Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-03-10

whole Union IS KNIT tOSetheI W 0ne
timents of mutual respect, the habits OF
social intercourse, and the ties OF per
sonaI friendship, formed between the
REPRESENTATIVES Of its several parts IN
the performance oftheir service at this
Metropolis. i
Passing from this general review Of
the purposes and injunctions 9f the Sc
deral Constitution, and their results, as
indicating the first traces of the path OF
duty in the discharge ofmy pubic trust
turn to the administration OF my IN
mediate predecessor, as the second. IL
has passed awey in a period OF pro-
found peace; how much to the satisiac-
ton Of our country, and to the honor
of our country's name, is known TO you
all. The great features OF its pollcy,in
general concurrence with the will oi
The Legislature, have been-to cherish
peace, while preparing fol defensive
war; to Yield exact justice TO other ma
ions, and maintainthe right OF our own;
to cherish the principles of freedom
and Of equal righta, wherever they were
proclaimed; to discharge. with all pos
siblc promptitude, the national debt; to
REFUGE, within the nairowest limits OF
efficiency, the military force; 10 in
prove the organization and discipline
Of the army; to provide and sustain a
school Of military science; 70 extend
equal protection to all the great inter
ests of the nation; to promote the civi-
l~ization of the Indian tribes; and, to
prnceed in the great system OF internal
improvements, within the limits OF the
constitutional power OF the Union. I'M
der the pledges Of these promises,
made By tbat eminent citizen, oil the
time of his first induction to this office,
in his career ofeight years, the inter-
| nal taxes have been repealed; sixty
, millions of the public debt have been
! discharged; provision has been made
, for the coinfortand relief of the aged
and INDECENT among the surviving war
riols of the Revolution; the regular ar
, med force has been reduced, and its
constitution revised and perfected; the
/ accountable, for the expenditure of
public moneys has been made more eff
! f%ective; the Floridas have been peacea-
biz acquired, and our boundary has
been extended to the Pacific Ocean; the
| independence of the southern nations
ofthis hemisphere has been recognized
aud recommended by example and by
counsel TO the p~otentates OF Europe,
progress has been made in the defence
of ,the county, ty Notifications, and
the increase of the navy; towards the
effectual suppression Of The African traf-
fc ia s~lay>s; in ailuring the aboriginal
hunters of orr land TO the cultivation of
the soil and OF the mind; in exploring
the interior regions of die Union; and
in preparing, scieptilc researches and
surveys, for the further application of
our national resources TO the internal
improvement of our country.
In this brief outline of the promise
and gerformaace Of my immediate pre-
decessor, the time of duty, for bis sue
cessor, IS clearly deliniated. 30 pur-
sue, to their contamination, those pur-
poses Of Improvement in our common
condition, instituted or recommended
by him, will embrace the whole sphere
ofmy obligations. To the topic of in
ternal improvement, emphatically ur-
ged by him at his Inauguration, | recur
with peculiar satisfaction. 1t is that
from which | am convinced that the
unborn millions of our posterity, who
are in future ages, to people this CONT
nent, will derive their most ~fervent era
titude TO the founders Of the Union; that
in which the benefcent action Of its
Government will be most deeply felt
and acknowledged. The magnifcience
and splendor of their public works are
among the imperishable glories CT the
ancient Republics. The roads and aque-
ducts of Rome have been the ad,nira-
ton of all after ages, and have suryi>
we'd, thousands of years, after all her
conquests have been swallowed up in
despotism, or become the spoil OF Bar
bavians. Some diversity OF opinion las
prevailed with regard to the powers of
Congress for Legislation upon objects
of this nature. The most respectful
Difference is due to doubts. originating
in pure patriotism, and sustained by We
nera'ed authority. But nearly twenty
years have passed since the construc-
ton of the first National Road was
commenced. The authority for its con-
struction was then unqnestioned. To
how many thousands Of u country
men has it proved a benefit? To what
single individual has it ever proved an
injury? Repeated liberal and candid
discussion In the I.nr,slatnrn hnra cnn-