Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-01-01

as neXpedlency Of such investments =
 All improvements effected by the funds If 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 minelinp
 the concerns of the Government with those of the States or of individuals is inconsistent
 with the object of its institution, and highly
 impolitic. The successful operation off Fe- deral system can only be preserved by con
 lining it to the few simple, but yet impor-
 tant objects for which it was designed.
 A different practice, if ifallowedto progress,
 would ultimately change the character of this Government, by consolidating into ones the General and State Governments, which were
 intended to be kept forever distinct. I can
 not perceive how bills authorizing such sub
 scriptions can be otherwise regarded than as
 bills for revenue, and consequently subject to
 the rule in that respect prescribed by the Con-
 stitutnn. If the ip crest of the Government in private companies is subordinate to that of individuals, the management and control of portion of the public funds is delegated to an Authority unkpaw1 - ti z sas-;t,7+ir7y ---l beyond the Supervision of our constituents; If superior, Its officers and agents will be con- stantly exposed to imputations of favoritism
 and oppression Direct prejudice to the pub lie interest, or an alienation of the affections and respect of portions of the people, may therefore, in addition to the general discredit resulting to the Government from en,barking
 with its constituents in pecuniary speculations
 be locked for as the probable fruit of such as
 sociations Itis no answer to this objection to
 say that the extent of consequences like these
 cannot be great from limited and small nnm-
 Der of investments: because experience in
 ether matters teaches us, and we are not at to H p1 itc ffrno that
 less an entire stop be put to them, it will soon
 be impossible to prevent their accumulation,
 until they are spread over the whole country,
 and made to embrace many of the private and
 appropriate concerns of individuals.
 The power which the General Government would acquire within the several States by
 becoming the principal stockholder in corpo- ratlons, controlling every canal, and each six
 ty or hundred niles of every important road, and giving a prop0rtionate vote in all their
 elections, is almost inconceivable, and, in my
 view, dangerops to the liberties of the people.
 This mode of aiding such works is, also, in its nature, deceptive, and ihmanY cases con
 ducive to improvidence in the administration
 of the national funds. Appropriations will be obtained with much greater facility, and gran
 ted with less security to the public interest,
 when the measure is thus disguised, than when definite and direct expenditures of mo- ney are asked for. The interests of the nation would doubtless be better served by avoiding
 all such indirect modes of aiding particular ob- ects. In Government like ours, more espe- cially, should all public acts be, as far as prac- tcable, simple, undisguised, and intelligble, that theymay become fit subjects for the ap- approbatAn oranimadversion of the people, Thebill authorizing subscription to the Lou
 sville and Portland canal affords striking il- ustraion of the difficulty of withholding addi- dtional appropriations for the same object,
 when the first erroneous step has been taken
 by inslitutinga partnership between the Go vernmehtand private companies. It proposes a
 third subscription on the part Of the U States,
 when each preceding one was at the time re-
 garded as the extent of the aid which Co.,
 vernment was to render to that work and the
 accompanying bill for lighthouses, SSc. con
 tains an appropriation for a survey of the bed
 of the river, with view to it's i'm provement,
 by removing the obstruction which the canal is designed to avold Ths improvement, il
 successful, would afford a free passage to the
 river, and render the canal entirely useless.
 To such improvidence is the course of legisla- ton subject, in relation to internal improve ments on local matters, even with the best in-
 tentions on the part of Congress.
 Although the motives which have inhuenc-
 ed me in this matter, may be already sufi-
 ciently stated, am nevertheless, induced by it's importance to add few observations oi
 a general character
 l In my objections to the bills authorizing subscriptions to the May and Rockville Road Companies, expressed my views fully in regard to the power of Congress to con struct roads and canals within State, or tc . appropriate money for Improvements of a To- cal character. l, at the same time, intimated my belief that the right to make appropria. , tions for such as were of national character : had been so generally acted upon, and so long acquesced in by the Federal and State Go , vernments, and the constituents of each, as tt justify its exercise on the ground of continued and uninterrupted usage; but that it was, ne , vertheless, highly expedient that appropra 5 tions even of that character, should, witt the exception made at the time, be deferred until the national debt is paid, and that, in the |, mean while, some general rule for the actioI s of the Government in that respect ought to be l established.
 : These suggestions were not necessary to the decision of the question then before me, and were, readily admit, intended to awaken the attention and draw forth the opinions-apd ob- 7 servations of cur constituents, upon d subjec of the highest importance to their interests
 ana one destined to exert powerful influence upon the future operations If four political sys- tenn. l.know of no tribunal to which pub- lie man in this country, in case of doubt and difficulty, Can appeal with greater advantage
 or more propriety, than the Judgement of the
 people; and although must necessarily, in
 the discharge of my official duties, be govern
 ed by the dictates of my own judgement,
 have no desire to conceal my anxious wish