Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-08-16

u On Thursday evening, Sd inst alter the two
Houses of Congress had agreed upon the River
and Harbor Bill, and it was finally passed and
signed, it sent Immediately 10 the President.
In very short time the following document was
sent in:
To the House Of Representatives,
have received the bill entitled " An act making
appropriations for the repair, preservation and
completion OF certain public works heretofore
commenced under the authority OF law" II
reaches me III the expiring hours OF the Session.
and time does not allow full opportunity OF ex
aiming and considering its PROVISIONS or OF sta
ting at length the reasons which forbid me 10 give
it my signature. 1t belongs to that class OF meas
ures which are commonly known as Internal
Improvements by the General Government, and
which, from a very early period have been deem
ed of doubtful constitulionality and expedency,
and have thus failed 10 obtain the appreciation OF
successive Chief Magistrates. On such an exam
ination of this bill il has been in my power TO
make, recognize in ii certain provisions, national
III their character and which. if they stood alone
| II would be compatible with my convictions of
public duty to TO at the same Time it en-
/ braces others which merely local. and not IN
| my judgment warranted by any sale or true CON
| struction of the Constitution. To make proper
and sound discrimination between these different
provisions, would require a deliberate discussion
OF the general principles, well as careful scru-
tiny of details for the purpose OF rghtfully apply
ing those principles to each separate Item OF APP
| preparation. Public opinion with regard 10 the
value and importance of internal improvements
| in the country is undivided There is DISPOSE
| ton all hands 10 have them prosecuted with
energy. and TO see the benefits sought to be at
| tanned by them fully realized. The prominent
| point of difference between those who have been
/ regarded the friends of system of internal
Improvements by the General Government and
those adverse to such system. has been one of
Constitutional power, though more or less con
! nected with considerations of expediency. My
| own Judgment it is well known has on both
/ grounds been opposed TO general system of
internal improvements by the Federal Govern
ment, well as from past unsatisfactory expe
rience by the General Government, as to render
its advantageous either TO the country at large
or eiectua for the object contemplated. ! shall
consider it incumbent on me to present to the
present Congress at its next session a matured
view of the whole subject, and to endeavor to de-
hne approximately at least, and according to my
own convictions. what appropriations of this
ture by the General Government the great inter
ests of the United States require, the Constitution
Will amt and sanction, IN case substitute
should be devised capable of reconcliing the differ
ences both OF ConstitutIonallty and expedercy-
In the absence of the requisite and time for
duly considering the whole subject at present and
discussing such possible substitute, it becomes
necessary the bill to the House of Repre-
sentatives in which il originated and for the rea
thus briefly submitted TO the consideration OF
Congress, withhold from it my approval
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, D. c., Aug. A. 1884.