Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-12-16

great value. Their preservation, which 81.
ponds on due encouragement, is connected
with the high interests of the nation.
Although the progress of the public buildings hag
been as favorable as circumstances have permitted
it is to be regretted that the Capitol i not yet III !.
state to receive you. There is good cause to PIE
that the two wings, the only parts as yetooa
menced, will be prepared for that purpose at tie
next session. The time seems now TO have arrive,
when this subject may be deemed worthy the a.
tention of Congress, a scale adequate to natiou
purposes. The completion of the middle buIltIL
viii be necessary to the convenient accommodate
Of Congress, Of the Committees, and varors
Offices belonging to it. 1t is evident that The ottr
public buildings are altogether insufficient for tLu
accommodation Of the several executive department,
some OF whom are much crowded, and even sub
Jected 10 the necessity of obtaining it in private
buildings, at some distance from the head oi e..
department, and with Inconvenience to the manase-
ment Of the public business. Most nations have
taken an interest and pride in the improvement
anu ornament Of their metropolis, and none were
more conspicuous in that respect than the ancitfl
Republics. The policy which dictated the est
lishmcnt q permanent residence for the natioi.i
government, and the spirit ih which it was Coz.
mthced ahd has been prosecuted, shew that So q
Improvement was thought worthy the attention
Tins nation. Its central position, between a.
northern and southern extremes Of our union, ahd
ITS approach TO the west at the head ola great navg
pc river, which nterloCks with the westarn water,
prove the wisdom of tie councils which established
y. Nothing appears to be more reasonable amt
proper, Than that convenient accommodations should
be provided on well dgested plan, for the heBos
OF The seFefa! departments, and for the Attorney
General ana IT IS believed that the public ground
in the city, applied to those objects. will be fount
amply sufficient. | submit this subject to the con-
SHERATON OF Congress, that such further provision
may be made IN it, as TO them may seem proper.
In contemplating the happy situation Of the Y.
States, our attention iSTaWn with peculiar Interest,
to the surviving oficdns ahd odies Of our Ievolu-
uonary army, who So eminently contributed, by
their services, TO lay IFS foundation. Most Of those
very mertonous citizens have paid the debt Of ma
ture, and gone TO repose. Ii is believed that among
the survivors there are some not provided for By
existing laws, who are reduced TO indigence, and
even TO real distress These men have claim
The gratitude OF their country, and ii viii do honor
70 their country TO provide for them.-The lapse o.
. few years more, & the opportunity viii be forever
lost indeed 50 long already has been the interval,
that the number to be benefited BY any provision
which may be made, viii not be great.
1t appearing IN satisfactory manner that the
revenue arising from mpOss and tonnage, and trong
the sale of The public lands, viii be fully adequate,
TO the support ofthe civil government, Of the pre-
sent military and naval establishments, including
The annual augmentation Of the latter to the extent
proyGed for 70 The payment Of the interest on tie
pnbhc debt, and TO the eXtinguishmeat Of it al the
times authorised, without the aid Of internal taxes
consider il my duty to recommend to Congress
Their appeal. TO impose taxes, when the pub ic
exigencies require them, AN obligation of the mcst
sacred character, especially with a free people
The faithful fulGlment of it is among the highest
proofs Of their virtue, and capacity for ef-goven
mtnt' 10 dispense with taxes, when it may be
done with perfect safety, is equally the duty Of
their representatives. In this instance we have the
satisfaction to know that they were imposed when
The demand was imperious, and have been sustained
with exemplary fidelity. have to add, that how
ever gratifying itmay be TO me, regarding the pros
porous and happy condition Of our country, to re-
commend the repeal of these taxes at this time,
shall nevertheless be attentive to events and should
any future emergency occur, be not less prompt to
suggest such measures and burthens as may then be
requisite and proper.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, December 2. 1917.