Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1843-12-28

1t gives me great pain to announce toi
the loss of the ship "The Missouri"
fire in The Bay of Gibraltar, where she
stopped to renew her supplies of coal,
her voyage to Alexandria, with Mr. Cush-
G, the American Minister to China, on
ard. There is ground for high common
ton Of the officers and men, for the cool
SIS and intrepidity and perfect submission
discipline evinced under the most trying
.rcumstances. Surrounded by raging
re, which threatened momentarily the ex-
'losion OF her well supplied magazines, the
ofhcers exhibited no signs of fear, and the
men obeyed every order with alacrity. Nor
was she abandoned until the last CLEAN Of
hope of saving her had expired. 1t is well
worthy of your consideration whether the
losses sustained by the officers and crew in
this unfortunate affair should not be REIN.
bursed to them.
cannot take leave Of this painful subject
without advertng to the aid rendered upon
the occasion, by the British authorities at
Gibraltar, and the commander. officers and
crew OF the British ship Of the line "The
alabar," which was lying at the time in
ne bay. Every thing that generosity or
imanity could dictate, was promptly per
'rmed. II is by such acts Of good will by
one toanother of the family Of nations, that
blessings Of permanent peace secured
The report of the Postmaster General
will bring. you acquainted with the opera
lions OF that Department during the past
year, ana will suggest to you such modif-
cations oil the existing laws as in your opin.
ion the exigencies Of the public service may
require. The change which the country
has undergone of late years in the mode OF
travel aud transportation has afforded so
many facilities for the transmission of mail
matter out of the regular mail as to require
the greatest vigilance and circumspection
: order to enable the officer at the head of
p Department to restrain the expenditures
IA the income. There is also TOO mnch
'ason to fear that the ranking privilege
As run into great abuse.-The Department
evertheless has been conducted with the
ate vigor, and has attained at the least
slbl' expense, all the useful objects for
Itch /, was established
In regard TO all the Departments, I am
quite happy in the belief that nothing has
been j.. undonc which was called for by a
rue s fltoi economy, or by system Of &c
ounta llity rigidly enforced This is in
some gree apparent from the fact, that the
Government has sustained no loss bv the de.
fault of any OF its agents. In the complex,
but IL the same time, beautiful machinery
our system OF Government, il is not a
-aa'natter ai surprise, that some remote agency
ma = nave JAILED for an instant to fulfill its
desired office; but feel confident in the.s
sertlon, that nothing has occurred to inter
upt the harmonious action of the Govern
lent itself, and that while the laws have
'een executed with efficiency and vigor, the
lights neither OF States, nor individuals have
been trampled on or disrerarded.
In the meantime the country has been
steadily advancing in all that contributes
to national greatness. The tide of popula
tlon continues unbrokenly to flow into the
new States and Territories, where a refuge
is found not only for our native fellow-citi.
zens, but Tor emigrants from all parts Of the
civilized world, who come among us to par
tcke of the blessings of our free institutions,
and TO aid by their labor to swell the cur
rent of our wealth and power.
1t is due to every consideration Of public
rolicy that the lakes and rivers of the west
hou'd receive all such attention at the
ands OF Congress as the Constitution will
liable 1t to bestow. Works in favorable
proper situations on the lakes would be
nd to be as indispensably necessary in
sc Of war to carry on safe and successful
wal operations, as fortification on the At
ntic seaboard. The appropriation made
the last Congress for the improvement of
lie navigation of the Mississippi river, has
'een diligently and efficiently applied.
| cannot close this communication, gen.
tlemen, without recommending 10 your
most favorable consideration The interests of
this District Appointed BY the Constitu-
ton its exclusive legislators, and forming
in this particular the only anomaly in our
system of Government of the Legislative
body being elected by others than those for
whose advantage they are to legislate, you
will feel superaded obligation to look we'll
into their condition, and to leave no cause
for complaint or regret. The Seat of Gov
eminent Of our associated Republics cannot
but be regarded as worthy of your prrental
care.
In conneXion with its other interests, as
we'll as those of the VIII ole country, | rec
ommend that at your present session you
adopt such measures, in order to carry into
effect the Smithsonian bequest, as in your
judgement will be best calculated to consul
mate the liberal intent of the testator.
When under a dispensaton of Divine
Providence, | succeeded to the Presidential
Office, the state of public affairs was embar.
raising and critical. To add to the irrita
ton consequent upon long standing con-
troversy with one of the most powerful ma
tons oil modem times, involving not only
questions of bound airy which under the most
RAISING, but at the same time important and
high principles OF maritime law-bordtr con.
trovorsles between the citizens and subjects
OF the two countries had engendered State
of feeling and of conduct which threatened
the most calamitous consequences. The
hazards incident to this state Of things were
greatly heightened by the arrest and i'm.
prisonmen: OF a subject of Great Britain,
who acting as it was alleged. as part of
military force, had aided in the commission
OF an act violative Of the territorial ursdic.
ton OF the United States, and involving
the murder of a citizen of the State of New
York. large amount of claims against
the Government of Mexico remained unad
Justed, and a war Of several years continu
ance with the savage tribes of Florida still
prevailed, attended with the desolation of
large portion Of that beautiful Territory.
Id with the sacrifice of MANY valuable
10 Increase the advertisements Of
- government, individual and state credit
had been nearly stricken down, and conf.
dence in the General Government was CO
much impaired that loans of a small amonnt
could only be negotiated at considerable
sacrifice. "''o
As "A necessary ronseouapcn or