The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-31 00:00:00

plain of neglect on the psrt of a community which, de-
tached as it is from the parental care of the States of
Virginia and Maryland, can only expect aid from Con-
gress as its local Legislature. Amongst the subjects
-which claim your attention is the prompt organisation
of an asylum for the insane, who may be found, from
time to time, sojourning within the district. Such
course is also demanded by considerations which apply
to branches of the public service. For the nesessities
in this behalf I invite your particular attention to the
report of the Secretary of the Navy.
I have thus, Gentlemen of the two Houses of

ongress, presensed you a true and faithful picture
of the condition of public affairs, both foreign
and domestic. The wants of the public service are
made known to you ; and matters of no ordinary im-
portance are urged upon your consideration. Shall
I be permitted to congratulate you on the happy
auspices under which you have assembled, and at the
important change in the condition of things which has
occurred in the last three years ? During that period
questions with foreign powers, of vital importance to the
peace of our country, have been settled and adjusted. A
desolating and lasting war with savage tribes has been
brought to a close. The internal tranquillity of the
country, threatened by agitating questions, has been pre-
served. The credit of the Governinerit, which had t xpe-
rienced a temporary embarrassment, has been thoroughly
restored. Its coffers, which, for a season, were empty,
have been replenished. A currency, nearly uniform in
its value, has taken the place of one depreciated and
almost worthless. Commerce and manufactures, a hich
had suffered in common with every other interest, have
once more revived ; and the whole country exhibits an
aspect of prosperity and happiness. Trade and barter,
no longer governed by a wild and speculative mania,
rests upon a solid and substantial footing ; and the rapid
grcwth, of our cities, in every direction, bespeak most
strongly the favourable circumstances by which we are
surrounded.

My happiness in the retirement which shortly awaits
me is the ardent hope which I experience, that this state
of prosperity is neither deceptive nor destined to be tshort
lived ; and that measures which have not yet receivod its
sanction, but which I cannot but regard as closely con-
nected with the honour, the glory, and still more en-
larged prosperity of the country, are destined, at an
early hour, to receive the approval of Congress. Under
these circumstances, and with these anticipations, I shall
Most gladly leave to others more able than myself the
Roble and pleasing task of sustaining the public prove-
I shall carry with me into retirement the gratify-
mg reflection that as my sole object throughout has been
to advance the public good, I may not entirely have
failed in accomplishing it ; and this gratification is
heightened in no small degree by the fact that vs hen,
under a deep and abiding sense of duty, I have found
myself constrained to resort to the qualified veto, it has
neither been followed by disapproval on the part of the
people, nor weakened in any degree the:r attachment to
that great Conservative feature of our Government
Washington, December, IA4I.