The daily union., 1854-07-19
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.

i Argus well-deserved and eloquent compliment to the
Hon. John Robbins jr, of Pennsylvania.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
The passage by the House of Representatives of bill
making appropriations for the improvement of rivers and
harbors is exciting little speculation to the probable
action of the President the event of its passage by the
Senate We have disposition to engage in such specu
ations but when question presents ITSELF like that in
voved in the and harbor bill which has provoked
roversy amongst the abest and wises from the
beginning of the government the present time cannot
but feel deep the in which the Ex-
ecutve may and dispose of it, We have not
tnized the details of the bill under consideration with the
view of forming opinion to whether any portion of
the objects provided for local character whether
all of them deserve to be classed of national i'm
portance. This is investigation which addresses
itself who are. to pass upon the measure,
and when shall have received the sanction of the Senate
the question may become important in controlling the final
action of the President We understand the bill pass
cd the House be in conformity with estimates furnished
the departments but this fact cannot be regarded
dcatve of the Judgment Of the Executive either the
expedency constitutonaty of the objects estimated
will be recoected that in his annual message President
Pierce expressly declined to ecommend to the favorable
character in twenty of the thrtyone States amount
ing to million hundred and fty-four thousand
five hundred dollars" This fact is conclusive only to
the point that the Executive will be precluded from
thorough examination Of the details of the bill,
though all the appropriations proposed may be in accord
ance with the estimates of the proper departments
We take it for granted that when the bill is presented
the President for his approval he will be governed in his
determination by those great political principles to which
he stands committed democrats and that in applying
these principles he will seek all the light that be de-
rived from the precedents furnished by the ustrous cham
pons of the democratic party He said much in his
marks upon the question of internal improvements in his
messages and that his general views the subject
may be brought clearly the minds of readers in
vite their attention to the following extracts from that
document:
Extracts from President PiercSs annual Message
al have omitted to ask your favorable consideration for
estimates works of local character twenty
the thryone States, amounting to million hun
dred and tyfour thousand five hundred dollars because
independently grounds which often urged
against the application of the federal for works
this character inequality with consequent injustice is nher
the nature of the proposition and because the plan
proved entirely inadequate to the accomplishment of the OBJ
jects sought
"The subject of internal improvements, claiming alike the
interest and goodwill of has nevertheless been the
Of much political discussion and has stood decp-graven
line Of division between statesmen of eminent ability and
riom The rule of strict construction of all powers dele
gated by the States the general has
itself from time to time, against the rapid progress of
pendtures from the national treasury works of local
character within the States Memorable epoch in the
history of this subject the message of President Jackson
the 9th Of May 1880, which met the system of internal
in its comparative infancy but rapid had been
its growth that the projected appropriations in that year
works this character had risen to tho alarming amount of
more than one hundred millions Of dollars.
In that message the President admitted the difficulty of
bringing back the operations of the to the
strucon Of the constitution set in 1885, and marked
admontory proof of the necessity of guarding that
strumen with seepess vigilance against the authority of
preceden which had the sanction of its plainly
defined powers.
"Our government exists under written compact between
sovereign States uniting for specific Objects with spe
cc grants to their general agent If then in the
of its administration there have been departures from the
terms and intent of the compact, it u.s. and will be,
proper refer back to the fixed standard which fathers
left u.s. and make stern effort to conform action to it,
1t would that the fact of principle having been resisted
the first by many of the wsest and most patriotic
the republic and policy having provoked constant strife
without arriving at conclusion which be regarded
satisfactory to its most earnest advocates should suggest the
inquiry whether there may not be plan likely be
by happier results Without perceving any sound dsnc
ton intending to assert any principle opposed
needed for the protection of internal
which does not equally apply to improvements upon the
you whether it may not be safely anticipated that, If the
policy settled against appropriations by the
government for local improvements for the benefit
merce localities requiring expenditures would not by modes
clearly legitimate and proper raise the
for such constructions the safety other
i of their commerce might require
+" If that be regarded system, which, in the expe
rience than thirty years. has at time
public judgment to give the character of
tied pocy--which, though it has produced works
conceded Importance has been attended with expenditure
quite dsproportionae to their vaueand has resulted
squandering large upon objects which have
valuable purposethe interests Of all the States require
it be abandoned unless hopes be nduged for the u
ture which find no warrant in the past.
with anxious desire for the completion of the works
which regarded by all good citizens with sincere interest
have deemed it duty to ask at your hands deliberate
consideration of the question: with hope that animated by
desire promote the permanent and substantial interests
the country wisdom may prove equal to the task
devisng and maturing plan, which, applied this subject
may promise something better than strife the
pension of the powers local enterprise the exciting Of vain
hopes and the disappointment of cherished expectations
At the first session after the Inauguration of Andrew
Jackson in s29s0 he vetoed the Maysvle-road BILL and
the Washingon-road BILL and also refused to sign and