Feb.] 



CHRONICLE. 



21 



an equal claim to legislative sanc- 

 tion. The disbursement of the 

 public money, too, ought, it is 

 presumed, to be in like manner 

 provided for by law. The person 

 who may happen to be placed, by 

 the suffrage of his fellow-citizens, 

 in his high trust, having no 

 personal interest in these con- 

 cerns, should be exempted from 

 undue responsibility respecting 

 them. 



For a building so extensive, 

 intended for a purpose exclusive- 

 ly national, in which, in the fur- 

 niture provided for it, a mingled 

 regard is due to the simplicity 

 and purity of our institutions, 

 and to the character of the peo- 

 ple who are represented in it, the 

 sum already appropriated has 

 altogether proved inadequate. 

 The present is, therefore, a pro- 

 per time for Congress to take 

 the subject into consideration, 

 with a view to all the objects 

 claiming attention, and to regulate 

 it by law. On a knowledge of 

 the furniture procured, and the 

 sum expended for it, a just esti- 

 mate may be formed, regarding 

 the extent of the building, of 

 what will still be wanting to 

 furnish the house. Many of the 

 articles being of a durable nature 

 may be handed down through a 

 long series of service ; and being 

 of great value, such as plate, 

 ought not to be left altogether, 

 and at all times, to the care of 

 servants alone. It seems to be 

 advisable that a public agent 

 siiould be charged with it during 

 the occasional absences of the 

 President, and have authority 

 to transfer it from one President 

 to another, and likewise to make 

 reports of occasional drfcicnces, 



as the basis on which farther 

 provision should be made. 



It may also merit considera- 

 tion, whether it may not be 

 proper to commit the care of the 

 public buildings, particularly the 

 President's house and the capitol, 

 with the grounds belonging to 

 them, including likewise the 

 furniture of the latter, in a more 

 especial manner to a public 

 agent. Hitherto the charge of 

 this valuable property seems to 

 have been connected with the 

 structure of the buildings, and 

 committed to those employed in 

 it. This guard will necessarily 

 cease when the buildings are 

 finished, atwhich time the interest 

 in them will be proportionably 

 augmented. It is presumed that 

 this trust is, in a certain degree 

 at least, incidental to the other 

 duties of the superintendant of 

 the public buildings ; but it may 

 merit consideration whether it 

 will not be proper to cliarge him 

 with it more explicitly, and to 

 give him authority to employ one 

 or more persons under him, for 

 these purposes. 



James Monroe, 

 Washington, Feb. 10, 1818. 



The Message was read and 

 referred to the committee of the 

 whole, to whom is referred the 

 bill to provide for erecting addi- 

 tional buildings for the accommo- 

 dation of the several executive 

 departments. 



To the Senate and House of 

 Representatives of the 

 United States. 



12, Washington. — I lay before 

 Congress copies of two commu- 

 nications received at the Depart- 

 ment of State from the Minister 

 of Great Britain, and submit to 



their 



