VETO ON THE MAYSVILLE ROAD BILL.
This was the third veto on the subject of federal internal
improvements within the States, and by three different Presidents.
The first was by Mr. Madison, on the bill "to set apart, and pledge
certain funds for constructing roads and canals, and improving the
navigation of watercourses, in order to facilitate, promote, and
give security to internal commerce among the several States; and
to render more easy and less expensive the means and provisions of
the common defence"--a very long title, and even argumentative--as
if afraid of the President's veto--which it received in a message
with the reasons for disapproving it. The second was that of Mr.
Monroe on the Cumberland Road bill, which, with an abstract of his
reasons and arguments, has already been given in this View. This
third veto on the same subject, and from President Jackson, and
at a time when internal improvement by the federal government had
become a point of party division, and a part of the American system,
and when concerted action on the public mind had created for it a
degree of popularity: this third veto under such circumstances was
a killing blow to the system--which has shown but little, and only
occasional vitality since. Taken together, the three vetoes, and
the three messages sustaining them, and the action of Congress upon
them (for in no instance did the House in which they originated pass
the bills, or either of them, in opposition to the vetoes), may be
considered as embracing all the constitutional reasoning upon the
question; and enough to be studied by any one who wishes to make
himself master of the subject.