GENERAL HISTORY. 



[159 



menced and has been prosecuted^ 

 show that such improvement was 

 thought worthy the attention of 

 this nation. Its central position, 

 between the northern and southern 

 extremities of our union, and its 

 api)roach to the west, at the head 

 of a great navigable river which 

 interlocks with the western wa- 

 ters, prove the wisdom of the 

 councils which established it. No- 

 thing appears to be more reason- 

 able and proper than that conve- 

 nient accommodations should he 

 provided, on a well-digested plan, 

 for the heads of the several depart- 

 ments, and for the Attorney- 

 General ; and it is believed that 

 the public ground in the city, 

 applied to those objects, will be 

 found amply sufficient. I submit 

 this subject to the consideration of 

 Congress, that such further pro- 

 vision may be made in it as to 

 them may seem proper. 



" In contemplating the happy 

 situation of the United States, our 

 attention is diavvn, with peculiar 

 interest, to the surviving officers 

 and soldiers of our revolutionary 

 army, who so eminently contri- 

 buted, by their services, to lay its 

 foimdation. Most of those very 

 n)eritorious citizens have paid the 

 debt of nature, and gone to repose. 

 It is believed that among the sur- 

 vivors there are some not provided 

 for by existing laws, who are re- 

 duced to indigence, and even to 

 real distress. These men have a 

 claim on the gratitude of their 

 counti7, and it will do honour to 

 their country to provide for them. 

 Tlie lapse of a few years more, 

 and the opportunity will be for 

 ever lost : indeed, so long already 

 has been the interval, that the 

 number to be benefited by any 



provision which may be made will 

 not be great. 



" It appearing in a satisfactory 

 manner that the revenue arising 

 from imports and tonnage, and 

 from the sale of the public lands, 

 will be fully adequate to the sup- 

 port of the civil government, of 

 the present military and naval 

 establishments, including the an- 

 nual augmentation of the latter, 

 to the extent provided for, to the 

 payment of the interests on the 

 public debt, and to the extinguish- 

 ment of it at the times authorised, 

 without the aid of internal taxes ; 

 I consider it my duty to recom- 

 mend to Congress their repeal. 

 To impose taxes, when the public 

 exigencies require them, is an ob- 

 ligation of the most sacred cha- 

 racter, especially with a free 

 people. The faithful fulfilment 

 of it is among the highest proofs 

 of their virtue, and capacity for 

 self-government. To dispense 

 with taxes, when it may be done 

 with perfect safety, is equally the 

 duty of their representatives. In 

 this instance we have the satis- 

 faction to know that they were 

 imposed when the demand was 

 imperious, and have been sustained 

 with exemplary fidelity. I have 

 to add, that, however gratifying 

 it may be to me, regarding the 

 prosperous and happy condition 

 of our country, to recommend the 

 repeal of these taxes at this time, 

 1 shall nevertheless be attentive to 

 events, and, should any future 

 emergency occur, be not less 

 prompt to suggest such measures 

 and burdens as may then be I'e- 

 quisite ancj proper. 



" James Monroe. 

 " If 'ashing ton, DeCi, XSl*." 



SPANISH 



