The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-08-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
VETO OF THE RIVER AND HARBon BILL.

To the House of Representatives.:
have received the bill entitled "An oct
making appropriations for the repair, pres.
ervaton and completion of certain public
works heretofore commenced under au.
thority Of law II reaches me in the ex.
pir,ng hours OF the session, and time does
not allow full opportunity Of examining
and considering its provisions, or Of sta.
ting at length the reasons which forbid me
10 give it my signature. 1t belongs to that
class oil measures which are commonly
known as Internal improvements by the
general government, and which, from a
very early period have been deemed Of
doubtful constitutionality and expediency,
and have thus failed to obtain the appro-
baton OF successive Chief Magistrates.
On such an examination OF this bill as
it has been in my power to make, recog-
Mise in it certain provisions, national in
their character, and which, if they stood
alone, it would be compatible with my con-
victions Of public duty to assent to, bu. at
the same time it embraces others which are
merely local, and not, in my judgment,
warranted by any safe or true construction
of the constitution. To make proper and
sound discrimination between these differ
ent provisions would REQUIRE deliberate
discussion Of general principles as well as
aoareful scrutiny Of details for the purpose
Of rightfully applying those principles to
each separate item Of appropriation.
Public opinion with regard to the value
and importance OF internal improvement
in this country is undivided. There is a
disposition on all hands to have them pros
eculet with energy, and to see the benefits
sought to be obtained by them fully reali
) zed. The prominent point of difference
between those who have been regarded a.
the friends of system Of internal i'm
provements by the General Government
and those adverse to such system, has
been one OF constitutional power, though
more or less connected with questions o
expediency. My own judgement, it is wei
known, has, on both grounds, been oppo
sed to q general system OF internal i'm
provements by the Federal Government
have entertained the most serious doubts
from the inherent difficulties OF its appli
cation as well as from past unsatisfactory
experience, whether the power could be 81
exercised by the General Government, a
to render its use advantageous TO the coun
tryat large, or effeotual for the accomplish
meni OF the object contemplated.
shall consider it incumbent upon m
TO present to Congress, at its next session
matured view Of the whole subject, an,
TO endeavor to define, approximately 9
least, and according to my own convic
tions what appropriations Of this atur
by the General Government the great in
terests of the United States require, an
ahe constitution will admit and sanction, il
case no substitute should be devised caps
BILE Of ofreconciing difficulties both Of con
atitutionality and expediency.
In the absoence OF the requisite mean
and time for duly considering the Who'll
subject at the present, and discussing sue
possible substitute, it becomes necessar
5 10 return the bill to the House of Repre-
sentatives, in which it originated, and fc
the reasons thus briefly submitted to tn
consideration OF Congress to withhold fros
il my approval.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 4, 1854.