Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-12-10

IL
from tho nature of our population, be bur
temporary in their duration and if il were
otherwise, our course should be the Same
Tor the time is yet, hope, far distant, whom
those entrusted with power to be exercised
Tor the good ofthe whole will consider it eli
Their honest or wise to purchase local favor
at the sacrifice of principle and the general
good.
So understanding public sentiment, and
thoroughly satisfied that the hest interests
OF our common country imperiously require
that the course which 1 have recommended
IN this regard should DO adopted, have up.
on the most mature consideration, determine
ed to pursue it.
IL is due to candor, as we'll as to my own
ieeiings, That should express the reluctance
and anxiety which must at all times expe.
renee IN exercising the undoubted right of
the Executive to withhold his assent from
bills on the grounds of their unconsttution-
atty That this right should not be exercised
on slight occasions, all will admit. 1t is on
y In matters of deep interest, when the prin-
ciPle involved may be justly regarded as
next IN Importance to infraciions Of the Com
sutution itself, that such step can BIO ex-
pected to meet with the appreciation of the
people. Such an occasion do conscientious
~ believe the present tobe. In the dis
| charge OF this delicate and highly responsible
duty, am sustained by the reflection that.
the exercise of this power has been deemed
| consistent with the obligation Of official duty
by several of my predecessors and by the
persuasion, too, that, whatever liberal instr
tutions may have to fear from the encroach-
ments OF Executive power, which has BEEN
every where the cause of so much strife and
bloody contention. but little danger is to be-
apPrehcndcd from precedent by which
that authority denies TO itself the exercise of
powers that bring in their influence and pat,
nj ri a ri nd h.ia inc ,,Aa he~
operation of personal interests, every where
the bane of official trust. derive, too, no
small degree of satisfaction from the rehec-
ton, that, If 1 have mistaken the interests
and wishes of the people, the Constitution af.
lords the means of soon redressing the error,
by selecting for the place that favor has be-
| slowed upon me citizen whose opinions
may accord with thar OWE. trust, in tho
mean time, the interests of the nation viii DO
saved from prejudice, by rigid appli cation
OF that portion of Liie public funds which
might otherwise be applied to different OBJ
Jects to that highest ofall our obligations, the
payment of the public debt, and an opportu-
nifty be afforded for the adoption of some bet
ter rule for the operations of the Govern
ment in this matter than any which has hith-
| erto been acted upon.
Profoundly impressed with the Importance
OF the subject, not merely as it relates to tho
general prosperity of tho country but to the
safety Oft the federal system, l cannot avoid re-.
peating my earnest hope that all citizens,
who take n proper interest in the success
and harmony of our admirable political in.
| situations, and who are incapable of desiring
to convert an opposite state of things in 70
means for the qualification of personal ambi.
ton, will, laying aside minor considerations,
and dIscardlng local prejudices, unite their
honest exertions to establish some fixed gen.
eral principle, which shall be calculated to
A, effect the greatest extent of public good in re.
/ gard to the subject of internal Improvement,
| and afford the least ground for sectional dis.
content
J The ground of my objection to local
/ appropriations has been heretofore expressed
and shall endeavor to avoid q repetition of
what has been urged-the Importance Of
sustaining the State sovereignties, as far as
is consistent with the rightful action of the
Federal Government, and of preserving tho
greatest attainable harmony between them.
! will now only add an expression of my con-
victiOn--a conviction which every days ex-
! perience serves to confirm-that the political
creed which ihculcates the pursuit of those
great objects as paramount duty is the
/ true faith, and one to which we are mainly
| indebted Cor the present success of the en-
ire system, and to which we must alone
ook for It's future stability.
| That there are diversites in the interests
| OF the different States which compose this
extensive confederacy, must be admitted.
| Those diversities arising from situation, eli
mate. population, and pursuits, are doubtless,
as 1T is natural they should be, greatly ex.
aggerated by jealousies, and that spirit Of
rivalry so iDseparabIe from neighboring com.
| munties. These circumstances make it the
duty OF those who are entrusted with the
management of its affairs to neutralse their
effects far as practicable, by making the
beneficial operation in the Federal Govern
ment as equal and equitable among the sew
eral States as can be done consistently with
the great ends gifts institution.
1t is only necessary to refer to undoubted
facts, TO see how far the acts of the Govern
ment upon the subject under consideration
have fallen short OF this object. The expen-
ditures heretofore made for internal improve
Dents amount to upwards of FIVE millions of
dollars, and have been distributed in very I'M
equal proportions amongst the States. The
estimated expense of works of which surveys
have been made, together with that of others
projected and partially surveyed, amounts to
more than ninety six millions of dollars.
That such improvements, on account of
particular circumstances, may be more
advantageously and beDeficially made N
some States than in others, is doubtless true
but that they are of character which should
prevent an equitable distribution of the funds
amongst the several States, it is not to be
concealed. The want of this equitable
distribution cannot fail to prove prolific
source of irritation amongst the States.
We have it constantly before our eyes,
that professions of superior zeal in the cause
ofinternal improvement, and disposition
20 lavish the funds upon objects of that
character, are daily and earnestly put forth
by aspirants to power, as constituting the
highest claims TO the confidence Of the
people. Would not this be strange. under
such circumstances, and in times of great
excitement, that grants of this description
should find their mott yes in objects which
may not accord with the public good ?
Those who have had occasion to see and
regret the indication of sinister influence in
these matters in past times, have been more
fortunate than myself in, their observation
OF the cou rse of public affairs. Ito these