Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-12-14

h,rh. ed and sixty thousand miles, have been
roade nd for seventy thousand miles, annual
H. IN ina, isback. Seven hundred and fourteen
ne % Post On fees have been established witnin
the wear. and Il. increase Of revenue within
the last taTee year,. as we'll as the augmenta'
ZION of the transportai on ny mail, - more than
equal TO the Ghole amount ct receipts, and OF
mail conveyance, at the commencement OF Tue
present century. when the seat of the henerh
Government was removed to this place. "hen
we reflect that the objects effected by the traos'
portstion ofthe mail are among the cholcess
comfort and eDjoymens Of social life, It IS
pleasing to observe, that the dissemination OF
them to every corner of our country has out.
stripped in their increase even the rapid march
of our population.
BY the Treaties with France and Spain, res
pective!y ceding Louisiana and the Floridas TO
the u. States, provision was made for the Sc
curity Of land titles derived from the Govern.
ments of those nations. Some progress has
been made. under the authority of various Acts
Of Congress. IN the ascertalnment and estab.
lishment of those titles but claims to very
large extent mains unsdjusted. The public
faith, no less than the just rights OF individuals
and the interest OF the community itseR, APP
pears TO require further provision for the spec
dy settlement OF these claims, which I there
fore recommend TO the care and attention Of
the Legii .t9re.
In conformity with the provisions of the act
OF 20th May last, to PROVIDE for erecting Pen.
ltentiary IN tie District of Columbia, and for
other purposes, three Commissioners we're an.
pointed to select site for The erection of
Penltentlary for the District. and also a site in
the county Of Alexandra for county Jail: both
Of which objects have been effected The
building OF the peRtentsry has been commence
ed, and is in such degree of forwardness as
to pro MISE that it will be completed before the
meeting OF The next Congress. This conside.
ration points to the expediency Of maturing, at
The present session, a system for the regulation
and government OF the Penitentiary, and of
defining the class of offences which shah be
punishable by confinement in this edtce.
In closing this communication, trust that
VIII rot be deemed inappropriate TO the oc.
caslon ana purposes upon which we arc here
assembled, TO Indulge n,onentary retrospect,
combining, IN a single glance, The period of
our origin as National Confederation with
that OF cur present existence, at the precise
interval of half century from each other
Since your last meeting at this place, the Fiji
tieth Anniversary of the day when o,lr indie
pendence was declared has been celebrated
throughout cur land, and on that day, when e.
very heart was bounding with JOY, and every
voice was tuned to graduation, amid the bless.
ings OF Freedom and independence, which the
sres Of former age had handed down to their
children, Two Of the principal actors in that
solemn scene, the hand that penned the ever. |
memorable declaration, and the voice that sus
tanned it in debate. were, by one summons, at
the distance of seven hundred miles from each |
other, called before the Judge of all. 10 &C. |
count for their deeds done upon earth. They
departed cheered by the benedictions of their
country, to whom they left the inheritance of |
their fame, and the memory of their bright |
example. If we turn our thoughts to the con |
dition OF their couatry. in the contras, of the |
first and last day of that half century, how |
Respondent and sublime is the transition from |
gloom to glory. Then CHANGING through the |
same lapse of time, in the condition of the in
divlduais, we see theGrst day marked with the |
fulness and vigor of youth, in the pledge of |
their lives. their fortunes, and their sacred
honor. to the cause of freedom and of mankind
And on the last, extended ON the bed of death, |
with but sense and sensibilhy left 10 breathe |
last aspiration to Heaven OF Blessing upont cir
country; may we not humbly hope that to them,
too, it was pledge of transition from gloom to |
glory; and that while their mortal vestments
were sinking into the cold clods of the valley, |
their emanclpated spirits were ascending to the |
bosom Of their God
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.