Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-23
VETO MESSAGES OF PRESIDENT PIERCE

10 i.a sssg sc' re United St0trs:
. I return herewith t. the ..eIGte r. which it Orgi
mated, the bill entitled AIN ret to rer:ord oLS,ruJ-
tiurs TO navigation in the mouth Of the Mississippi
river, AT the Southwest Pass aud Pass airOutr,"
;,k;ch proposes to appropriate sum OF money, 10 be
,pendtd unGet ;.s observation-disclosures of the Sccrea-
~ of War, for the UpeEihS anil Keeping "pc". $40.
channels OF sufficient capacity to acconin0 me inc
wants of comlrerce through the Southwest Pass ard
Jas FIGURE, leading from the Mississippi river To
the Gulf u Me2t1i.
Ina communication addressed by u.c me two
houses Of Congress on the 3Oth OF December, 1894
my views were exhibited IN full on the subject OF tue
relation Of the general government: TO internal I'M.
pyoyenicnt, Iset forth on that occasion the coiistI
tutiona inpediients @hcl, IN toy in,n4 t'e :i.StFe
rable TO the prosecution Of system y! internal u
provtments by means OF appropriations from the
treasury OF the United States; more especially the
consideration that the constitution does not confer on
the general government any EXPRESS po"c. 10 make
such appropriations. that tiey 'sre n2t necessary
and proper INCIDENT o: any OF the express powers
and HAT the assumption Of Authority Oh the part OF
the federal government to commence ail carr Oh I"
general system OF internal improvements. while ex-
ceptionable for the want OF constitutional power Is,
in other respects. prcudcia 10 the several interests
and inconsistent with the trus relation to one another,
of the Union and of the individual States
Ihcso cE eGtiDns apply to the whole system oi IN
ternsi iin,ifoyen.euttf sEs.Gr ...E :rrrovcInents
cunsis. Of works on land Or in navIgslls waters
either Of the sea.coast .: tie interior lakes or
rivers.
have not been uble after the most careful rehec-
lion L: -erd he bill before me IN ANY Other hight
than a. Dart Or general -y.:ci" % Internal Improve
meuis aud therefore feel sret 70 submit II. with
these obiections to the Reconsideration 1 Cnn4re:s.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
wAsu:$c;ey. May 10, 1856.
To Re Senate q tie Untea States:
return herewith 10 the Senate, iE which it origi-
rated, bill entitled IAN al making an apptopra
tiou tor deepening the faaGnel oyer the 81 Clair ats
IN the State Of Michigan AID suDlait Il IGr recOna,
deraton, because IL H. in my Judgment, liable to The
objections 10 the prosecution OF internal improve
meuts by the general government which have ALREADY
been presented by HE III previous communications to
Gcng-eg..
In considering th;s bill! under the restriction tina
thr power o! Congress 70 coEsrlct wo..; u inter
ca Improvement ia rntad &c cas- :, in which tie wo-h
is inanesty needfui and proportion tteieIecu lol o
come one or more of the powers expressly dele
| g}tcq TO ths general government, have not 6eei
able to End fGt the Proposed expenditure any sHch re-
at;on unless it be 10 the power 70 proy! ds for lh
uanlHon defence aud to maintain gu army ana may
ut cqret4l erdn nation OF the subject Eith me al
Of information officially retelysd snGe NY iast anau
al InesGase wac communicated 10 Congress, has con
WINGED that the expenditure OF ina sam prnpose'
would serve no valuable purpose rs contributing
the common defence, because all winch could Dc FL
| f.cted BY il would be to afford chnunefof twelv
zee, Gech and of 20 Temporary character that un
less tue vor!: was done immediately Defpse the
city for is use should arise, it could no. be relied
for tho vessel, Of even small drauGht the passage
which it would pe!m'tr e
| Under existing circumstances, therefore, 1t cannc
be considered as necessary mems for the comno
defence, and is subectto those objections which app
TO other works designed to facilitate commerce an
contribute to the convenience and local prosperity
these l. G:e il,Iced'atelv cOucerned-an object not
he and ustty L.hine VI tee Ia zato
F! of the people of the whole country.
| FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WAsHIsGroS, May 10, 1856.