A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents | Page 7

to pass this
roll in review and try all its parts by the test of public utility, they may
be assured of every aid and light which Executive information can yield.
Considering the general tendency to multiply offices and dependencies
and to increase expense to the ultimate term of burthen which the
citizen can bear, it behooves us to avail ourselves of every occasion
which presents itself for taking off the surcharge, that it never may be
seen here that after leaving to labor the smallest portion of its earnings
on which it can subsist, Government shall itself consume the whole
residue of what it was instituted to guard.
In our care, too, of the public contributions intrusted to our direction it
would be prudent to multiply barriers against their dissipation by
appropriating specific sums to every specific purpose susceptible of
definition; by disallowing all applications of money varying from the
appropriation in object or transcending it in amount; by reducing the
undefined field of contingencies and thereby circumscribing
discretionary powers over money, and by bringing back to a single
department all accountabilities for money, where the examinations may
be prompt, efficacious, and uniform.
An account of the receipts and expenditures of the last year, as prepared
by the Secretary of the Treasury, will, as usual, be laid before you. The
success which has attended the late sales of the public lands shews that
with attention they may be made an important source of receipt.
Among the payments those made in discharge of the principal and

interest of the national debt will shew that the public faith has been
exactly maintained. To these will be added an estimate of
appropriations necessary for the ensuing year. This last will, of course,
be affected by such modifications of the system of expense as you shall
think proper to adopt.
A statement has been formed by the Secretary of War, on mature
consideration, of all the posts and stations where garrisons will be
expedient and of the number of men requisite for each garrison. The
whole amount is considerably short of the present military
establishment. For the surplus no particular use can be pointed out. For
defense against invasion their number is as nothing, nor is it conceived
needful or safe that a standing army should be kept up in time of peace
for that purpose. Uncertain as we must ever be of the particular point in
our circumference where an enemy may choose to invade us, the only
force which can be ready at every point and competent to oppose them
is the body of neighboring citizens as formed into a militia. On these,
collected from the parts most convenient in numbers proportioned to
the invading force, it is best to rely not only to meet the first attack, but
if it threatens to be permanent to maintain the defense until regulars
may be engaged to relieve them. These considerations render it
important that we should at every session continue to amend the defects
which from time to time shew themselves in the laws for regulating the
militia until they are sufficiently perfect. Nor should we now or at any
time separate until we can say we have done everything for the militia
which we could do were an enemy at our door.
The provision of military stores on hand will be laid before you, that
you may judge of the additions still requisite.
With respect to the extent to which our naval preparations should be
carried some difference of opinion may be expected to appear, but just
attention to the circumstances of every part of the Union will doubtless
reconcile all. A small force will probably continue to be wanted for
actual service in the Mediterranean. Whatever annual sum beyond that
you may think proper to appropriate to naval preparations would
perhaps be better employed in providing those articles which may be

kept without waste or consumption, and be in readiness when any
exigence calls them into use. Progress has been made, as will appear by
papers now communicated, in providing materials for 74-gun ships as
directed by law.
How far the authority given by the Legislature for procuring and
establishing sites for naval purposes has been perfectly understood and
pursued in the execution admits of some doubt. A statement of the
expenses already incurred on that subject is now laid before you. I have
in certain cases suspended or slackened these expenditures, that the
Legislature might determine whether so many yards are necessary as
have been contemplated. The works at this place are among those
permitted to go on, and five of the seven frigates directed to be laid up
have been brought and laid up here, where, besides the safety of their
position, they are under the eye of the Executive