Mississippi Democrat., 1846-09-02


and from which exports are made 10 70.
reign countries 1t will be found by apply
ing the restrictions thus understood TO the
bill under consideration, that il contains
appropriations for more than twenty OBJ
Ijects of internal improvement, called in
the bill harbors, at places which have
never been declared by law, either ports
of entry or delivery, and at which, as ap.
pear from the records of the treasury, there
has never been an arrival of foreign mer.
chandise, and from which there has never
been a vessel cleared for foreign coun-
try. 1t will be found that many of these
works are new, and at places for the i'm
provement of which appropriations are
now for the first time proposed. 1t will
be found, also, that the bill contains ap.
preparations for rivers upon which there
not only exists no foreign commerce, but
upon which there has not been establish
ed even paper port Of entry, and for the
mouths of creeks, denominated harbors,
which if improved, can benefit only the
particular neighborhood in which they are
situated. 1t will be found, too, to contain
appropriations the expenditure Of which
will only have the effect Of improving one
place at the expense of the local, natural
advantages Of another in its vicinity
Should this bill become law the same
principle which aulhorises the appropria-
lions which it proposes TO make, would
also authorise similar appropriations for
the improvement Of all the other bays,
inIets, and creeks, which may with equal
propriety be called harbors, and Of all the
rivers, important or unimportant, in every
part of the Union. To sanction the bill
with such provisions, would be to concede
the principle that the federal government
possesses the power to expend the public
, money in general system of internal im-
proyements, limited in its extent only by
the ever varying discretion of successive
Congresses and successive Executives. 1t
would be to efiace and remove the limita-
tions and restrictions OF power, which the
constitution has wisely provided 10 limit
the authority and action of the federal CO.
vernment TO a few well defined and spe-
cited objects. Besides these objections,
the practical evils which must flow from
the exercise, on the part Of the federal GO
vernment, of the powers asserted in this
f bill, impress my mind with grave sense
Of my duty 10 aver them from the coun-
try, as far us my constitutional action may
enable me TO do so.
1t not only leads to a consolidation of
J power in tho federal government at the
t expense of the righCul authority of the
States, but its inevitable tendency is, TO
embrace objects for the expenditure Of The
, public money, which are local in their
character, benefiting but few at the ex-
pense Of the common treasury of the
, whole. 1t will engender sectional feelings
and prejudices calculated TO disturb the
harmony of the Union 1t will destroy
the harmony which should prevail in oui
legislative counses.
1t will produce combination Of local and
: sectional interests, strong enough, wher
united, to carry propositions for appropria
lions public money which nolof themsel
, yes, and standing alone, succeed, and can
! not fail to lead to wasteful and extravagaa
= expenditures.
1t must produce disreptuble scramble
for the public money, by the conflict which
is inseperable from such system, be
tween local and individual interests anC
the general interests OF the whole. II i
unjust to those States which have with the
> own means constructed their own interna
/ improvements to make from the common
S treasury appropriations for similar i'm
: provements in other States.
In its operations it will be Oppressive
and unjust towards those States whost
d representatives and people either deny o
n doubt the existence of the power, or thinl
i. its exercise inexpedient, and who, Will,
y they equally contribute to the treasury
s canno: consistently with their opinions en-
G gage in the general competition for shar
J. OF the public money. Thus large por
e ton of the Union IN numbers and in gee
!. graphical extent, contributing its equa
G proportion of taxes to The support OF tn
IS government, would, under the operation {
/. this system, be compelled TO see tie nation
e al treasure-the common stock of all-u1
], equally dlsbursed, and often improViden
:. ly wasted for the advantage Of small set
IS tons, instead Of being applied to the gret
Y national purposes in which all have a con
}. mon interest, and for which alone the pow
,s er TO collect the revenue was glyen.-
is Should the system of internal improve
N mens proposed prevail, all these evils wi
g multiply and increase with the increase
e. the nnmberof the States, and the extel
r. sion Of the geographical limits Of The Sc
~ tied portions of our country. With Il
n. increase of our numbers and the exe
i. sion Of our settlements the local objec
n. demanding appropriations Of the publ
n money would confer benefits, direct or ]
IN direct, only on section, while these Sc
re- ,ions would become daily less in compaI
=. AN ,vith tho whole