The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-13


country should be open TO the poor as well as to
the rich; but The practical effect Of the present rate
of compensation will soon be to exclude from the
Executive councils all who have not ample re-
sources ind pendently of their official salaries
After much reflection, have come to the con-
cluson that the best means of remedyng the evil
will be to erect suitable houses for the Vice Pres
dent and the members of the Cabinet aud provide
There are many reasons which might be urged in
favor of this measure but il will answer my pur-
pose barely TO allude to a few Of them
| Upon every change Of administration, in
cases of the death or resignation of members of the
Cabinet, their SUCCESSORS often from remote parts
| of the country, find themselves embarrassed in
obtaining, even at an exorbitant price, suitable
| residence for themselves and their families. -
| They are then compelled to expend at least one
years. salary in furnishing their establishment,
and are consequently obliged to draw upon their
| private resources for the means of subsistence.
Much OF their time and attention is occupied by
these domestic concerns which might be more
profitably devoted to the public interest. At the
close Of their terms they are forced to dispose Of
return to their homes impoverished in fortune, and
with the ungracious reflection that while they have
devoted their time and talents to the public service,
their country has refused them even the means OF
support.
1t may be said in reply that there is no obga-
ton any one to accept these positions, and il
they do so, they must abide by the consequences
of their own acts. In sense this s true. There
| is no leg 81 obligation on any one to accept an OIL
! cial position. But there is high moral and pa
triotic obligation on every citizen to contribute
his service to his country when 1t may be required,
and there is q reciprocal obligation on the country
not to allow him to suffer in his private fortune
by that service.
BY furnishing tho heads of Departments and
Vice Presidents with houses, their present salaries
| will be adequate for their support They will be
freed from the cares and cost OF fitting up
| tablishme mt for temporary use, and be
enabled to devote their whole time to the duties
of their offices. They will be placed in condi-
ton of comparative Independence, by being re-
lieved from the prospect OF neavy sacrifice by
the sale of their effects upon the termination Of
| their official connection with the Government
! The heads of Department, instead Of being scat
tered the city, will be brought nearer to each
| other, and to the President, and be enabled to
| confer together without inconvenience. And at
the close Of their terms they will leave the seat
of government with the knowledge that If they
have not added to they have at least not been
obliged to subtract from their private resources.
| From estimates which have caused to be made,
am satisfied that lots could be bought and eight
substantial, plain and tasteful houses erected fur
nished, and fitted up for occupation, for the Of
$500, 900. And as the near approach of the close
of my own official term relieves me from all sus-
picion Of being influenced by personal or party
conside rations in presenting the subject to your
notice, earnestly recommend it to your favorable
regard.
The District Of Columbia.
In former reports have earnestly invited your
attention to the interests Of the District of Coum
ha, and endeavored to explain the peculiar claims
which it has to the fostering care of Congress.
Without repeating the reasons heretofore urged, l
beg leave again to present the subject to your ia
vorabe notice. and to specify some of the particu
/ lar objects in regard to which legislation is
CURED.
The introduction of an ample supply of pure =
| ter into the city of Washington and Georgetown
| ia O measure Of great public interest. At the last
session Of Congress an appropriation was made to
defray the cost OF the necessary surveys, &c, and
| to determine the beet mode of accomplishing this
object. An officer of the engineer corps was de-
tailed for this duty, and progress has already
been made in the work, but not enough to enable
me to express an opinion as to the plan which
should be adopted. full report will, however, be
made and submitted to Congress in time for its &c
ton during the approaching session; and hope
the necessary appropriations will be made to com
mence the work without delay. II additional ar
| guments to those heretofore submitted were
deemed necessary, might refer to the recent con-
hagration in the library of the Capitol an EN-.
pbatic admoniton of the insecurity of the public
buildings and archives in the absence of copous
supply of water.
deem it my duty also to call your attention to
the urgent necessity which exists for the erection
| Of suitable bridges across the Potomac to supply
the place of those which were destroyed by the
| floods in the early part of the present year.
| The interruption OF the travel and commercial
intercourse with the opposite side of the river has
proved serious evil to the residents of the District
and the public generally. And during the winter,
convenience will be greatly augmented. there.
| fore recommend that an appropriation be asked
| for to make the necessary surveys and prepare
suitable plans and estimates for the construction of
one or more permanent bridges, which may be
| adapted not only for the accommodation of the
binary travel and trade but also for the safe and
convenient passage Of railway trains. The rapid
| extension of the system of railways throughout the
whole country forbds the idea that the intercourse
| by mail between the North and the South should
continue longer to be delayed and interrupted
has hitherto been, at particular seasons of the
year, by the difficulty of crossing the Potomac.
! The Commissioner OF Public Lands, in his re-
port. has suggested the propriety of a grant BY
Congress OF portion Of the public lands in aid Of
| public schools in the District of Columbia. This
proposition commands my cordial appreciation;
and would be happy to see it adopted, with an
amendment extending its benefits to the cha rita
BILE institutions Of the District. The population of
the District is composed of ctizens of every State
| in the Union. This fact creates a general interest
in its prosperity and welfare; and know of no
disposition of portion of the public domain which
would be more strictly in accordance with the
spirit of the trusts reposed in Congress, more
useful in itself, than appropriation OF reason
able portion to instruct the ignorant, reform the
| vicious, and relieve the distressed inhabitants Of
| the Metropolis of the Nation.
In former reports have brought to your notice
many other subjects which regarded as of public
interest. Among these were the establishment OF
| an Agricultural and Statistical Bureau; revision
OF the lave relating to the fees OF marshas, attor-
neys, and clerks of the circuit and district courts
of the United States an increase of the salaries of
the judges Of the district courts Of the United
States; the enla Y, men of the unc tons of the At
| torney General, as to make him the head of the
| Department of Justice; and the transfer to that
| Department Of all matters connected with the
administration o! justice; the construction OF
tional highway through our own territory to the
Pacific; the more precise definition of The duties Of
the several Executive Departments; and that pro-
vision be made for the appointment of Solicitor
| to the Depar tment of the Interior.
| On all these subjects my opinions remain un-
changed; and without repeating the reasons by
which they were sustained, / beg leave again to
commend them to your favorable consideration
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
! obedient servant.
| ALEX. II. II. STUART, Secretary.
| To the PRESIDENT Of the United States.
| ------------
| LETTER FROM GENERAL PIERoE.-The annexed
letter received from the President elect, read