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Washington, I)f,c. 2.
This day, at 12 o’clock, the Vresident
of the United States transmitted to
both houses of Congress the following
MESSAGE.
Tdlow Citizens of the Senate,
and House of Representatives :
Many important subjects will claim
tour attention during the present ses
sion, of which I shall endeavor to give,
in aid of your deliberations, a just idea
in this communication. 1 undertake
this dutv with diffidence, from the
vast extent of the interests on which
I have to treat, and of their great im
portance to every portion of our Union.
I enter on it with zeal, from a tho
rough conviction that there never was
a period, since the establishment of
our revolution, when, regarding the
condition of the civilized world, and
its bearing on us, there was greater
necessity for devotion in the public
servants to their respective duties, or
for virtue, patriotism, and union, in
our constituents.
Meeting in you anew Congress, I
deem it proper to present this view
of public affairs in greater detail than
might otherwise be necessary. I do
it, however with a peculiar satisfac
tion, from a knowledge that, in this
respect, I shall comply more fully
with the sound principles of our gov
ernment. The people being with us
exclusively the sovereign, it is indis
pensable that fall information he laid
before them on all important sub
jects, to enable them to exercise that
high power with complete effect. If
kept in the dark, they must be incom
petent to it. We are all liable to er
ror, and those who arc engaged in the
management of public affairs, are more
subject to excitement, and to be led
astray by their particular interests and
passions, than the great body of our
constituents, who, being at home, in
the pursuit of their ordinary avoca
tions, are calm but deeply interested
spectators of events, and of the con
duct of those who are parties to them.
To the people, every department of
the government, and every individual
in each, are responsible and the more
full their information, the better they
can judge of the wisdom of the policy
pursued, and of the conduct of each in
regard to it. From their dispassion
ate judgement, much aid may always
be obtained, while their approbation
will form the greatest incentive, and
tsost gratifying reward, for virtuous
ati.ons and the dread of their censure
the best security against the abuse of
their confidence. Their interests, in
all vital questions, are the same ; and
the bond by sentiment,as well as by in
terest,will be proportionately strength
ened as they are better informed of the.
real state of public affairs, especially
in difficult conjunctures. It is by
such knowledge that local prejudices
and jealousies are surmounted, and
that a national policy, extending its
fostering care and protection to all
the great interests *of our union, is
formed and steadily adhered to.
A precise knowledge of our rela
tions with foreign powers, as respects
our negotiations and transactions with
each, is thought to tee particularly ne
cessary. Equally necessary i* it, that
we should form a just estimate of our
resources, revenue, and progress in
every kind of improvement Connected
with the national prosperity and pub
lic defence. It is by rendering justice
to other nations, that we may expect
it from them. It is by our ability to
resent injuries, and redress wrongs,
that we may avoid them.
‘/’be Commissioners under the sth
article of the treaty of Ghent, having
disagreed in their opinions respecting
that portion of the boundary between
the territories of the United States
and of Great Britain, the establish
ment of which had been submitted to
them, have made their respective re
ports, in compliance with that article,
that the same might be referred to the
decision of a friendly power. It being
manifest, however, that it would be
difficult, if not impossible, for any
power to perform that office, w ithout
great delay and much inconvenience
to itself, a proposal lias been made by
this government, and acceded to by
that of Great Britain, to endeavour to
establish that boundary by amicable
negotiation. It appearing, from long
experience, that no satisfactory ar
rangement could be formed of the com
mercitl intercourse between the Uni
ted .States and the British colonies in
this hemisphere, by legislative acts,
while each party pursued its own
course, without agreement or concert
with the other, a proposal has been
made it the British government to
regulate their commerce bv treaty as
hns been to arrange, in like manner,
the just claims of the citizens of the U.
States, inhabiting the states and terri
tories, bordering on the lakes and ri
vers which empty into the Saint Law
rence, to the navigation of that river
to the ocean. For these and other ob
jects tf high importance to the inter
ests of both parties, a negot afinn h s
bean opened with the British govern
incut, which, it is hoped, will have a
satisfactory result.
The Commissioners, under the sixth
and seventh articles of the Treaty of
Ghent, having successfully closed
their labours in relation to the sixth,
have proceeded to the discharge of
those relating to the seventh. T heir
progress in tiie extensive survey, re
quired for the performance of their
duties, justifies the presumption that
it will be completed in the ensuing
year.
The negotiation which had been
long depending with the French go
vernment on several important sub
jects and particularly for a just in
demnity for losses sustained in the
late wars by the citizens of the United
States, under unjustifiable seizures
and confiscations of their property,has
not, as yet, had the desired effect. —
As this claim rests onthe same princi
ple with others which have been ad
mitted by the French government, if
is not perceived on what just ground it
can be rejected. A minister will be
immediately appointed to proceed to
France, and resume the negotiation on
this and other subjects which may
arise between the two nations.
At the proposal of the Russian Im
perial government, made through tlte
Minister of the Emperor, residing
here, a full power and instructions
have been transmitted to the Minister
of the United Slates at St. Petersburg,
to arrange, by amicable negotiation
the respective rights and interests of
the two nationson the north-west coast
of this continent. A similar proposal
had been made by his Imperial Ma
jesty to the government of Great Bri
tain, which has likewise been acceded
to. The government of the U. States
has been desirous, by this, friendly
proceeding, of manifesting the great
value which they have invariably at
tached to the friendship of the Empe
ror, and their solicitude to cultivate
the best understanding with his go
vernment. In the discussions to which
this interest has given rise, and in the
arrangements by which they may ter
minate, the -occasion has been judged
proper, for asserting, as a principle in
which the rights and interests of the
United States are involved, that the
American continents by the free and
independent condition which they
have assumed and maintain, are hence
forth not to be considered as subjects
for future colonization by any Europe
an powers.
Since the close of the last session of
Congress, the commissioners and ar
bitrators for ascertaining and deter
mining the amount of indemnification
which may be due to the citizens of
the United States under the decision
of his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor!
of Russia, in conformity to the con- 1
ventiun concluded at St. Petersburg, j
on the 12th of July, 1822, have as9cm-j
hied in this city, and organized them
selves as a board for the performance
of the duties assigned to them by that
treaty. The commission constituted
under the Uth article of the treaty of
the 22d of February, 1819, between
the United States and Spain, is also in
session here ; and, as the term of three
years limited by the treaty, for the ex
ecution of the trust, will expire before
the period of the next regular meeting
of Cougress, the attention of the Le
gislature will be drawn to the measure
which may be necessary to accomplish
the objects sot which the commission
was instituted.
In compliance with a Resolution of
the House of Representatives, adopted
at their last session, instructions have
been given to all the Ministers of the
U. S. accredited to the powers of Eu
rope and America, to propose the pro
scription of the African slave trade,by
classing it under the denomination,
and indicting on its perpetrators the
punishment of piracy. Should this
proposal be acceded to, it is not doubt
ed, that this odious and criminal prac
tice will be promptly and entirely sup
pressed. It is earnestly hoped that it
will be acceded to, from the firm be
lief that it is the most effectual expedi
ent that can be adopted for the pur
oose.
i
At the commencement of the recent
war between France and Spain, it was
declared by the French government,
that it would grant no commissions to
privateers, and that neither the com
merce of Spain herself, nor of neutral
nations, should be molested by the na
val force of France, except in the
breach of a lawful blockade. This de
claration which appears to have been
faithfully carried into eQect, concur
ring with principles proclaimed and
cherished by the United States, from
the first establishment of their inde
pendence, suggested the hope, that the
time had arrived when the proposal
for adopting it a9 a permanent and in
variable rule, in all future maritime
wars, might meet the favorable consi
deration of the great European powers.
Instructions have accordingly been gi
ven to our ministers with France,
jßussia, and Great //ritain, to snake!
those proposals to their respective go
vernments ; anti, when the triemls ot
humanity reflect on the essential ame
lioration to the condition of the hu
man race which would result from the
abolition of private war on the sea,
ar.d on the great facility by which it
might be accomplished, requiring only
the consent of a few sovereigns, an
earnest hope is indulged that these
overtures will meet with an attention
animated by the spirit in which they
wdre made, and that they will ulti
mately be successful.
‘File Ministers who were appointed
to the Republics of Colombia and Bue
nos Ayres, during the last session of
Congress, proceeded shortly after
wards to their destinations. Os their
arrival there, official intelligence has
not yet been received. The Minister
appointed to the Republic of Chili
will sail in a few days. An early ap
pointment will also be made to Mexi
co. A Minister has been received
from 9clotnbia, and the other govern
ments have been informed that Minis
ters, or Diplomatic Agents of inferior
grade, would be received from each,
accordingly as they might prefer the
our or the other.
‘/’lie Minister appointed to Spain
proceeded, soon after his appointment,
tor Cadiz, the residence of the Sove
reign, to whom he was accredited.—
In approaching that port, the frigate
which conveyed him was warned off'by
the commander of the French squad
ron, bv w’hich it was blockaded and
not permitted to enter, although ap
prized by the captain of the frigate, of
the public character of the person
whom he had on board, the landing of
whom was the sole object of his pro
posed e ntrv.—This act, being consid
ered an infringement of the rights of
ambassadors, and of nations, will form
a just cause of complaint, to the gov
ernment of France, against the officer
by whom it was committed.
The actual condition of the public
finances more than realizes the favor
able anticipations that were entertain
ed of it at the opening of the last ses
sion of Congress. On the first of Jan
uary there was a balance in the Treas
ury of 84,237,427 55. From that
time to the 50th September, the re
ceipts amounted to upwards of 816,-
100,000 and the expenditures to 811,-
400,000. During the fourth quarter
of the year, it is estimated, that the
receipts will, at least, equal the expen
ditures, and that there will remain in
the Treasury on the Ist day of Janu
ary next a surplus of nearly 89,000,-
000.
On the Ist of January, 1825, a large
amount of the war debt, and a part of
the Revolutionary debt, become re
deemable. Additional portions of
the former will continue to become
redeemable, annually, until the year
1835. It is believed, however, that,
if the U. States remain at peace, the
whole of that debt may be redeemed
by the ordinary revenue of those years
during that period, under the provision
of the act of March 3,1817, creating
the sinking fund, and in that case, the
only part of the debt that will remain
after the year 1835, will be the seven
millions of five per cant, stock sub
scribed to the Bank of the U. States,
and the three per cent. Revolutiona
ry debt, amounting to 813,296,099 6
both of whieh are redeemable at the
pleasure of the government.
The state of the army in its organi
zation and discipline, has been grad
ually improving for several years, and
has now attained a high degree of per
fection. The Military disbursements
have been regularly made and the
accounts regularly and promptly ren
dered for settlement. The supplies
of various descriptions has been of
good quality and regularly issued at
ail of the costs. A system of econo
my and accountability has been- in
troduced into every branch of the ser
vice, which admits of little additional
improvement. This desirable state
has been attained by the act re-organ
izing the staff'of the army passed* 5 on
the 14th of April 1818.
Ihe moneys appropriated for forti
fications have been ready and econom
ically applied, and all the works ad
vanced as rapidly as the amount ap
propriated would admit. Three im
portant works will be completed in the
course of this year;that is, Fort Wash
ington, Fort Delaware, and the Fort
at the Rigolets, in Louisiana.
The Board of Engineers, and the
Topographical Corps, have been in
constant and active service, in sur
veying the coast, and projecting the
works necessary for its defence.
The Military Academy has attained
a degree of perfection in its discipline
and instruction, equal, as is believed,
to any institution of its kind in any
country.
Tbe money appropriated for the use
of the Ordnance Department, has been
regularly and economically applied.
The fabrication of arms at"the national
armories, anil by contract with the De
partment, has been gradually improv
ing iu quality and cheapness. It is
believed that (heir quality is now
such as to admit of but little improve
ment. _ ...
Tbe completion of the fortification
renders it necessary that there should
be a suitable appropriation for the
purpose of fabricating cannon anil
carriages necessary lor those works.
Under the appropriation of 85000,
for exploring the western waters f>r
the location of a site for a Western
Armory, a commission was ennstitu- ;
teil, consisting of col. Mcßce, col. Lee ;
and capt. Talcott, who have been en
gaged in exploring the country. 1 hev
have not yet reported the result of
their labours, but it is believed that
they will he prepared to do it at an
earlv part of the session of congress.
During the month of June last (ion.
Ashley and his party , who werfc trad
ing under a license from the govern
ment, were attacked by the Ricarees
while peaceably trading with the In
dians, at their request. Several of the
party were killed and wounded and
their property taken or destroyed.
Col. Leavenworth, who commanded
at Fort Atkinson,at the Council-Bluffs
the mo9t western post, apprehending
that the hostile spirit of the Ricarees
would extend to other tribe* in that
quarter, and that thereby the lives of
the traders on the Missouri, and the
peace of the frontier, would be en
dangered, took immediate measures to
check (he evil. With a detachment
of the regiment stationed at the Bluffs
he successfully attacked the Ricarec
village, and it is hoped *'iat such an
impression has been made on them, as
well as on the other tribe* of the Mis
souri, ns will prevent a recurrence of
future hostility.
The report of the Secretary of War
which is herewith transmitted, will ex
hibit in greater detail, the condition of
the Department, in its various branch
es, and the progress which has been
made in its administration during the
three first quarters of the vear.
I transmit a return of the militia
of the several states, according to the
last reports which have been made bv
proper officers in each, *o the. Depart
ment of War. By reference to this
return it will be seen that it is not
complete, although great exertions
have been used to make it so. As the
defence, and even the liberties of the
country must depend, in times of im
minent danger, on the militia, it is of
the highest importance, that it be well
organized, armed and disciplined
throughout the Union. The report of
the Secretary of War shows the pro
gress made during the three first quar
ters of the present vear by the appli
cation of the fund appropriated for
arming the militia. Much difficulty
is found in distributing the arms ac
cording to the act of Congress provi
ding for it, from the failure of the pro
per departments in many of the states
to make regular returns. The act of
May 12, 1820, provides that the sys
tem of tactics and regulations of the
various corps of the regular armv shall
be extended to the Militia. This act
has been very imperfectly executed,
from the want of unifoimity in the or
ganization of the militia, proceeding
from the defects of the system itself,
and especially in its application to the
main arm of the public defence. It is
thought that this important subject, in
all its branches, merits the attention
of Congress.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy, which is now communicated,
furnishes an account of the adminis
tration of that department, for the first
three quartersof the present year,with
the progress made in augmenting the
navy, and the manner in which the
vessels in commission have been em
ployed.
‘The usual force has been maintain
ed in the Mediterranean sea, the Paci
fic octan, and along the Atlantic coast,
and has afforded the necessary protec
tion to our commerce in those seas.
In the West Indies and the Gulpli
of Mexico, our naval force has been
augmented by the addition of several
small vessels, provided for by the * act
authorising an additional naval force
for the suppression of piracy,’ passed
by congress at their last session. That
armament has been eminently success
ful in the accomplishment of its object.
The piracies, by which our commerce
in the neighbourhood of the island of
Cuba bad been afflicted, have been re
pressed, ami the confidence of our
merchants in agreat measure restored.
The patriotic Zeal and enterprise of
coin. Porter, to whom the command of
the expedition was confided, has been
fully seconded by the officers and men
under his command. And in reflect
ing with high satisfaction on the hon
orable manner in which they have sus
tained the reputation of their country
and its navy, the sentiment is alloyed
only by a concern, that in the fulfil
ment of that arduous service, the dis
eases incident to the season, and to the
climate, in which it was discharged,
have deprived the nation of many use
ful lives, and among them of several
officers of great promise.
In the month of Augist, a very ma
lqjnant fever made its appearance at
Thompson** Island which threat.. -
the destruction of our station the-
Many perished ; ami the
of.icer was severely attack ‘d, r‘’
tain as to his fate,'and knowing"?;
most of the medical officers had’ b
rendered incapable of ditchaS*
their duties, it was thought exnedm
to send to that post an officer of
and experience, with several
surgeons to ascertain the origin ( ,f
fever ami the probability of reej
rence there in future seasons; /’
tiisli every assistance to those
were suffering, and if practicable *”
avoid the necessity of abandoning*
important a staMon. Com.
with a promptitude which did
nour, cheerfully accepted that try •
and lias discharged it in the main -
anticipated from his skill and
ism. Before his arrival, com. p or ; c ' r *
with the greater part of the squadron’
had removed from the island, amj re
turned to the U. S. in consequence 0 f
the prevailing sickness. Much useQ
information, has however been obtain
ed, as to the state of the island,
great relief afforded to those who had
been necessarily left there.
Although our expedition, co-open
ting with an invigorated administre
tion of the government of Cuba, ail
with the corresponding active exet
tions of a British naval force in ifo
same seas, have almost entirely 4.
stroyed the unlicensed piracies'fron
that island, the success of our esc.
tions has not been equally effectual#
suppress the 9ame crime under othr
pretences and colors, in the neighbor
mg island of Porto Rico. They hav>
been committed there under the abu
sive issue of Spanish commissions.-
At an early period of the present verr
remonstrances were made,to the (>#•.
ernor, by an agent who was sent fo
tbe purpose, against those outrages ui
the peaceful commerce of the U. B, of
which many had occurred. That if
licer, professing hvs own want of ai
thorithy to make satisfaction for ur
just complaints, answered only by#
reference of them to the governmtif
of Spain. The minister of the T.
to that court was specially instructs
to urge the necessity of the immediaie
and effectual interposition of thatp
vernment, directing restitution ani
indemnity for wrongs already commit
ted, and interdicting the repetition o:
them. The minister, as has been seet
was debarred access to the Spanish
government, and, in the mean time,se
veral new cases of flagrant outrage
hare occurred and citizens of the U.S
in the island of Porto Rico have sir
sered, and others have beau threatened
with assassination, for asseriing ther
unquestionable rights, even before tie
lawful tribunals of the country.
The usual orders hafe been giveat
all our public ships, to seize Anterior,
vessels engaged in the slave traic,
and bring them in for adjucaUon,aul
1 have the gratification to state, tlaf
not one so employed has been disc?
ered, and there is good reason to le
lieve that our flag is now’ seldom, ifat
all disgraced by that traffic.
It is a source of great satisfacti®,
that we are always enabled to recur#
the conduct of our Navy with pruf
and commendation. As & means if
national defence, it enjoys the pubic
confidence, and is stcadilv assumii;
additional importance. His submt
ted whether a more efficient aw!
equally economical organization of it
might not, in several respects be ■
fected. It is supposed that
grades than these which now exist!)#
law would be useful. They wow
afford w’ell merited rewards to th ;!
who have long and faithirdly ser*d
their country ; present the best it*
centives to good conduct, ani the W
means of insuring a proper disciple
destroy the inequality in that resjtd
between military and naval service
and relieve our officers from many ll '*
conveniences and mortifications, wbek
occur when our vessels meet those 0 *
of other nations —ours being the o
service it which such grades do 10
exist.
A report of the Post Master
ml, which accompanies this conn |Ui:
cation, will shew the present
the post office department, and
neral operations tor some year* p l '”
There is established by law, w
GOO miles of post roads, on whuij
the mail is now transported 85/
miles, and contracts have
made for its transportation on J
the established routes, with or
two exceptions. There arc 5,
post offices in the Union, r,t ! “
many postmasters. ‘I he g
amount of postage which accrt ..
from the Ist of July, 1822, to th f
of July, 1823, was ’
Duiiig the same period the 1
penditure of the Post Offic e
partment amounted to SHdy ’ ,
51; and consisted of the o^s
- : Compensation to P°
ters, 8353,995 98 ; incidental •
penses, 830,866 37 ; transport”
of the mail, 8784,000 8 ; P t h
into the Treasury J 5423 8- v 4