Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-01-18
The Presidents Veto Message.

and Harbor Bill, giving the reasons for his
veto of the bill at the last session of Congress,
was read in the House on the Sd inst. The
following notice Of the message, presenting
the main question which it discusses, we copy
from the Boston Post -
" 1t is clearly and strongly written !; thor
ough in its examination of the subject free
from all surplusage; and in solid strength OF
argument presents triumphant vindication Of
the democratic policy of opposition to the prac-
tice of making lavish appropriations by the
general government which came TO a head in
the administration of the younger Adams, and
was overthrow by the glorious veto of Presi-
dent Jackson. We cannot too strongly COM
mend this noble state paper to the patriotic
citizens of all parties. While it is gratifying
as an exposition of democratic views, it is in
structive as an calculation of the foundation
principle of our political system, and of the
results that necessarily flow from the policy
which this principle dictates.
We refrain from presenting full abstract
of this message, as it is uncOmmonly worthy
of an examination as whole. We will state,
however, the main question which the mes
sage discusses. 1t first puts the enquiry
What does the phrase internal improvements
embrace and what does it includei 1t cites
as an answer, the definition given by Presi-
dent j. @. Adams, who claimed the credit OF
first giving the policy, which the general gov
eminent had adopted "a permanent and regular
system According to his own words, after
he retired from office, had it prevailed, 'the
whole Union would have been checkered over
with railroads and canals affording high
wages and constant employment to hundreds
and thousands of laborers,' and by the aid of
the money of the general government. And
he placed the system in direct contrast to the
mode of state Legislation and private enter
prise. To indicate how far it got under head
way, under Adams fostering care, we re-
mark, that, in 18s9-S0 the total cost of works
commenced and for which the government had
ordered surveys, and which, at one time were
before congress, was oUer one hundred millions
Of dollars! This then was the system that
congress should construct the railroads and
canals which our country needed.
The message states what must have been
the results of this system on the part of gov
eminent. There are now 1900 miles Of
railroad and 5000 miles of canal constructed
under state Legislation and by private enter
prise. These cost little short of six hundred
millions of dollars; but had the general made
them they would have cost probably nine hun
bred millions. To have carried these on
would have required force of two hundred
thousand men, representing, with their fami-
lies, million of our population, dependent on
the government through its public works.
The question comes up: Did the people Of
these states, when in their separate conven-
lions they accepted the constitution, intend to
confer on the general government they thus
established, the powers that would lead to
such resultsl The message goes fully into
this inquiry. In addition it may be safely re.
piled, that such purpose was contrary TO the
whole of public opinion from the first sugges
ton of Union for the primary object Their
seen is that the states, as far as possible
should retain every local power not necessary
for the general defence aud the common well
fare. Next: Did the trainers of the constitu-
ton intend to put such powers into the consti.
tution2 To this it may be replied that if they
did, they would have said so and that they
did not intend to do it is clear, for it was pro
posed to give congress power to make canals
Singular as it may appear, DIR. Franklin
moved to grant power 'to provide for cutting
canals when deemed necessary Roger
Sherman objected that 'the expense in such
cases would fall on the United States > and
on the vote being taken, three states only vot-
esslor H.and eight states sroted against it,
No such express grant OF power was made.
The message discusses this question with
! great aculeness and ability, and shows how
conclusive the argument is against the con-
stitulonality Of the system In whatever
point of view it is regarded, whether as a
question of express or of implied power, con
! gress has had no authority given to it to carry
on system of internal improvements. Dem
ocrats will receive this message with grea
! pleasure; it is an unanswerable vindicatior
of the policy of their party on this great sub
| ject.
The latter part Of the message is devoted tc
an examination of the branch of the subiec
relative to the power of congress to make ap
preparation in aid of navigation. In this j
goes back to the earliest acts of congress
! 1t states the remarkable fact tina. for thirt,
years after the adoption of the % fitution
all appropriations of this class VIZ peeHsssninec
to the construction of light-houWEEf5 eacons
buoys, and public piers, and the --eage o
channels nor until 1924 is there " example
of an appropriation TOR the Improvement o
harbors of like nature with those in the bill
returned to the house of Representatives. Thi.
whole subject makes great feature in thi:
message, and is presented in a new light.
We again commend this most able state pa
per to our readers, as one of remarkable pow
er, and every way creditable to the patriotism
and craftsmanship of President Pierce"