Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-08-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
VETO OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR
BILL

The River and Harbor Bill, which had been
under discussion for some time past, by Con-
gress, passed both Houses on Thursday last,
and was sent to the President. He returned it
On Friday afternoon without his signature, and
with his veto message, which we publish below
The bill had been loaded down by amendments
granting large appropriations for objects clearly
of a local natura, and for individual profit
The veto is right, and viii be sustained Of
1t the Washington Union says:
The whole idea of appropriations for rivers
and harbors, as advocated by such statesmen
as Senator Badger, and other Whig leaders.
grows, in the first place, out of the inherent
belief, that the money of the people is to be
used for classes and not for the whole, and no
ingenuity can make it otherwise. In the next
place, they think that they cannot be governed
too much. The people cannot be happy unless
Congress is continually taking into its hands
the affairs of the people. Now, we take the
broad ground that individual energy, capital,
and enterprise, are far more certain elements
of public happiness than the loose and uncer-
tain aid furnished by Congress to personal and
local projects. Apart from the partial tenden-
cy of the practice illustrated in the harbor bill
vetoed by the President, by which millions are
taxed that few may prosper, and apart from
the future dangers that may and must arise if
this practice is allowed to grow into system,
the whole history of the world clearly shows,
that individual energy and skill are much
more certain to conduce to the general welfare
than the legislation advocated by the friends of
the river and harbor bill.
The veto of the President has been received
by the Democratic party in Congress with gen.
eral satisfaction, and cannot fail to be respond
ed to by the country with the same feeling
Prompt, decided, and clear, it shows him to
be true to the constitution, true to the rights |
of the States, and true to the constitutional |
interests of the people. When the President |
fulfils his promise to full discussion of the
subject in his next annual message, we are
satisfied it will be found that his position gives
no sanction to the idea, that one section of |
the Union can constitutionally receive benefits |
from appropriations that cannot be made for |
all sections
To the House of Representatives:
l have received the bill entitled an act"
making appropriations for the repair, pre-
servation, and completion of certain public |
works heretofore commenced under authority |
of law" It reaches me in the expiring hours |
of the session, and time does not allow full |
opportunity for examining and considering its |
provisions, or of stating at length the reasons
which forbid me to give it my signature.
1t belongs to that class of measures which |
are commonly known as internal improve
ments by the general government, and which,
from very early period, have been deemed
of doubtful constitutionality and expediency.
and have thus failed to obtain the appropra-
ton of successive Chief Magistrates
On such an examination of this bill as it |
has been in my power to make, L recognize
in it certain provisions national in their cha
racter, and which, if they stood alone, it
would be compatible with my convictions of
public duty to assent to but, 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 constitu-
ton.
To make proper and sound Determinations
between these. different provisions, would re-
quire deliberate discussion of general prin-
ciples, well as careful scrutiny ofdetails, |
for the purpose of rightfully applying those |
principles to each separate item of appropria- |
ton.
Public opinion, with regard to the value
and Importance ofinternational improvements |
in the country, is undivided There is dis :
position, on all hands, to have them prosecuted |
with energy, AMI to see the benefits, sou yht to
be attained by them, fully realized
The prominent point of difference between
those who have been regarded as the friends |
of system of finternal improvements by the |
general government and those adverse to.such |
a system, has been one of constitutional pow
er, though more or less connected with con- |
siderations of expediency.
My own judgment, it is well known, has, |
on both grounds, been opposed to ga general
system of internal improvements" by the fed |
eral government. | have entertained the most |
serious doubts, from the inherent difficulties
of its application, as well as from past unsatis-
factory experience, whether the power could |
be so exercised by the general government as |
to render its use advantageous either to the
country at large or effectual for the accom- |
plishment Of the object contemplated,