The daily union., 1846-05-02

bill authorizing sabserilon on the part Of the
United StaIes for stoek In the Msysule and Lex
ington Turnpike Company passed the two houses,
there had been reported BY the eomuittees on inter-
nal improvements, bills containing appropriations
for such objects exclusive Of those for ths Cumber-
land road and for harbon and lighthouses 10 the
amount Of about one hundred and six millions of
dollars. ...r4f.sg.ss 1t.n4E
In this amount was included authority TO the
Secretary Of tho Treasury TO ubseribe for The
stock Of different coupsnies % great extent anu
the residue principally for the direct eonstrue-
tlon OF roads by this government In addition 10
these projects, which have been presented TO the
two houses under the sanction and recommendation
OF their respective committees internal improve
ments, there was then still pending before the com
miltees, and ia memorials 10 Congress, presented
but not referred, different projects for works of
similar character, the expense Of which cannot be
estimated with certainty, but must have exceeded
one hundred millions of dollars.
From attempts TO appropriate the national funds
objects which confessodly OF local character
we cannot trust, have anything further 10 sppre-
hend My views IN regard 10 the expedIeney o.
making appropriations for works which are claimed
TO be OF national character and prosecuted under
State authority, assuming that Congress have the
right TO do so, were stated in my annual message
10 Congressin 1885, and also in that containing my
objections 10 the Maysyllle road bill.
may be called. without improp priety internal iul-
proyements, which have always been regarded as
standing upon different grOuT DIS from those 70 which
have referred. alude to such as have for their
object the improvement Of our harbors the removal
OF partial and temporary distractions in our nayl-
gable rivers, and for the facility and security of our
foreign commerce The grounds upon which ! dis
iingulshed appropriations OF this character from
others, have already been stated TO Congress |
will now only add, that at the first session Of Con-
gress under the new constitution, 1t was provided
by law that all expenses which should accrue from
and after the 18th day Of August, 1889 in the ne
eessary support and maintenance and repairs Of all
lighthouses, boacons, buoys, and public piers
erected, placed, or sunk before the passage Of the
act, within any bay, inlet, barbor, or port Of the
United States, for rendering the navigation thereof
easy and safe, should be betrayed out Of the treasu
ry Of the United States; and further that it be the
duty Of the Secretary OF the Treasury TO pro-
vide, by contracts, with the appreciation Of the
President, for rebuilding, when necessary, and
keeping in good repair the lighthouses, beacons,
buoys, and public piers, in the several States, and
for furnishing them with supplies. Appropriations
for similar objects have been continued from that
time to the present without interruption or dispute.
As natural consequence Of the increase and ex-
tension Of our foreign commerce, ports Of entry and
delivery have been multiplied and established, not
only upon seaboard, but in the interior Of the
country, upon our lakes and navigabe rivers. The
convenience and safety Of this commerce have led
to the gradual extension Of these expenditures;
the erection Of lighthouses, the placing, planting,
and sinking Of buoys, beacons and piers and to the
removal OF partial and temporary Instructions in
our navigabe rivers and the harbors upon our great
lakes we'll on the seaboard. Although have
expressed TO Congress my apprehension that these
expenditures have some times been extravagant and
disproportionate TO the advantages to be derived
from them have not felt il to be my duty refuse
my assent TO bills containing them, and have
tented myself TO follow, in this respect in the foot
steps Of my predecessors. Sensible, however,
from experience and observation ofthe great abuses
10 which the unrestricted exercise of this authority
by Congress exposed, have prescribed liml-
tation for the government Of my own conduct, by
which expenditures OF this character confined TO
places below the ports of entry or delivery establish
ed by law l am very sensible that this restriction
is not satisfactory as could be desired and that
much embarrassment may be caused TO the execu-
tive department its execution, by appropriations
for remote and not well-understood objects.
! am not hostile to internal Improvements and
wish to see them extended to every part Of the
country. But am fully persuaded, il they are not
commenced in proper manner, confined 10 proper
Objects and conducted under an authority generally
conceded to be rightful, that successful prosecu
ton Of them cannot be reasonably expected. The
attempt will meet with resistance where II might
otherwise receive support and instead Of strengthen
ing the bonds of confederacy it will only multi
ply and aggravate the cause of disunion.
No. l7.-Erpenses Of the lighthouse establishment from
lst July, 1916, to la July lS4l.