The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-12-14

not only sustained with honour the most unequal
conhicts, but covered itself and country with un-
fading glory. But il is only since the close OF the
late war, that by the number and force OF The ships
of which was composed, it could deserve the
Of a navy. Yet il retains nearly the same organza-
ton as when it consisted only OF five irigaes. The
rules and regulations by which it Is governed urgent
~ call for revision aud the want OF naval school
Of instruction, corresponding with the Military Acad-
envy at Wcst-Pout, for the formation of scientific
and accomplished officers, is felt with daily increasing
agSravatipn.
The Act of Congress- of the Goth Of May, 1894,
authorizing examination and survey Of the harbour
of Charleston, in SouthCarolina of st. Mary's, in
Georgia, and of the coast of Florida, and for other
purposes has been executed far rs the apprcpria-
ton would admit. Those of the 81 of March last
authorizing the establishment Of NavyYard and
Depot the coast of Florida, in the Gulf of Next
CO, and authorizing the building of ten sloops Of
war, and for other purposes, 10 the course Of ex-
ecuiionfor the particulars of which, and other Oh
jects connected with this department. refer to the
report of the Secretary Of the Navy, herewith
munlcated
report from the Postmaster General is also sub
mted, exhibiting the present hourishiug condition of
that department. For the first time for many years
the receipts for the year ending the lst of July
last, exceeded the expenditures during the same Pc
riod TO the amount Of mere than iorIyfiye thousand
dollars Other facts. eaualls, ereditabe to the ad-
ninsraton OF the department, are that in two wears
IRON the first OF July, 1893, an Improvement Of
more THAI one hundred and eishty-fve thousand dol
lars in its pecuniary affairs has been rea)ized-that
III the same interval the increase Of the TRANSPORTATION
| OF the mail has exceeded one million five hundred
thousand miles, annually-and that one thousand
and forty new post-Otfces have been established If
hence appears, that under udicous management the
income IRON this establishment may be relied on as
iully adequate to detray its expenses and that bv
The dIsconmuance of po-t-roads altogether unrro-
ducllve others OF more useful character may be OPEN
ed Till the circulation of the mail shall keen mace
with The spread of our population, and the comforts
OF friendly correspondence the exchanges Of internal
taihc, and the lights of the periodical press shall be
distributed to the remotest corners of the Union at
charge scarcely perccptible to any individual and
without the cost of dollar to the public treasury.
Upon this first occasion Of addressing the IeeisIa-
ture OF the Union, with which have been honoured
IN presenting to their view the execution so far as it
mas been effected, OF the measures SANCTIONED by them
ior promoting the internal improvement of our coun
Try, cannot close the communication without rec
ommending to their calm and perseverng considers
ton, the general principle in a more enlarged exeut
he great object Of the institution OF civil govern-
nlent IS the Improvement OF the condition Of those
who are parties to the social compact--and no COW
ernmeEt, IN whatever form constituted can accon-
pllsh the lawful ends of its institution but,ip propor-
ton as it improves the condition OF those over whom
II Is established. Roads and canals, by multiplying
and facilitating the communications and intercourse
between distant regions and multitudes of men are
among the most important means of Improvement =
but moral, political, Intellectual inlrroyement ara
duties assigned, by the Author Of our existence, 10
social, no less than TO individual man. For the fuI-
| iIlment ct those duties governments are invested
with power, and to the attainment of The end tba
progressive improvement Of the condition of The GOV
erned, the exercise of delegated power is a duty az
sacred and indispensable, the usurration Of puwt
not granted Is criminal and odious. Among the first
perhaps the very first instrument for the intFoytmcr
OF the condition Of men, is knowlcdge--and TO the
acquisition OF much of the knowledge atlapted 10
the wants, the comforts and enioynepts Of human
NE, PeblIc institutions and senusrios Of learn
ing are essential. 80 convinced of this was the
1lrst OF my predecessors in this Office .,zy first
in the memory, living, he was :rst in the hearts
OF our county, that once and again in his addresses
/ 10 the Congresses, with whom he co-operated i,
me pubic service, he earnestly recommended the
oil seninaFies Of learning to prepare for
all the emergencies Of peace and war--a national
university, and military academy With respeot 10
the latter had he lived to the present dav in turnn-
ms eyes to the institution at Wegt-Pont he would
have enjoyed the qualification Of his most earnest
WISHES But IN surveying the city which has been
honoured with his name, he would have seen the snot
/ OF earth which ne had destined aud bequcathcd 10
the use and benefit Of his country as the site for an
university, still bare and barren
! IN assuming her station among the civilized nations
OF the earth, it would seem that our coun had con-
uacted we engagement to contribute her share ce
mind, OF iabour and expense to the improyeutnl Of
those parts Ct know edge which lie beyond the reach
OF individual acquisition; and particularly TO geo
graphical and Astronomical science. Looking back
TO the history only Of the half century since The de-
caratlon OF our Independence and observing the p,n
erous emulation with which the governments Of
France Great-Brtain, and Russia, have devoted The
genuE the intelligence the treasures Of their respec-
tive nations, TO the common improvement of the spe-
Gle: IN these branches OF science is il act incumbent
upon us to inquire, whether we are not bound by obl
cations OF high and honorable character to contrib
ute our portion OF energy aud exetion to The COM
mon stock! The voyages of discovery, prosecuted
in the course of :hat time, at the expense of those
nations have not only redounded to their glorV but
to the Improvement ofhuman knowledge. have
been paTtakers OF that improvement and we owe fer
1t sacred debt not only Of gratitude, but Of equal
or proportional eXertion in the same common cause
OF the cost of these undertakings, if the mere oxpcn.
ditures OF OUTFIT equipment, and completion of the
expeditions were to be considered the only CHARGES
it would be unworthy of great and generous nation
10 take a second thought. One hundred expeditions
of lrcumnavjgator, like those Of Cook and La Pc.
rouse, would not burden the exchequer of the nation
Lifting them out, so much az the ways aud means OF
detrayng single campaign in war. But ii we take
into the account the lives of those benefactors of
mankind, OF which their services in the cause of their
species were the purchase how shall the cost of thoe
heroic enterprises be estimated? And what conpen.
iaon can he made to them, or to their countries for
thcm Is il not by bearing them in aflectionato re-
membrance: Is il not still more NV ;n,iIot;,,x