Note 213 — Chapter III · The Power of Congress to Establish Postroads

As late as 1830 Madison wrote: “I observe that the President, in his late veto, has seen in mine of 1817, against internal improvements by Congress, a concurrence in the power to appropriate money for the purpose. Not finding the message which he cites, I can only say that my meaning must have been unfortunately expressed or is very strangely misinterpreted. The veto on my part certainly contemplated the appropriation of money as well as the operative and jurisdictional branches of the power. And, as far as I have reference to the message, it has never been otherwise understood.” Letters and Other Writings of James Madison, vol. iv, p. 86.