Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-08-18

character, beneiliing the few at the ex.
pense of the common treasury of the
whole. 1t will engender sectional feel
ings and prejudices calculated to disturb
the harmony which should prevail in our
legislative counsels.
|, will produce combinations Of local
and sectional interests strong enough,
when united, to carry propositions for
appropriations of public money which
could not Of themselves, and standing
alone, succeed, and cannot fail to lead 10
wastelul and extrayagent expenditures.
Unjust produce disreputable scramble
for the public money, by the conflict
which is insparable from such system,
between local and individual interests of
The whole. 1t is unjust to those states
which have wi,h1heir own means construc
ted their own internal Improvements, TO
make from the common treasury appro.
priations for similar improvements in
other states.
In It's operation it will be oppressive and
unjust towards those States whose repre-
sen'alives and people either deny or doubt
the existence of the power, or think its ex-
erc'se inexpedien,, 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
theUnon IL numbers andin geogra phical
extent, contributing its equal proportion Of
taxes to The support Of the government,
he aC
tenn, be compelled 10 see the national t,ea-
sure-the common stock Of all-unequally
distributed, and often impro yideDtly vast
ed for the advantage Of small sections, in.
stead of being applied TO the grea, nation.
al purposes in which all have a common
interest, and for which alone The power to
collect the revenue was given. Should The
system of internal Improvements proposed
prevail. all these evils will multi ply and
increase with the increase 9th numter
of the States, and the extensian Of The ge-
ographical limits Of the settled portions of
our country. With the increase of our
numbers and the extension Of our settle
men;s. the local objects demanding appro-
prialions Of the public money for their i'm
provement will be proporlionately increas
ed. In each case the expenditure Of the
public money would confer benefits, direc.
or indirect, only on a section, while these
sections would become daily less in q com
parison with the whole.
The wisdom OF the trainers Of the con-
s.itution in Withholding power over such
objects from the federal government, and
leaving them TO the local governments of
the States, becomes more and more mani
fest with every years experience Of the op.
CITATIONS Of our system.
In a'country oflimited extent, with bu,
few such objects Of expenditure, (if the
form Of government permitted it,) com.
mon treasury might be used for their i'm.
provement with much less inequality and
injustice than in one Of the vast extent
which ours now presents in population anc
territory. The treasure Of the world
would hardly be equal to the imp.ovamen II,
of every bay, inlet, creek, and river in our
country which might be supposed 10 pro
mote the agricultural, manufacturing, OF
commercial interests Of neiohborhood.
The federal constitution was wisely a.
dap,ed in its provisions TO any expansion
OF our limits and population; and with the
advance Of the confederacy Of the States
in the career Of national greatness, it be
comes the more apparent that the harmony
OF The Union and The equal justice TO which
all its parts are entitled, require tina, The
federal government should confne 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 10 the objections stated. and did
they stand alone should NO, feel it 10 be
ny duty to withhold my approval.
If no constitutional objections existed TO
the bill, there are others Of serious ma.
ture which deserve some consideration. -
II appropriates between one and two mil
lions Of dollars for objects which are Of
no pressing necessity; and this is psopos'
ed at time when the country is enga.
ged in foreign war,& when Congress at
its present session has authorized loan or
the issue Of treasury notes 10 decray the
expenses of the war, TO be resorted 10 if
the ''exigencies of the government shall
require it," 1t would seem 10 be the die.
tate Of wisdom under such circumstances
to husband our means. and not 10 waste
them on comparatively unimporlant Oh
tects, so that We may reduce the loan or
issue Of treasury notes which may become
necessary to The smallest practicable sum.
1t would seem TO be wise loo, 10 abstain
from such expenditures with view 10 a.
void the accumulation Of large public
debt, the existence Of which would be op'
posed to the interests Of our people, as well
MS 10 the genius of our free institutions.
Should this bill become law; the prin.
ciple which it establishes will inevitably
lead TO large and annually increasing APP
preparations and drains upon the treasury,
for it is not TO be doubted that numerous
other localities not embrased in lis provs.
ions, bu, quite as much entitled TO the ia
vor Of the government as those which ore
embraced, will demand, through their rep
resen!atives in Congress, 10 be placed on
an equal footing with them. With such
an Increase Of expenditure mus, ne.
cessarily follow, either an increased
public beb', or increased burdens up.
on the people by taxation. 10 supply
he treasury with he means ofmeeting the
accumulated demands upon il.
With profound respec, for the opinions
of Congress, and ever anxious, as Tar as |
can consistently with my responsibility tn