Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-08-13

propriey be called harbors and Of all the rivers, impor
tant or unmportsnt, in every part OF the Unon. 10
sanction the bill with such provisions would be 10 eoneede
the principle that the federal government possesses the
power expend the public money IN general system OF
internal limited in its only by the
VARYING discretion of successive Congresses and sue
cessve Executives. would be eice and remove the
limitations and restrictions Of power which the consu-
ton has wisely provided limit the authority and action
Of the federal government few we-defned and sPeci
fed objects Besides these objections the practical evils
which flow from the exercise on the part Of the fed
era government Of the powers asserted in this BILL i'm
press my mind with grave OF my 5uty to avert
them from the country far my constitutional action
may enable me TO do
Il only leads TO consolidation Of power in the
federal at the expense of the rghiui authority
of the States but its inevitable tendency Is TO embrace
objects for the expenditure Of the public moneysvhch
are local in their character. beneng few the
pense Of the common treasury of the whole II will
engender sectional feelings and prejudices calculated 10
disturb the harmony Of the Union. IL will destroy ne
harmony which should prevail in counsels.
II will produce combinations Of local and sectional
interests strong enough when united, carry PROPOSE
tons for appropriations Of public which could not
Of themselves and Standing Alone succeed and cannot fail
TO lead to wastefuI and extravagant expenditures
II produce disfepuiable scramble for the public
money! by the conflict which is inseparabe from such
STEM between local and individual and the
general interest of the whole II is unjust those States
which have with their constructed their own
internal improvements make from the treasury
appropriations for similar improvements in other States
In its operation it will be oppressive and unjust towards
those States whose representatives and people either deny
doubt the existence Of the power think its exercise
inexpedient and who while they equally contribute 10
the treasury, consistently with their opinions
gage in the general competition for share of the public
money. Thus large portion Of the Union, in numbers
and in geographical extent contributing its equal proper
ton of taxes 10 the support Of the government would
If
the national reasure-the stock Of a-unequay
dsbursed and often mprovidenty wasted for the sdvan-
tage of small sections, instead Of being applied to the
great national purposes in which all have common ine-
and for which alone the power collect the
given Should the system Of internal improvements
proposed prevail all these evils will multiply aud increase
with the increase Of the number Of the States and the
extension of the geographical limits Of the settled portions
Of cou9tTy. With the increase Of our numbers and
the extension Of settlements the local objects demand
ing appropriations of the public money for their improve
will be propoonatey increased In each the
expenditure Of the public money would confer benefits,
direct indirect only section, while these sections
would become daily less in comparison with the WHOLE
The wisdom Of the trainers Of the Constitution in
Withholding power such objects from the federal
government and leaving them 10 the local governments
OF the States, becomes and more manifest with
every years experience Of system.
In a country of limited extent with but few such OBJ
jects of expenditure f the form Of permit
ted it treasury might be used for their improve
with much less inequality and injustice than one
of the which presents in population
and territory The treasure OF the world would hardly be
equal the improvement of every bay inlet creek and
in country which might be supposed promote
the agricultural manufacturing, commercial interests
of a neighborhood
The federal constitution wisely adapted 10 its pro-
visions to any expansion of limits add population
and with the advance of the conederacy of the
the of national greatness becomes the more ap-
parent that the harmony Of the Union and the equal
justice TO which all its parts entitled require that the
federal government should confne its action within the
limits precrbed by the constitution power and autho-
r,y Some of the provisions Of this bill are not subject
the objections stated and did they stand should
not feel it to be my duty to withhold my approval
II constitutional objections existed 10 the BILL there
others of serious which some censd-
Grafton 1t approprates between aud millions of
dollars for objects which of pressing necessity and
this is proposed when the country engaged in
foreign and when Congress its present session
has authorized loan the issue of treasury notes TO
defay the expenses of the war, be resorted if The
exigences of the government shall require it, Il would
seem to be the dictate Of wisdom under such crcuman.
to husband our MEANS and not them COM
paratvey unmportant objects, that may reduce
4 loan or issue OF treasury notes which may become
necessary to the smallest practicable sum- Itwould seem
be wise too abstain from such expenditures with a
view avoid the accumulation of large public debt the
existence Of which would be opposed the interests
people, well as to the genius Of free institutions.
Should this bill become a law the principle which il
establishes will inevitably lead to large and annually
increasing appropriations and drains upon the treasury
for is not to be doubted that other localities
embraced in ITS PROVISIONS but quite much entitled
the favor of the government those which embrac
ed will demand throughhe representatives in Congress-
to be placed equal footing with them. With such
an increase Of expenditure necessarily follow either
increased public debt increased burdens upon
people by Taxation. to supply the treasury with the
Of meeting the accumulated demands upon it.
With profound respect for the opinions of Congress-
and ever anxious, far consistently with my
responsibility constituents TO cooperate
with them in the discharge Of respective duties
with unegned regret that find myself constrained for
the which have assigned, withhold my appro-
val from this bill. -,
JAMES K. POLK.
WAsHISsros, August Sd, 1916.
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