The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-12-14

for the supervision Of the affairs Of the
institution. The organization not bav-
ing taken place, it seemed to me prop
or that it should be effected without
delay. This has been done ; and All
occasion was thereby presented for in.
spectipg the condition of the Institu-
ton, and approaching its successful
progress thus far, and its high promise
of great and general usefulness.
have omitted to ask your favorable
consideration for the estimate of works
of local character in twenty-seven Of
the thirty one states, amounting to one
million seven hundred and fifty four
thousand five hundred dollars, because,
independently Of the grounds which
have so often been urged against the
application of the federal revenue for
works of this character, inequality with
consequent injustice is inherent in the
nature of the proposition, aud because
the plan has proved entirely made.
quatc to the accomplishment of the
objects sought.
The subject of internal improve
ments, claiming alike the interest and
good will of all, has nevertheless been
the basis Of much political discussion,
and has stood as deep craven line
between statesmen of eminent ability
and patriotism. Tie rule of strict
construction Of all powers delegated
by the States to the general govern
mcnt has arrayed itself. from time to
time, against the rapid PROCESS Of cx-
pcnditures fiom the national treasury
on works Of a local character within
the states. Memorable, AS an epoch in
the history Of this subject, is the mes.
sage Of President Jackson, of the 9th
of May, 1880, which met the system
OF internal Improvements at its com.
paratiyc Infancy; but SO rapid had
been its growth, that the projected
appropriations i'll that year for works
Of this character had risen to the a.
farming amount Of more than one hun
dred millions of dollars. In that mes.
sage the President admitted the diff
Guilty Of bringing back the operations
OF the government to the construction
Of the constitution set up in 1893, and
marked it as an admo'.itory proof of
the necessity of guarding that instru-
mcnt with slcepless vigilance against
the authority Of prcccdents which had
not the sanction Of its most plainly dc.
fined powers.
Our government exists under
written compact between sovereign
States, uniting for specific objects, and
with specific grants to their general
agent. If, then, in the progress of
Its administration, there lave been de.
partures from the terms and intent of
the compact, it is, and will ever be,
proper to refer back to the fixed stand
ard which our fathers left US, and to
make a stern effort to conform our ac-
ton to it. 1t would seem that the
fact of a principle having been resisted
from the first by many OF the wisest
and most patriotic men Of the republic,
and policy having provoked constant
strife, without arriving at a concu.
sion which can be regarded as salts
factory to its most earnest advocates,
should suggest the inquiry whether
there may not be a Ian likely 10 be
crowned by happier results. Without
pcrcciying any sound distinction, or
intending to assert any principle as
opposed to improvements, needed for
the protection of internal commerce,
which does not equally aIlly to i'm
lroyemcnts On the seaboard for the
protection of foreign commerce, l sub
nit to you, whether it may not be
safely anticipated that, if the policy
were once settled against appropria-
tons by general government for local
inn rovcments for the benefit Of COM
merce, localities requiring expcndi-
lures would not, by modes and means
clearly legitimate and proper, raise
the funds necessary for such construc-
tons as the safety or other interests of
commerce might require.
If that can be regarded as a system,
which, in the experience of more than
thirty years, has at no time so com
manded the public judgment as to give
it the character of a settled policy
which, though it has produced some
works of conceded importance. has
been attended with an expenditure
quite disproportionate to their value
and has squandered large sums upon
objects which have answered no yalu-
able purpose-the interests of all the
States require it to be abandoned. I'M
less hopes may be INDUCED in the
future which find no warrant in the
past.
With an axious desire for the com
pletion of the works which are regard.
ed by all good citizens with sincere
interest, | have deemed it my duty to
ask at your hands deliberate recon-
sideration of the question, with a hope
that, animated by a desire to promote
the permanent and substantial interests
Of the country, your wisdom may
prove equal to the task of devising
and maturing a plan, which, applied to
this subject, may promise something
better than constant strife, the sus-