The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-16
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The Presadent's s1essaxs
To the House Of Representatives..

which had passed both houses was presented to for
my approval entertained insuperable objections to ITS
becoming law; but the short period OF the session
which remained afforded me sufficient opportunity to
prepare my objections and communicate them, with the
BILL to the House of Representatives,, in which It orgl-
mated For this reason the bill retained and deem
il proper now to state my objections to IT.
Although from the title oil the bill, It would that
It's main object to make provision for continuing
tain works already commenced in the Territory of Wis
consn, appears, on examination of its provisions, that
contains only single appropriation OF six thousand
dollars to be applied within that Territory while II appro
PIRATES than half million OF dollars for the improve
ment of numerous harboTs and rivers lying within the
limits and jurisdiction of several of the States OF the
Union.
AT the preceding session of Congress, it became my
duty to return with my objections to the house in which
it originated, bill making similar appropriations, and
involving like principles; and the then expressed
remain unchanged.
The circumstances under which this heavy expendi-
ture of public money was proposed OF imposing
weight in determining upon its expediency. Congress
had recognised the existence of with Mexico, and
to prosecute to ga speedy and successful termination
had made appropriations exceeding ordinary
To meet the emergency and provide for the expenses
OF the government, loan of twentythree millions OF
dollars was authorized at the same session. which has
since been negotiated The practical effect OF this bill,
had it become law would have been to add the whole
amount appropriated by TO the national debt ltwold,
in fact have made necessary additional loan to that
amount as eectually if in terms it had required the
Secretary of the Treasury TO borrow the money therein
appropriated The main question in that aspect is,
whether it is wise, while all the and credit of
the government needed to bring the existing to
honorable close, to impair the and endanger the
other by borrowing money 70 be expended IN system Of
to swallow up the revenues not only OF country,
but of the civilized world' 1t to be apprehended that
dence, AT home and abroad the wisdom and prudence
OF the government, would be far impaired to make
It difficult, without an immediate resort to heavy taxa
hon to- maintain the public credit, and to preserve the
honor Of the nation and the glory OF prose-
cutting the existing to successful conclusion. Had
this bill become law, is easy foresee that largely
m 1IDOnf The trpag hppn
made at each succeeding session of Congress- for the
provement of numerous other harbors bays nlets and
rivers, OF equal importance with those embraced by its
provisions. Many millions would probably have been
added to the amount OF the debt the annual
interest which must also have been borrowed and
finally permanent national debt been fastened on the
country and entailed on p0sterity.
The policy OF embarking the federal government in
general system Of internal improvements had its origin
but little more than twenty years ago. In very few
years the applications to Congress for appropriations in
furheance Of such objects exceeded two hundred mil
refused to approve and sign the Maysvie road bill,
the Wabash river bill, and other bills OF similar charac
ter His nterposlton put check upon the new policy
of throwing the cost of local improvements upon the
national treasury preserved the of the nation
for their legitimate objects, by which he enabled 10
to an admiring world The pnnprecedented spectacle in
modern times of nation free from debt, and advancing
to greatness with unequalled strides under government
which content to act within its appropriate sphere
protecting the States and individuals their chosen
of improvement and OF enterprise Although the
bill under consideration proposes appropriation for
road canal is not easy to perceive the difference in
principle mischievous tendency between appropra
tons Tor making roads and digging canals and appropri
atoms to deepen rivers and improve harbors. All
alike within the limits and jurisdiction Of the States and
rivers and harbors alone open abyss OF expenditure
sufficient TO swallow up the wealth of the nation and
load with debt which may fetter its energies and tax
Its industry for ages to come.
The experience of several of the States, as well as
exercised the power Of apropriang the public money
for internal improvements, full of eloquent warnings
1t seems impossible in the nature of the subject
nected with local representation, that the several objects
presented for Improvement shall be weighed according
their respective merits, and appropriations confined TO
community to effect their accomplishment.
In some OF the States systems OF internal improvements
have been projected, consisting of roads and canals
many OF which, taken separately not OF sufficient
public importance to justify tax the entire population
of the State to effect their construction; and yet, by
combination OF local interests, operating majority OF
the legislature the whole have been authorized, and the
States plunged into heavy debts To extent ruin
has this system Of Legislation been carried in some
portions Of the Union, that the people have found
necessary to their safety and prosperity to forbid
their legislatures by constitutional restrictions to contract
public debts for such purposes without their immediate
consent
II the abuse of power has been so fatal in the States
where the systems Of taxation direct and the repre-
sentaves responsible at short periods to small masses OF
constituents how much greater danger OF abuse is to be
apprehenGed in the general government whose revenues
raised by indirect taxation, and whose funconares
responsible to the people in larger masses and for
longer terms
Regarding only objects of improvement of the nature
OF those embraced in this bill, how nexhaustible we
shall find them Let the imagination along coast
from the river ST. Croix TO the Rio Grande, and trace
every river empying into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mex
to its source; let along lakes, and ascend
all their tributaries; let pass Oregon and explore all
ltebays nlets, and streams; and then let it raise the
tain OF the future and contemplate the extent of this
public and the objects Of Improvement it will embrace
as it advances to It's high destiny, and the mind will be
startled at the immensely and danger of the power which
the principle Of this bill involves
Already our confedeacy consists Of twenty nine States
formed on the west of present settlements. We own
extensive country in Oregon, stretching many hun
dreds of miles from east to west and degrees of
latitude from south north By the admission OF Texas
into the Union, have recently added many hundreds
Of miles to seacoast In all this country Dor
derng the Atlantic and Pacific, there are many thou
sands OF bays, nles, and rivers, equally entitled APP
preparations for their Improvement with the objects
braced in this bill.
We have in States that the interests of ndvid
uals or neighborhoods, combining against the general
interest, have involved their governments in debts and
bankruptcy; and when the system prevailed in the gene
had begun to be considered the highest merit in men,
Der Of Congress to be able procure appropriations of
public money to be expended within his district or State
whatever might be the object We should be blind the
experience OF the past if did not abundant evil
dences that if This system OF expenditure be INDUCED
IN, combinations of individual and local interests will be
found strong enough control Legislation absorb the
revenues OF the country and plunge the government into
hopeless Indebtedness
What is denominated harbor by this system does not
necessarily mean bay inlet, arm of the the