New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-05
PIERCE on RIVERS AND nANBoas.

We nave received aud read the long expected
veto message of the President, cxpounding his
sentiments upon the question of internal improve
uepts Our readers may take our word for it
that it is not worth Publishing, and that for that
rea.on alone we do not cucumber our columns
with it. II is of the loose and spongy texture
characteristic of all the Presidents compositions,
when coming fresh from his hands, without the
finishing toucb OF some more pointed aud forcible
thinker. This document, we entertain no doubt,
WIS written by the gentleman VII, has sigaed It,
1t lacks the tough, muscular grasp of Marcy, and
the yigor and polish of the spostase of the Cab-
net who, if be we're not writer, would be moth
ing. The one is too busy with his f)reign rela-
tons, 10y which We mean bis political brethren
abroad, y and the other with his shallow intrigue
to be in mood TO help the President TO sustain
his unpalatabe doctrines.
Gen. Pierce substantially owns up At the start
that he does not know what to say on the subject,
and that the arduousness OF the tssh he hiss
undertaken quite appals him. II he had added
that lie not only did not know what t. say eus
did not know how 10 say il, he would nave hit
the bail on the head exactly.
The President goes into the middle of his sub
iect at the first plunge, aud srgdes that the Con
stjution no where coufers upon Congress the
power 10 carry on "a system OF internal improve
"mcpts.r He establishes tbs conclusion satis-
iactorily 70 himself by showing that thls wouid
involve the making of all the roads canals rau'
roads and so forth, and that this would Involve
the employment of numberless persons, and end
in measureless corruption and confusion. This
same STYLE of argument was adopted BY Mr.
Pierce Ia his veto up.n the bill 10 grant tract
of wild lands for the benefit OF tae ladisent In
sane. /. lie, in short that the power TO do aay-
thing by Congress in such cases Involves that 10
do every thing, and 10 do everything is plainly un
constitutional. The Presiden, has expended his
strength 10 very little purpose 10 both cases.
Nobody proposes taat Congress should relieve all
tie mendicsocy remove all the psuperSm build
all the roads and canals, aid clean all the streets
OF their flib, throus hou. the territory under our
national jurisdicliOn. /. is by 10 wiser displays
than this that Mr.. Pierce fills his Veto Message.
| After relieving himself OF 80 much, the Pte,i
dent solemIly announces the nOnen'CuS ptogosl-
ton that "man ID imperfect, and hlman Ian
"guase, save in expressions FOX the exact sci
epces. must slwsys fail 70 preclude al posi-
"bilify of controversy, aud then gets 10 work
on historical "Reminiscences TO show what other
| public functionAries, from General Washington
down, have done, aud said, aud though! on the
question Of the power of Congress over this sub
iect. Herein be is neither rev, wise, nor witty.
He drives hi, team over the same dusty road
which has been thousand tines Travelled before,
and where no green thing is 10 be cleaned II
was to be supposed that Mr. Pierce, in giving Us
an elaborate dissertation upon the subject under
! discussion would have furnished tie rule OF con-
sti,utionsl Interpretation y which we might been
abled to detect the especially Objectionable mt
ter contained in the bill be vetoes. But be has
| nowhere done it, He is slorieusly loose AID IN