Litchfield enquirer., 1834-12-11

then sOlemnly, and, n was hoped, firmly es,ab- Iished In addition the dangers the constitution sprnging from the sources have stated, there has been which perhaps greater than all. allude tO the materials which this subject has afforded for s- mister appeals selfish feelings, and the opinion here ,ofore SO extensively entertained of it's adaptation the purposes of personal ambition. With such sIimu. lans is surprising that the acts and PretensiOns of the Federal Government in this behalf should sometimes have been carried to alarming extent. The questions which have arisen upon this subject have related
 lsl. To the power of making internal improvements within the limits of State. with the light of IerrtOri al jurisdiction, sufficient al least for preservation and use;
 such works when carried on by State or by a com pany in virtue of State authority, surreRderiOg the claim of jurisdiction; and
 3d. To the prorrety of appropriations for improve menus of particular cIass, viz: for ght-houses bea cons, bnoys puic pers and for the removal of sand bars sawyers, and other temporary and partial mpc- dime nts in DaVig gable rivers and harbnrs.
 The claims oi power frr the General Government upon each of these points certainly present matter of
 the deepest interest. The first is however of much the greatest importance iDasmuCh tn addition to the dangers of unequal aMsi ImDr"vident expenditures of public moneys, common [" al there is snperadded to that the conflicting jurisdictions of the respective goy prnments Federal ursticliOn al least o the extent | have stated, has been josIy regarded by its advo- caes ssary aprurIenant to the power in ques
 "n, fl that exists in the cons'n"n. That the most uiurons confcls would voiahy arise between fespecti, jurisdictions of the aud federal go- vernments, in the absence of prOvisioW marking out their respective boundaries, cannot be doubted. The local advantages to be obtained would induce the overlook in the beginning the dan- gers and difficulties which they migh uIlimately he exposed. The powers exerc,ssd by 'lre federal gov ernnlent would so"n be regarded with jealousy hy the state authorities, and originating as they must from implication or assump'on il would he impossible [" aflix 10 them certain and safe limits Opportunities and temptations to the assumption Of power mcnmpat ible with sovereignty would be increased, aWl those barriers which resist tae tendency of system towards consolidate" greatly weakened. The off cers and agents of the general government might not always have the discretion abstain from in,ermed ding with state concerns; and il they did they would not always esrape the suspicion of having done so- Collisions. and consequent irratIOns, would spring up that harmony which shouid ever exist between Ihe general government and each member of the c"niede racy would he frequently nlerrupied-a spiri, q! con- tentinn would he engendered-and the dangers of d- vision greatly multiplied.
 Ye; we all know that, no,wi,Ista ning these grave ohjections this dangefoHs dortrihe was as one time apparently proceeding is final establishment, with fearful rapdiiy. The desire to embark the federal government im works of internal mpro, preva,i- ed, in the highest degree, during the first session of the first Congress ihai had the honor in my prese", situation. When the bill authori+ing sul- scripon the par, of the United States for stock in the Maysvil!e and Lexington Turnpike Companies, passed the TWO Houses, there had been reported by the committees of Internal Improveme bills com- aining appropriations for such objects, exclusive of thuse for ,Ire Cumberland road, aud for harLors an6 light houses, tO the amount of about hundred and six millions of dollars. In this nmonnt included authority the Secretary oi the Treasury suhs cre for the stock of different companies to great extent, and the residue was principally for the direct con srucion of roads by this government. In addition these ojects, which had been presented ,o the Houses, under the sanction and recommendation of their respective committees on internal Improvement, there were then still pending before the committees, and in memorials 10 Congress presented, but not re- erred, different proj jPcts for works of similar char acter, the expense of which he es'ma,pd with certainly, bui must have exceeded one hundred mil- lions Ot tOsiSns.
 Regarding the bill authorizing subscrip- ton [" the stock of the Mays>iIlr and Lexing- ton Turnpike Company as the entering wedge of system which, however weak at first, might snon become strong enough {" rive the bands of the Union asunder, and believing that if its passage was acquirsctd in ny the Executive and the people. there would no' longer be any limitation upon the authority of the General Government in respect to inc ap- pr"Priafion of money for such objects, drrm-, ed it an imperative duty to withho"ld from it the Executive approval. Although, from the obviously local character "f tha, work,l might we'll have contented myself with refusal to approve the bill upon that ground, yet, srnsi- ble of the vital importance of the subject, and anxious that my views and opinions in regard to the whole matter, should be fully under stood by Congress, and my constituents, l felt it my duty to 2" further. l therefore embraced that early occasion to apprize Congress, that, in my opinion, the Constitution did not con- fer upon it the power tO authorize the cons struction of ordinary roads and canals. within the limits of State. and to say. respectfully, ,kat no bill, admitting such power. could re- crivr my official sanction. l did SO in the confident expectation that the speedy settle mcnt of the public mind upon the whole sub ,ject would he greatly facilitated by the diff ference between the two Houses and myself. and that the harmonious action of the several departments of the Federal Government in regard 10 it4 would be ultimately secured.
 So far at least as it regards this branch of the subject, my hest hopes bare heen realized. Nearly four years have elapsed. and several sessions of congress have intrrvrnrd, ard nU attempt, wi,hin my recollection, has been made to induce congress to'exercise this pow CT. The application for the construction of roads and canals, which were formerly multi piled upon your files, are no longer presented and We have gnod reason to infer that the cur rent of public sentiment has become SO d4ci- ded against the pretensions as etfectually 60 discourage it's reassertion. So thinking de- rive the greatest satisfaction from the c"nvic- ton, that thus much at least has been secured -upon this important and embarrassing subject From attempts to appropriate the nationak funds [" objects which are c"nfessedly of local character, NC cannot, l trust, have any thing further to apprehend. My views in re-