The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-08-22
Number rs.


50 far as foreign commerce Is concerned.
exists only in the sts.ue-books. No en- .
| ry Of foreign goods is ever made, and no
duties are ever collected a, them No ex-
ports of American produces bound for for
leign countries, ever clear from them 10
assume that their existence 10 the statue
book as ports of entry or delivery warrant
Expenditures on the waters leading to them,
which would otherwise Unauthorized, would
be to assert the proposition, that the law
making power may engrsfl new provisions
on the constitution. II The restriction be
sound one. it can only apply TO the bays,
lnIeis, and rivers connected with or leading
10 such ports az actually have foreign com.
mercei ports at which foreign Imporis,ons
arrive in bulk. paying the duties charged by
law, and from which exports are made 10
foreign countries. 1t will be found by ap-
plying The reS,rictisn thus understood TO ihs
oil under consideration, that il contains ap-
|ptoprlalons for more Than twenty obj;cis Of
internal improvement called IN tie bill k0r.
6orS, al places which have never been de-
cIared by law either ports si entry OF delv-
cry, and at which, as appears r,om the re.
cords OF the treasury, there has never been
an arriva! OF foreign merchandise, and from
which there has never been vessel clear
ed for foreign country. |. will be found
Iha, many Of these works are new, and q,
places for The improvement Of which appro.
prls'lons are now for The frsI time propos-
ed. Ii will be Sound, also, that the bih con-
.alns appropriations for rivers upon which
there not only exists no foreign commerce
but upon which there has not been es.ab-
Ilshed even paper pois Of entry, and for
The mouths Of creeks, denomlnaled hsrbors
# improved can benefit only the particular
| 1t will be found, too, 70 contain srptoptts~
uons ,he expenditure Of which will only
nave the effect Of improving one place at
he expense Of ,he local natural advantages
of another in its vicinity. Should this bill
become law the same principle which au'
horzes Ihe appropriations which it propo-
ses to make, would also FuthoIrze similar
applo oprialions for The improvement OF tit
other bays, inlels, and creeks wa'ch may
with equal proprIdy be called bsfOore, anG
lof sil the rivers, important or unlmpor ant
in every part Of the Union. To sanction
Inc bill with such provisions would be to
cOncede the principle that the federal gov
Ielnment possesses The power 10 expend the
public money in general system of inter-
nal Improvements, limited in lis extent only
nv the ever varying discretion Of successive
Congresses and successive Executives. 1t
= would be TO efface and remove lhe lImhas
lions and restrictions OF power which The
cons,itu,ion has wisely provided 10 limit
1.-The authority and action OF The federal gov-
Iernment 10 few well defined and specified
objects. Besides these objections, the pr4c.
ucsl evils which must flow from Ihe exei-
else, on the part OF lbe federal government.
IoC .he powers asserted IN this bill, impress
nv mind with grave sense Of my dUGy ia
avert them from the eouauy. as far 80 my
:, eons,l;uuonaI action may enable NE 20 do
30.
: II not orIy leads 10 9 constellation oi
power in the federal government, st the en-
1psuse OF the lighful sOthorry Of the S,strs
but irs inevitable lenhsncy is 10 embrace 40
leCts for the expenditure oI The public mo
,ev, which are locsi in their character, ben
fitting but few at The expense OF Inc CON
non treasury of the whole. 1t will engeir
- Ell sectional feelings ard prejudicos caIcu
| 4ted TO disturb the harmony Of ths Union
/ will destroy the harmony which shoui
reva,l 10 our legislative councils.
Gu Il will produce combinations ol local ar
,ectionaI interests, strong enough ~ht
hA rnied, 10 carry propositions for approPr
Sc ions Of public money which could not q
OF themselves, and standing alone succeed an
ol ,annot .ail to lead to wasIlu and exlrsvagaf
'"' Expenditures.
Of /, mus, produce disrePu'able scramb
ers for the puhllc money, by the conflict whie
n inseparable from such system be'w'H
llocsi nj