The Evansville journal., 1845-12-13


for the establishment of lines of mali steam
rs between this and foreign countries. Tht
importance of THE service commends itsel
istrongly to favore5le consideration.
/ With the growth of our country, the public
business which devolves the heads of the seve-
raj Executive Departments has greatly increased
lu some respects, the distribution of duties
among them seems to BE- incongruous, and MANY
of these might be transferred from one to another
with advantage to the public interests. A more
auspicious time for the consideration of this sub
| ject by Congress, with view to system in tht
organization of the several departments, and a
more appropriate division of the public business
will not probably occur.
The most important duties of the State Depart
ment relate to our foreign affaire. By the great
enlargement of the family of nations. the increase
of our commerce, and the corresponding exten-
sion of our consular system, the business the
department has been greatly increased. In it's
present organization, many duties of a dom es tic
nature, and consisting of detoils, are deyolved
the Secretary OF State, which do not appopri-
ately belong to the foreign department of the
government, and may properly be transferred to
some other department. One of these grows out
of the presesent state of the law concerning tho
Patent Office which, few years since, a
subordinate clerkship, but has become distinct
bureau of great Importance. With an excellent
with the Stute Department. In the transaction
uf it's business, questions of much Importance to
inventors and to the comm unity, frequently
arise, which, by existing laws, referred to the
decision of board, of which the Secretary of
State is member These questions are legal,
and the connection which now exists between the
State Department and the Patent Office, may,
with gEoat propriety and advantage, be transfer
red to tho Attorney General,
In his last message to Congress, Mr. Madison
invited particular attention to proper provision
for the Attorney General as an isimportant inn
provement in the executive establishment .nThis
recommendation was repeated by some of HE sue
cessors. The official duties of the Attor-
ney General have been much increased within
few years; and his Office ofhas become one of
great Importance His duties may be s. i'll further
increased with advantage to the ublck interests,
As an executive officer, his residence and con-
slant attention at the seat of Government are re-
quired.
Legal questions, involving important princi-
Piles and laage amounts of public money, are con-
staatly referred to him by the President and ex-
ecutive department, for his examination and
decision. The publick businsss' under his officia
management before the judiciary has been aug
mented by the extension of Qua territory and the
acts of Congress authorizing suits against the
United States large bodies of valuable pub
lie auds, as greatly to increase his labors and res
possibilities. | therefore recommend that the
OSH0fdl 10 pidCSu on tIe same loot
ing with the heads oil the other exesutive depart
ment with such subordinate officers. provided by
law his department, as may be required to
discharge the additional dnties which have
or may be deyolVed upon him.
Congress possesses the power of exclusive leg
islation over the District of Columbia, and COM
mend the interests of it's inhabitants to your fa-
vorable consideration. The people of this Dis
trict have no legislative body of their own, and
must confde rher local, as well as their general
interests, TO Representatives in whose election
they have no voice, and ever whose official con-
duct they have TO control. Each member of the
Natianal Legislature should consider himself as
their immediate Representative, and should be
the more ready to give attention to their inter-
csts and wants, because he is not responsible TO
to them. / recommend that liberal and gen-
erous spirit may characterize your measures in
relation to them. shall be disposed to show
a proper regard for the wishes, and, in constitu-
tional limits. shall all times cheerfully operate
with you for the Advancement of their welfare.
trust it may not be deemed inappropriate te to
the occasion for me to dwellfor momeut on the
memory of the most eminent citizeu Of our
country, who during the summer that is gone
by, has descended to the tomb. Tho endowment
oil contemplating at the avddnced age of near
four scoreyears. the happy condition of his coun-l
try, cheered the last ours of Andrew jackson.
who departed this life in tranquil hope Of a
blessed Immortality. HIS death happy. as
1 Is lie had been emlnently useful He had an
unfaltering confidence in the virtue and capaci-
ty of the people and in the permanence of that
free government which he had largely contri-
buted to establish and defend. His great deeds /
had secnred to him the affections of his fellow
citizens, and it his happiness to witness the
growth and glory of his couAtry which he loved
so well. He departed amidst the bencdctions
oil millions of freemen, The nation paid its tri-
butte TO his memory at his tomb,
Coming generations will learn from his ex-
ample the love of country and the rights ofmen
Ia his language, on a similar occasion
now commend you, fellow-citizens, to the
guidance of Almighty God, with a full reli-
ance on His merciful providence for the main
tenance of our free Institutions; and with an
ecrnest supplication, that whatever errors it
may be my lot to commit, in dischaging the
arduous duties which have devolved on me,
will find a remedy IN the harmony and wis dom
of your counsels." JAMESsK. POLK.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 1916.