The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-04 00:00:00

lyhich are herewith transmitted. I beg leave to draw
your attention to this report, and to the propriety of making
early appropriation's for the objects which it specifies.
Your attention is again invited to the subjects connected
with that portion of the public interests intrusted to the
War Department. Some of them were referred to in my
former message ; and they are presented in detail in the
report of the Secretary of War, herewith submitted. I
refer you also to the report of that officer for a knowledge
of the state of the army, fortifications, arsenal, and Itidi n
affairs; all of which, it will be perceived, have been
guarded with zealous attention and care. It is worthy of
your consideration whether the armaments necessary for
the fortifications on our maritime frontier, which are
now, or shortly will he, completed, should not be in rea-
diness sooner than the customary appropriations will en-
able the department to provide them. This precaution
seems to he due to the general system of fortification which
has been sanctioned by Congress, and is recommended by
that ni,xim of wisdom which tells us in peace to prepare
for war. _ _

I refer you to the Secretary of the Navy for a highly sa-
tisfactory account of the manner in which the concerns of
that department have been conducted during the present
year. Our position in relation to all the most powerful
nations of the earth, and the present condition of Europe,
admonish us to cherish this arm of our national defence
with peculiar care. Separated by wide seas from all those
Governments whose power we might have reason to dread,
we have nothing to apprehend from attempts at conquest.
It is chiefly attacks upon our commerce, and harassing in-
roads upon our coast, against which we have to guard. A
respectable naval force, always afloat, with an accuinula-
tion of the means to give it a rapid extension in case of
need, furnishes the power by which all such aggression
may be prevented or repelled. The attention of the Go-
vernment has, therefore, been recently directed more to
preserving the public vessels already built, and providing
materials to be placed in depot for future use, than to in-
creasing their number. With the aid of Congress, in a
few years, the Government will be prepared in case of
emergency, to put afloat a powerful navy of new ships,
almost as soon as old ones could be repaired.
The modifications of this part of the service suggested
in my last annual Message, which are noticed more in de-
tail in the Report of the Secretary of the Navy, are again
recommended to your serious attention.
The report of the Postmaster-General, in like manner,
exhibits a satisfactory view of the important branch of the
Government under his charge. In addition to the benefits
already extended by the operations of tie Post-office De-
partment, considerable improvements within the present
year have been secured, by an increase in the accommo-
dation of stage-coaches, and in the frequency and celerity
of the transportation of the mail between some of the
most important points of the Union.
Under the late contraets, improvements have been pro-
vided for the southern section of the country, and at the
same time an annual saving made of upwards of 72,000
dollars. Notwithstanding the excess of expenditure be-
yond the current receipts for a few years past, necessarily
incurred in the fulfilment of existing contracts, and in the
additional expenses, between the periods of contracting, +0
meet the demands created by the rapid growth and ex-
tension of our flourishing country ; yet the satisfactory as-
surance is given that the future revenue of the department
will be sufficient to meet its extensive engagements. The
system recently introduced that subjects its receipts and
disbursements to strict regulation, has entirely fulfilled its
design. It gives full assurance of the punctual transmission,
as well as the security of the funds of the department.
The efficiency and industry of its officers, and the ability
and enemy of contractors, justify an increased confidence
in its continued prosperity.
The attention of Congress was called, on a former occa-
sion, to the necessity of such a modification of the office of
Attorney-General of the United States as would render it
more adequate to the wants of the public service. This
resulted in the establishment of the office of Solicitor of the
Treasury ; and the earliest measures were taken to give
effect to the provisions of the law which authorized the
appointment of that officer and defined his duties. But it
is not believed that this prevision, however useful in itself,
is calculated to supersede the necessity of extending the
duties and powers of the Attorney-General's office. On
the contrary, I am convinced that the public interest would
be greatly promoted by giving to that officer the general
superintendence of the various law agents of the Govern-
ment, and of all law proceedings, whether civil or
criminal, in which the United States may be interested,
allowing to him, at the same time, such a compensation as
would enable him to devote his undivided attention to the
public business. I think such a provision is alike due to
the public and to the officer.
Occasions of reference from the different executive de-
partments to the Attorney-General are of frequent occur-
rence, and the prompt decision of the questions so referred
tends much to facilitate the despatch of business in those
departments. The report of the Secretary of the Treasure,
hereto appended, shows also a branch of the public service,
not specifically entrusted to any officer, which might be
advantageously committed to the Attorney-General.
But, independently of those considerations, this office is
now one of daily duty. It was originally organized, and
its compensation fixed, with a view to occasional service,
leaving the incumbent time for the exercise of his profes-
sion in private practice. The state of things which war-
raut such an organisation no longer exists. The frequent
claims upon the services of this officer would render his
absence from. the seat of Government, in professional at-
tendance upon the Courts, injurious to the public service,
and the interests of the Government could not fail to be
promoted by charging hint with the general superintend-
ence of all its legal concerns.
Under a strong conviction of the justness of three sug-
gestions,' I recommend it to Congress to make the neces-
sary provisions for giving effect to them, and to place the
Attorney - General, in regard to compensation, on the
same footing with the heads of the several executive de-
p trtmente. To this officer might also be 'intrusted a cog-
nizance of the cases of insolvency in public debtors, espe-
cially if the views which I submitted on this subject last
year should meet the approbation of Congress, to which I
again solicit your attention.
Your attention is respectfully invited to the situation of
the district of Colombia. Placed by the Constitution
un her the exclusive jurisdiction and control of Congress,
this district is certainly entitled to a much greater abate
of its consideration than it has yet received. There is a
want of uniformity in its laws, particularly in those of a
penal charact, r, which increases the expense of their ad-
ministration, and subjects the people to all the inconve-
niences which result from the operation of different codes
in so small a territory. On different sides of the Potomac
the effesce is punishable in unequal degrees; and the pe-
culiarities of many of the early laws of Maryland and
Virginia remain in force, notwithstanding their repug-
nance, in some cases, to the improvements which have
superseded them in those States.
Besides a remedy for these evils, which is loudly called
for, it is respectfully submitted whether a provision
authorizing the selection of a delegate to represent the
wants of the citizens of this district on the floor of Con-
gress, is not due to them, and to the character of our
Government. No portion of our citizens should he
without a practical enjoyment of the principles of free-
dom ; and there is none more important than that which
cultivates a proper relation between the governors and
the governed. Imperfect as this must be in this case, yet
it is believed that it would be greatly improved by a re-
presentation in Congress, with the same privileges that are
allowed to that of the other territories of the United States.
The Penitentiary is ready for the reception of convicts,
and only awaits the necessary legislation to put it into
operation ; as one object of which, I beg leave to recall to
your attention the propriety of providing suitable com-
pensation for the officers charged with its inspection.
The importance of the principles involved in the in.
quiry whether it will he proper to re-charter the Bank
of the United States, requires that I should again call the
attention of Congress to the subject. Nothing has oc-
curred to lessen in any degree the dangers which many of
our citizens apprehend from that institution, as at present
organized. lu the spirit of improvement and compromise
which distinguishes our country and its institutions, it
becomes us to inquire whether it be not possible to secure
the advantages afforded by the present bank, through the
agency of abank of the United States, so modified in its
principles and structure as to obviate Constitutional and
other objections.
It is thought practicable to organize such a bank, with
the necessary officers, as a bank of the Treasury Depart-
ment, based on the public and individual deposits, with-
out power to make loans or purchase property, which
shall remit the funds of the Government, the expences of
' which may be paid, if thought advisable, by allowing its
officers to sell hills of exchange to private individuals at a
moderate premium, Not being a corporate body, having
no stockholders, debtors, or property, and but few officers,
tfhe largein •
it would not lie obnoxious to the constitutional objections
which
mesas aret ooperate
urged
masses of the community, it would ber interests
shorn
fluence which makes that bank formidable. The States
of o
would be strengthened by having in their hands the means
of furnishing the local paper currency through their own
banks, while the bank of the United States, though
issuing no paper, would check the issues of the State
Banks, by taking their notes in deposit, and for exchange,
only so long as they continue to be redeemed with specie.