Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-08-18

leaving them to the local Government of
the State, becomes more and more mani
fest with every years experience of the
operations of our system.
In country of limited extent, with but
fcw such objects of expenditure, if the
form of government permitted it, com
mon treasury might be used for their i'm
povement with much less inequality and
justice than in one ofthe vast extent which
ours now presents in population. The
treasury of the world would hardly be
equal to the improvement of every bay,
inlet, creek and river in our country whic h
might be supposed to promote the agricul-
tural, manufacturing, or commercial inter
ests ola Reighborhood.
The Federal Constitution was wisely
adapted in its provisions to any expansion
of our limits and population; and with the
advance ofthe Confederacy ofthe states in
the career Of national greatness, it be.
comes moro apparent that the harmony
of the Union, and the equal Justice to
which all IFS parts are entitled, REQUIRE
that thd Federal Government should con
fine It's action within the limits prescribed
by the Constitution to its power and au-
thority. Some of the provisions of this
bill are not subjected 10 the objections
stated, and did they stand alone should
not feel it my duty to withhold my appro-
val.
limo constitutional objections existed to
the bill, there are others ofa serious ma.
ture which deserve some consideration.
II approprlates between one and two mill
ions 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 Authorised loan or
anissue of Treasury Notes to defray the
expenses of the war, to be resorted to if
the "exigencies of the Government shall
require it," 1t would seem to be the die.
tate of wisdom under such circumstances
to husband our means. and not to waste
them on comparatively unimportant OBJ
Jects so that we may reduce the loan or
issue of Treasury Notes which may be.
come necessary to the smallest practical
bic sum. 1t would seem to be wise, too.
to abstain from such expenditures to avoid
the accumulation ola large public debt,
the existence of which would be opposed
to the interests of our people, as well as
the genius Of our free institutions.
Should this bill become law, the prin.
ciple which it establishes will inevitably
leadto large and annually increasing ap-
preparations and drains upon the treasury,
for it is not to be doubted that numerous
other localities not embraced in its pro-
visions, but quite as much entitled to the
favor of the Government ascthose which
are embraced will demand through. their
representatives in Congress, to be placed
on an equal footing with them. With
such an increase of expenditure must nee
essarily follow either an increased public
debt. or increased burdens upon the peo-
pie by taxation, to supply the treasury with
the means fmeeting the accumulated de,
nands upon it.
With profound respect for the opinions
OF Congress, and ever anxious, as far as
can consistently with my esponsibilityto
our common constituencies cooperate with
them in the discharge of our respective du-
ties, It's with unfeigned regret that find
myself constrained, for the reasons which
have assigned, to withhold my approval
from this bill. JAMES K. POLK.
WAsHINGToN, Aug, Sd, 1916.