The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1825-12-08

heml Is it not by bearing vlcm in affectionate q
Is it not still more by initiating
heir examplc' by enabling countreymen Of our
own to pursue the same career, and to hazard I
heir lives in the same causel i;
The establishment Of an uniform standard of
weights and measures was one Of the specific OBJ
jects contemplated in the formation of our Con-
sttution, and to fix that standard one of the
powers delegated by express terms, in that in
strument, to Congress. The governments of
Great Britain and France have scarcely ceased to
be occupied with inquiries and speculations on
the same subject, since the existence of our Con-
sttution, and with them it has expanded into
profound, laborious and expensive researches
into the figure of the earth, and the compare
tive length of the pendulum vibrating seconds
in various latitudcs from the Equator to the Pole
These researches have resulted in the compost |
tion and publication of several works highly in
tcresting to the cause of science. The eXperi- |
ments are yet in the process of performance
Some of them have recently been made on our
shores, within the walls Of one OF our own Cole
ges, and partly by one Of our own feow-citizens.
1t would be honorable to our country it the Sc
que of the same experiments should be counte-
nanced by the patronage Of our government, as
they have hitherto been by those OF France and
Britain.
Connected with the establishment of an Uni
versitv, or separate from it, might be undertaken
the erection of an astronomical observatory, with
provision for the support of an astronomer, to be
in constant attendance Of observation upon the
phenomena of the heavens; and for the pcriodi-
cal publication of his observations 1t is with no
feeling ofpride, as an American, that the remark
may be made, that on the comparatively small ter
rtoria surface of Europe, there are existing up
wards Of one hundred and thirty of these light
houses of the slies; willie throughout the whole
| American hemisphere there is not one. Ii We re-
feet moment upon the discoveries which, III
the last four centuries, have been made i'll the
physical constitution OF the universe, by the
means Of these buildings, and of observers sta
toned III them, shall we doubt Of the usefulness
to every nationa And while scarcely year pass
es over our heads without bringing some new as
tronomical discovery to light, Which we must fam
receive at second hand from Europe, are we
not cutting ourselves off from the means OF re-
turning light for light, while we have neither
obser .atory nor observer upon our half Of the
globe, and the Garth rcyolves in perpetual dark
ness TO our unsearching eyes,
When, on the 25th Of October 1871, the first
President ofthe Z. States announced to Congress
the result Of the enumeration Of the inhabitants
of the Union, he informed them that the returns
gav Q the pleasing assurance that the popuiMon
Of the U States bOrtlered on four millions OF per-
sans At the distance of thirty years from that
time, the last enumeration, five years since com
plctcd, presented population bordering upon
ten millions. Perhaps of all the evidences OF 9
prosperous and happy condition oihuman socic
ty, the rapidity of the increase OF population y
the most uncqnivocal But the demonstrate!
of our prosperity rests not alone upon TINS inat
cation Our commerce, oiir wealth, ana inc g.
tent Of our territories, have increased in cores
| lin t,rt rnI
I pendent communities associated III our Federal
Unon has since that ..mc, nearly doubled
The Legislative representation Of the States and
people in the r.vo houses OF Congress, has grown
with the growth of their constituent bodies.
! The house which then consisted of Is members,
now number upwards oftwo hundred. The sen
ate which consisted Vi twrnty.slx members, ma
now forty weight. But the Executive, and stll
more the Judiciary Departments, are yet IN
great measure confined to their primitive organ
ization, and arc now not adequate to the urgch
wants Of still growing community
The naval a,rnamcnts which at an early pcriof
forced themselves upon the necessities of tht
Union soon led to the establishment ofa Depart
ment of the Nay : But the Departments OF For
cgn Hairs, AMI 7fthc Interior, which, early aftc
the formation &C le government had been unitet
IN one continue so united at this time, to the TN
questionable dctrmcnt Ct the public service
+ The multiplication of our relations with the na
tons and governments of the old world, ha
kept pace with that Of our population and com
mercc, while within the last ten years new fam
iiy of nations, in our own hemisphere, has arlscl
f among the inhabitants of the Garth, with whon
our intercourse, commercial and political, wa,''
, Of itself furnish occupation To an active and III
! tustrious Department. The constitution of tn
f judiciary, experimental and imperfect as it was
even in the infancy ofour existing government, i
vet more inadequate TO the administration OF ma
tional Justice at our present maturity. Nine year
: have elapsed since Il predecessor in this office
now not the last, the citizen who perhaps, o
all others throughout the Union, contributed mos
+. to til. formation and establishment of Our con
stitution. in lis valcdictory address to Congress
!. immediately proceeding his retirement fiom pub
4 lie life, urgently recommended the revision OF tht
: Judiciary, and the establishment Of an additona
I Executive Department. The eXigences OF tn
, nublc service, AMI its unavoidable deficiencies
as now in exercise have added yearly cumulative
s weight to the considerations presented by him ~
persuasive TO the measure; and in recommending
it to your deliberations, am happy to have 'h'
/ influence of his high authority, in aid ofthe un
: doubling convictions of my own experience.
\ The laws relating to the administration OF The
Patent GIicc are deserving of much considera
1 ton, and, perhaps, susceptible Of some improve
. ment. The grant of power to regulate the actor
. Of Congress on this subject, has specified botl
y the end to be attained, and the means by whicl
= If IS TO be effected. To promote the progress