Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-08-10
President Arthur's Veto of tho
River and Harbor Bill.

Washington Aug. l.-Herc is
tho text Of the Presidents moss
age vetoing the River and Har.-
Dor bill:
TO the House Of Representatives:
Having watched with much
interest the progress of House
bill No. G,242, entitled can act
making appropriations for the
construction, repair, and prcscr-
vation of certain works on rivers
and harbors, and for other pur-
poses,' and having since it was
received carefully examined it,
after mature consideration am
constrained to return it herewith
to the house Of Representatives in
which it originated without my
signature and with my objections
to its passage.
Many Of the appropriations in
tho bill are clearly fer the general
welfare and most bcncficicnt in
their character. Two Of the OBJ
iccts for which provision is made
were by mo considered SO impor-
tant that I felt it my duty to direct
them to the attention Of Congress.
In my annual message in Dcccm-
bcr last l urged the vital import
ancc of oflcgislation for the rcclama-
ton of the marshes and for the
establishment Of tho harbor lines
along the Potomac front. In
April last, by special message, |
recommended an appropriation
for the Improvement OF tho Mis-
sissippi River. 1t is not necessary
that | say that when my signature
would make the bill appropiating
for these and other valublc ma
tional objects Il law, it is with
great reluctance and only under
a sense Of duty that [ withhold it.
My principal objection TO the bill
is that it contains appropriations
for purposes not for common
defence or general welfare, and
which do not promote commerce
the States. These provis-
ions, on tho contrary, arc entirely
for benefit of tho particular Iocali-
tics in which it is proposed to
make the improvements. regard
such appropriation of tho public
money as beyond the power given
by the Constitution to Congress
and tho President. ] feel the moro
bound to withhold my signature
from the bill because Of the pccu-
liar evils which manitcstly result
from this iniraction of the Consti-
tuition. Appropriations of this
nature, to be devoted purely to
local objects, tend to an increase
in number and in amount. AS
the citizens Of ono State find that
moncy--to raise which they in
common with the whole country
arc taxcd--is to be expended for
local improvements in another
state, they demand similar Bone
fits for themselves, and it is not
that they should seek
10 indemnify themselves for such
use ofthc public funds by securing
appropriations for similar improve
mcnts in their own ncighborhood.
Thus, as the bill becomes moro
Objectionable, it secures moro sup
port. his result is invariabIc and
necessarily follows a neglect to
observe the constitutional limita-
tons imposed upon the law max
ing power.
The appropriations for river
and harbor improvements Davc,
under tilc Influences to which
have alluded, increased year by
year out ofproportion to the prog
grcss ofthc country, great as that
has boon. In 1870 the aggregate
appropriation was $3,975,9O0
in 1875 ,S6,61s,5I7,5O; in 1880
and in 1881 $n,15l-
by tho act there is APP
propriatcd $lS,713,S75.
While feeling every disposition
to leave to the Legislature the re.
sponsibility Of determining what
n mount SholM hr nnnr,,nriot,l