The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-05-18
VETO MESSAGE OF THE GOVERN
OR UTON THE LOCAL APPRO-
PRIATION BILL.
To the Senate and House Of Representa-.
hiUe8 Of the Commonwealth Of Penn
8ylUdnia.


8ylUania.
GENTLEMAN.-The bill entitled "an act
making appropriations to certain turnpikes,
state roads, &c. within this commonwealth,
and for other purposes has been presented
to me for executive appreciation, but as |
cannot give that appreciation to this bill con-
slstently with my own sense of duty, re-
turn 1t to the House of Representatives, in
which it originated, with my objections.
1t makes large appropriations TO the pay
ment of the debts of several incorporated
companies to the building of bridges, the
Improvement of streams; the repair of vari
Gus turnpike roads: and the building of a
hall in the city of Lancaster-many or all
OF which objects might be perfectly proper
bdhdahee q funds But at time WSne uPfIa3
we are laboring under an existing state debt
OF upwards of thirty millions of dollars, il
does not appear TO me that it would be eth
er prudent or proper to borrow money, or
tax the people to raise funds to give away,
with SO proluse a hand on improvements.
many OF which are secondary at least in
character and general importance. If it
were even advisable TO increase the state
debt Tor this purpose, under any circum.
stances, the present is not propitious time,
as there is difficulty in procuring money for
existing responsibilities on favorable terms.
and that difficulty would no doubt be in
creased by increasing the amount required.
This bill makes the following apropria-
tlons to the objects named.
Here follows list of l25 Incorporated
Road and Bridge companies, to which are
given about 275,O 200 dollars which we omit
for want of room.
In the message which I submitted to the
Legislature on the 26th day of January last,
took occasion to communicate at some
length, my views relative to the system of
internal Improvements in which this COM
monwealth is so deeply embarked.
will again state in few words the gen.
eral principles that in my judgement ought
to regulate the action Of our government in
carrying that system into effect, SO far as
the same have direct bearing on the sub
ject under consideration.
The primary object avowed by all de-
partments of the government in the COM
mencement ofour system ofinternal improve
ments was to secure to uor commercial en-
porlum due portion of the increasing Wes-
tern trade or commerce, and to develope the
immense mineral resources of this common
wealth, distributed throughout the coal and
iron fields in such exhaustless abundance.
and the agricultural productions of her fer
tile vallles in her interior, northern and west
ern counties. To carry this design into
operation, the main lines between Philadel-
phia and Plttsburg and the lakes were first
undertaken and the coal and iron fields on
the north and northwest penetrated by the
Susquehanna canals.
The immediate tributaries Of the main
lines, opening into rich mineral deposites, of
course lOrn part Of the system, and are
necessary to its entire completion. To Sc
cure the trade of the western states, and of
the northwestern portion of New York was
also an essential object of the founders of
our improvement system.
Experience clearly demonstrates the wis.,
dom and sound policy of the undertaking.
Had all the energy and means Of the COM
monwealIh been devoted 10 the vigorous
prosecution of this system, in its original
simplicity, the state would now be reaping