And reports are now prepared, of various other roads--for the nee and will be submitted to Con moval of obstructions from the gress :

rivers and harbours for the erecm On surveys of the peninsula of tion of light-houses, beacons, piers, Florida, to ascertain the practi- and buoys-and for the completion cability of a canal to connect the of canals undertaken by individual waters of the Atlantic with the associations, but needing the assistGulf of Mexico, across that penin- ance of means and resources more sule ; and also of the country be- comprehensive than individual entween the Bays of Mobile and of terprise can command — may be Pensacola, with the view of con- considered rather as treasures laid necting them together by a canal. up from the contributions of the

On surveys of a route for a present age for the benefit of poscanal to connect the waters of terity, than as unrequited applicathe James and Great Kenhawa tions of the aceruing revenue of rivers.

the nation. To such objects of On the survey of the Swash in permanent improvement to the Pimlico Sound, and that of Cape condition of the country-of real Fear below the town of Wilming- addition to the wealth as well as ton, in North Carolina.

to the comfort of the people by On the survey of the muscle whose authority and resources they shoals, in the Tennessee river, and a have been effected—from three to route for a contemplated communi-four millions of the annual income cation between the Hiwussee and of the nation have, by laws enactCoosa rivers, in the state of Ala- ed at the three most recent sesa bama.

sions of Congress, been applied, Other reports of surveys upon ob- without intrenching upon the nejects pointed out by the several acts cessity of the treasury-without of Congress of the last and preceding adding a dollar to the taxes or sessions, are in the progress of pre- debts of the community--without paration, and most of them may be suspending even the steady and completed before the close of this regular discharge of the debts consession. All the officers of both tracted in former days, which, corps of engineers, with several within the three years, have been other persons duly qualified, have diminished by the amount of been constantly employed upon nearly sixteen millions of dollars. these services, from the passage of The same observations are, in a the act of 30th of April, 1824, to great degree, applicable to the apthis time. Were no other advant- propriations made for fortifications age to accrue to the country from upon the coasts and harbours of their labours, than the fund of toá the United States, for the mainpographical knowledge which they tenance of the military academy at have collected and communicated, West Point, and for the various that alone would have been a pro- objects under the superintendence fit to the Union more than ade- of the department of the navy. quate to all the expenditures which 'The report of the secretary of the have been devoted to the object; navy, and those from the subbut the appropriations for the re- ordinate branches of both military pair and continuation of the Cume departments, exhibit to Congress, berland-road--for the construction in minute detail, the present con.

dition of the public establishments time, are despatched to distant dependent upon them; the execu- seas; but a competent knowledge tion of the acts of Congress relat- even of the art of ship-building, ing to them, and the views of the the higher mathematics, and astroofficers engaged in the several nomy; the literature which can branches of the service, concerning place our officers on a level of the improvements which may tend polished education with the officers to their perfection. The fortifi- of other maritime nations; the cation of the coasts, and the gra- knowledge of the laws, municipal dual increase and improvement of and national, which, in their inthe navy, are parts of a great sys« tercourse with foreign states and tem of national defence, which has their governments, are called into been upwards of ten years in pro- operation ; and, above all, that acgress, and which, for a series of quaintance with the principles of years to come, will continue to honour and justice, with the higher claim the constant and persevering obligations of morals, and of geprotection and superintendence of neral laws, human and divine, legislative authority. Among the which constitute the great distincmeasures which have emanated tion between the warrior patriot, from these principles, the act of and the licensed robber and pirate ; the last session of Congress for these can be systematically taught the gradual improvement of the and eminently acquired only in a navy holds a conspicuous place. permanent school, stationed upon The collection of timber for the the shore, and provided with the future construction of vessels of teachers, the instruments, and the war; the preservation and re-pro- books, conversant with, and adapted duction of the species of timber to the communication of, the prinpeculiarly adapted to that purpose ; ciples of those respective sciences the construction of dry docks for to the youthful and inquiring the use of the navy; the erection mind. of a marine railway for the repair The report from the post-masterof the public ships, and the im- general exhibits the condition of provement of the navy yards for that department as highly satisfac the preservation of the public pro- tory for the present, and still more perty deposited in them, have all promising for the future. Its rereceived from the executive the ceipts for the year ending the 1st attention required by the act, and of July last, amounted to 1,473,551 will continue to receive it, steadily dollars, and exceeded its expendiproceeding towards the execution tures by upwards of 100,000 dolof its purposes. The establish- lars. It cannot be an over sanment of a naval academy, furnish- guine estimate to predict that, in ing the means of theoretic instruc- less than ten years, of which tion to the youths who devote one half have elapsed, the receipt their lives to the service of their will have been more than doubled. country upon the ocean, still soli- In the mean time a reduced excits the sanction of the legisla- penditure upon established routes ture. Practical seamanship and has kept pace with increased facilithe art of navigation may ties of public accommodation, and quired upon the cruises of the additional services have been obsquadrons which, from time to tained at reduced rates of compensation. Within the last year two hundred and sixty millions of the transportation of the mail in acres, of which, on the 1st of Jastages has been greatly augmented. nuary, 1826, about one hundred The number of post offices has and thirty-nine millions of acres been increased to seven thousand; had been surveyed, and little more and it may be anticipated that than ten millions of acres had been while the facilities of intercourse sold. The amount paid into the between fellow-citizens in person treasury by the purchasers of the or by correspondence will soon be lands sold is not yet equal to the carried to the doors of every vil- sums paid for the whole, but leaves lage in the Union, a yearly surplus a small balance to be refunded; the of revenue will accrue, which may proceeds of the sales of the lands be applied as the wisdom of Con- have long been pledged to the cregress, under the exercise of their ditors of the nation--a pledge from constitutional powers, may devise, which we have reason to hope that for the further establishment and they will in a few years be reimprovement of the public roads, deemed. The system upon which or by adding still further to the this great national interest has been facilities in the transportation of managed was the result of long, the mails. Of the indications of anxious, and persevering, deliberathe prosperous conditions of our tion: matured and modified by the country, none can be more pleasing progress of our population, and the than those presented by the multi- lessons of experience, it has been plying relations of personal and in- hithertoeminently successful. More timate intercourse between the citi, than nine tenths of the land still zens of the Union dwelling at the remain the common property of remotest distances from each other. the Union, the appropriation and

Among the subjects which have disposal of which are sacred trusts heretofore occupied the earnest soli- in the hands of the Congress. Of citude and attention of Congress, is the said lands sold, a considerable the management and disposal of that part were conveyed under extended portion of the property of the na- credits, which in the vicissitudes tion which consists of the public and fluctuations in the value of lands. The acquisition of them, lands, and of their produce, became made at the expense of the whole oppressively burthensome to the Union, not only in the treasure, purchasers. It can never be the but in blood, marks a right of interest or the policy of the nation property in them equally extensive. to wring from its own citizens the By the report and statements from reasonable profits of their industry the General Land-office now com- and enterprise, by holding them to municated, it appears that, under the rigorous import of disastrous the present government of the engagements. In March, 1821, a United States, a sum little short of debt of 22,000,000 dollars, due by 33,000,000 of dollars has been paid purchasers of the public lands, had from the common treasury for accumulated, which they were unthat portion of this property which able to pay. An act of Congress, has been purchased from France of the 2nd of March, 1821, came and Spain, and for the extinction to their relief, and has been sucof the aboriginal titles. The ceeded by others, the latest being amount of lands acquired is near the act of the 4th of May, 1826,

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the indulgent provisions of which the revolutionary war; the extenexpired on the 4th of July last. sion of the judicial administration The effect of these laws has been of the federal government to those to reduce the debt from the pur- extensive and important members chasers to a remaining balance of of the Union, which, having risen about 4,300,000 dollars due; more into existence since theorganization than three-fifths of which are for of the present judiciary establishlands within the state of Alabama. I ment, now constitute at least onerecommend to Congress the revival third of its territory, power, and and continuance for a further term, population; the formation of a of the beneficent accommodations more effective and uniform system to the public debtors, of that sta- for the government of the militia, tute; and submit to their consi- and the amelioration, in some form deration, in the same spirit of or modification, of the diversified equity, the remission, under pro- and often oppressive codes, relating per discriminations, of the for- to insolvency. Amidst the multifeitures of partial payments on ac- plicity of topics of great national count of purchase of the public concernment which may recomlands, so far as to allow of their mend themselves to the calm and application to other payments. patriotic deliberations of the legis

There are various other subjects lature, it may suffice to say, that of deep interest to the whole union, to all these, and other measures which have heretofore been recom- which may receive their sanction, mended to the consideration of my hearty co-operation will be Congress, as well by my predeces- given, conformably to the duties sors as, under the impression of enjoined upon me, and under the the duties devolving upon me, by sense of all the obligations premyself. Among these are the scribed by the constitution, debts rather of justice than grati

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. tude to the surviving warriors of Washington, Dec. 4, 1827.

SPEECH OF DON PEDRO, on the opening of the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

of BRAZIL

On the 3rd of May, a deputa- assembly with the same enthua tion, consisting of twenty-four siasm with which I have always deputies, and fourteen senators, performed that duty; but I cannot met the emperor at the gate of the say with the same joy, since the chamber, where he was received place of that feeling is occupied in by the president and the secretary, my imperial heart by grief and who, with the deputation, accom- affliction for the death of

my dearly panied him to the throne. Being beloved and ever amiable spouse, seated, he delivered the following the empress. On the 11th of speech :

December, at a quarter after ten “ August and honourable Repre- in the morning, she left this world sentatives of the Brazilian nation for the mansion of the just, -I meet you here, in pursuance wherein she will assuredly dwell

, of the law, resolved to open this as we all through faith believe VOL. LXIX.

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that place to be destined for those cations. We want, I repeat, a who, like her, have led a virtuous system of finance calculated to and religious life.

cover-I do not say all, but

the “ This event, which all have greater portion of our present exdeplored, and which still presents penses, which, being created by itself to my mind with as much the laws, cannot be avoided by any force as if it had taken place but measures of the government. yesterday, occurred while I was in “ The judicial power is an imthe province of the Rio Grande de portant department which will San Pedro de Sul, exerting every greatly contribute to the due exeeffort which the love of country cution of this new system of could suggest to me, with the view finance which I hope to see estaba of terminating the war between lished. We have no code, no forms Brazil and Buenos Ayres, by that of process, suited to the spirit of display of enthusiasm to which I the age. The laws clash with expected the warlike hearts of the each other-the judges are eminhabitants of that province would barrassed by the decisionsthe give birth. This war, the existe parties in suits are injured-cri. ence of which I formerly an- minals escape punishment - the nounced to you, in this place, still salaries of the judges are not sufficontinues, and must continue until cient to secure them against the the Cisplatine province, which is temptations of a vile and sordid ours, be delivered from its invaders, interest ; and therefore it is necesand Buenos Ayres recognize the sary that this assembly should independence of the Brazilian speedily and earnestly proceed to nation and the integrity of the accomplish an object so important empire with the incorporation of to the public tranquillity and hapthe Cis-Platina, which has freely piness. Without a good system of and spontaneously desired to form finance and justice, a nation cannot part of this empire. I speak in exist. I am well aware that there this manner because I feel con- are many objects to which the atfident that you will realize the tention of this assembly must be exertions which, that the assembly directed, that all cannot be done would make, was last session in one session, and that business solemnly ordered to be deciared to must stand over from one session me through the medium of the to another. But it is necessary to deputation sent to my imperial begin, and to begin with unanimity presence, to explain to me the on one or the other of these two sentiments of the assembly, which subjects ; and when it is necessary in every respect corresponded with to postpone the consideration of those of the speech by which the them for other matters (which session was opened.

cannot be avoided in any country “A well-organized system of in subjects of so delicate a nature) finance should be the particular I exact of this assembly that these object of your attention in this delays shall be as short as possible, session ; for the present system (as and that those laws be established you will see from the report of the which at every step we find the minister of finance) is not only constitution indispensably demand, faulty, but worse than faulty, and in order to its being properly exegives occasion to all sorts of defal- cuted, In the midst of a war,