erroneous step has been
taken by ins'itutipg a partnership between
the Government and private companies. Ii
proposes a third subscription on the part OF
the United States, when each preceding one
was at The lime REGARDED as the extent ofthe
aid which Government was to render TO that
work and the accompanying bill for light
houses, &c contains an appropriation for a
survey OF the bed tf the river, with a view
10 lis Improvement, by removing the obstruc-
ton which the canal is designed TO avoid
This Improvement, if successful, would af
ford a tree passage to the river, and render
he canal entirely useless. To such improyi.
dence is The course Of legislation subject. IN
relation to internal improvements on local
matters, even with the best intentions on the
part ct Congress,
Although the motives which have inauen.
ced me in this matter may be already suffi.
GENTLY stated, | am, nevertheless, induced b,
IT'S Importance to add a few observations of a
general character
In my objections TO the bill authorship sub.