The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-12-13

IuNPcTs uc Indue w tuhc ohSSt
at the period when the necessity for the
revenue arising from the present rates
shall cease. II istherefore desirable, that
arrangements be adopted at your pres
ent session, to relieve the people from
taxnlion, after the extri-
guishment Of the public debt. In the ex-
ercise of that spirit of concession and
which has distinguished the
friends Of our Union in all great emer-
gencies, il is believed that THIS object
may be effected without injnry TO any
national interest.
In my annual message Of December,
1929, had the honor 10 recommend
the adoption of more liberal policy than
that whicl, then prevailed towards unfor-
tunate debtors 10 the Government; ard ]
deem it my duty again TO Invite your at
eution 20 this subject.
Actuated by similar views, Congress
at their last session passed an act for the
relief of certain insolvent debtors of the
United States: but the provisions ofthal
law have not been deemed such as were
adequate to that reliefto this unfortunate
class Of our fellow citizens, which may
be safely extended to them The points
in which the law appears to he defective
will he particularly communicated by the
Secretary of the Treasury, aud take
pleasure in recommending such an exten-
sion of its provisions as will unfetter the
enterprise of n valuable portion of our
citizens, and restore To them the means
of usefulness Ia themselves and commun-
iiy. While deIiheraiiDg upon this sub
ject, | would also recommend to your
consideration the pr"priety ofsO modify
ing the laws for enforcing the payment
of debts due either tn the public or to in
diyiduals suing in the courts of the Unit
ed States, as to restrict the imprisonment
of the person to cases of fraudulent con-
cealmcn, ofproperiy. The personal lib
erty of the citizen seems too sacred to he
held, as in many cases it now is, AT the
will Of a creditor to whom he is willing
to surrender all the means he has of dis
charging his debt.
The reports from the Secretaries of
the War and Navy Department, and
from the Postmaster General, which nc
company this message, present satisfac-
terry views of the operations of the De-
partments respectively under their
charge and suggest improvements which
are worthy of, aud to which l invite the,
serious attention of Congress. Certain
defects and omissions having been dis
covered Ia the operation of the laws re-
specting Patents; they are pointed ont
in the accompanying report from the
Secretary of State.
/ have heretofore recommended n
of the Federal Constitution
giving the election of President and Vice
paesidcn, tu~s,hrpcople, and limiting the
service of the former To a single term.
So important do l consiier these changes
in our fundame ntal law, that cannot, in
accordance with my sense of duty, omit
to press them upon the consideration Of
a new Congress. For my views more
at large, as well in relation to these points,
as we'll rs the disqualification ofmembers
of Congress to receive an office from a
President in whose election they had an
official agency, which l proposed us a
substitute, refer you to my former mes
sages.
Our system Of public accounts is ex-
tremely complicated, aud, it is believed,
may be much improved. Much of the
present machinery, and considerable
portion of the expenditure of public mo-
ney may he dispensed with, while great
er facilities can be afforded to the liquid.
alton cfclni'ns upon the Government, and
an examination iuro their justice and le-
galiiy, quite us efficient as the present,
secured. With n view TO general re-
form IN the system, recommend the
subject to the attention of Congress.
l deem it my duty again to call your
attention to the condition of the District
OF Columbia. 1t was duubtless wise in
the trainers of our Constitution, to place
the people of this District, under tile ju-
risdic,ion Of the General Government
hut, to accomplish the objects they had
u, view, 1t Is not necessary that this peO-
pie should be deprived of all the privileges
of solt-g "ernment. Independently Of
the difficulty ofmducing the Representa-
tives of distaat States To turn their atten-
t,on To projects Of laws which are not of
the highest interest to their constituents,
they are MOI Individually, nor in Congress
co.lec''vely, well qualified To legi,la,e o.
yer the local concerns Of this District.
Consequently, it's interests are much ne
elected, and the people are almost afraid
to present their grievances, lest BODY,
~ which they are not represented, aud
which feels little sympathy in their local
relations, should in ITS attempts to mako
laws for them do more harm than good.
G"verned by the laws of the States
whence they were severed the two shores
of the Potomac within the 10 miles square.