The Arkansas advocate., 1831-01-05


 officer.
 Occasions of reference from the differ ent Executive Departments to the Attor- ney General are of frequent occur reTct. nd tine prompt decision of the ques- lions 50 referred, tends much to facilitate inc despatch of business in those depart menss. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, hereto appended, shows also al branch of the public service, not specific ally intrusted to any officer, which might be advantageously committed to the Attor- ney General.
 But, independently of those considera- tions, the office Is nov one of daily duty. It was originally organized, and It's com pensation fixed, with a view to occasional service, leaving to the incumbent time for the exericse of his profession in pirate practice. The state of things which war rantei such all organization, 10 longer ex- ists. The frequent claims upon the seEVi- ces of this officer would render his absence from theseat of government, Tn proiesslon- al attendance npon the courts, injurious to .he public service, and the interests Of government could not fail to be promoted by charging hin with the general suPerin- tendence of all its legal concerns.
 Under strong conviction Of the just ness of these suggestions, l recommend 1t to Congress to make the necessary pro- visions for giving effect 10 them, and to place the Attorney General, in regard to compensation, on the same footing with the leads of the several Executive De- partments. To this officer might also be intrusted cognizapce of the cases of in- solvency in public debtors, especially if the views witch submitted on the subj jeet last year should meetthe appreciation of Con- gress, 10 which again solicit your atten- tion.
 Your attention is respectfully invited to the situation of the District of Columbia. Placed, by the constitution, under the ex- elusive iurisdiction and control of Con gress, this district is.eertainly entitled to a much greater share of its consideration than 1t has yet received. There is a want of uniformity in it's laws, particularly in those Of penal character, which increas- es the expense of their administration, and subjects tire peopleto all the incenven- fences which result from the operation of different codes in'so small a territory. On different sides ofthe Potomac, the offence IS punishable ia unequal degree; and the peculiarities of many of the carly laws of Maryland and Virginia remain in force, notwithstanding repugnanee, in some cases, to the improvements whichha su- pcrseded them in those states.
 Besides Q remedy for these evils, which is loudly called for, 1t IS respectfully submit ted, whether aproyision authorizing the se- lection of delegate to represent the wants Of the citizens of this district on the floor of Congress, is not due to them, and to the character of our government No portion of our citizens should be without practi- cal enjoyment Of tie principles of freedom; and there is none more important than that which cultivates proper relation be- tween the governors and the governcd.- Imperfect as it must be in this case, yet it Is believed that 1t would be greatly improv- ed by representation in Congress, with the same privileges that arc allowed to that of the other territories of the United States.
 The penitentiary is ready for the roeep- tion of conyicts; and only awaits the ne- cessary legislation to put it into operation: as one object of which. beg leave to re- call to your attention the propriety of pro- yiding suitable cempensations for the off, cers charged with its inspection.
 The importance of the principles involv- ed in the inquiry, whether it will be prop CT to re-charter the Bank of the United States, requires that l should again call the attention of ofCongress to the subject.-- Nothing has occurred to lessen, in any de- gree, the dangers which many of our citi- zens apprehend from that institution, as at present organized. In the spirit of im- proyement and compromise which distin- gaishes our country and its institutions. 1t becomes LIS to inquire whether 1t be not possible to secure the advantages offered by the present bank, through the agency of the bank of the United States, so modi- fled in its principles and structure as to obyiate constitutional and other obiee- tions,
 It IS thought practicable to organize such a bank, with Inc necessary officers, as Bank of the Treasury Department, based on the public and individual depos- ties, without power to make loans or pur- chase property, which shall remit the funds of the government, the expenses of which may be paid, if thought advisable, by allow ing it's officers to sell bills of exchange to private individuals att moderate premium. Not being corporate body, having no stockholders. debtors, or property, and but few officers, 1t would not be obnoxious, to the constitutional objections which are urged against the present bank; and hay ing no means to operate on the hopes, fears or interests of large masses ofthe commu- nlty, it would be shorn of the influence which makes that bank formidable. The states would be strengthened by having in their hands fhe means of furnishing the To- cal paper currency through their own banks, while the Bank of the United States, though issuing no paper, would check the issues of the state banks. by ta- king their notes in deposite, and for ex- change, only so long as they continue to