Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-12-29

and crew in this unfortunate affair should not
| be reimbursed to them.
cannot take leave Of this painful subject
without aduratinp to the aid rendered uponthe
occasion. by the British authorities at GbTal-
| tar. and the commander. officers and crew OF
the british ship Of the line The Malabsr.p
which was living at the time in the bay. Es-'
cry thing that generosity or humanity could
dictate. was promptly performed. 1t IS hy such
acts Of good will by one 10 another OF The lam
ily of nations, that fraierna feelings are nonr.
ished and the blessings of permaneEtpeace Sc
cured.
The report of the Postmaster General will
bring you acquainted with the operations o. OF
that Department during the past year and Will
suggest to you such notifications OF me exist
/ ing laws IN your opinion the eXigencles OF inc
public service may require. The change
which the country has undergone Of late years
in the mode of travel and transportation has
afforded so many facilities for the transmission
of mail matter out of the regular mail. as 10 re-
ouire the greatest vigilance and efrcumspec-
lion in order to enable the officer at she head
of the Department to restrain the expenditures
within the income. There is also too much
reason 10 fear that the ranking privilege has
run into great abuse. The department never
theless has been conducted with the greatest
vigor, and has attained at the least possible
expense, all the useful objects for which II WIS
established.
In regard to all the Departments, l am qaite
happy in the belief that nothing has been left
undone which was called for by true spirit
Of economy, or by system Of accountability
rigdly enforced. This is in some degreeap'
parent from the fact, that the Government has
sustained no loss by the default of any Of its
agents. In the complex, but at the same tine,
beautiful machinery Of our system of Govern
ment, it is. not matter of surprise, that some
remote agency may have failed for an instant
to fulfil its desired office; but feel confident
in the assertion, that nothing has occurred to
interrupt the harmonious action of the Govern
ment itself and that while the laws have been
executed with efficiency and vigor, the rights
neither of States nor individuals have been
trampled on OF disregarded.
In the mean time the country has been stea-
Oily advancing in all that contributes TO ma
tional greatness. The tide Of population con.
tinues Inbrokenly 70 flow into the new States
ard Territories, where refuge is found not
|.only for or native oorn felow.ciizens, but tor
emigrants from all parts Of the civilized woFlJ,
who come among US to partake OF the bless
ings of our free institutions, and TO aid by thel:
power.
/, is due to every consideration Of public
policy that the lakes and rivers of the west
should receive all such attention at the hands
of Congress, as the Constitution will enable
it to bestow. Works in favorable and proper
situations on the lakes would be found to be
as indispensaby necessary in case of war to
carry on safe and successful naval operations,
as Notifications on the Atlantic seaboard. The
appropriation made by the last Congress for
the improvement Of the navigation Of the Mis-
sissipri river, has been diligently and efficient
~ applied.
Icannot close this communication, gentle
men, without recommending to your most IA
vorabie consideration, the interests of this dis
,rict Appointed by the Constitution its ex-
elusive Legislators, and forming in this par,ic-
ular the only anomaly in our system of Gov
eminent of the legislative body being elected
by other than those for whose advantage they
are to Iegislate, you will feel snperaded OBJ
legation 10 look well into their condition, and
to leave no cause for complaint or regret. The
Seat of Government of our associated Repub-
lies cannot but be regarded as worthy of your
parental care.
In connection with its other interests, as
we'll as those of the whole country, recon-
mend that al your present session you ADOPT
such measures in order to carry into effect the
Smithsonian bequest, as IN your Judgment
will be best calculated to consumlnate the lib-
eral intent Of the testator.
When under dspensation of Divine Prov
dence, succeed 10 the Presidential Office,
the state of public affairs was embarrassing
and critical. To add to the irritation conse-
quent upon long standing controversy with
one Of the most powerful nations OF modern
times, involving not only questions OF bounda-
ry which under the most favorable clrcumstan-
ces, are always embarrassing. but at the same
time important and high principles of mara
time law-border controversies between the
citizens and subjects of the two countries had
engendered state Of feeling and Of conduct
which threatened the most calamitous coIse-
quences. The hazards incident to this state
of things were greatly heightened by the ar
rest and Imprisonment of subject Of Great
Britain, who acting as it was alleged, as part
Of military force, had aided in the commits
sion of an act violative of the territorial
jurisdiction of the United States, and involv-
ing the murder of citizen Of the State of N.
York. A large amount Of claims against the
government Of Mexico remain unadjusted. and
a war Of several years continuance with the
savage tribes of Florida still prevailed, atten4
ded with the desolation Of large portion d
that beautiful territory. and with the sacri-
fee Of many valuable lives. To increase the
embarrassments of the government, individual
and state credit had been nearly stricken down
and confidence in the General Government was
so much impaired that loans of small amount
could only be negotiated at considerable sac
rfce.
AS necessary consequence Of the blight
which has fallen on commerce and mechani-
cal industry, the ships of the one were
thrown out Of employment, and the operations