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XVIII

It has been suggested that much inconvenience and liability to mistake may arise from the practice of submitting accounts against the State to the Legislature, for the purpose of being there audited and settled. It is believed that a law, requiring them in the first instance to be presented to the Treasurer, to be by him examined and allowed, and afterwards reported to the Legislature, would facilitate the dispatch of business, and ensure a more careful examination, than could be conveniently given to them by a committee, whose time is often necessarily taken up with the more important concerns of the State. I am not aware of many subjects to which it is necessary, at this time, particularly to invite your attention. There is reason to believe, therefore, that your present session will be as remarkable for the shortness of its duration, as for the wisdom and patriotism which under the invoked blessing and guidance of Divine Providence, will, I am confident; continue to prevail in your deliberations, and characterize all your measures. The noble building in which you are now, for the first time assembled, is the result of the wisdom of previous. Legislatures; and all that was confided to the Government of the past year waste complete the work which had been so ably commenced. Though it has often been suggested, that some improvements might originally have been made in the plan, yet it was impossible to adopt them after the building had for advanced. As it is, however, we have reason to congratulate out fellow citizens upon the possession of a Capital, which is an ornament to the State, and in beauty of materials and style of execution, inferior to no