Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-01-13

v 4 message was received II the House on TIL
ID inst, from the President Of the Unitet
States He says, In returning to the House G
Representatives. in which it originated, the BIZ
entitled.
s. An act making appropriations for the repair
preservation and completion OF certain public
/ works, heretofore commenced under authority
OF law. 1t became necessary for him, ewing IL
! the lars day at which the bill was passed, t.
| state his objections to it very briefly annonn-
eng, at the same time i purpose to resume the
subject for more deliberate discussion at TIE
Z present session Of Congress: for. while bv no
means iHsensibIe to the ariuousneSs u the task
/ he comedies two Houses of Congress are Ell
| titled to an expression OF the considerations
which have Induced the dissent on his part
from their conclusions in this instance ..What. =
he asks. 50 Is intended by the phrase Internal
/ Improvements y hat does it embrace ard
what ezclude7 No such language is found in
tie Constitution. Net only is II not an expires
sion IN the Constitution, but it has 20 sufficient
meaning to be Of any value as 4 means of &
safe conclusion. either Of Constitutional law or
practical craftsmanship.
. Ii there Is any power te construct railroads
and canals. there must be the same power To
construct bridges and drain marshes. and
provide means Of irrigation. In fact, improve
ment OF the earth for the development Of natu-
raj resources. lie says he has had occasion
more than once to express is his Judgment. and
took II for granted it Was q fundamental propo-
sition. that the Federal Government Is the
Creature OF the States. that tire sovereign power
IS III them alone, aad Ll:t from them all power
IS derived. 81 power not delegated to govern
n3ent Is reserved to the States respectively to
the people. Starting from this. and DENYING
that the power for the system Of internal ina
proFeneuts is 70 be found in the preamble to the
Constitution, be proceeded to examine the
various clauses IN that instrument under which
the power for the system Of internal improve
aent Is ciaialed coming to the conclusion there
IS no specific power II such works, and no
provision broad enough to order them. This
view nas been maintained by the sound EXPOSE
tors Of the Government. Congress can only
construct such works as may be necessary to
carry cut specific power
he refers tt the views Of Jefferson, Jackson,
Polk, and others, in eommendation aud ap-
prevail, and estimates the vast expenditures
which would necessarily be involved In the
system Of internal Improvements If the i'm
provenient Of the navigation of river and
harhar be necessary for military or naval pur-
poses. the subject is matter Of legislative dis
eretien.''
The message was very long, and in its con-
elusion the President says: The consiiera-
items have submitted, added to the eulbarrass-
nents Of the whole question, itnpels me to
suggest the policy Of combining the appropria-
tons By the general government to the works
necessary to be constructed from its undisputeti
powers and Of leaving all others to individual
enterprise, or 20 separate States, to be provided
for ont Of their own resources, or BIZ a re
eurfeHee to the provisions Of the Constitution.
which authorizes the iavying Of tonnage duties, |
with the consent Of Congress. fer the improve |
T1eut of hari1nrS