The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-08-08

"f the pnhiic 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 government. and leaving them to the local
governments of the States, becomes more aud
more manifest with every years experience Of
the operations Of our system.
In country of limited ex,ect. with bu, few
such "hJec's "i expenditure. (if the firm of gov
eminent permitted it. common treasury mipbt
be used for their impro cement with much less in
equality and injustice than in one of The vast OK.
tent which ours now presents in population and
! territory. The treasure of the world would hard
ly be equal To the improvement Of every bay, in
let' creek, and river in our country which might
be supposed To promote the agricultural, manu-
featuring, or commercial interests Of a neighbor-
hood.
The federal cunstiutinn was wisely ada p,ed in
its provisions 10 any expansion Of our limits and
population and with the advance of the confedera-
cy OF The States In the career of national great
ness. II becomes the more apparent that the har-
mony of the Union, and the equal Justice to which
all lis parts are entitled. require that the federal
government should confne its action 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.
aud did they stand alone should not feel il 10 be
my duty To withhold my approval
IL no constitutional objections existed to the bill
there are others Of a serious nature which deserve
some consideration. Ut appropriates between one
and TWO millions of dollars for objects which are of
no pressing necessity and this is proposed at a
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 expenses of The war. to he resorted to
u me "exgences OF the government shall require
IT.. II would seem To he the dictate of of wis
dom under such circumstances to husband our
means, aud not Ia waste them on comparatively
nnlinPortant objects, So that may reduce the
loan or issue of treasury mites which nav beeome
necessary to the smallest practicable sum. 1t
would seem To be wise too. Ia abstain from such
expenditures with view To avoid the accumula-
ton of large public debt, the existence of which
would be opposed Ia the interests of our people,
as we'll as 10 the genius of our free institutions
Should this hill bec"me a law the principle
which 1t establishes will inevitably lead To large
and annually increasing appropriations and drains
upon The treasury for il is mol to be doubted that
numerous other localities not embraced in its pro-
visions, but quite As much entitled to the favor of
The government as those which are embraced. will
demand, through their representatives in Con-
gress, io be placed on an equal footing with them
WIN Snch an increase of expenditure must neces.
sarlly follow either an increased public debt or
increased burdens upon The people by taxation, to
supply The treasury with the means of meeting
the accumulated demands upon it,
with profound respect for the opinions of Con.
gress and ever anxinns as far as can consistent.
~ with my responsibility to our common constItn-
en's. TO CO operate with them in the discharge of
our respective duties, it is with unfeigned regret
that ind myself constrained for the reasons
which l have assigned, 10 Withhold my approval
from this bill.
JAMES X. POLK.