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

stsPhiea extent Contributing its equal proportion II taxes
TO 'he support Of the would under the opera
ressurcthc common stock of all-uneaualy di.bur-ed
and often mprovdeny wasted fof the advantage Of smsl
sections instead OF being applied great national pu-
alone the TO collect the revenue was given Should
tho system OF internal improvements proposed ali
these evils viii multiply and increase with increase
the number OF the States, and the extension Of the
graphical limits oi the settled portions Of our country
with the increase OF numbers the extension of our
tue local objects demanding appropria, OF
the pubic money Tor their improvement will
aey increased In each the expenditure of the pab.
lie money would confer benefits direct or indirect only ON
section, while these sections ~ould l.. in
comparison with the whole.
The wisdom Of the framets OF the constitution in with
holding power over such objects from tho federal govern
ment and leaving them TO tho local eosornments of tho
States. becomes and manicst with every wears
experience OF the operations OF our systcm
In county OF limited extent with but few such objects
OF expenditure, III the form OF INT !,
common treasury might be used Tor their improvement with
much less inequality aud injustice than in one OF the vast
extent which ours now presents an population aud territory
The treasure OF the world would hardly be equal TO tho
improvement OF every bay inlet creek, and riyer in our
country which might be supposed promote the
borhood.
The federal constitution wisely adapted in il. pro,i
sions To any expansion of limits and population and
with the advance OF tho conedeacy OF tho States in the
career OF national greatness becomes the more app,ren,
that the harmony Of the Union and the equal iusic, IN
which all t parts arc entitled. require that the federal go
nro-
scribed by the constitution TO its power and authority
some OF the OF this bill subject to the Oh
Jecions stated and did they stand alone should NOT
II 10 be my duty TO withhold my approval.
II no constitutional objections existed to tho BILL there
are Others OF serious nature which deserve come con
deraon IL spproprises between one and two millions Of
dollars Tor objects which OF pressing necessity aud
this - proposed At time when the country engaged in
foreign war, and when Congress present session
has authorized loan the Treasury notes to de-
Tray the expenses of the DO resorted to II the
lgences OF the government shall require IL would
seem 10 be the dictate OF wisdom such
ees To husband means, and them on com
parauNey unimpoant objects. that may reduce the
loan or Of Treasury which may neces-
sary To the smslest practicable IL would seem to be
wise too 10 abstain from such expenditures with view 10
avoid the accumulation OF large public debt the exist
enee OF which would be opposed interests Of our
people as well Ia the genius OF institutions
Should this bill become n law the principle which es.
tsblshes will inevitably lead large and annually nereas
ing appropriations and drains upon treasury tor il
baecd in its provisions but quite much entitled to the
favor OF the those which are embraced will
demand through their in Congress 10 be
placed ON an equal footing with them. With such an in
crease oi expenditure necessarily follow either an in
creased public debt increased burdens upon the peope
by taxation TO supply the with the OF meet
ing the accumulated demands upon II.
With profound respect for the opinions Of Congress and
ever anxious as isr consistently with my response
in the discharge OF respective duties Is with unfee
ed regret that find myself constrained for the reasons
which have assigned withhold my approval from this
bill.
JAMES h. POLK.
WASHINGTON, August Sd. lSI6