Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-08-18
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 10.

ing the duties charged by law, and from
which exports are made to foreign coun.
tries. 1t will be- found by applying the
restriction thus understood to the bill I'm.
der consideration, that il contains appro-
priations for more than twenty objects Of
internal improvement called in the bill,
harbors, at places which have never been
declared by law either ports Of entry or
delivery, and at which, as appears from
the records ofthe treasury, there has new.
er been an arrival of foreign merchan-
disc, and from which there never has
been a vessel cleared for foreign coun.
try. Il will be found that many Of these
works are new, and at places for the i'm.
provement of which appropriations are
now for the FIRST time proposed. 1t viii
be found, also, that the bill contains ap.
propations for rivers upon which there
only exists no foreign commerce, but up
on which there has not been established
even a paper port of cntrs, and for The
mouths of creeks, denominated harbors,
which ifimproved can benefit the partic.
ular neighborhood in which they are situ-
ated only. 1t will be found, too, 10 con.
tain appropriations the expenditure of
which will only have the effect of impro-
wing one place at the expense ofthe local,
natural advantages of another in its yicin-
! ity. Should the bill become law the
same principle which authorizes the ap-
preparations which If proposes 10 make,
would also authorize similar appropria-
lions for the improvement of all the
other bays, inleis and creeks which
may with equal propriety be called har-
bors, one oil all the rivers, important or un-
important, in every paTtofthe Union. To
sanction the bill with such provisions,
would be to concede the principle that the
Federal Government possesses the pow.
er to expend the public money in gen.
eral system of internal improvements, linn
tied in its extent only by the ever varying
discretion of successive Congresses and
successive Executives. 1t would be TO
efface and remove The limitations aud re.
striciions OF power which the Constitution
has wisely provided to limit the au-
thority and action of the Federal Govern.
ment to few well-de6ned and specified
objects. Basides these objections, the
practical evils which must flow from the
exercise, on the part of the Federal Gov.
eminent, of the powers asserted in this
bill, impress my mind with grave sense
of my duty TO avert thea from the conn.
try, as far as my constitutional action may
enable me to do SO.
II only leads 10 consolidation Of power
in the Federal Government at the expense
of the rightful authority of the States. but
it'd inevitable tendency is, to embrace OBJ
jecis for the expenditure ofthe public mon
ey which are localin their character, ben-
efitting Blu. few at the expense ofthe com.
mon treasury ofthe whole. twill engen-
der sectional feelings and prejudices cal
calated to disturb tie harmony of the I'm
ion. Il would destroy the harmony which
should prevail in oar Legislative councils.
1t will produce combinations of local
and sectional interests, strong enough
when united. to carry propositions for ap-
preparations ofpublic money which could
not of themselves, and standing alone,
succeed, and cannot fail TO lead to waste.
ful and extravagant expenditures.
Unjust produce adsreputable scramble
for the public money, by conflict which
is inseparable from such system, be-
tween local and individual interests and
the general interest of tho whole. 1t is
unjust TO those states which have, with
their own means, constructed their ewn
internal Improvements, to make from the
common Taeasury appropriations for sim,
liar improvements in other States.
In its operation it will be Oppressive and
unjust towards those states whose repre-
sentatives and people either deny or doubt
the existence of the power, think its exer-
else inexpedient, and who, while they
equally contribute to the treasury, cannot
consistently with their opinions engage in
the general competition for share Of the
pnbiic money. Thus large portion Of the
Union in numbers & in geographical extent
contributing its equal proportion OF taxes
to the support of the government, would,
underline operation of such a system, be
compelled to see the Nations treasure
the common stock of all-uneaquallY dis
bursed, and often improvidently wasted for
the advantage of small sections, instead
of being app!iedto the great National pnr-
poses in which all have a common inter.
est, and for which alone the powerto col
lcct the revenue was given. Should the
system of internal Improvements proposed
prevail, all these evils will multiply and
increase with the increase of the number
ofthe states, and the extension ofthe ge-
ographicai limits OF settled portions ofolr
country. With the increase of our mum.
hers and the extention OF our settlements,
the locsl objects demanding appropriations
of the public money for their improvement
will be proportionably increased. In
each case the expenditure Of the puplic
money would confer benefits direct or in.
direct, only on a section. while these sec.