Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-01-06

Message from the President.

! On the I'd inst, President Pierce sen
into the House a message giving in detail
his views on the subject Of Rivers aut
Harbors. He says in returning to The
House of Representatives, in which it orig.
inated the bill entitled an act making APP
preparations for the repairs, preservation ant
completion Of certain public works here
tofore commenced under authority OF law
it became necessary for him, owing to the
late day at which the bill was passed to
state his objections TO it very briefly an.
nounclng at same time purpose to reserve
the subject lor. more deliberate discussion al
the present session of Congress, ARE entitled
to expression Of the considerations which
have induced dissent Oh his part from their
conclusions in this instance.
What, he asks, is intended by the phrase
internal Improvements +? What does II
embace, and what exclnde9 No such Ian
guage is found in the constitution. Not
only Is it not an expression in the ronsti.
tuition but it has no sufficient meaning 10 be
of any value..as means Of safe conclusion,
either Of constitutional law or practical
craftsmanship.
! IL there is any power 10 construct rail-
roads AM canals there must BY The same
forced construction, be power to, construct
bridges, and drain marshes and provide
means of irrigatIon--in fact, improvement
of the earth for the development Of natu-
raj resources.
He says he had occasion more than once
TO express as his Judgment, and took it for
granted that it was fundamental propo.
sition. that the Federal Government Is the
creature OF the States-that sovereign pow
er is i'll them alone; and all power of Fed
eral government is derivative. All power
not delegated TO the government is resefv-
ed to the states respectively or the
people. Starting from this. and denying
that power 70: a system of internal imrove-
ments IS TO be found in the preamble TO the
Constitution, he proceeds to examine the
various clauses in that instrument under
which power for system of internal in.-
provments is claimed coming TO the concu-
sion that there is no specific power for
such works and nc provision broad eaosgb
to cover them. This view has been main
tanned by the soundest expositors o! tue
government.
Congress can only construct such worka
as ma! he necessary 20 carry out specific
power He refers TO views. Of jefferson,
Jackson, Polk and Others in commendation
and approval, and then estimates the vas.
expenditures which would necessarily be
involved IN system Of internal improve
ments. 1.-THE improvement or the navi-
gability Of a river or harbor be necessary
for military or naval purposes. the subject
is then matter for Legislative discretion
The message was quite long one. In
coRc lusion, the Pres. says the considera-
tons he has submitted added to tue embar-
rassment Of the whole question, impels him
to suggest the policy of combining appro.
priations by general government to works
necessary TO be constructed from its un-
| doubted powers and Of leaving all others
TO individual enterprise or to separate
States 10 be provided for out of their own
resources; or by recurrence to provi-
siohs Of the eonstiiutio which authorizes
the levying of tonnage duties with the
consent Of Congress, for the Improvement
Of La 5ors.