Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-02
VETOED.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL RETURNED BY
THE PRESIDENT UNSIGNED.

THE RIVER AND HARRoR BILL RETURNED BY
THE PRESIDENT UNSIGNED.
WAsH1seros Aupust THE folIowino
ia the fniI text of The Pres;dant,s MESA %
yetoins the river and harbor biiI.
~ az -, - 1..-.-......s.ss-'
Hsv;no vs,ohad - ,s,.,oh ;n,a. a.,
ns "1Ineu MIN MI nuc ea. tnierest tne
30, .I;o ~. ~. 800, tH
oo,,s,rno,;l1,. a. lS - she
-. >, ~ -, 81 Isr % eei
- az oiAs w une iitsi7 any pors anu
ior othsr puI Posss' anu having, since IL was
received, carel9hy examined IL after mature
sons,utaoa n. 4 AN coIs.p aineo 20 ie.urn II
" u,e =. esen.a.ises, III
VII ~ ~ o.'s "..nou' niy sisnature,
anu Will ns 10 III; ~ i.s paissge Mahy
=. ~ ioI me
seneI1. rSii-ie, 400 NOS oepercen. N tneir
y q " . 1ns =. 80 1ef 4nicn pro-
1901 = se.z3, ~ 81, ~ !ll-
e q. Z a. 49, - u ~ = = - = =
- 70 =. ny @
- ulsssfne vital
- ~ ~. <, ssshss ss.-Sr TIE feciama-
i;ehn,,, hs-ss ssne tpr the estab-
pa,.-,a. g. -.ssrpef le7ees along the
= osonao zaont. In April last, by special
ls 1 recommended an appropriation
,sr the improvement Of the M ississippi river.
it Is not necessary that say that when my
signature would make bill eapPropriating
or these and other valuable national objects
a law 1t Is with great reluctance, and only
under sense OF duty, that ] withhold it.
My pIincipa objection TO the bill is that il
contains appropriations Tor special purposes,
not Tor the common defense or general well
rare, ana Snicn DO not promote commerce
among the States. These provisions, on the
contrary, are entirely for the benefit of the
particular localities in which it is proposed
70 make the improvements. / regard such
appropriations OF the public moneys as be-
yond the power given by the constitution to
Congress and the president. / feel more
bound to. withhold my signature from the
bill because of peculiar evils which mani
testify result in this infraction of the con-
slitution. Appropria atoms of this nature. to
be devoted purely to local Objects tend
TO incre ase in number and amount. AS the
citizens OF one State fiud that the money-to
raise which they, in common with the
whole country, are taxed-is to be expended
Tor local improvements in another State, they
demand similar benefits for themselves, and
it is not unnatural that they should seek 10
indemnity themselves for such OF the
pubic FUNDS by securing appropriations Tor
similar improvements IN their own neighbor-
hood. Thus as the bill becomes more OBJ
jectionable it receives more support. This
result is invariable, and necessarily follows
the neglect to observe the constitutional linz
itations imposed by the law-making power.
for river and harbor inn
prov ements- have under the influence 10
which l have alluded, increased year by
year out OF proportion TO the progress of the
country, great as tnat has been. In 1870 the
aggregate appropriation was S3,975,90o; in
1875, S6,64S,5l7 5Oi in 1880, SS.976, 500, ard
N 1881, 81, AL 800. while by the present act
here is appropriated SlS,743,S15. While
Telling every disposition 10 leave TO the leg
stature the responsibility Of determining
what amount should be appropriated Tor the
purposes OF the bill, SO long as the approprI-
atoms are connned to the objects indioatedby
grant OF power. cannot escape the conclusion
hat, as part OF the law,making power oil the
the duty devolves. upon me 10
withhold my signature from bill containing
ipproPris4ons WHICH, IN my opinion, greatly
ixceed In amounf the needs OF the country
or the present nfcal year. 1t being the
Usage to PROVIDE money Tor these purposes
y annual appropriation bills the PRESIDENT
5 ID ensct oirectea 10 expend SO large an
amount OF money within SO brief period
hat the expenditure cannot be made EN-