The Arkansas advocate., 1831-01-05

vail myself of this early opportunity to
 return them 10 the Houses in which they respectively originated, with the reasons which, after mature dclbera- ton, compel me to withhold my approy- al.
 The practieesof defraying out of the Treasury of the United States the ex- penses incurred by the establishment and support of Lighthouses, beaeons, buoys, and public piers, within the bays, lnlets, harbors, and the ports of the U- nited States, to render the navigation thereof safe and easy, is coeval with the adoption of the Constitution, and has heen continued without Interruption CT dispute.
 As our foreign commerce increased, and was extended into the interior of the country by the establishment ports of entry and delivery upon our naviga- ble rivers, the sphere of those expendi- lures received corresponding enlarge ment. Lighthouses, beacons, buoys, public piers, and the removal Of sand bars, sawyers, and other partial or tenn porary impediments in the navigable rivers and harbors which were embrac- ed in the revenue districts from time to time established by law, were authoriz- ed upon the same principle, and the ex- pense defrayed in the same manncr.- That these expenses have at times been cxtravagant and disproportionate, isyery probable. Tine circumstances under which they are incurred, are well cal to ie Id to unless their application, subjected to the closest scrutiny. The local advantages arising from the disbursement of public money too frequently, it is to be feared, invite appropriations for objects of this char acterthat are neither necessary nor use ful. The number of lighthouse keep CTS is already very large, and the bill before me proposes to add to t tifty-one snore. of various descriptions. From representations upon the subject which are understood to be entitled to respect, am induced to believe that there has not only been great improvidence in the past expenditures of the Government upon these objects, but that the seeuri- y of navigation has, in some instances, been diminished by tue multiplication of Lighthouses, and consequent change of lights npon the coast. It is in this, sls ia other respects, our duty to avoid all unnecessary expense, as wei IS ev- I {. by the public service. But, in the dis charge of that duty in this particular, It must not be forgotten that, ln relation to our foreign commerce, the burden and benefit of protecting and accommo- dating it necessarily go togethsr, and must do 90 as long as the public revenue IS drawn from the people through the custom-house. It is indisputable that whatever gives facility and security to navigation, cheapens imports; and ali who consume them are alike interested an whatever produces this effect. lfthey consume, they ought, as they now do, topay; otherwise, they do not pay.-- The consumer in the most inland State derives the same advantage from every necessary and prudent expenditure for the facility of our foreign commerce and navigation that he does who resides in maritime State. Local expenditures have not, of themselves, a correspond ent operation.
 From bill making direct appropria- lions for such objects, Ishould not have withheld my assent. The one now re- turned does so in several particulars, burit also contains appropriations for surveys ofa localcharacter, which, can. not approve. Ii gives me satisfaction to find that no serious inconvenience has arisen from withholding my approval 'fromthis bill; nor will it, ltrust, be cause of regret that an opportunity will be Whereby afforded for Congress to review its provisions under circumstances bet fer calculated for full investigation than those under which 1t was passed.
 In speaking of direct appropriations, | mean not to include a practice which has obtained to some extent, and to ! which have, in one instance, in diff seseas capacity, given my assent-tilat of subscribing to the stock of private associations. Positive experience, and ,a more thorough consideration of the ,suhiect, have convinced me ofthe impro- priety as we'll as inexpediency of such investments. All improvements effect ed by the funds of the nation for gen. II Il n T II