Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-08-13

y SttlH UctNctu lOCdi' ditu i1ulVluuol
interests and the general interests of
the whole. 1t is unjust TO those States
which have with their own means con-
fstructed their own internal improve
ments, to make from the common treas
& ry appropriations for similar improve
ments in other States.
In Its operation it Will be oppressive
and unjust toward those States whose
, representatives and people either deny
or doubt the existence of the power,
or think its exercise inexpedient, and
who, while they equally contribute to
the treasury, cannot consistently with
their opinions, engage 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
tlon of taxes to the support of the gov
eminent would, under the operation of
such system, be compelled to see
the national treasure-the common
stock of all-unequally disbursed, and
often improvidently wasted for the ad-
vantage of small sections, instead of
being applied to the great ma
tional purpose in which all have com
mon interest, and for which alone the
power TO collect the revenue was given.
SHOULD the system of internal Improve
ments proposed prevail, all these evils
will multiply and increase with the in
crease of the number Of the States, and
the extension of the geographical linn
its of the settled portions of our coun-
TRY. With the increase of our num-
bers and the extension of our settle
ments, the local objects demanding ap-
preparations Of the public money for
their improvement will be proportion
ately increased. In each case the ex-
penditure of the public money would
confer benefits, direct or indirect, only
on section, while these sections would
become daily less in comparison with
the whole.
The wisdom of the trainers of the
constitution in Withholding power over
such objects from the federal govern
m ent, and leaving them to the local
governments of the States, becomes
more and more manifest with every
| years experience of the operation Of
our system.
In a country of limited extent, with
but few such objects of expenditure,
| (if the form of government permitted
|it,) a common treasury mi ght be used
for their improvement with much less
inequality and injustice than in one of
the vast extent which ours now pre-
sents in population and territory. The
treasure ofthe world would hardly be
equal TO the improvement of every
bay: inlet, creek and river in our coun-
try which might be supposed to pro-
mote the agricultural, manufacturing,
or commercial interests of a neighbour
hood.
The federal constitution was wisely
adapted in its provisions to any ex-
panson of our limits and population !;
and with the advance Of the confedera,
cy ofthe States in the career of nation
al greatness, it becomes the more ap-
parent that the harmony of the Union,
and the equal justice to which all its
parts are entitled, require that the fed
eral government should eonhne its &C
ton within the limits prescribed by the
constitution to its power and authority.
Some of the provisions of this bill are
not subject to the objections stated and
did they stand alone should not feel
it to be my duty to withhold my appro-
val.
fno constitutional objections exist
ed to the bill, there are others of Sc
rious nature which deserve some con-
sheraton. 1t appropriates between
one and two million Of dollars for OBJ |
jects which are of no pressing necessi
ty; and this is proposed at time when
the country is engaged in a foreign !
war, and when Congress at its present
session has authorized loan or the
issue of treasury notes to detray the ex
penses of the war, to be resorted to if
the "exigencies of the government
shall require it.'' 1t would seem to
be the dictate of wisdom under such
circumstances to husband our means,
and not to waste them on comparative
ly unimportan: objects, SO that we may
reduce the loan or issue the treasury
notes which may become necessary to
the smallest practicable sum. 1t
would seem to be wise too, to abstain
from such expenditures with view to
avoid the accumulation of large pub
lie debt, the existence of which would
be opposed TO the interests of our peo-
- ., ,,,oII &c T., tl<> ~r.>.,,,,c Of ,r troo |