Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-12-17

that the bill entitled ".An act to improve
The navigation of the Wabash river,n which
was sent to me at the close Of YOUR hsf
session, ought to pass, and have therefore
Withheld from it my approval, and now re-
ASH 1t TO the Senate, the body ia which It
originated.
There can be no question connected with
lshe administration of public affairs. more
important or more difficult to be salis(ac
'"rlly deal with, than that which reIafss
% the righital authority and proper action
IT the federal government upon the s,,I,,
lsct ct Internal Improvements. 70 i1ro--
rent emharrassmeots, have been addad
Hhers resulting fon the course Of eur t..
S'siaton concernlngit.
l have heretofore communicated r.oerr
"i'h congress upon this subject, aud in nJ.
Yerilng to II again, cannot refrain l,on,
expressing my Increased conviction Of il.
extreme Importance, as well in REGARD ta
It's bearing upon the maintenance Of thu
constitution and the prudent manaoement
OIL the public revenue, as on account Of
us disturbing effect upon the harmony Of
The union.
We are in no danger from violations
OF the constitution by which cncroach-
mens are made upon the personal rights
OF the citizen. The sentence of con.
domination long since pronounced oy.the
American people upon acts of that ct...
racter, will, | doubt not, eontinse TO
prove as salniafy ia lis effects as it is If.
reversible in its nature. But against
the dangers OF unconstiluton acts which.
instead OF menacing the vengeance of
offended authority, profIer local advan.
tages, and bring ia their train the patro.
mage OF the government, we are. fear.
not SO safe. To sappose that because
our government has been Instituted for
The benefit OF The people, it must there.
fore have the power 70 do whatever
may seem to conduce to the public GOOD,
Is an error, into which even honest minds
are too apt to fall. In yielding them
selves to this failacy, they overlook The
great considerations in which the fede.
raj constitution was founded. They
forget that in consequence Of the con.
coded diversilies in the interest and
condition Of the different states. it was
toreseen, at the period of its adoption.
that although particular o,easure Of
the government might be beneficial and
proper in one state, i, might be the re-
verse in another--that it was for This
reason the states would not consent To make
\ grant to the federal government of the &c
neral & usual powers of government. but of
such only as were specifically enumerated.
and the probable effects of which ,hey
could, as they thought, safely anticipate:
and they forgot also the paramount obliea-
lion upon all to abide by the compact, thea
so solemnly, and, as it was hoped firmly
established. 10 addition to the dangers to
'he constitution springing from the sources
| have stated, there has been one which
was perhaps greater than all. | aliudc to
the materals which this subject has afford
ed for sinister appeals to selfish feelings,
and the opinions heretofore so extensively
entertained Of lis adoption to the purposes
Of personal ambition. With such stitnu-
lants it is not surprising that the acts and
prelensons of the FEDERAL government IN
this behalf should sometimes have been car
RED tn an alarming extent. The questions
Which have arisen upon this subject have
ieiated---
lst. To the power Of MAKING internal ir,crovo-
ments within the limits of state, with the right
of territorial jurisdiction, sufficient at least for
their preservation and use.
I'd. 70 the RIGHT Of annropriat;,., n,ore,, n
aid of s,ch works when carr;eJ on bT staia w. w.
by II ccr~any in virtue of state nntbori,y snr.
rendering acclaim of iurisiliction ami
3d. 70 the proprety of annronrin,io, far ina
of IA pnrticular dnss. VIZ. r,r 1,iI,t
houses beacons. buoys. pnblic mers AMI G,r 'ha
removal of sand bars SAWYER. and o,tor ,a Wv