Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-08-08

which the constitution has wisely provided to limit the autho
y and action q the Federal Government 70 few we'll
defined and specified objects Besides these objections the
practical evils which flow from the exercise ON the part
of the Federal Government of the powers asserted in this
bill, impress my mind with grave Of my duty
them from the country, lar my constitutional action may
enable me TO do s a@'
II only leads consolidation Of power in the Federal
Government at the expense Of the rghfu authority Of the
States but its inevitable tendency to embrace objects for the
expenditure OF tho public money which local in their cha
racter benetng but few the expense Of the ea
sury Of the whole 1t win engender sectional feelings and
prejudices calculated disturb the harmony Of the Union
will destroy the harmony which should prevail in egs
tive councils.
twill produce combinations Of local and sectional interests
strong enough, when united carry propositions for appo-
pratons Of public money which could Of themselves and
standing alone succeed and fail lead waste and
extayagaDt expenditures.
II must produce dsrepuabe scramble for the public
ney, by the conflict which inseparabe from such system,
between local and individual interests and the general interest
OF The whole. is unjust those States which have with
their means constructed their internal improvements,
TO make from the common treasury appropriations for similar
improvements in other States.
In its operation will be oppressive and unjust towards those
States whose Representatives and People either deny doubt
the existence of the power, think its exercise nexpedent
and who while they equally contribute the Treasury,
not consistently with their opinions engage in the general
petition for share OF the public money Thus large por
ton of the Union numbers and in geographical extent
tbung IFS equal proportion of to the support of the
Government, would under the operation of such system, be
compelled Iedsure-the common STOCK OF
aunequaly dsbursed and often mprovdenty wasted for
the advantage Of small sections instead Of being applied the
great national purposes in which all have interest,"
and for which alone the to collect the given
Should the system of internal improvements proposed prevail
all these evils will multiply and increase with the increase of
the number Of the States and the of the geographical
limits of the settled portions Of country With the in
of numbers and the extension of settlements
the local objects demanding appropriations of the public
for their Improvement will be proporionaey increased In
each case the expenditure OF the public would confer
benefits direct INDIRECT only section while these
tons would become daily less in comparison with the whole
The wisdom Of the trainers Of the constitution, in withhold
ing power such objects from the Federal Government
and leaving them the local of the States
and manifest with every years experience
of the operations of our system.
In country of limited extent with but few such objects of
expenditure (fthe form ofgovenmen permttedit
treasury might be used for their improvement with much less
inequality and injustice than OF the extent which
presents population and territory. The treasure
Of the world would hardly be equal to the improvement Of
every bay inlet creek and river country which might
be supposed to promote the agricultural manufacturing
commercial interests of neighborhood.
The Federal Constitution wisely adapted in its povi
SONS any expansion of limits and population and
with the advance of the conederacy of the States in the
of national greatness becomes the apparent that the
harmony of the Union and the equal justice which all its
parts entitled require that the Federal Government should
confne its action within the limits prescribed by the constu
ton to its power and authority Some Of the provisions of
this bill subject to the objections stated and did they
stand alone should not feel it to he my duty withhold my
approval.
If constitutional objections existed the BILL there are
others Of serious which deserve consideration
appopraies between and millions of dollars for OBJ
ects which of pressing necessity and this is proposed
at time when the country engaged in foreign war; and
when Congress at its present session has authorized loan
the issue Of Treasury notes deay the expenses the
to be esoed if the exigenccs of the Government shall
require it 1t would be the dictate of WISDOM
der such circumstances, husband MEANS and
them comparatively unimpoan Objects so that we
ms the IF
become the smallest practicable 1t would
TO be wise to abstain from such expenditures with
view to avoid the accumulation Of large public debit the
existence Of which would be opposed to the interests of
people, well to the genius Of free institutions.
Should this bill become law, the principle which it estab
fishes will inevitably lead to large and annually increasing
preparations and drains upon the Treasury; for is to be
iaahss1 ,A-s iIvr ivuiires embraced in its
PROVISIONS but quite much entitled the favor of the Go
vemment those which embraced, will demand through
their representatives in Congress- be placed equal
footing with them With such increase of expenditure
must necessarily follow either increased public debt
burdens upon the people by taxation supply the
Treasury with the means of meeting the accumulated demands
upon it.
With profound respect for the opinions Of Congress- and
anxious, far as can consistently with my responsible
y to our common constituents cooperate with them the
discharge of respective duties it is with unegned regret
that find myself constrained for the which
assigned to withhold my approval from this bill.
JAMES X. POLK.
WAsHSsros, Aususr 3, 1916.
The message having been read
The SPEAKER stated that the question which, under the
constitution of the United States presented itself the House
Shall this bill pass the objections of the President
the contrary notwithstanding ~ s H uH "
Mr. BOYD said he presumed before any proceeding took
place the message ought printed so that copy
could be the hands of every member He observed
that at this late period OF the session. certainly late
to discuss the message but he would take this
turn his thanks the President for the WISDOM mness and
Independence which be had shown in sending this the
House. He moved the previous question.
Mr., GARRETT DAVIS moved that the subject be post
poned until Wednesday, and that be the special order for
that day.
The House divided the second for the previous question:
and 1t was not seconded-ayes 50, nays l05
Mr. DROMGOOLE said he understood the immediate
question to be, Shall this bill pass the Executive
withsanding He should indulge in any remarks upon
The veto message ITSELF the thrill OF JOY had excited in
Some bosoms, the dsapprobaton felt by others re-
ceptIon but would suggest the House take viii calm
the step dictated by prope,y in which reused
so many various and opposite feelings and embraced many
different and conflicting interests had been rumore
for days that the and hsrbor bill was likely to be
returned TO the House with the Presidents objections Mr. d.
had reed to all the veoes which had been Congress
since the foundation Of the Government from that of Pes
dent ashington the distribution bill in 1872 down that
OF President Tyler 1914, simply with view ascertain
what had been the mode of proceeding adopted each
His first impression had been that made the duty the
House once without the least delay up the bill and
consider again, together with the objections of the Pesi
dent He found that the objections were 10 be entered at
large upon the journal Of the House, and when that done
the House might either proceed reconsider the bill
OF might assign day when they would do As the House.
by negatvlng the previous question, had determined that
would not consider the bill now suggested that they should