Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-04
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SPECIAL MESSAGE OF
PR ssSIDENT PIERCE,

TO the Senate and House of Representatives:
In returning TO the House Of Representatives
In which II orig mated, bill entitled San act max
ing appropriations for the repair preservation
and completion of certain public works, hereto
fore commenced under authority of law il be.
came necessary for me, owing 10 the late day al
which the bill was passed, 10 state my objections
10 Il very briefly, announcing, at the same time,
purpose 10 resume the subject for more deliber-
ate discussion, al the present session of Congress
ior, while by no means insensible Of the arduous-
ness OF the task thus undertaken by me, con.
ceived that the two Houses were entitled 10 an
exposition Of the considerations, which had in.
duced dissent, on my part, from their conclusions
IN this instance.
The great constitutional question, OF the power
ofthe general government in relation 10 internal
improvements, has been the subject OF earnest
difference OF opinion, al every period Of the his.
tory of the United States. Annual and special
messages of successive Presidents have been
occupied with IL, sometimes in remarks on the
general topic, and frequently in objection 10 par.
ticulur bills. The conflicting sentiments of emf
nent statesmen, expressed in Congress, or in con.
veniions called expressly TO devise, il possible,
some plan calculated 10 relieve the subject Of the
EMBELLISHMENTS with which il is environed while
they have directed public attention strongly tothe
magnitude OF the interests involved have vet left
unsettled the limits, not merely of expedency. but
OF constitutional power, in relation TO works Of
this class by the general government.
What is intended by the phrase "internal i'm
provementsm What does it embrace, and what
exclude! No such language is found in the Con-
stitution. Not only is it not an expression of as
certainable constitutional power, but it has no
sufficient exactness of meaning 10 be Of any value
as the basis OF safe conclusion, either Of con-
siituional law Or Of practical craftsmanship
President John Quincy Adams, in claiming, on
one OCCASION after his retirement from office, the
authorship Of the idea OF introducing into the
administration of the affairs ofthe general govern
ment a permanent and regular system Of inter
nal improvements speaks Of il as a system. by
which "the whole Union would have been check.
cred over with railroads and canals" affording
high wages and constant employment 10 hun.
dreds Of thousands Of laborers;n and he places il
in express contrast with the construction Of such
works by the Legislation OF the States and by pri.
vate enterprise.
l. is quite obvious, that if there be any consti
tutionai power which authorizes The construction
Of railroads and canals by Congress, the same
power must comprehend turnpkes and Ordinary
carriage roads nay, il must extend 10 the
ton Of bridges, 10 the draining of marshes 10 the
erection OF evees, 10 the construction of canals
irrigation, in word, 10 all the possible means OF
the material Improvement of the earth by develop.
ing its natural resources anywhere and every.
where, even within the proper jurisdiction OF The
several States. But if there be any constitutional
power, thus comprehensive in lis nature mus, mol
the same power embrace within its scope other
selves, and equally important the welfare OF the
whole country? President Jefferson, while init.
mating The expediency Of amending the Con
siitution, as 10 comprise objects of physical pro.
gress and wel-beng, does not fail to perceive iha,
'other objects Of public improvement, . including
public education by name, belong 10 the same
class Of powers. In fact, not only public inslruc-
ton, but hospitals, establishments Of science and
arr, libraries, and inoeed everything appertaining
10 the internal welfare of the country are just as
much objects of internal improvement, or in other
words, Of internal utility, as canals and RAILWAYS
The admission Of the power in either of lis
senses, implies its existence in the other; and
since, If IL exists AT ALL il involves dangerous aug
men:ation of the political functions and of IN.
patronage fihe federal government, we ought lo
see clearly by what clause or clauses Of the Con.
stitutiou IL is conferred.
have had occasion more than once TO express
and deem II proper now TO repeat, that il is in my
judgement, TO be taken for granted, as a funda
mental proposition not requiring elucidation, tina,
The federal government is the creature Of the ndi
vidual States, and Of the people of the States
severallyi that the sovereign power was in them
alone; that all the powers of the federal govern
ment are derivatve ones, the enumeration and
Limitations Of which are contained in the instru
ment which organized il and by express terms
"The powers not delegated TO the United State,
by the Constitution, nor prohibited by il 10 the
States, are reserved 10 the States respectively OF
10 the people,
Starting from this foundation of our consl,u
tional faith, and proceeding 10 inquire in wha
part Of the Constitution The power Of making an
preparations for internal improvements is found
il is necessary 10 reject oil idea Of there being
any grant OF power in the preamble When thai
instrument says: We, the people of the United
States in order 10 form a more perfect union, es
tabiish justice insure domestic TRANQUILITY, pro
vide for the common defense, promote the gene
raj welfare, aud secure the blessings Of liberty tc
ourselves and our posterity,n--t only declare.
the inducements and the anticipated results o
the things ordained and established by H. To as
sumo that anything more can be designed by the
language OF the preamble, would be 10 conver
all the body OF the Constitution, with its carefully
weighed enumeraiions and limitations, into mer.
surplussge. The same may be said OF the phras,
in the grant Of the power 10 Congress- ato nav
the debts and provide for the common defense
and general welfare of the United States; or IL
construe the words more exactly they are moi
significant OF grant or concession, but Of restric.
lion OF the specific grants, having the effect o.
saying that, in laying and collecting taxes fol
each Of the precise objects Of power granted tc
the general government Congress must exercise
any such definite and undoubted power in strict
subordination 10 the purpose Of the common de
tense and general welfare OF all the States
There being no specific grant in the Constitu.
ton OF powerto sanction appropriations for in.
ternal improvements, and no general provision
broad enough 10 cover any such indefinite object,
e peCoHes Hcetssnfp 10 ioOk IOr PARTICULAR powers
10 which one or another Of the things included in
abe phrase internal Improvements, may be re.
ferred.
In the discussions OF this question by the adyo.
Gates Of the organization Of q general system oil
internal Improvements" under the auspices Of the
federal government, reliance is had for the iusli.
6caion OF the measure, on several Of the powers
expressly granted TO Congress such as 10 estab.
hsh posi- Offices and post roads; 10 declare war
10 provide and maintain navy; 10 raise and sup.
port armies; 10 regulate commerce; and 10 dis
pose Of the territory and other public properly OF
the United States.
AS 10 the last fihese sources OF power that oil
dsposng Of the territory and other public property
OF the United States, IL may be conceded, that II
authorizes Congress, in the management OF the
public property, 10 make Improvements essential
10 the successful execution OF the trust but this
nust be the primary object OF any such improve
ment, and il would be abuse OF the trust 10
sacrifice the interest Of the property to incidental
purposes.
A 10 the other assumed sources OF a genera
power internal improvements, they beine
specific powers. OF which this is supposed TO b,
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