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

NC O' all UNitSsih SCJuuSlu OF }
w Fights and Measures was one of the specific
OBJ cts contemplated III tie formation of our
constitution, and To TX that standard was one OF !
the powers delegated by express terms, in that
instrument, 10 Congress. The governments of
Great Britain and France have scarcely ceased /
TO be occupied with inquiries and speculatlons IN
the same subject since tn existence ofour CON
stution, ana with them 1t has expanded into
profound, la5ouous, and expensive researches
into the figure of the earth, and the Compare
tive length Of the pendulum vibrating seconds in
various latitudes, from the Equator 10 the Pole.
These researches have resulted IN the compost
ton and publication of several works high in
teresting TO the cause Of science. The expert
Iuents are yet in the process of performance
Some OF them have recently been made Oh our
own shores, within the walls OF our own colleges,
and partly by one OF our own fellow citizens. 1t
would be honorable to orr country II the sequel
OF the same experiments should be couutenanc-
ed b, the patronage OF our government, as they
have hitherto been by these of France and Bri-
tain.
Connected with the establishment OF an Uni
versity, 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 ofthe heavens, and for the periodical
pupiicaIon of his observations. II is with no
feeling OF pride, an American, that the rcrnark
territorial surface of Europe, there are existing
upwards ofone hundred and thirty OF these light
houses Of the skies; while throughout the ~ hole
American hemisphere, there is not one. If VIC
reject moment upon the discoveries, which
IN the last four centuries have been made i'm the
physical constitution of The universe by the means
OF these buildings, and of observers stationed in
Ihen, shall we doubt of their usefulness to every
nation! And while scarcely year passes over
our heads without bringing some new astrono,ni.
cal discovery TO light, which we must fain re.
ceive at second hand from Europe, are we not
cuttinS ourselves of from the means of returning
light Tor light, while we have neither Observable
~ nor observer upon cur half of the globe and
the earth revolves in perpetual darkness TO our
unscarchiDg eyeso
When, or the 25th of October, 1871, the first
President of the United States announced to
congress the result of the first enumeration of
the inhabitants of this Union, he informed them
that the returns gave the pleasing assurance that
the population of the United States boricred on
FOUR millions eff persons At ihe d stance of
ulirty Years from that time, the last enumeration
hVe Years since completed, presented pcpula-
ton bordering upon ten millions Perhaps of
All the evidences OF q prosperous and happy COLI
dition OF human society, the rapdity Of the III
crease of population is the most unequvocal-
Bat the demonstration of our prosperity rests
hot alone upon this Indication Our commerce.,
our wealth, and the extent of our territories
have mcrr sed in corresponding proportions; and
the number of independent communities, a.soci-
ated in our Federal Union, las, since that time
nearly doubled. The legislative representation
Of the States ana People, in the two Houses OF
Congress, Ina grown with the growth of their
Constituent bodies. The House, which then con-
sisteI! OF sIxty-kTc members, ROW numbers up
wSi'os of two lNInd ed. The Senate, which con
sisted of twenty six members, has now forty
eight. But the Executive. and still more tie
Judiciary Departments, are yet in great nca-
s'Tc cohn0cd % '',"' primitive organization, and
are if"" not ""N I..se to the urgent wants Of
All growing community.
"' NAY! ornaments, wl,ch, at an carly peri
81 iore.o Themselves upon the necessities of
the Union, som led to the cstaoi.sln:sI!t of =
Department OF ne Navy. Bat the Departments
OF Foreign = tI'= ard Of tho Interior, which.
early after the formation OF the Government had
been united III one, continue united at this
time, 10 the unquestonablc i.ctrlment ofthe pub
lie service. The multiplication OF our relations
with the nations and Governments of tic Old
world, has kept pace with that OF orr population
and commerce; while, within the last ten years,
Few family Cfnations, in our own hemisphere,
has arisen among the inhabitants OF the Garth,
with whom our Intcrc curse, commercial and no
Itical, w.uld, ot itself, furi sh occupation 70 an
active and Industrious Department. The con-
stltutlon Of tho Judiciary, experimental and nm
perfect as it was, cven in the Infancy OF our OK
iStinS Government, IS yet more inadequate to
the administration Of national Justice at our pre-
sent maturity. Nimc wears have ELAPSED since
predecessor in this Office, now not the last, the
citizen who, perhaps, Of all others throughout
the Union, contributed most to the formation and
cstabls mcnt Of or Constitution, in his yalcdc-
tory address to Co igrcsS Immediately preceding
his retirement from public lie, urgently re-
commended the revision OF the Judiciary, and
the establishment OF additional Executive
Department. The cXgcacics Of the public SER
vice, and ITS unavoidable deficiencies, as now in
cAerc sc, have added ycsgl; cumulative weight
10 tie considerations presented by him as per-
suasIYc to the measure; and in IccoI:ime rldiufs
At to your deliberations, am happy to have the
influence oil his high authority, in aid of thc un.
douClirg convictions of my own expo ricnce.
The Law: Jcia;"ig 70 the administration of tie
Patent Office aye deserving of much cons,dera-
ton, and, PERU. IS, susceptible Of some improve
men. Tic rant Of power 10 regulate the ac
ton Of Coug'rss on tbs subject, has sneei;cd
both the "' e. be attained, and the means B.
winch Il IS 10 bo Cffactcd--;o promote the nro
gross Of science and Ike uscfj,! arts by securing
or limited times 30 authors aud inventors the *.
elusive righ. TO their respective writings and dis
covcries If M honest pride might be INDUCED
lie reelection, LAT on lie records Of that
Office are already found inventions, the useful
ness OF which has scarcely been transcribed in
tne annals Of hOrn7n ingenuity, would moi its TX
uitatiOD bc aliaycd by tlic inquiry whether the
laws have cd,ciuaIIy insured 10 the inventors the
reward destined 10 them BIZ The Constitution.
even limited term Of exclusive right 10 fhoir
discoveries?
On the 24ih Of December, I1o9 if was resolv
ed by Congress tliat marble monument shouId
he erected by thc United States, in the Capi,ol
AZ Tie CITY - " ashing'onj that the family OIL
'Frne'a, W a9n"gion should be requested 10 per
mt his body to be deposited under y; and fI,at
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