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


tory nor observer upon our half of the
globe, and the earth revolves in perpetu
al darkness to our unsesrching eyes
When, on the 25th October, l79l,
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 re-
turns gave the pleasing assurance that
the population of the u. States bordered
on four millions of persons. Al the dis
lance Of thirty years from tha, time, the
last enumeration, five years since COM
pleted, presented a population bordering
upon ten millions. Perhaps, of all The
evidences of prosperous and happy
condition Of human society, the rapidly
the increase of population is the most
uncQuivocal. But the demonstration of
our prosperity rests not alone upon this
indication. Our commerce, eur wealth,
and the extent of our territories, have in
creased in corresponding proportions !;
and the number OF independent commu-
mites associated in our Federal Union,
has, since that time, nearly doubled
The legislative representation of the
states and people, in the two Houses of
Congress, has grown with The growth of
their constituent bodies. The Eouse
which then consisted of IS members,
now numbers upwards OF two hundred.
The Senate which consisted of twenty.
six members, has now forty eight. But
the Executive, and sill more the Judi
ciary Departments, are yet in q great
measure confined TO their primitive or
ganization, and are now not adequate to
the urgent wants OF still growing COM
munity.
The naval armements which at an ear
Iy period forced themselves upon the me-
cessities of the Union, soon led to the
establishment of Department of the
Navy. Blu; the Departments of Foreisn
Affairs, and of the Interior, which, early
after the formation OF the government had
been united in one, continue so united al
this time, TO the unquestionable detrl-
ment OF the public service. The multi
plicatlon of our relations with the nations
and governments of the old world, has
kept pace with that of our popu lation and
commerce, while within the last ten
years new family of nations, in our own
hemisphere, has arisen among the nina.
bitsnts of the earth, with whom our inter
course, commercial and political, would
of itself furnish occupation TO an active
and industrious Department. The con
stituton Of the Judiciary, experim
and imperfect as it was, even in the in
fancy Of our existing government, is yet
mere inadequate to the administration oil
national justice at our present maturity.
Nine years have elapsed since prede
cessor in this office, now not the last, the
citizen who perhaps, of all others
throughout the Union, contributed most
to the formation and establishment Of
our constitution, in his valedictory adj
dress to Congress Immediately proceed
ing his retirement from public lie, ur-
gently recommended the revision OF the
Judiciary, and the establishment OF an ad
ditional Executive Department. The
exigencies Of the public service and lis
unavoidable deficiencies, as now 10 ex
ercise, have added yearly cumulative
weight to the CoDsidera lions presented by
him as persuasive to the measure aud
in recommending it to your deliberations,
l am happy to have the influence of his
high authority, in aid of the undoubting
convictions OF my own experience.
The laws relating to the administra-
ton Of the Patent 0 flee are deserving o,
much consideration, and, perhaps, sus
ceptible Of some improvement. The
grant OF power to regulate the action oil
Congress on this subject, has specified
both the end to be attained, and the means
by which it is to be effected. To pro-
mote the progress of science and useful
arts, by securing for limited times to au-
thors and inventors the exclusive right to
their respective writings and discoveries.
If an honest pride might be INDUCED in
the reflection, that on the records OF that
Office are already found inventions the
usefulness Of which has scarcely been
transcribed in the annals of human in
genuity, would not its exultation be al
layed by the inquiry, whether the laws
have effectively insured to the inventors
the reward destined to them by the Con-
stitution, even a limited term OF exclusive
right to their discoveries.
On the oath of December, 1899, ii
was resolved by Congress that marble
monument should be erected by the y
States in the Capitol, at the City OF
Washington; that the family of General
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