In his last official act, Republican (constitutionalist) President Madison vetoes to Internal Improvements Act of 1817:

       … I am constrained by the insuperable difficulty I feel in reconciling the bill with the Constitution of the United States to return it with that objection to the House of Representatives, in which it originated.

       The legislative powers vested in Congress are specified and enumerated in the eighth section of the first article of the Constitution, and it does not appear that the power proposed to be exercised by the bill is among the enumerated powers, or that it falls by any just interpretation within the power to make laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution those or other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States.

       The power to regulate commerce among the several States” can not [sic] include a power to construct roads and canals, and to improve the navigation of water courses in order to facilitate, promote, and secure such a commerce without a latitude of construction departing from the ordinary import of the terms strengthened by the known inconveniences which doubtless led to the grant of this remedial power to Congress.

       To refer the power in question to the clause “to provide for common defense and general welfare” would be contrary to the established and consistent rules of interpretation, as rendering the special and careful enumeration of powers which follow the clause nugatory and improper. …

       NOTE: It is interesting to note that while Article I, Section 8 [Clause 7] grants Congress the “Power To … establish Post Offices and post Roads,”  neither side recognized this as a power to subsidize them, only charter them.

       [restored 12/5/2021] Thanks to Tom Woods for this entry.