Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-04
THE pREsIDENT,s MESSAGE,

"
ment
THE PREsIDENT's MESSAGE,
We lay before our readers this morning, the
Message Of the President, explanatory of his
views with regard to Internal improvements
by the General Government.
Whilst we are gratifed that the President
withheld his approval from the River and Har-
Dor Bill Of the last session, and whilst we com
mend his views in regard to a general system
ofinternal improvements and the limitations he
would impose on incidental powers, we cannot
say that the message adds muchtothe arguments
which have been adduced on the subject it
treats, or presents them more forcibly than
they have been presented before. Indeed,
the Message of President Polk, communica-
ting his objections to similar bill, was so ex-
haustive in its character, and so lucid in its
style as to leave but little for his successors to
accomplish either by strength Of argument or
force of expression.
But we are pleased with the message, be
cause it assures US that the President will resist
general system of Internal improvements,
and because it contains recommendations which
we heartily approve. 1t does not, it is true,
afford any aid in fixing the dividing line be-
tween general and local improyements-be-
tween works which may be constitutionally
built by the General Government, and such as
must be left to Individual and State enterprise;
but it repudiates the idea that Congress is
vested with general power over the subject Of
Internal improvements, and limits the exercise
of such power as an incidental power, strictly
to the objects necessary to carry some granted
power into effect. The President thereby re-
iects the principle of construction, by which
the powers delegated by the Constitution are
to be usad as mere DISCUSSES, by meaus Of
which formidable substantive powers for differ.
ent objects, may be struggled into the Const-
tuition.
The message tells us explicitly enough that
public works, undertakenas incident to the power
of raising and maintaining an army and navy,
and of declaring war, must have direct con-
nection with, and strict reference TO, those OBJ
jects, and not be made in order to build up
cities, improve the value of lands, or, to afford
commercial facilities. But in treating of the
power to erect public works as incidental to
the power to raise revenue, the message is not
SO satisfactory; or rather it does not present
any rule by which we can ascertain what
limits the President would impose on river
aud harbor improvements undertaken for
the purpose Of facilitating navigation, with
view to increase the revenue from customs.
The message repudiates the distinction between
fresh and salt water, and it does not confne
the government to the erection Of lighthouses,
beacons, buoys, and other Improvements within
the bays, inlets, and harbors of the ocean and
lake coasts Immediately connected with foreign
commerce.
On this point the message says that foreign
commerce has penetrated into the interior far
beyond the inlets and harbors Of the ocean and
of the lakes; and it discusses then, at much
length, the acts of Congress establishing the
jurisdiction Of the courts of the United States
over the rivers as public highways But then
1t draws no inference from the discussion, and
states that those acts cannot, from their ma
ture, be taken as safe guides in determining the
extent Of the constitutional power under con.
sideration. General Jacksons rule Of limiting
the improvement Of rivers under the power to
raise revenue ito places below the ports Of
entry or delivery established by law is de.
Tended from unjust commentary; but we do
not understand the defense as indicating that
President Pierce approves Of such a test In
deed, we gather from the message that Presi-
dent Pierce does not undertake to specify any
distinct limit to the power Of the General Gov.
eminent to increase its revenue from customs,
by rendering the navigation Of rivers safe and
easy but that on the contrary, he comedies
that something is left to the discretion Of Con.
gress.
In speaking Of public works for naval pur
poses the message says that their rightfulness
and.the amount to be appropriated for them
depends on the military or naval exigency, and
:" the subject matter affords its own measure oil
Legislative discretion, When speaking ofpublic
works intended to promote the revenue from
commerce the message says the very vague
ness Of the proposed purpose ofthe expenditure
constitutes perpetual admonition Of reserve and
caution This is, if we understand Alright, as far
as the message goes in that direction. Itthen
suggests plans to prevent Congress from yield.
ing to inducements to transcend proper discre.
ton by making useless and improper appropria-
tions, and thereby exercising most formida-
BILE substantive power in the guise Of mere
derivative from the power TO raise revenue
The FIRST Of these is to require the States to
surrender their jurisdiction over the sites Of
permanent works the second is to abandon
the practice Of including more than one object
Improvement In the same bill; and the third
as to return to tonnage duties, as the source
from which the means are to be derived Of i'm