Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-09-05
local and individual interests and the general

local ana INDIVIDUAL inteIeste Huo Tvs Se"efoi
interest of the whole. Its unjus,to those
States which have with their own means,
constructed their own internal improve
men,s, TO make from the common treasury
appropriations for similar improvements in
other States. go ........
In its operation it will be oppressive and
unjust towards those States whose represen-
taiives and people either deny or donbt the
existence Of the power, or think its exer.
else inexpeden,; and who while they equal.
ly contribute to the treasury, canno, con-
sistently with their opinions engage in the
general competition for share Of the pub
lie money. Thus large portion o! the
Uuion in numbers and in geographical ex-
tent, contributing its equal proportion OF
taxes TO the support OF the government,
would, under the operation Of such sys.
tenn, be compelled to see the national treasu
ry-,he common stock OF all--unequelly
disbursed, and often mproviden,ly wasted
of being applied to the national purposes
IN which all have common interest, and
for which alone the answer to collect the
revenue was given. Should the system of
internal improvements prevail, all these
evils will multiply and increase with the
increase of the number of States, and the
extension OF the geographical limits Of the
settled portions OF our country. With the
increase Of the numbers and the extension
of our settlements; the local objects demand
lug appropriations OF the public money for
their improvement will be proportionalely
increased. In each case the expenditure Of
the public money would confer benefits, d.
rect or indirect, only on a section, while
these sections would become daily less in
comparison with the whole.
The wisdom Of the trainers Of the con.
stitution, in Withholding power over such
subjects from the federal government, and
leaving them to the local governments Of
the States, becomes more and moro mnai.
Test with every years experience of the
operation Of our 81 stem. r-f
In country Of limited extent, with bu,
few such objects Of expenditure, (i the form
OF government permitted n.y. common
treasury might be used for their improve
ment with much less inequality and injns-
tice than in one Of the vast extent which
ours now present in population and terri
tory. The treasure Of the world would
hardly be equal to the improvement of
every bay, inlet creek, and river in our coun.
try, which might be supposed 10 promote
the agricultural interests Of neighborhood.
The federal constitution was wisely adap-
ted in its provisions to any expansion Of linn
ifs and population; and with tie advance of
the coniederacy OF the States in the career
Of national greatness, it becomes the more
apparent that the harmony Of the Union,
and the equal justice TO which all its parts
are entitled, require that the federal govern
ment should confine its action within the
limits prescribed by the constitution TO its
power and authority. Some of the provis-
ions OF this bill are not subject to the obiec-
tiohs stated, and did they stand alone, |
should not feel it my duty TO withhold my
approval.
If no constitutional objections existed to
the bill, there are others Of a serious natura
which deserve some consideration. 1t ap.
propriates between one and two millions Of
dollars for objects, which ale of no pressing
necessity; and this proposed a, time when
the country is engaged in foreign war,
and when Congress at its present session
has authorized loan or the issue of treasu.
ry notes to defray the expenses Of the war.
to be resorted to, if the "exigences of the 20.
vernment shall require it," Ii would seem TO
DO the dictate Of wisdom under such circum.
stances to husband our means, ond not TO
waste them on comparatively unimportant
objects, so that we may reduce the loan or
issue OF treasury notes,which may become
necessary to the smallest prac,icle sum.
1t would seem to be wise, too, to abstain
from such expenditures with view 10 avoid
the accumulation of large public debt, the
existence Of which would be opposed to the
interests Of our people, as we'll as TO the
genius OF our free institutions.
Should this bill become law, the princi.
pie which it establishes will inevitably lead
10 large and annually increasing appropria.
lions and drains upon the treasury, for it is
not to be doubted that numerous other local.
tiles not embraced in its provisions. but
quite as much entitled to the favor Of the
government as those which are embraced
will demand, through their representatives
IN Congress, to be placed on an eolal foot.
ing with them. With such an increase of
expenditure must necessarily follow either
an increased public debt, or increased bur.
dens upon the people by taxation, TO SUD.
ply the treasury with the means OF meeting
the accumulated demands upon it.
With profound respect for the opinions
OF Congress, and over anxious, as far as I
can consistently with my res ponsibiy TO
our common constituents, to co.opera,e
with them in the discharge OF our respec.
tive duties, i is with unieigned regre, that
! ma myself constrained, for the reasonsI