The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-29


mails. This evidently looked 10 the adoption Of
general system Of internal improvements 70 embrace roads
and canals well harbofs ard rivers On the Goth of
May 1924 an passed making appropriations for
deepening channel leading INTO the habor of Presqn'
isle in the State Of Pennsylvana, and TO repair Ply
mouth beach in the State Massachusetts nnd tbersbv
prevent the harbor that place from being DESTROYED
President Monroe eded his approval to these meas
though he entertained, and had in message the
House OF Representatives. the 4th of May 1922 ex.
pressed the opinion that the had not rred
upon Congress the power adopt and execute system OF
internal improvements He placed his approval upon the
ground not that Congress possessed the power adopt
and execute such system by virtue Of any all of the
enumerated grant of power the constitution but upon the
assumption that the power make appropriations of the
public money limited and restrained only by the discre
on OF Congress In coming this conclusion he asowed
That IN The more early stage of the government ne had Gu
terained different opinion He avowed that his mrs, opi
ION had been that as the national government y govern
men of limited powers it has right exPend money eS
eep IN the performance OF acts AUTHORIZE oy NC oher
SPECIFIC grants according 10 strict construction OF e
powers that the power make appropriations gave TO
Congress discretionary authority TO apply the public
to effect the powers in the other grants These
sound views which Mr. Monroe entertained in the early
stage Of the government ne gave up N los ana declared
that
'.The RICH, Of appropriation is nothing more than
right apply the public money TO this that purpose. I
sequences kind All Congress could do nnder it,
in the of internal Improvements, would be appro
requiring legislative sanction support the State auhor
y must be relied on The condemnation Of the land, if
the proprietors should refuse sell the establishment OF
turnplkes and tolls and the protection Of the work when
finished mus. be done by the state 10 these purposes die
powers OF the general government are believed 10 be utterly
incompetent .s
But it is impossible conceive what principle the
power of appropriang public money when in the treasury
can be construed extend objects which the
ton authorize Congress levy mposs 10
raise money The power Of appropriation s but the con-
of the to and the true inquiry
it, whether Congress has the right levy for
object which power is claimed
"Durng the four succeeding years embraced by the admin
President Adams. In appro-
pirate money, but to apply it, under the direction and
thorty OF the general government as well to the
ton of roads the improvement of harbos and rivers
was fully asserted and exercised.
Among other acts assuming the power passed
the 10Th of May, 1926, entitled IAN act for improving
certain habors and the navigation of certain and
creeks and for authorizing surveys be made of
bays sounds, end rivers therein mentioned BY tina,
large appropriations made which were be applied
under direction of the President of the United States to
Improvements in ten of the States This
passed hryseven years after the organization of the pres
ent government, contained the first appropriation
made for the improvement of navgabe river unless be
small appropriations for examinations and surveys 1920
During the residue of that administration many other APP
preparations OF similar character made, embracing
roads, rivers, harbors and canals and objects claiming the
aid of Congress multiplied without, number
"Ths the first breach effected in the barrier which
the universal opinion of the trainers of the constitution had
for than thirty years thrown in the way of the assump
ton of this by Congress The general mind of Con-
gress and the country did not appreciate the distinction taken
by President Monroe between the right appropriate money
for object, and the right apply and expend without
the embarrassment and delay of applications the
governments. Probably instance occurred in which
such application made and the food-gates being
thus hoised the principle laid down by him dsegardcd
and applications for aid from the treasury virtually make
harbors well improve the clear rivers cut canals
and construct roads, poured into Congress In torrents until
arrested by the veto Of President Jackson His of the
Maysvle road bill was followed up by his refusal 10 sign
the 'ac making appropriations for building lighthouses
light boats, beacons, and monuments placing buoys i'm
proving harbos and directing surveys authorizing
subscription for stock in the Louisville and Portland Canal
Company IAN act for the improvement Of certain harbors
and the navigation Of certain myers and, finally AN act to
jecuons to the last act named, he says
"'The desire to embark the federal in works
Of internal improvement prevailed in the highest degree
honor to meet in my present situation When the bill
thozing subscription on the Of the United States for
stock in the Maysrile and Lexington Turnpike Company
passed the houses, there had been reported by me
committees on internal Improvements bills containing
Cumberland road and for harbors and ghthous TO the
amount Of about hundred and six millions dollars
In this amount was included authority the Secretary
the Treasury TO subscribe for The stock OF different
MES 10 great extent, and the residue principally Tor
the direct construction OF roads by this government Ina adj
dton TO these projects which have been presented
their respective committees inemsl Improvements
there Were then still, pending before the committees ard
projects for works OF similar character the expense OF
which cannot be estimated with certainly but have
exceeded one hundred millions OF dollars
"Thus within the brief period of less than ten vesrs
after the commencement of internal improvements by the
general government the asked for from the treasury
for various projects amounted than two hundred
millions of dollars President Jacksons powerful and dis
interested appeals TO his country appear have put
forever The assumption Of power make roads and cut
canals to have checked the prevalent disnoson n
bring all rivers in any degree naygabe within the control
Of the general government But immense field for ex-
pending the public money and Increasing the power and
patronage OF this government LEFT open the eonces-
son Of even limited power Of Congress improve har
bors and rivers-a field which millions will not leize 10
the Satisfaction Of those local and Specializing interests by
which these projects general gotten up. here
not be equal distribution of public and
benefits under such system the States I've relieved
from the danger OF fatal oncToachmen the United States
from the equal danger Of consolidation Otherwise than bv
an arrest Of the system, and the doctrines and
practices which prevailed during the first thirty yea Of the
government.
How forcby does the history Of this subject illustrate
inc tendency OF power TO 10 the hands OF the
general government The power TO improve their own b,
eop and MYERS was clearly TO the Stnies who
were TO be aided by tonnage duties levied and coocd L
Themselves, with the Of Congress For thi, g.
years improvements were carried under that system
careful Congress interfere under any ,rl
power, with the soil jurisdiction Of the Stna bst b
did not even the power lighthouses or build
piers without frat purchasing tho ground with the
OF the States and obtaining Jurisdiction it, At length
alter the lapse OF thry-seyen years, passed pro-
vding for the examination OF certain DISTRACTIONS At IN.
mouth Of harbors almost unknown II il f,l-
lowed by acts making small appropriations for the removal
OF those distractions The obstacles inerposed by Pres
cent Monroe after concedng the power appropriate were
soon swept away Congress virtually assumed urisdcton
OF ne so and waters Of the States without their consent
for tne Psoss Of internal Improvement and the evra al
eaRer mons were turned from tho State ~
congress as INC fountain whose golden streams were "a
oeePn .hei haroors and rivers level their mouna1s and
M men ssneys WIN canals To what Consequences this