Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-08-08
VETO OF THE RIVER AND IIARR0R BILL
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To the House 0t Representatives.:
have received the hill entitled Gu act making mp
propriatons for the repair, preservation and compile
lion OF certain public works heretofore commenced
under authority Of law II reaches me IN the expiring
hours OF the session. and time does not allow full
onporunity Of examining aud considering lis provi-
sons or of stating a: length the reasons whi" forbid
me 10 give il my signature Ii belongs to that class
of measures which arc commonly known IA Internal
improvements by the General Government, and which
from very carly period have been deemed of doubt
ful it,;ionalitv and cxpcdicncy, and have thus
failed 10 obtain the appreciation o! successive Chief
Magistrates. ~
IN sucb nm examination Of the BIZ! ~ il has been
in nv power to make, recognize in il certain provi-
sons national in their character, and which Il they
stood alone il would he compatible with my convic-
tions of public duty to assent t." but at the same time
il embraces others which are merely local. and not IN
my Judgment warranted bT any safe or true construc
tion of the Constitution To make proper and sound
discrimination between these different provisions
woul REQUIRE deliberate discussion of general prin
cps az well az q careful scrutiny Of details for the
purpose OF rchtully applying those principles to each
separate item of appropriation.
puhj;c opiniun with regard 10 the vniue and i'm
portance of internal improvements in the country Is
Undivided There is disposition on all hanas to have
them prosecuted with energy and to see the benefits
.oupht 10 be attained by them FULLY realized. The
urn,nnent point of difference between thoac who have
been regarded az the friends Of system Of internal
i,nproyements by the General Governmcn and those
adverse to such system, has been one OF Constitu-
Questions of expediency. My own judgment, it is
well known, has on both grounds, been opposed to II
general system Of internal improvements by fhe Fed
cral Government. have entertained the most seri-
ous doubts from the inherent difficulties of itS appl-
cation, as well as from pust unsatisfactory experience
by the General Government, as to render its use al.
vantaccous to the country at large or cfcctua for the
ACCOMPLISHMENT of the object contemplated.
shall consider j, incumbent upon me to present 10
Congress ut ts next session maturcd view of the
whole subject, and endeavor TO define approxl-
matcv at least aud according to my own convic-
tons, what appropriations of this nature by the Gen
cral Government the interests OF the United Satcs
require and the Constitution will admit and sanction,
in case no substitute should be devised capable OF
concilins differences both OF Cousti;utionality und
c1pedicncy.
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 neccs-
s,ry TO return the bill the lLuse Of Representatives
in which il originated and for the thus briefly
submitted TO the consideration OF Congress TO with
hold from it my approval.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
A