Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-12-11

! treasury TO provide BY contracts, with N
: APPRECIATION OF the president, for rebuildin
when necessary and keeping in good re-
pair, the light houses. bescons, buoys. an,
public piers In the several states. and 70
furnishing them with supplies. Appropri
atoms for similar objects have been con
ilnued from that time to the present with
out interruption or dispute, As natura
consequence OF the increase and extension
Of our foreign commerce, ports of entry
and delivery have been multiplied add IS.
tabllshed. not only upon the sea-board, bui
IN the interior of the country, upon our
lakes aud navisable rivers The conveni
ence and safety of this commerce have
led to the gradual extension or these ex.
pendltures 10 the erection Of light houses,
the placing, planting. and sinking oil
buoys, beacons, and piers, and TO the re-
moVal Of partial and temporary obstruc
tons in our navigable rivers, and in the
harbours upon our great lakes, rs well al
on the sea.board. Although ! have ex-
pressed to congress my apprehension that
these expenditures have sometimes been
extravagant and disproporiiona,e to the
advantages 10 be derived from them, |
have not felt it 10 be my duty TO refuse my
assent TO bills containing them, and have
contenied myself TO follow in this respect
In the footsteps Of all my predecessors
Sensible, however, from experience and
observation, of the great abuses TO which
the unrestricted exercise OF this authority
by congress was exposed, | have prescri
bed limitation for the government of my
own conduct, by which expenditures Of
this character are confined to places below
the ports of entry or delivery established
by law. am very sensible that this re-
striction is not as sa,isfactor as could be
desired, and that much embarras sment
may be caused to the executive depart
ment in its execution, by appropriation MS
for remote, and not well understood ob
jects. But AS neither my own reflections,
nor the lights which | NAV properly derive
from other sources, have supplied me
a better. shall continue TO apply my
best exertions TO faithful application Of
the rule upon which it is founded. sin.
cerely regret that could not give my as
sent TO the bill entitled 4" an act 10 improve
the navigation Of the Wabash river J" but
| could not have done so without receding
from the ground which have upon the
fullest consideration, taken upon this sub
ject, and of which congress has been
heretofore apprised. and without throwing
the subject again open to abuses which no
good citizen, entertaining my opinions
could desire.
rely upon the intelligence aud candour
Of my fellow citizens. in whose liberal in
diligence have already SO largely parii
cipated: for a correct appreciation Of my
motives in interposing, as have done, on
this, and other occasions, checks to q
course of legislation which, without, in the
slightest degree, calling in question the
motives Of others, | consider as sanction
ing improper and unconstitutional expen
diiures of public treasure.
am not hostile TO internal improve
ments, and wish TO see them extended TO
every part of the country. But am full
ly persuaded, if they are not commenced
10 proper manner, confined to proper
objects, and conducted under an author
ity generally conceded to be rightful, thai
successful prosecution of them canno
be reasonably expected. The attempt
viii meet with resistance where il might
otherwise receive support, and instead OF
Strengthening the bonds of our confedera
Icy it will only multiply and aggrayate the
causes of disunion.
ANDREW JACKSON.
December !, 1884.