60 HAUPT— NATION AND THE WATERWAYS. [April 22, 



too much prudence to expose themselves to ridicule, by expressing such 

 doubt, triumphantly declare, that her legislature has not the spirit and intel- 

 ligence to draw out and apply her resources to that great object. These men 

 console themselves with a hope that the envied State of New York will 

 continue a suppliant for the generosity of the Union, instead of making a 

 manly and dignified appeal to her own power. It remains to be proved, 

 whether they judge justly who judge so meanly of our councils." 



The sequel is well known and reveals the wisdom of abandoning 

 all efforts to secure national aid, and to depend upon local resources 

 and initiative for early developments, as was done. 



In vetoing the bill on August i, 1882, President Arthur said: 



" My principal objection to the bill is that it contains appropriations for 

 purposes not for the common defense or general welfare, and which do not 

 promote commerce among the states. ... I regard such appropriations of 

 public money as beyond the powers given by the Constitution to Congress 

 and the President. I feel the more bound to withold my signature because 

 of the peculiar evils which manifestly result from this infraction of the 

 Constitution. 



"Appropriations of this nature to be devoted to purely local objects tend 

 to increase in number and amount, etc. Thus as the bill becomes more 

 objectionable it secures more support. This result is invariable and neces- 

 sarily follows a neglect to observe the Constitutional limitations imposed 

 upon the law making power." 



Yet the passage of the bill in the face of this plain declaration 

 of the evils to result therefrom indicates how great is the tempta- 

 tion to cater to one's constituency, at the public expense. 



Commenting on the morale of similar appropriations in his day. 

 President Jackson said in part, May 2"], 1830: 



" In the best view of these appropriations, the abuses to which they lead 

 far exceed the good they are capable of promoting. The subject has been 

 one of much, and, I may add painful reflection to me. It has bearings that 

 are well calculated to exert a powerful influence upon our hitherto prosperous 

 system of government, and which on some accounts, may even excite 

 despondency in the breast of an American citizen." 



Then denying the power of Congress to appropriate public money 

 for local or private benefit, he added : 



" This is the more necessary to preserve other parts of the Constitution 

 from being undermined by the exercise of doubtful powers or of too great 

 extension of those which are not so, and protect the whole subject against 

 deleterious influences of combinations to carry by concert measures which, 

 considered by themselves, might meet but little countenance." 



