The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-08-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


psto of the Rirer aud Har5or Bill
On Friday afternoon, at about three O'Clock, 'n'
river and harbor bin having previously passed ooti
houses of Congress, the following message "a' re
ceived in the House of Representatives from fre''
| dent Pierce.
To The House Of Representatives:
have received the bin entitled an act making
appropriations for the repair, preservation, anf
menced under authority Of law IL reaches me II
the expiring hours of the session. and time does no
allow full opportunity for examining and consider
ing its provisions Of stating at length the rea
sons which forbid me to give It my signature.
II belongs to that class OF measures which are
commonly known 40 internal improvements by the
general government, and which, from a very early
period, have been deemed of doubtful constitution
aty and expediency, and have thus failed to obtain
the appreciation of successive Chief Magistrates.
On such an examination of this bill a. It has been
In my power to make, recognize in it certain pro-
visions national Ia their character, and which, II
they stood alone, il would be compatible with my
convictions Of public duty to assent TO- but at the
same time, II embraces others which are merely To-
CAL and not, in my judgment, warranted by any safe
or true construction OF the constitution.
10 make proper snd sound dscrimnations between
discussion of general principles a. well a 4 careful
scrutiny OF details for the purpose of rshtfuy an
plying those principles to each separate item Of ap
Public opinion with eeard to the value and import
of internal improvements in the country is un.
divided There 10 disposition, on all hands to have
them prosecuted with energy, and to see the bone
fits sought to be attained 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 ono of
constitutional power Though more less connected
with considerations of expediency.
NV own Judgment, it is well known has, on both
grounds been opposed to "a general system of inter-
nal improvements by the Federal Government.
have entertained the most serious doubts, from the
inherent difficulties of its application as we'll from
past unsatisfactory experience. whether the power
could be exercised by the general government as
render IFS either to the country
at large, or eectual for the accomplishment of the
object contemplated.
shall consider it incumbent on me to present to
Congress, at its next session, matured view of the
whole subject and to endeavor to define, approxi-
mate,y at least, and according to my own convic-
tions what appropriations of this nature by the 0e-
neral Government the great interests of the Uniteo
Sta require, and the conatituton will admit and
sanction in case no substitute should be devised ca.
pable of recopciling differences both of consttu-
tionslity and expedisncy.
In the absence of the requisite means and time for
duly considering the whole subject at present, ard
discussing such possible substitute il becomes neces.
sary this bill to the House of Represents.
tives in which it originated and, for the thus
briefly submitted to the consideration of Congress- to
FRANKLIN PIERCE,
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 1854.