The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-01-31
Tur Yrrn-1 will Be recollected that pres:

.
Al message to congress, giving his reasons, IN
full Tor his veto of tire river and harbor Dill of
Of lie last session That message was trans
mitted OH the Cd instant, and was received the
last mail. It is very long-altogether too long,
for the space now at our command; ana, mere
fore. We avail ourselves Of an able and accurate
synopsis, which we find in the Baltimore Amer
lean Of the 81, as follows:
What he asks is intended by the phrase inter-
nal improvements? What does 1t embrace and
what exclude? No such language IS found II
the constitution Not only is it not an express
sion in the constitution, but it has no sufficient
meaning to be Of any value as means OF safe
conclusion either of constitutional law or prac-
cal craftsmanship.
If there is any power to construct railroads
and canals, there must, by the same forced
construction, be power to construct bridges, and
drain marshes, and provide means OF lrrlga-
tion-in fact, improvement Of the earth for the
development Of natural resources.
He saws he has had occasion more than once
to express as his Judgment, and took it for grant
ed that it was fundamental proposition, thatthe
federal government is the creature ofthe States.
That sovereign power is in them alone; and
all power Of federal governments is denva-
tive. All power not delegated to the COVER
ment is reserved to the States respectively on
to the people Starting from this, and denying
that power for system OF internal improve
ments is to be found in the preamble to the
constitution, he proceeds to examine the va
rious clauses in that instrument under which
power for system ofinternal improvement IS
claimed, coming to the conclusion that there
is no specific power for such works; and no pro-
vision broad enough to cover them.
Congress can only construct such works AS
may be necessary to carry out specific pow
er. He refers to the views Of Jefferson, Jack
son, Polk and others in commentator and APP
proyal; and then estimates the vast expend-
lures which would necessarily be involved in a
system of internal improvements. If the i'm
provement Of the navigability of a river or har-
Dor be necessary for military or naval purposes
the subject is then a matter for legislative dis
cretion
In conclusion the president says the consid-
eratons that he has submitted, added to the
embarrassment Of the whole question, impels
him to suggest the policy of combining appro-
priations by the general government to works
necessary to be constructed from its undoubt-
ed powers; and of leaving all others to indiTid-
ual enterprise, or to separate States, to be pro-
yided for out their own resources; or reeur-
renee to provisions of the constitution which
authorizes the levying Of tonnage duties with
the consent of congress for the improvement
of harbors.
To our mind Justly. observe the CONNER
cial Bulletin the arguments of the message are
unsatisfactory its premises unfounded, and Its
deductions feeble; its assertions false, and its
conclusions unworthy the chief magistrate ola
great nation; besides being presumptuous IN
high degree. Gen. Jackson signed, as presi-
dent river and halbor bills. Mr.. Calhoun
sustained measures in the senate toward inter
nal Improvement and development; and, IN his
great speech at Memphis, declared the Missis-
sippi to be an Finland sea-" and that it was the
prerogative of the federal government to i'm
prove it, together with many other arguments
OF a similar description, which he enforced and
demonstrated with conclusive power. Mr.
Clay's views on the subject have never been
logically controversial and the mere facts that
the most eminent statesmen of the country, Of
both political parties. have for a long series of
years advocated and sustained such bills; that
numerous congresses have bestowed their
sanction upon them; and that several presi-
affixed their official signatures TO them, all 60
to prove that our allegation Of presumption is
not altogether out of place. Were Mr. Pierce
a Jackson, Clay. Webster or a Calhoun the
case might be different; but as Mr.. p. is but a
very small pattern of statesman, and can no
more ape their stride than could an infant a
such authority arrogantly and recklessly pre-
sumptuous.
The president endeayors to sustain his po-
sition by referring to consequences that may
follow governmental aid to rivers, railroads.
harbors, etc. He says, construct the one or
improve the other, and congress may be call
ed upon to drain marshes, build bridges, and
provide means Of irrigation! Yes, and when
the heavens fall probably we shall have a su-
perabundance Of larks! Such reasoning is not
only puerile, but it is strained puerility 1t is
not at all applicable to the subject under con-
sderation. With equal propriety the presi-
dent might have enlarged upon this train of
reasoning, and arrived at the conclusion that
because congress had seen proper to aid pro-
jects ofvast national importance, called for by
the interest of the whole people, that at some
future day, the same bodies might be invoked
to improve the outer appearance of seedy indi-
yiduals, by providing them with clothing and
other articles of prime necessity.
But, we have not room to follow the subject
further. 1t would require but little labor, tai
ent or research, to expose the fallacy and So
phistry of the entire production. Under the
circumstances, however, it would be labor
wasted to do so. 1t is settled that congress
will not be able to do any thing for the improve
ment Of the country, SO far as rivers, har.ors,
and railroads are concerned, if Mr.. Pierce's
veto can prevent it; and that we must await the
Inauguration of his successor, who we predict
will joyfully sign such beneicent bills, before
we can hope for encouragement or assistance
from the general government. Well, thank
fortune, that suspicious period is not far distant.
Tie Baton Rouge Democratic Advocate, of
the Esd inst, has the following:
It it said, but we do not youch for the truth
Of the report, that the know -nothings supported
Mr. Slidell.
&&st >--o~o~~~~~o-~S~~~~~~
MoNEr.-The Picayune of the 24th, says,
we have had a quiet time in money affairs to-
day. No negotiations of consequence were
hy1tc