The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-07

whole amount ei receipts, and Ok mai convey
ance, at the commencement Of the present cen
tury, when the scat of General Government was
removed to this place. When we reflect that
the objects effected by the transportation of the
mail, arc among the choicest comforts and ell
ioyments Of social life, it is pleasing to observe
that the dissemination ofthcmto every corner OF
our country has outstrippcd in their increase even
the rapid march of our population.
BY the Treaties with France and Spain, re-
spectively cedng Louisiana and the Floridas to
the United States, provision was made for the
security Of land titles derived from the Govern
mcnts Of those nations Some progress has been
made, under the authority OF various acts fCon-
grcss, in the ascertainmcnt and establishment Of
those titles: but claims to very large extent re-
main unadiustcd. The public faith, no less than
the Just rights Of individuals, and the interest OF
the community ITSELF appears to require further
provision for the speedy settlement OF these
claims which therefore recommend to the care
and attention Of the Legislature.
! In conformity with the provisions of the act OF
2Oth May last, to provide for erecting pcnlten-
AIRY in the District of Columbia, and for o herpur-
! poses three Commissioners were appointed to Sc
lcct Site for the erection Of, pcntchtlarv Tor the
District and also Il site in the county OF AlcXan-
tlra for Il county Jail: both of which objects haze
been effected. The buil,ling of the penitcntlary
has been commenced, and is in such degree of
! forwaidncss rs to promise that it will be complct-
ed before the meeting Of the next Congress
| This consideration points to the cxpcdcncy OF
maturing, at the present session, 4 system fof
the regulation and government OF the pcnitcnti-
AIRY, and OF defining the class OF offences which
shall be punishable by confinement in this cdtce.
In closing this communication, trust that II
will not be deemed inappropriate to the occa-
sion and purposes upon which we are here as
III, atppxr rat
combining, in a single glance, the period OF our
origin as a National Confederation with that ot
our present existence, at the precise interval OF
half |, century from each other. Since your last
meeting attlis place, the fhticth Anniversary of
\ the'day when our Independence WAS declared, has
been celebrated Throughout our land; and on that
lav, when every heart WAS bounding with Joy. and
every voice was tuned to graduation. amid the
blessings Of Freedom and independence, which
the sires ola former age had handed downto Their
children, two Of the principal actors in that solrin
scene, the hand that penncd the ev.r-memorable
Declaration, and the voice that sustained it i'll de-
bate, were by one summons at the distance ofses
en- hundred miles from each other, called before
the judge of all, 10 account for their deeds done
upon earth. They departed chccred by the
hcncdictions of their country, to whom they lett
the inheritance ofthcr frame, and the memory
of their bright example. live turn our thoughts
to the condition ofthcr country, in the contrast
of the first and last day of that half century, how
resplendcnt and sublime is the transition from
gloom to glory! Then, glancing through the
same lapse Of time, in the condition Of the ind-
viduas, we sec the first day marked with the
fulncss ard vgor Of youth, in the pledge of their
lives, their fortunes, anl then sacred honor to
the cause offrce'lom and Of mankind. An,! on
the last, extended on the bed Of death, with but
sense and scnslbility left To breathe last aspa.
ton to Heaven of blessing upon their country;
may we not humbly hop, that to them, too, It
was pledge of transition from gloom to gloryi
aud that, while their mortal vcstments were
sinkind into the clod of the valley, their eman,
cipated spirits were ascending to the bosom of
their God!
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Uashingfon, DecemJp 5, 1926.