Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-02-21
From the Washington Union
Ahe River and Harbor Bill.

| The River and HarE,or Bill,
Our time has been so fully ocept;ed for H. j.,
few days that have not called aftento 'i,e last
iact mat the river and harbor bill is now nond;
IN the house OF Representatives We have pot aans
the DILL ana we DO not know what particular anntn
Pfatons IL contains, nor do we know the aoorrrat,
sum IL proposes 10 appropriate. Our opinion of this
species OF legislation has been expressed too often r.
need repetition If it desirable for the fJn.oI
government to engage in an extended system of j.;
ternal improvements, think with Mr. JafFarsn,,
and Mr. Polk that the constitution should first bo "
enoed' IN order to confer the power upon CONGRESS-
But we do not think it desirable for the federal nov
ernment to engage in such general system. + i
calculated to lead to corrupt combinations and biob
taxes, to be divided by the parties to such combna
tons The government will become embarrassed
and perhaps almost bankrupt while the States will
as distinct bodies lose that influence which is so ne
cessary TO preserve the purity of our institutions
hey Will become mere suppiants at the footstooI
OF 1ederal bounty and each of them must submit to
rulnous taxation in order to sustain distant works
IN which they have interest or become parties to
combinations having for their object appropriations
terests - - A0e"A Ak
IL seems to us that the present occasion is pecu-
unSulted to the adoption of system of inter-
nal improvements. We have debt of more than
sixty nilllons and the annual expenditure is more
than ttty millions The Secretary, in his annual
report informs Congress and the country that there
Will soon be a deficiency in the treasury and that
soon liabilities will mature which cannot, in his
Judgment be discharged by the accrung revenues.
1t seems to therefore, that leaving out of view
the constitutional question, and the many overyhel
ming objections which can be urged against the sys-
TEN proposed to be adopted the circumstances of the
present time are peculiarly unfit for its adoption
ne government should be economically administer
cd ana the national debt should be extin gushed at
the earliest possible moment No new subject of ex
pendlture should be added to the long list of items
winch are exhaustng the treasury without stringent
necessity. We know that there many who think
they have an interest in making the expenses of the
government as great possible. There is larre
wealthy, and influential class which cares nothing
tor river and harbor Improvements, yet will sustain
them, or sustain any similar movement because it is
willing to create necessity for greater expenditure
to be met by greater taxation Let such be conten-
ted: or perhaps worse may come. There may be Is
result they do not anticipate. If the game is play
cd too tar it may occur to the people to make more
radical change in the laws than the friends
OF specifics and minimums desire. The people may
think Oh trying what effect the form in which the
revenues OF the government are furnished has over
the amount of expenditure.
Ar. Folks veto message of December, 1S47, near
p exhausts this SUBJ ec. It shows that the consti-
5utlonal power is wanting to enter into general
system of internal improvements And where is it
10 stop! Who shall say, " Thus far, and no fur
her" You begin with two millions and next scs-
sion of Congress you will be asked for an immense
emount-perhaps one hundred millions of dollars
he amount of appropriations being increased will
cad to an increase of taxation. The tariff must he
raised, and these two interests will play into each
others hands. The character of the government
Will begin to be changed combinations will be
formed: new interests will be created to extend the
powers OF the general government and not only
will log-roling be produced between different sec
ions OF internal improvements but between internal
Improvement and the tariff These views we have
20 frequently stated that it is not necessary to ex-
oatiate upon them at this moment.
here is no decided power in the constitution up-
IN this subject except to give the States the power
20 lay duty on tonnage, with the consent of Con-
sress. Should any more power be wanted, the first
ep should be to amend the constitution and confer
ne poWer-but with the necessary restrictions to
guard against its abuses or excuses:
Should any great object of improvement exist in
our widely extended country which cannot be effect
ID by tonnageduties, levied by the States with the
concurrence Of Congress- it is safer and wiser to ap
'ly to the States, in the mode prescribed by the
for an amendmet of that Instrument
whereby the powers of the general government NAV
'a enlarged, with such limitations and restrictions
IS experience has shown to be proper than to as
umc and exercise power which has not been gran
ed or which may be regarded as doubtful in the
pimon OF large portion of our constituents. This
curse has been recommended SUCCESSFULLY by Pres
tents Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and Jackson and
1ully concur with them in opinion If an enlarge
nent OF power should be deemed proper it will un-
uestionably be granted by the States if otherwise
will be withheld; and, in either case, their decis-
On should be final. In the mean time, deem it
roper to add that the investigation of this subject
as impressed me more strongly than ever with the
olemn conviction that the usefulness and perma-
ence of this government. and the happiness of the
billions over whom it spreads its protection will be
est promoted by carefully abstaining from the ex-
rese of all powers not clearly granted by the con-
,tution.'
A LEGAL CuRIosITY.-The other day in the Su-
erlor Court of New York q cause came ON for ar