Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-06
The Veto Message.

ese imPtoNcmnnt OF certain haToors and
ers with the which importance demands and nov,
return the same to the Honse Of in which
orsna'ed. with my objections TO It's becoming law
ing ON proposes TO appropriate million three hun
dred aud seventy eight Thousand four hundred and v
doaso be applied to than forty distinct and seps-
rate objects OF improvement On examining N, p,oy,.
ious and the varsity OF objects of which 4,
cmofscc many Of them OF local character il is difficult,
TO conceive, II It shall be sanctioned and become law
constitutional restraint hereafter be i'm,
posed upon the most extended system internal
men" oy The federal government in all parts Of the Union
az so sn' mas not IN my Judgment conferred up
on the fedefa government the power CONSTRUCT works
internal Improvement within the States or to
money from the treasury for that purpose. That TIN. bill
assumes Tor the federal the right exercise
power cannot, think, be doubted The approved eour,
OF the government andthc deliberately oppressed udsmon,
OF the people, have denied the existence such
under the constitution Several Of my predecessor.
denied its existence in the solemn forms
Inc general Proposition that the federal government does
not possess this power well settled for con
considerable period been generally aequeeed in tha,
not deemed necessary rcterate the argument. bv
which Il Is sustained Nor do deem il NECESSARY after
tue iu and elaborate discussions which have taken place
before the country this subject moro than
the general considerations which have satisfied mo of the
uneon'a'unonay and inexPedeney OF the exercise OF
such power.
It's not questioned the federal government is ON. of
hu'ed powers Its powers are such. and such only
expressly granted in the constitution. properly Incl
dento the expressly granted powers and TO their
execution In determining whether given power has been
granted sound rule Of construction has been laid down
by Mr. Madison. That rule is that whenever cues
ton arises concerning particular power the first ques
uoh Whethct the power be expressed the
be, the question is decided Ii it be not oppressed
the next inquiry must be. whether IL Is properly an INCL
dent TO an expressed power and necessary its execu
ton II II be, II may be exercised by Congress- If il
be not Congress cannot exercise it, Ii is MOI preten
ded that there express grant in the constitution
eoneIlns on Congress the power IN question Is then
an incidental power and proper for the exeeu
uon OF any OF the granted powers All the granted pow
ers is confidently affirmed. may be effrcuay executed
| without the aid OF such an incident
"A power To be incidental exercised for ends
which make II prncpa, or substantive power indepen
dent OF the principal power which an incident" IL
NOT enough mat II may be regarded by Congress
renisHf or that It's exercise would advance public
IL must be necessary and proper the execution of the
principal expressed power which is an incident and
without which such principal be carried ino
effect The whole tram. OF the federal constitution proves
that the government which intended to be
one OF limited and specified powers construction OF
the constitution so broad as that by which the power in
question defended, tends TO consolidation
OF power IN government intended by its trainers
thus limited IN its authority rhe obvious tendency and
inevitable result OF consolidation the States into one
sovereignty would be to transform the republican system
OF the u > into monarchy" To guard against the as
SUMPTION OF all powers which eneoach upon the reserved
sovereignty OF the States, and which consequently tend TO
constellation. the duty OF all the friends po-
hucal system That the IN question properly
incident 10 any Of the grlsed powers am fully sas
ted; but there doubts this subject erpeenc.
has demonstrated the wisdom OF the rule that all the func
uonareS OF the federal government should abstain from
the exercise OF all questionable doubtful powers Ii an
enlargement OF the powers OF the should
be deemed proper, u Is safer and appeal TO the
States and the people tue mode prescribed by the con
tuition for the desired than exercise with
out amendment of the constitution. II Congress does not
possess the general works Of
improvement within the States appropriate money
from the treasury Tor that purpose what there
some at least ut the objects of appropriation included in
this bill from the OPERATION ot the general ruel This bill
assumes tue existence Of the power. aud some of its
provisions asserts the principle that Congress may exer-
else fully though the appropriations which il pro-
poses were applicable the construction Of roads and ca
mails. Ii there be distinction principle II is not per-
eeved and should be clearly defined Some Of the objects
OF appropriation contained in this bill local their char
aeteT, ande within the limits OF single State and though
IN the language OF the BILL they called harBOrs they are
not connected with foreign commerce. they places
OF refuge she ter Tor navy, marine on
the ocean or lake shores To cell the mouth of creek or
shallow inlet coast hsrbor, cannot confer th.
authority eIpeni the public money IN its Improvement
Congress have exercised the power coeva with the con-
sttuuon OF establishing lighthouses beacons buoys and
piers on our ocean and lake shores for the purpose
derng navigation safe and easy and of sOrdng protection
and shelter for our navy and other shipping These are
safeguards placed in existing channels Of After
the long acqueseenee OF the through all pre-
eeding administrations not disposed question or
disturb the authority TO make appropriations for such pur
poses.
When advance a step beyond this point and in nd
dltiOn 10 the establishment and support by
from the treasury OF lighthouses, beacons buoys pier-
and other improvements within the bays inets and har-
bors ocean and lake Immediately
with our foreign commerce. and attempt make improve
ments in the interior points with foreign
commerce. and where they needed for the protec
uon and security OF our navy and commercial marine
difficulty arises IN drawing line beyond which nppropri-
atoms may not be made by the federal government
One OF my predecessors, who the evil consequences
OF the system proposed be revived by this bill aempted
define this line by declaring that Expenditures of This
character should be confined beO the ports Of entry or
delivery established by law" Acting on this restriction
he withheld his sanction from bill which had passed Con-
gress to improve the navigation OF the Wabash rver"-
he at the time sensible that this restriction was
satisfactory could be desired and that much err,
baassment may be caused the executive department in
m execution by appropriations for and not well un-
derstood Objects This restriction, soon found was
ha al
less IN checking the system Vi improvements which il
designed in consequence of the fncilitv
with which ports OF entry and delivery may be established
by law upon the upper and in instances nj
most at the head springs Of OF the unmportan
OF rvers aad at points possessing no com
mercia importance and used places Of refuge and
safety by navy and other shipping Many of the ports
OF entry and delivery authorized by law Tar as To-
reign commerce Is concerned exist only the statute
books M entry Of foreign goods ever made and no
duties collected them. No export Of American
products bound for foreign countries clear from them
To assume that their existence in the rs ports
OF entry or delivery warrant expenditures the lead
ing 10 them, which would be otherwise unauthorized would
be 20 assert the proposition, that the NAV
engraft provisions the constitution Ii the restrc
ton be sound It only apply the bays nlets
aud connected with leading such ports as ac
ally have foreign commeEcei ports which foreign inpo
tauons arrye m bulk, paying the duties charged by law
and from which exports made TO foreign countries IL
will be found by applying the restriction thus UNDERWOOD
60 the bill under confederation. that appropria
lions for more than twenty objects internal
called IN the bill HARBoEs places which never been
declared by law either ports Of entry delivery and at
which, az appears from the records Of the treasury there
has never been arrival OF foreign merchandise and from
which there has been vessel cleared for foreign
country. IL will be found that many OF works are ne
add at places for the Improvement Of which appropriations
now for tho first time proposed. II will be found al
that the bill contains appropriations Tor upon winch
there not only exists no foreign commerce but upon which
there has been established even paper pot Of ,nt,v
and for tho months OF creeks denonnaed harbos winch
improved can benefit only the particular neighbofhood
IN which they are situated IL will be found. too
tain appropriations the expenditure Of which will ony have
the effect OF improving place the eIpense of the To-
cal, natural advantages Of another vicinity Should
this bill become law the FRscPLE which authorizes
the appropriations which II proposes make would slso
authorize similar appropriation for the Improvement Of all
the other bnys, nle ond creeks which may with EQUAL
popueV be called harbOrs and Of al rivers important or
unimporan ~ cvory part Of the Union. To sanction the