Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-08-17
Presidents Message.
VETO OF THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
To the House Of Representatives.:
Cooper.

VETO OF THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
To the House Of Representatives.;
have received the bill entitled "An act
making appropriations for the repair, pre-
servation and completion OF certain public
works heretofore commenced under authors
ty of law" 1t reaches me in the expiring
hours Of the session, and time does not allow
full opportunity Of examining and and con-
sidering lis provisions, or of stating al length
the reason which forbid me TO give il my
signature. 1t belongs to that class Of meas :
ures which are commonly known as inter-
nal improvements by the general govern
ment, and which, from a very early period
have been deemed of doubtful constitutions
bility and expediency and have thus failed to
obtain the appreciation Of successive Chief
Magistrates.
On such an examination Of this bill as it
has been in my power to make, recognise
in it certain provisions, national in their
character and which, if they stood alone, it
would be compatible with my convictions of
public duty to assent TO, but at the same time
it embraces others which are merely local,
and not in my judgement, warranted by any
safe or true construction of the constitution.
To make proper and sound discrimination
between these different provisions would re-
quire deliberate discussion ofgeneral prin-
ciples as well as careful scrutiny of details
for the purpose of rightfully applying those
principles to each seperate item Of appropri-
alton.
Public opinion with regard to the value
and Importance of internal improvements in
this country is undivided. There is dis
position on all hands to have them prosecu-
ted with energy and TO see the benefits sought
to be obtained by them fully realized. The
point Of difference between those who
have been regarded as the friends Of sys-
TEN Of internal improvements by the Gener-
al Government, and those adverse 10 such
system, has been one Of constitutional pow
er, though more or less connected with
questions of expediency. My own jude-
ment, it is we'll known, has on both g. ounds
been opposed to general system of internal
Improvements by the Federal Government.
| have entertained the most serious doubts
from the inherent difficulties of its applica-
ton, as well as from past unsatisfactory ex-
perience by the General Government as TO
render its use advantageous to the country
at large or effecual for the accomplishment
Of the object contemplated.
shall consider it incumbent upon me TO
present to Congress at its next session ma
tured view of the whole subject, and TO en-
deavor TO define, approximately at least and
according to my own convictions, what ap-
preparations of this nature by the General
Government the great interests Of the Uni
ted States require, and the Constitution will
admit and sanction, in case no substitute
should be devised capable Of reconcling dir-
ficulties both of constitutonality and expe-
diency.
In the absence of the requisite means and
time for duly considering the whole subject
at the present, and discussing such possible
substitute, it becomes necessary TO return
the bill to the House of Representatives, in
which it originated, and for the reasons thus
briefly submitted to the consideration of
Congress to withhold from it my approval.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, D. c., August 4, 1854.