The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-03

ever 10 held In Wow BY those entrusted with tia
administration of public snairsi are ris'oly, aud
without favor or affection, 30 10 interpret The
national will, expressed IN the laws a. that ~
Justice should be done TO none, -Juslice TO all This
has been the rule upon which they have acted and
thus, IL is believed that few cases, II any exist
wherein our fellow citizens who, from lme 10 time,
have been drawn 10 the seat Of Government Tor the
settlement Of their transactions with the Oo'erhment
have gone away dissatisfied Where The testimony
has been perfected, and was esteemed satisfactory,
their claims have been promptly audited and tins IN
the absence Of all iayoritism or Partalily. The
Government which is not just to lis own People, can
neither claim their affection, nor the respect OF he
world. At the same time the closest attention has
been paid 10 those matters which relate more mme.
dstely to the great concerns OF the country Order
and efficiency IN each branch oil The puohc service,
have prevailed accompanied by system oil lhe most
rigid responsibility on the part oil Inc receiving aud
discussing agents The fact, in Illustration OF the
truth of this remark deserves 10 be noticed that the
revenues of the Government, amounting IN the last
four years, to upwards OF Sl20,OOO,OOO, have been
collected aud discussed, through the numerous Gov
ernmenta agents, without the loss by default, oil any
amount worthy of serious commentary
The appropriations made by Congress Tor the i'm
proyement OF the rivers Of the West and OF the hat
bors the lakes in course OF Judioious eipen
dilure under suitable agents; and are desned II Is
I, be hoped, TO realize all the benefits designed
10 DC accomplished ny tobSiCoo 'ahnOt
however, sufficiently impress upon Congress, The
great Importance OF Withholding appropriations
| from improv ements which are not ascertsIned
by previous examination and survey to be necessary
Tor the shelter and protection OF trade from the dan
gers of storms and tempests. Without this precau-
ton, the expenditures but too apt to enuIe 10 he
benefit Of individuals; without reference 10 the only
consideration which render them constitutional
the public interests and the general good.
cannot too earnestly urge upon you the Interests
l.Ft e. t.,,f h,nh h, tta f,f,t.t
Congress has exclusive Jurisdiction. 1t would be
deeply to be regretted should there be- at any time
ground to complain Of neglect on the part of
muniiy which, detached as II is from the parental care
of the States Of Virginia and Maryland, can only
expect aid from Congress, as its local legislature
| Amongst the subjects which claim your attention is
the prompt organization of asylum for the insane,
who may be found, from time to time, sojournug
within the District Such course is also dema ded
by considerations which apply to branches of the
pubic service. For the necessities In this behalf TO
invite your particular attention TO the report of the
| Secretary of the Navy.
| have thus, gentlemen of the two Houses of Con-
gress, presented you true and faithful picture of the
condition of public affairs, both foreign and domestic.
The wants of the public service made known to
! YOU and matters of no ordinary importance
| Urged upon your confederation. Shall | not be per-
mitted to congratulate you on the happy
pces under which you have assembled, and a,
the important change in the condition Of things
During that period questions with foreign pow
els, OF vital importance to the peace of country,
| have been settled and ad usted. A desolatlng and
wasting war with savage tribes has been brought 10
a close. The internal tranquility Of the country
threatened by agatng questions has been preserved.
| The credit OF the Government, which had expert
enced temporary embarrassment has been tho
| roughly restored. lis Golfers which for a season
were empty, have been repenished A currency,
nearly uniform IN its value has taken the place Of
one deprecated and almost worthless Commerce
and manufactures, which had suffered in common
with every other interest, have once more revived
and the whole country exhibits an aspect of prospe-
rliy and happiness. Trade and barter no longer go
verned by wild and speculative mania, rest upon
solid and substantial footing and the rapid growth
oil our cities IN every direction bespeaks most strong
y the favorable circumstances by which we are sur
rounded. My happiness, in the retirement which
shortly awaits me, is the ardent hope which exper-
ence, That tins state Of prosperity is neither decep.
tive nor destined TO be short lived and that
which have not yet received its sanction but which
cannot bot regard as closely connected with the ho
nor, the glory aud still enlarged prosperity OF
The country, are destined, at early day. TO receive
the approval OF Congress Under these circumstan-
ces, and with these aDtcipaons, shall most gladly
leave to hers more able than myself the noble and
pleasing task OF sustaining the public prosperity. |
shall carry with me into retirement The gratifying
hecuon that as my sole object throughout has been
| to advance the public good, | may not entirely have
ialied 10 accomplishing II; sod this qualification
heightened in no small degree by the TACT that when
under deep and abiding sense OF duty, have found
myself constrained 10 resort TO the qualified Veto 1t
has neither been followed by disaplrova on the part
of the People nor weakened IN any degree their at
tschment 10 that great conservative feature Of our
| Government.
| WisHiscros, December, 1874