Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-01-07

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scanty resources, and the comparative indi-
gence of our infancy, was even then found ade-
quate to cope with all the powers OF Barbary,
save the first, and with one OF the prlnclpal
maratime powers of Europe. AT period oil
/ further advancement, but with little accession
of strength, it not only sustained with honor
the most unequal of conflicts, but covered IL
self and our country with unfading glory. But
it is only since the close of the late war, that
by the number and force of the ships of which
it was composed, it could deserve the name OF
a Navy. Yet it retains nearly the same organ
ization as when it consisted only OF fve ri
gates. The rules and regulations by which 1t
is governed urgently call for revision, and the
want of Naval School of Instruction, cores
ponding with the Military Academy at West
Point, for the formation of scientific and &C
complshed officers, is felt with daily increas-
ing aggravation.
the Act of Congress of Goth May,
1924, authorizing an examination and
survey of the harbor of Charleston, IN
South Carolina, of St. Mary's, in Geor-
gia, and of the coast of Florida, and Tor
other purposes, has been executed SO
! far as the appropriation would admit.
Those of The Sd Of March last, auihoriz-
ing the establishment OF Navy Yard
and Depot on the coast Of Florida, in
the Gulf Of Mexico, and authorizing the
building of ten sloops OF war, and ior
other purposes, are in the course OF exc
cution for the particulars OF which, and
other objects connected with this De-
pariment, refer TO the report OF the Sc
cre,ary of the Navy, herewith commune
| Gated.
A report from the Postmaster Gene.
raj is also submitted, exhibiting the pre-
sent hourishlng condition OF that De-
partment. For the first time for many
years, The receipts for the year ending on
the irst of July last, exceeded the ex-
penditures during the same period, to
the amount of more than forty five thou
sand dollars. Other facts equally credita-
Bile to the administration of the Depart
ment are, that in two years from the LIST
of July, 1928, an improvement of more
Than one hundred and eighty-hve thou
send dollars in its its pecunlary affairs
has been realized; that in the same in
terval 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
offices have been established. 1t hence
appears, that under judicious manage
meni, The income from this establish
ment may be relied on as fully adequate
to deiray its expenses and that by the
| discen' inuance of post-roads, altogether
unproduc.ive, others OF more useful
character may be opened, ill the circu-
lation of the mail shall keep pace with
the spread of our population, and the
comforts OF friendly correspondence, the
exchanges Of internal traffic, and the
lights of the periodical press, shall be
distributed to the remotes, corners of the
Union, at a charge scarcely percep ibe
10 any individual, and without the cost Of
a dollar to the public treasury.
Upon the first occasion Of addressing
| the Legls latIre of the Union, with which
have been honored, in presenting to
| ,heir view The execution, SD lar as it has
| been effected, of the measures sanction
ed by them, for promoting the internal
Improvement OF our country, | cannot
close the communication without recon-
mending to their calm and persevering
consideration, the general principle in a
more enlarged extent. The great OBJ
ect of the institution Of civil govern
ment, is the improvement of the condi-
| ION OF those who are parties to the So
| eial compact; and no government, in
| whatever form constituted, can accom-
| plsh the lawful ends of its institution,
but in proportion as it improves the con-
dition OF those over whom II is establish
| ed.-Roads and Canals, by multiplying
and facilitating the communications and
intercourse between distant regions, and
muitltudes OF men, are among the most
important means OF improvement. But
( moral, political, intellectual improve
ment, are duties assigned BY the author
of our existent TO social no less than
to individual man. For the fulfiIment
of those duties, governments are invest
ed with power, and to the attainment Of
the end the progressive Improvement
OF the condition oil the governed, the ex
ercise of delegated power, is duty as
sacred and Indispensable, as the usur-
patton of power not granted is criminal
and odious. Among the first, perhaps
The very first instrument for the improve
ment of the condition of men, is know
ledge; and to the acquisition Of much Of
the knowledge adapted to the wants, the
comforts and enjoymenis of human life,
public institutions and semlnaries of
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