The Arkansas advocate., 1830-07-07

been Proiessedly under the control of the general principle, that the works which might be thus aided, should be ," of a general, not local---national, not State character. A disregard of this distinction, would of necessity lead to the subversion of the federal system. That even this is an unsafe one, arbitrary in it's nature, ard liable, consequently to great abuses, is too obvious to require the confirmation of experience. 1t is, however sufficiently defniteand impera- tive to my mind, to forbid my approba- tion ol any bill having the character of the ono under consideration. ! have given to it's provisions all the reflection demanded by a justregard for the inter- ests Of those of our fellow citizens who have desired its passage, and by the res pect whlchisdu to oaco-ordinate branch of the Government; but l am not able to view it in any other light than as a measure of purely local character; or, lit can be considered national. that no further distinction between the appro- Propriate dutiesot the General and State 6oVermnents need be attempted: for there csin be flo local interest that may not with equalpropriety be edenominated national. It has 10 eonnexionwith any established system of improvements; is exclusively within the limits of State, starting at point on the Ohio river, and running out sixty miles to an interi- or town; and even as faras the State is interested, conierring partial instead of general advantages.
 Considering the magnitude and im- portance of the power, and the embar- fassments to which, from the very na- lure of the thing, it's exercise must, ne- eessarily be subjected, the real friends Of internal improvement oug lit ilott to ibe
 willing to confide 1t to accident and chance. What is properly national in
 its character, or otherwise, is an inquiry
 which is often extremely difficult of so-
 luton. The appropriations of one year,
 for an object which is considered na-
 tionai, may be rendered nugatory, by
 the refusal of a succeeding Congress to continue the work, on the ground that
 il is local. No aid can be derived from the intervention Of corporations. The question regards the character of the
 WorkE, not that oi those by whom 1t is to be accomplished. Notwithstanding the union of the government with the cor poratioi, by whose immediate agency any work of internal improvement is carried on, the inquiry will still remain --is 1t national and conducive to the benefit oi the whole-or local, and ope- rating only to the advantage of a DOT
 ton of the Union!
 But, although might not feel it to be
 my official duty to interpose the Execu-
 tive veto to the passage of bill, appro- priating money for the construc ton of such works as are authorized by the States, and are national ill their charac- ter, ] do not wish to be understood as expressing an opinion, that it is expedi- ent, at this time, for the General Gov- ernment to embark in system of this kind, and, anxious that my constituents should be possessed of my views on this, as well as on all other subjects which they may have committed to my discre- ton, shall state them briefly and frank ly. Besides many minor considerations, there are two prominent views of the subject which have made deep im- pression upon my mind, which, think, are well entitled to your serious atten- ton, and will, hope, be maturely weighed by the people.
 From the official communication sub- mitted to you, it appears, that, if no ad- verse and unforeseen contingency hap pens in our foreign relations, and no unusual diversion be made of the funds set apart fer the payment of the national debt, we may look with confidence to it's entire extinguishment in the short peri cd of four years. The extent to which this pleasing anticipation is dependant upon the policy which may be pursued in relation to measures of the character of the one now under consideration, must be obvious to all, and equally so, ttEa tic events tie present session, are well calculated to awaken public solici- tude upon the subject. By the state nent from the Treasury Department, and those from the Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives, here with submitted, it appears that the bills which have passed into laws, and those which, in ali probability, viii pass be fore the adjournment of Congress. anti