The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-12
THE PILOT
MIR. VAN BUREN's LETTER,
(C0ncllUted.)
POLITICAL


(C0ncItded)
ee,Tybe oninions declared by the President in the
Mavsyille. and his succeeding annual message,
as understand them, are follows: list. That
Compress does not possess the power to make and
establ,sh n road or canal within State, with a
RIGHT jurisdiction to the extent have stated; and
that il il is the wish of the people that the con-
struction of of such works should be undertaken
by the Federal Government, previous amend
ment of the Constitution comforting that power,
and defining and restricting its exercise, with
reference to the sovereignty of the States, Is
Indispensable I'd. An intimation OF his belief
that the right to make appropriations IN ana OF
such Internal Improvements as are OF national
character has been so generally acted upon, and
SO long acouiessed in by the Federal and state
Governments and the constituents OF each, as
TO Justify its exercise but that it is nevertheless
highly expedent that even such appropriations
should, with the exception OF such as relate TO
lighthouses, beacons, buoys, public plers' ana
other improvements in the harbors and nayigable
rivers of the U. States, for the security and
facility of our foreign commerce, be deferred at
least until our national debt is paid. Sd, That
il it is the wish of thepeople that the agency of
the Federal Government should be restricted to
the appropriation Of money, and extended in that
form in aid of such undertakings, when carried
ON by State authority, then the occasion, the
manner, and the crtcnt of the appropriation,
should be made the subject Of Constitutional
regulation.
s'9TT. .1,os. views concurrcd; and likewise
,,ox,;n;nated in the difficulties which were en-
countercd; and expressed by the President, IN
adopting the principle which comedies 10 tlle re-
deral Government the right to make aPProPIia,
lions in aid of works which might be regarded
as of national Observation-Disclosures when
arose. as well from the danger OF Considering
mere usage the foundation of the right, as IRON
fine extreme uncertainty and consequent lnsecu-
rity of the best rule that had ever been adopted,
or that could, in the absence of positive constr
tutional provision, be established. Inc reasons
ON which these objections were founded are so
fnllv stated in the document referred TO, and
have been so extensively promulgated, that It Is
unnecessary for me to repeat them here. Suose,
ouent reflection and experience have confirmed
my apprehension Of the injurious consequences
which would probably flow from the continual
tionof appropriations for internal Improy ements;
Win no better rule for the government Of Con-
eress than that of which / have spoke; ana
DO not Hesitate to cypress t my opnto7l, thai
The general and true interests Of the country
qcould be best consulted by withholding mem,
aDith the exemptions qclich haze already refer
red to- until some constitutional Te5ut0ttoll
anon the subject has been made
In This avoyyaI am certainly not influenced
by feelings of indifference, much less OF hostiI-
tv, to internal Improvements As such, they
can have no enemies--I have never omitted to
give them all the proper aid IN my power, Tor
which, by the way, claim no particular merit,
as / do net believe there is an honest and sane
man in the country who does not wish to see
them prosper; but their construction, and the
manner in which, and the means by which they
are to be effected, quite different questions
Rather than again expose our Legislation TO al
the corrupting Influences of those scramoies and
combinations in Congress which have been here
tofore witnessed, and the other affairs OF the
country to the injurious effects unavoidably re-
sulting from them, it would, in my opinion, be
Infinitely preferable to leave works OF the char
acter spoken Of and not embraced in the excep-
ton which has been pointed out, TOR the present;
10 the supports upon which they have reposed
with so much success for the last two years. viz:
State efforts and private enterprise. II the great
body of the people become convinced that the
progress of these works should be accelerated
bv the Federal arm, they will not refuse to come
~ some proper constitutional arrangement upon
= the subject The supposition that an equitable
rule. which pays proper respect to the interests
and condition of the different States could iall to
receive ultimately the constitutional sanction,
would lie doing injustice to the intelligence OF
the country. BY such settlement OF the qnes-
{ion our uoitical system in addition to the other
savsntao derived from it. would, in relation to
this subject at least, be relieved from those dan
gerous Shocks which spring from diversities OF
oc;rlion upon constitutional points oil deep inter
est; and, in the mean time, the resources OF the
country would be best husbanded Dy beibS Acit
in the hands of those by whose labor they arc
produced.o
To this exposition Of my opinions upon the
general subject, were added some additional OBJ
servations, in my letter to Mr.. Williams, already
referred to. They were chiefly applicable to
esthe improvements of our harbors and the re-
moval Of partial and temporary distractions IN
our navigable rivers for the facility of our Tor
5 eiprl commerce. and the best means of check
iner The tendency Ia abuses which such appropr1
atoms often produced. To the principles laic
down in the publications referred to, / still ad
here. and it has been my endeavor to carry then
into the full and fair effect in the administration
of the government, since have been at its head
If thew have been departed from, in respect t
any works commenced under my administration
am not advised OF it
In conclusion, you ask me, sswhether approve
of Mr. Poinsett's scheme for the organization o
the militia" ;.
NV knowledge Of military affairs is very linn
ted: but will nevertheless give you such view
as have been able to take OF the subject oil you
enquiry.
The constitution OF the United States author
ICES Congress to provide for organizing, armins
and disciplining the militia, and for governing
them when in the service of the United states
reserying to the States The appointment OF ON
GERS. and the authority to train the militia ac
eorfl;na to the mode of discipline prescribed D.
CONGRESS. In execution OF this grant OF power
Congress, during the administration Of Genera
Washington, and upon his Recommendation, pass
ed i law for the organization of the miitia 9
the United States. BY this act, 1T IS PROVIDED
first, that every free white citizen OF the unite'
States, resident therein, between the ages o. III
teen and forty-fve, with some enumerated eS