Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-18


its provisions Many millions would probably have been add
ed to the necessary amount of the debt the annual ine
which must also have been borrowed and finally
permanent national debt been fastened the aud
tailed on posierity.
The policy Of embarking the Federal Government in a ge-
neral system OF internal improvements had its origin but little
more than twenty years ago. In very few years the app
cations Congress for appropriations in herance Of such
objects exceeded two hundred millions of dollars In this
alarming crisis President Jackson refused to approve and sign
the Maysvle road bill the Wabash river BILL and other bills
of similar character. His ntepotion put check upon the
policy of throwing the Of local improvements upon
the National Treasury preserved the revenues of the nation
for their legitimate Objects by which he enabled exin
guish the then existing public debt and present adj
mng world the unprecedented spectacle in modern times of
nation free from debt and advancing greatness with u
equaled strides under Government which to
act within its appropriate sphere in protecting the States and
individuals in their chosen career Of and OF
enterprise. Although the bill under consideration proposes
appropriation for road canal not easy to perceive
the difference in principle mschievous tendency between
appropriations for making roads and digging and APP
propations deepen rivers and improve harbos All are
alike within the limits and jurisdiction of the States and rivers
and habors alone an abyss of expenditure sufficient to
swallow up the wealth OF ihe natui aud oad Il wish aL
which may eer its energies and tax its industry for ages to
The experience of several of The States, well that of
the United States during the period that Congress exercised
the power of appropang the public money for internal i'm
provements, is full of eloquent warnings 1t impossible
in the of the subject connected with local represen
taon, that the several objects presented for improvement
shall be weighed according to their respective merits, and ap
propratons confined to those whose importance would justify
the whole community effect their accomplishment
In Of the States systems Of internal improvements
have been projected consisting of roads and canals many OF
which, taken separately, of sufficient public import
justify 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 runou has this system OF e
gaton been carried in portions Of the Unon that the
people have found it necessary to their safety and pros
pery forbid their Legislatures, by constitutional restrc
ons contract public debts for such purposes without their
immediate consent.
If the abuse of power has been fatal in the States
where the systems of taxation Direct and the representa-
ves responsible at short periods to small masses OF consu
en how much greater danger OF abuse to be appehended
in the General Government whose raised by in
direct taxation, and whose nconares responsible the
people-in larger masses and for longer terms
Regarding only objects of improvement of the nature of
those embraced III this BILL how nexhaustble shall find;
them. Let the imagination along coast from the
river ST. Crox to the Rio Grande and trace every emp
tying into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to its source
let coast along lakes and ascend all their tributaries let
pass Oregon and explore all its bays, ne and streams
and then let raise the curtain the future and contemplate
the extent of this Republic and the objects OF improvement
will embrace advances to its high destiny and the
mind will be startled at the immensely and danger Of the
power which the principle of this bill invoes.
Already our Conedeacy consists of twenty nine States
Other States may at distant period expected TO be formed
on the west Of our present settlements We extern
sve country Oregon, stretching many hundreds of miles
from we and degrees of latitude from south TO
north. By the admission of Texas into the Union have
recently added many hundreds of miles to seacoast In
all this country, bordering the Atlantic and Pacific
there many thousands Of bays, net and rivers equally
entitled appropriations for their improvement with the OBJ
jccs embraced in this bill.
We have in States that the interests of individuals
neghbohoods combining against the general interest," have
involved their Governments in debts and bankruptcy and
when the system prevailed in the General Government and
checked by President Jackson had begun TO be
sdered the highest merit in member of Congress to be able
procure appropriations of public money be expended
within his district State, whatever might be the object We
should be blind to the experience of the past if did not
abundant evidences that, if this system of expenditure is
to be INDUCED in combinations of individual and local ne
will be found strong enough control legislation abb
sorb the of the country and plunge the Government
into hopeless Indebtedness.
What denominated harbor by this system does not
cessary mean bay inlet Of the on the ocean
lake shores, the margin of which may exist
commercial city town engaged in foreign domestic trade
but made embrace waters where there not only such
city town. but no commerce Of any kind by bay or
sheet Of hoal water is called harbo, and appropriations
demanded from Congress deepen it, with view to draw
to it. enable individuals TO build up town or
city on its magin upon speculation, and for their own pr-
vate advantage.
What is denominated river which may he improved in
the SYSTEM is equally underlined in its meaning may be
the Mississippi it may be the smallest and most obscure
and unimporant stream bearing the OF river which is
to be found in any State in the Union
Such system subject to be perverted TO the
accomplishment of the of political purposes. During
the few years in full opeaton and which Immediately
preceded the veto of President Jackson Of the Maysve road
bill, instances numerous of public seeking to gain
popular favor by holding to the people interested in par
cular localities the promise of large disbursements OF public
money Numerous reconnossances and surveys made
during that period for roads and canals through many parts
the Union, and the people in the vicinity of each led to
believe that their property would be enhanced in value and
they themselves be enriched by the large expenditures which
they were promised by the advocates Of the system should be
made from the Federal Treasury in their neighborhood
Whole sections of the country thus sought to be inu
enced and the system fast becoming not only OF pro-
fuse and wastefu expenditure, but potent political engine
If the power to improve harbor be admitted il is easy
to perceive how the power deepenovey inlet the
the lakes and make harbors where there can be
rivers near their mouths be admitted it not easy 10 perceive
how the power to improve them to their fountain head and
make them navigabe to their be denied Where
shall the exercise Of the power if be assumed stop Has
Congress the power when inlet deep enough to admit
schooner to deepen still that it will admit ships OF
heavy burden and has it the power when inlet will
admit boat to make It deep enough TO admit schooner
May improve rivers deep enough already float ships and
steamboats, and has II power improve those which are
navgable only tor flat boats and bages May the General
Government exercise power and jurisdiction over the soil OF
State consisting OF rocks and sand bars in the beds OF s w
ers, and may not excavate canal around lis waterfalls or
across its lands for precisely the object
Giving to the subject the serious and candid conside
ration OF which mind capable perceive any in
ernedate grounds The power improve harbors and y
ers for purposes Of navigation by deepening clearing out