The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-08-16

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thaye resolved The bill entitled "An act
Masking appropriations for ths repair. pres
erSatiOn and completion Of certain public
works heretofore commenced under author
lsy Of law" It reaches me in the expiring
hoaES Of the session, and time does net al.
low . full opportunity of examining and
considering lis provisions, or Of stating at
length the reasons which forbid me to give
1t my signature. 1t belongs to Il al class of
measures which are commonly known as in-
Ienal improvements by she general gov.
erument. and which, from a very early pc
riod have been deemed of doubtful consti.
lu;iopaity and ezpediepcy. and have thus
huled TO obtain the appreciation Of success
sve Chief Magistrates.
B On such an examination Of this bill as it
has been in my power to make, reeogpize
IN It certain provisions, national in their char
acter, and which, if they stood alone, it
would be compatible with my convictions Of
public duty to assent to-. but at the same time
1t embraces others which are merely local
and not, in my Judgment, warranted by any
sale or true construction of the constitution.
10 make proper and sound Discrimination
between there different provisions would re-
quire deliberate discussion OF general
principles as well as a careful scrutiny Of
details for the purpose of tightfully apply
ing those principles to each separate item OF
appropriation.
Public opinion with regard o the value
andimportance Of internal improvement 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 prominent point OF difference between
those who have been regarded as the friends
OF system Of internal Improvements by
the General Government, and those adverse
to such system, has been one of constitu-
tional power, though more CT less connect
ed with questions of expediehcy. Ny own
Judgment, it is well known, has, on both
grounds been opposed to general system
OF internal Improvements by the Federal
Government. ] have entertained the most
serious doubts from the inherent difficulties
OF its application, az well as from past un-
satisfactory experience Ivy the General Gov.
ernment, as to render its use advantageous
to the country at large or etfectual for the
accomplishments Of the object contsmpls-
ted. | shall consider it incumbent upon me
to present to Congress at its next session
malured view Of the whole subject, and to
enleavor to define approximately at least,
and according to my own convictions, what
appropriations 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 reconciling
difficulties both of constitutionality and ex
pediency.
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 approba-
baton. FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, D. G, August 4, 1854. d.