Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-08-05

The President yesterday afternoon returned to
the House of Representatives the River and Har-
Dor Bill, with his reasons for withholding from 4
his approval. The House was SO near the hour for
closing its legislative duties that there was no time
take the sense of the body on the bill returned
indeed, there was no quorum present, and the Mes
sage was not opened or read but intmations Of the
Union few days previous had prepared the public
Tor the veto of the bill and being anticipated the
nature OF the message was well understood although
1t was not opened. We obtained copy Of it, how
ever, which we subjoin
Nothing can be said on this unhappy Democratic
practice Of vetong the public will and the public
interest which would not be repetition of what
has been often urged on former occasions. It were
to be wished that SO long as this antagonism to in
ternal improvements is to constitute an essential
principle in Democratic Presidents, the party would
act with some consistency, and not waste the time
Of Congress in maturing bills merely to be vetoed
by the Executive. 1t is child's play to spend q
month in discussing and perfecting the details Of
general system of improvement, with the foreknow-
ledge and certainty Of its being negatived by the
President. 1t is rendering the repetition Of this
great and delicate power too common, and making
the extreme medicine of the Constitution its daily
food.
WASHINGTON, AUaUsr 4, 1854.
TO the House Of Representatives:
have received the bill entitled San act making ap-
preparations for the repair preservation and completion
Of certain public works heretofore under the
authority Of law" breaches in the expiring hours
of the session and time does not allow full opportunity
for examining and considering its provisions or of stat
ing at length the which forbid me to give nv
signature belongs to that class Of measures which
are commonly known internal improvements by the
General Government and which from very early period
have been deemed Of doubtful constitutionay and ex
psdiency and have thus failed to obtain the appreciation
of successive Chief Magistrates.
On such an examination Of this bill it has been in
my power to make, recognise in it certain provisions
national in their character, and which, if they stood
Alone it would be compatible with my conviction Of pub
lie duty to assent but at the same time it embraces
others which merely local. and not in my judgment
warranted by any safe construction of the Con-
stitution.
/ To make proper and sound determinations between
these different provisions would require deliberate dis
cusson Of general principles well careful scrutiny
Of Details for the purpose Of rghtfuy applying those
principles to each separate item Of appropriation Pub
lie opinion with regard to the value and Importance Of
internal improvements in the country is undivided.
There is disposition, all hands, have them prose-
cuted with energy, and to the benefits sought 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 adj
to such system has been Of constitutional
power though less connected with considerations
Of e1pediency. My judgment it is well known, has,
on both grounds been opposed to general system Of
internal improvements" by the Federal Government
have entertained the most serious doubts from the in
herent difficulties Of its application well from past
unsatisfactory experience whether the power could be
exercised by the General Government render its
advantageous either to the country at large eec
tua for the accomplishment of the object contemplated
shall consider it incumbent to present to Con-
gress its next session, matured view Of the whole
subject and to endeavor define approximately least
and according to my convictions what appropria-
ons Of this nature by the General Government the great
interests Of the United States require and the Constu-
ton will admit and sanction in no substitute should
be devised capable Of reconcng differences both Of con-
stitutionality and expediency.
In the absence Of the requisite and time for duly
considering the whole subject present. and discussing
such possible substitute it becomes necessary to return
this bill to the House of Representatives in which 1t org
nated and for the thus briefly submitted to the
consideration Of Congress to withhold from my appro
val. FRANKLIN PIERCE.