Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-08-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Veto of the River and Harb0r Bill.

To the House of Representatives:
| have received the bill entitled GO An act making
appropriations for the repair preservation and com
pleton of certain public works heretofore commenced
under authority of law. 1t reaches in the eXpir
ing hours of the session. and time does not allow
full opportunity of examining and considering its
provisions, of stating at length the which
forbid to give it my signature. 1t belongs to that
class of measures which commonly known as IN
terna improvements by the general government, and
which, from very early period, have been deemed
of doubtful constitutonality and expediency, and
have thus failed to obtain the appreciation OF success
sive Chief Magistrates.
On such an examination of this bill as ii has been
in my power 10 make, recognise in it certain pro-
visions, national in their character and which, if they
stood alone, it would be compatible with my convic-
tions of public duty to assent to- but at the same
time it embraces others which are merely local, and
not, in my judgment, warranted by any safe or true
constructions OF the constitution To make proper
and sound discrimination between these different pro-
visions would require deliberat. discussion of gen
eral principles we'll careful scrutiny of details
for the purpose of rghtfuly applying those prnci-
pies TO each separate item OF appropriation.
Public opinion with regard to the value and i'm
portance of internal improvements in this country
is undivided. There is disposition on all hands to
have them prosecuted with energy, and to the
benefits sought 10 be obtained by them fully realized
The prominent point of difference between those who
have been regarded the friends of system of in
those adverse to such system, has been of
stitutional power though more or less connected with
questions of expediency. My own Judgment ii is
well known, has, both grounds, been opposed to
general system OF internal Improvements by the Fed
eraI Government. have entertained the most seri-
doubts from the inherent difficulties of its appl
cation we'll from past unsatisfactory expert
ence by the General Government, to render its use
advantageous the country at large effectual for
the accomplishment of the object contemplated.
! shall consider it incumbent upon me to present
to Congress lis next session matured view of the
whole sub ect and to endeaVor to define, approx
mately at least, and according to my convictions,
what appropriations of this nature by the Genera
Government the great interests of the United States
require, and the cons tuition will admit and sanction,
in case no substitute should be devised capable OF
econcng difficulties both OF constitutionality and
eXpediency.
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 Repre-
sentatives in which originated, and for the
thus briefly submitted to the consideration of Con.
gress TO withhold from it my approval.
! FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington D. c., April 4, 1854