Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-08-24
w AsHINeToN, August l. 1854.
The River and Harbor Bill.

The River and Harbor bill passed by Con-
gress few days previous to adjournment, has
been vetoed BY the President. The bill made
immense appropriations for the improvement
of Rivers and Harbors throughout the United
States, and also provided for the preservation
and completion Of certain public works hereto
fore commenced. The following is the mes
sage of the President sent to the House Of
Representatives.
To the House Of representatives.
have received the bill entitled An act
making appropriations for the repair, preser-
walton and completion Of certain public works
heretofore commenced under the authority OF
law 1t reaches me in the expiring hours OF
the Session, and time does not allow full OF
portunity of examining and considering lis
provisions, or of stating at length the reasons
which forbid me giving 1t my signature II
belongs to that class of measures commonly
known as Internal Improvements, by the Cen
eral Government. and which, from very ear
ly period. have been deemed of doubtful con-
stitutionality and expediency, and have thus
failed to obtain the appreciation OF successive
Chief Magistrates. On such an examination
Of this bill as it has been In my power to
make, recognize in it certain provisions, ma
tional in their character, and which, II they
stood alone, it would be compatible with my
convictions of public duty to assent to, at the
same time it embraces others which are mere
ly local, and not in my judgment warranted by
any safe or true construction OF the Constltu-
ton To makes proper and sound dlscrlml-
nation between these different provisions,
would require deliberate discussion OF the
general principles, as well as careful scrutl-
ny of details, for the purpose OF rightly apply
ing those principles to each separate Item OF
appropriation. Public opinion, with regard
to the value and importance of internal i'm
provements in the country, IS undivided
There is disposition on all hands to have
them prosecuted with energy, and to see the
benefits sought to be attained by them fully
realized. The prominent point of difference
between those who have been regarded as the
friends Of a system of internal improvements
by the General Government, and those ad-
verse to such a system, has been one OF Con-
stitutional power, though more or less con-
nected with considerations OF expedlency My
own Judgment, 1t is well known, has on both
grounds been opposed to " general system OF
internal improvements by the Federal Gov
eminent, as we'll as from past experience by
the General Government, as to render Its use
advantageous either to the country at large,
or effectual for the object contemplated, |
shall consider it incumbent on me to present
to the present Congress, at its next session,
matured view of the whole subject, and to en-
deavor to define, approximately at least, and
according TO my own convictions, what aPpro-
priations of this nature by the General Gov
eminent the great interests of the United
States require, the Constitution Will admit
and sanction, in case no substitute should be
devised capable of reconciling the difference
both of Constitutionaliiy and expedinecy. In
the absence of the requisite means and time
for duly considering the whole subject at pres
ent, and discussing such possible substitute, it
becomes necessary to return the bill to the
House Of Representatives, in which it origi-
mated, and, for the reasons thus briefly sub
mitted to the consideration Of Congress; with
hold from it my approval.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
: WAsHINGroN, d. c., Aug. A, 1854.