Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-07-28
l,hc Gang Fear RIiIaLaW

Ihc cape Fear Bill Law"
II will be seen that on Saturday last the Presi-
dent sent into the Senate message giving his ap
prevail to the Bill appropnatng $4,000 for the re-
moyal OF the distractions at the mouth of River
He believes it but simple justice that the General
Government should undo any evil she has done
The protection of her works has done injury to our
harbor That injury she is bound to repair. The
approval of this bill is not to be considered prece
dent for the improvement Of Rivers and Harbors by
the General Government The inference is unavoid-
able that the River and Harbor bill is destined to
certain veto. The objects of our bill met fully the
views of the President. Its title did not-nor did it
fact express these objects. Hence the necessity of
the message 10 avoid misconstrucon.
For the last few days community has been
kept in state of natural but unnecessary excite
ment by the awful and oracular Vaccinations of
a member of the Swiss corps of Washington city let
ter-wrlters, whose prophetic revelations enlghten
the readers of the Baltimore Sum- the signature
of "Ion." He, with other members of the by-no.
means mysterious order of Know. eyery-t things has
been assuring the world in general that ''the Presi
dent is preparing veto, 'the President will certain
ly veto the Cape Fear biIl,'' etc. The marvellous
man of the New York Herald-never behindhand
when there is chance for propagating a false
NOR caught up the tune and other small potatoes
reeehoed it, until something of panic on the sub
ject gotten up even here.
The motives of these good people we need not at
tempt to analyze, although it might not be difficult
fully to account for the course of "Ion,' whoever
the aforesaid Ion" may be. 1t is sufficient for
say, however, that this affair only confirms in the
opinion we have always entertained with regard to
the great body of Washington correspondents-that
they are totally unworthy of having any reliance
placed in them their statements That their pre-
tended knowledge OF official movements or intentions
is bald assumption the gossip of the barroom,
the temporary confidence OF some politician, who may
wishe to engage their vena services being their on
ly stock in trade combined, of course with much i'm
pudence, and other elements of congenia character,
"too tedious to mention"
But let these things pass. They amount to little
nothing in their effects in disturbing the pub
lie mind When, last week. we gave the positive
assurances which we did, that the President would
give bill his sanction, had authority for so do
ing which was beyond doubt or question The only
hesitation at any time in regard to the title of
the bill, will be seen by the accompanying mes.
sage.
From the Washington Union of the 23d inst.
The Presidents Message-The Cape Fear River;
Bill Approved.
/ The bill recently passed by Congress, appropria-
ting hundred and forty thousand dollars for the
further Improvement of Cape Fear river in North
Carolina, was signed on yesterday by the President
and returned to the Senate. 1t is we'll known that
this measure differs from the ordinary propositions
to make appropriations for the improvement of rivers
and harbors, in the fact that the obstruction in Cape
Fear river is the result Of act of government
This feature in the was we'll understood in both
houses of Congress- and contributed largely to the
passage Of the bill. If III fact alluded to had been
stated in the BILL IFS approval by the President would
have required no explanatory message but, in con-
sequence of this omission, it was incumbent on him.
to prevent demonstrations erroneous differences,
to accompany his approval with the statement of
the reason on which it given. The reason as.
signed by the President addresses itself so forcbly
to the common sense of every that it cannot fail
to be entirely satisfactory. This act cannot be re-
garded as precedent except in where the gov
eminent. as in this case has caused the obstruction
In all such cases the propriety of the appropriation
, will be readily conceded We need scarcely add
that the approval of the Cape Fear bill, under the
circumstances cannot be construed ntoa recognition
e by the President of the power to make appropra-
tons by Congress for rivers and harhols generally
r The following is the message of the President, ac-
companied by the bill:
10 the Senate Of tie United States:
s have this day given my signature to the making
t river, North Carolipa.''
The occasion render proper devate
from the ordinary of announcing the approval
bills by oral statement only and for the purpose of pre-
venting any misapprehension which might otherwise arise
from the phraseoogy of this act to communicate, in wr
ting that approval given to it the ground that the
distractions which the proposed appropriation is intended
the result Oh acts FRANSK SnsfS PERGE
WASHINGTON, July 3D. 1854
An making further appropriation the Improvement
q the Cape Fear river, North Carolina
/ Be 1t enQcted By the Senate and House of Representative
r Of the United States Of Aerc0 Congress assembled
That the Of hundred and forty Thousand dollars be
and the same hereby appropriated for the year ending
3Oth June $780, to be paid out of money in the rea
not otherwise Appropriated and expended under tn
supernendency of the Secretary of War; for the continue
ton of the improvement of the Cape Fear liver North Car
l., olna at or near its communication with the
= Approved July y, 1854.
l. "BAsE lNGRATITUDE.-The Locofocos at Whining
h ton have ssued handful and given it wide crcu
s. lation ont Of own, in which, in flaming capitals the
claim great credit for Mr.. Ashe for the passage O
t, the bill appropriating $4,000 for their Bar, ant
e entirely omit oil mention of or GUusion to Mr. Bade
IS ger Here is justice --Locofoco justice! Shall W
s. say Wilmington justice ?"
c The above paragraph from the last Fayetteville
= Observer is untrue in letter and in spirit in fact an
It in utterance. The heading is untrue, as applied eli
Their to the Democrats OF Wilmington or to the pee
pie of Wilmington as body, irrespective of party
IS is untrue that the Locofocos at Wilmington hav
d issued handful, such as described The handbi
- was printed in Wilmington for the use Of Dem
r ocrats of Brunswick county Would the OF
r., server have the work done in Fayetteville 1t wa