Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-12-09


condition of that Department. For the first
tune for many years, the receipts for the year
ending on the lst Of July last, exceeded the ex-
Penditnres durng the same period. tn the amount
oi more than forty FIVE thousand dollars. Other
lac's, equally credabe to the administration of
me department, are, that, in two wears from the
HrSt oil July, 1923, an Improvement Of more than
one hundred and eighty five thousand dollars in
lis pecunIary affairs has been rsaliZed that in
tue same interval the increase of the transport
ta'ion of The mail has exceeded one million five
hundred thousand miles, annually; aud that one
Thousand and forty new post Offices have been es-
hohshSd. At hence appears, that under Judi.
cIous management, the income from tins estab-
Iishneut may be relied on as fully ADEQUATE To
uciry MS expenses; and, that by the discontinue
ance OF post roads, altogether reproductive,
others of more useful character NAV he opeued
al the circulation OF the mail shall keep pace
with the spread at our population: and the COM
forts of friendly CORES pondence the cxct.auges
of internal traffic, and the tights of the period-
Cal press, shall be distributed the remotest cor
ners OF the Union, at charge scarcely percep-
uble to any individual, and without the cost of q
dollar to the public treasury.
Upon tins first occasion of addressing; the lie.
gistature OF the Union, with which have been
honored, in presenting 10 their view the execu-
tinn, so tar as 1t has been effected, of the mea-
sures sanctioned by them, for promoting the IN
ternai impiov erncnt OF cur country, I cannot
close the communication without recommending
to their calm and pcrsevering consideration The,
general principle IN more enlarged cxtcnt.---
The great object oi the institution Of civil 90
Nernreut, Is tl!c Improvement Ot the condition Of
those who are parties 20 the soCia! coraract-
And no government, in whatever form coristitut-
cd can accomplish the lawful ends of ~ institute
tion, out IN proportion as II improves the cundi-
lian OF those over whom il Is establishcd-
!iGado and Canals, bs multiplying and iacilita-
ing The communications and intercourse between
distant regions, and ;rutitUGcs of men are
among the most Important means ,f ,uproye-
mciit. But moral, political, intellectual nm
proveinent, arc duties assigned, by The author of
our existence 10 social, no less Than 10 iudividu-
al man. For the tuiEi!nent of chose duiies. po-
VeTnEents are invested with power and, to the
attainment of the end, the progressive improve
mcnt of the condition of the governed. the ex-
ercIse OF delegated power, duty as sacred
an! Indispensable, rs the usurpaiIon of rover noc
granted Is criminal and oduus Among lie fist,
perhaps the very first Instrument for the linprJvc-
m ut OF the condition of men, is know edge;
and TO tue acquisit N OF much OF the know
ledge adapted 10 Tue wants, the C., -.iurt- and on
ioyInenis OF huin"p life, public .usutitIors aud
Summaries oi learning are essential So con
WINGED of this the first of n, prel, .e9uCs
/ IN ths Office, now first IN the memory. e.,
he was first N the hearts of our Com DIR
! once an3 again IN his addresses 10 the .,u,res-
Ses. with whom he operated in the pubic SER
vice. ne earnestly recommended the establish
mcnt OF scrninaries of learning, to prepare for
all the emergencies OF peace ant!-yyar-a nation.
al unircr,lty, and military academy VIII,
respect 10 ihc latter, had he lived to the present
day N iuT"n@ his eyes % the institution at w EST
FONT, he wou!d lave enjoyed the qualification of
"ls most earnest wishes. But. in surveying the
city Which has been honored with his name. he
would have sees: The spot Of earth which he had
destined and bcqueathel TO the use and benefit
OF ms country as the site for university, s;iu
hare and barren.
In assOm'ng her station among the civilized
nations OF The earth, itw"H!l SEER dat our conn
Try had contracted the engagement 10 contribute
her share OF mind, OF labor ana Of exnense. TO
hc Improvement OF these paris Of knowledge
which lie beyond the reach of Individual aconi
aiiion; and particularly 10 geugta r4cai az! as
Economical science. Locking back 40 tbe his
tory only OF the half century since the DccIaro-
ton OF our Independence, and obsa,yiIilr the
generous emnia'ion with which the governments
OF race, Great Britain, and Russia, have de
voted the genius, (hc inteiligcncc thetreasurcs
OF their respective nations, TO the rnn.oI i'm,
ProFeWcni oi The species in these branches of
science, IS II not incumbent upon US 30 pouirc
whether we are not bound, by obligation, OF n
"'@" ana honorable character, to contribute our
portion OF energy and cxeriiou to tbc common
stock! The VOYAGES of discovery, prosecuted
IN The course OF that time, al the cxrcpse Of
tboSc nations, have not only rcu0undee. 10 their
glory but TO tne improvement Of human know
ieagf' W G baYe been partatcrs of that inn
proycment, and owe ior Il q sacred debt not only
OF gratitude. but of equal or proportional cxcr-
ton m the same Common cause. q the cost Of
these undertakings. if The mere expenditures Of
OUTFIT, equipment, and completion Of H.. cxpc9i-
tons, were 10 DC considered tie cni, ch.rocs. it
would be unworthy of a e,ent and generous ma
ton 70 take a second thought. One hundred
expeditions Of crcunnavie ton like those of
- g4gGh r D..
chcfuer OF the nation Citing item out so much,
- the ways and means OF defrayiur a suglc
campaign ~ war But, if we take into the ac
count the lives Of those bcrcficlors of mankind
oil winch their services in tbc cause oltheir spc-
ctes were the purchase, how shall tue cosi u.
those heroic enterprises he cst,'ua:ed7 And
what compensation can be made to them or IL,
their countries, for thcm' Is 1t not by bearing
them m artcctIOaats remembrance Is II NOT
still more BY initiating their example? BY cna-
bling c0unirymon ofonr-pwn 10 pursue the same
career, 20 hazard their live, in the same causca
IN inviting the attention q Congress to the
subject of Internal improvements. upon y1ctv
thus enlarged. il IS not my design to recommend
tie equipment of an expedition for circrrnuayi-
gazing the globe for purposes Of scientific re-
search and inquiry. We have Objects OF u,cCnl
investigation rcarer home, and 10 which orr
cares may be- more bcncfcjaIly applied. The IN
terror cf Our own territories has vet been very
impcrlccIy explored. Our coasts. aion, roarz
degrees Of latitude upon the shore, OF Tie Peel.
&c ocean, though much frcqueuicd by our spirit
cd commercial naVJgators, have been barely
ne MIR rrft ,lrr IL.