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Georgia Journal Office, MONDAY MORNING, December 24. j *10] $j* Wv hash n to lay before our readers, the following MESSAGE of the President, communica ted to Congress on the 5th ult. Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. The embarrassments which have prevailed in our foreign relations, uul so much employed the delibera tions of Congress, make it a primary duty, in meeting you, to cotnmuni- fcute whatever may have occurred in that branch of our national affairs. The act of the last session of Con gress “ concerning the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great-Britam and France and their dependencies,” having in vited, in a new form, a termination of their edicts against our neutral commerce, copies of the act were im mediately forwarded to our ministers at London and Paris ; with a view that its oojcct might be within the t arty attention of the French and British governments. by the communication received thro’ four minister at Paris, it appeared, that a knowledge, of the act by the 'French government, was followed bv a declaration that the Berlin and IMilan decrees were revoked, and would cease to have elicct on the first dav of November ensuing. Tiusc being the only known edicts nl,France, within the description ofthe ict, and tne revocation ot them, be ing such that they ceased, at that date,toviwhueourneutralCommerce ; the fact, as prescribed by law, was announced by a proclamation bearing date the second day ot November. It would have well accorded with the conciliatory views, indicated by ibis proceeding on the part of France, to have extended them to all the grounds of just complaint, which now remain unadjusted with the United States. It was particularly anticipated that, as a further evidence of just dispositions towards them, restoration would have been imme diately made of the property of our citizens'seized under a misapplicati on of the principle of reprisals,com- him-d with a misconstruction of a law of the United States. This ex. peettuion has not been fulfilled. From the British government no communication on the subject of the act has been received. To a com munication from our ministers at London of the revocation, by the French government, of its Berlin upd Milan decrees, it was answered that the Biitish system wtAtld be re linquished as soon as the repeal of the french decrees should have aertt- r.liy taken effect, and the commerce rf neutral nations have been restored to the condition in which it stood, ' 'previously to the promulgation of those decrees. This pledge, although it does not necessar iv import, does not exclude the intention of relin quishing, along with the orders in ouncil, the practice of those no vel blockades which have n like el- lect of interrupting our neutral com merce. And this furtherjustice to <hc United States is the rather to be ’voiced for, inasmuch as blockades in question, being not more contrary to the established law ot nations, than inconsistent with the rules of blockade formerly recognized by Great-Britain herself, couid have no alletlged basis, other than the plea of .retaliation, aiicdged as the basis of Uie orders in council. Under the modification ot the original orders of November 180/, into the orders of April 1809, tilt re is indeed scarce ly a nominal distinction between the orders and lire blockades. One of those illegitimate blockades, bearing date in May 180(1, having been ex pressly avowed to be still uuresiind* c.d, and to be, in effect, comprehend ed in i he orders in council, was too distinctly brought within the pur view or the act of Congress, not to be comprehended in the explanation of the requisites to a compliance with it. The llritisii government was ac cordingly .-.prized by our minister near it that such was the light in which the subject was to he regarded. On tite other important subjects depending betw. n the United States and that government, no progress oas het-n rriadv, from which an earlv jtnd satisfactory result can be relied on. In this new posture of our relations with the pow rs, the consideration of Congress will he properly turned to a removal of doubts which may oc cur in the exposition, and of difficul ties in the executiou of the act above cited, The commerce of the United States, with the North of Europe, heretofore much vexed by licentious cruisers, particularly under the Da nish flag,has latterly been visited with fresh and extensive depredations. 'I’he measures pursued in behalf of injured citizens not having obtained justice for them, a further and more formal interposition with the Danish government is contemplated. The principles which have been maintain ed by that government in relation to neutral commerce, and the friendly professions of his Danish majesty to wards the United States, are valuable pledges, in favor of a successful is sue. Among the events growing out of the state of the Spanish monarchy, our attention was imperiously attract ed to the change, developing itself in iliac portion ot West Florida; which, though of right appertaining to the United States, had remained iu the posession of Spain ; awaiting the result of negotiations for its actu al delivery to them. The Spanish authority was subverted : and a sit uation produced, exposing the coun try to ulterior events which might essentially affect the rights and wel fare of the Union. In such a con jecture, I did not delay the interpo sition required for the occupancy of the territory west of the river Perdi do ; to which the title of the United States extends, and to which the laws, provided for the territory of Orleans, are applicable. With this view, the proclamation of which a copy is laid before you, was confided to the Governor of that territory, to be carried into effect. The legality and necessity of the course pursued, assure me of the favorable light in which it will present itself to the le gislature ; and of the promptitude, with which they will supply whate ver provisions may be due to the es sential rights and equitable interests of the people thus brought into the bosom of the American family. Our amity wttn the powers of Barbary, with the exception of a re cent occurrence at Tunis, of which an explanation is just received, ap pears to have been interrupted, and to have become more firmly establish ed. With the Indian tribes, also, the peace and friendship of the U. Stau-s are found to be so eligible, that the general disposition to preserve both continue to gain strength. 1 feel particular satisfaction in re marking that the interior view of our country presents us with grateful proofs of its substantial and increas ing prosperity. To a thriving agri culture, and the improvements rela ted to it, added to a highly interest ing extention of usctul manufac tures ; the combined product of pro fessional occupations, and of house hold industry. Such, indeed, is the experience of economy, as well as of poiicv, in these substitutes, for sup plies heretofore obtained by foreign commerce, that, in a national view, ihe change is justly icgarded as of itself, more than a recompence for those privations and losses, resulting from foreign injustice, which furnish ed the general impulse required for its accomplishment, ilow far it may be expedient to guard the infancy of this improvement in the distribution of labor, by regulations of the com mercial tariff, is a subject which can not fail <o suggest itself to your pa triotic reflections. It will rest with the consideration- of Congress also, whether a provi dent, us well as fair encouragement, would not be given to our navigati on, by such regulations as will place it on a level of competition with fo reign vessels, particularly in trans porting the important and bulky pro ductions of our own soil. The fail ure of equality and reciprocity in the existing regulations on this subject operates in our ports, as a premium to foreign competitors ; and the in convenience must increase, as these may be multiplied, unddr more fa vorable circumstances, J>y the more than countervailing encouragements now given them, by the laws of their respective countries. Whilst it i3 universally admitted that a well instructed people a- lonc can be permanently a free peo ple ; and whilst it is evident that the .means of diffusing, and improving useful knowledge lorm so small pro portion of the expenditures for na tional purposes, I cannot pre-sum* it to be unseasonable, to invite your at tention to the advantages of superad ding, to the means of education pro vided by the several states, a semina ry of learning, instituted by the na tional legislature, within the limit of their excl isive jurisdiction ; the ex pence, of which might be defrayed, or reimbursed, out of the vacant grounds which have accrued to the nadon within those limits.* Such an institution, though local in its character, would be universal in its beneficial effects. By enlight ening the opinions : by expanding the patriotism; and by assimilating the principles, the sentiments and the manners of those who might resort to this temple of Science to be re distributed, in due time, through c- very part of ti.e community ; sources of jealousy and prejudice would be diminished, the features of national characters would be multiplied, and greater extent given the social har mony. But above all a well consti tuted seminary, in the centre of the nation, is recommended by the consi- derauuu, that the additional instruc tion e nanating lrom it would contri bute not less to strengthen the foun dations, than to adorn the structure, of our f ree and happy system of go vernment. Among the commercial abuses still commuted tinder the American flag, and leaving in force ray former re ference to that subject, it uppears that American citizens are instru mental in carrying on a traffic in en slaved Africans, equally in violation of the laws of humanity, and in defi ance to those of tireirown country.— The same just and benevolent mo tives which produced the interdicti on in force against this criminal con duct, will doubtless be i’elt by Con gress, in devising further means in suppressing the evil. lu the midst of uncertainties, ne cessarily connected with the great in terest of the United Stale's, prudence requires a continuance of out deUn- sive and precautionary arrangements. The secretary of war and ihe secre tary of the navy will submit the statements and estimates which may aid congress, in their ensuing provi sions lor the land and naval forces. The statements of the latter will in clude a vie w of the transfers of appro priations in the naval expenditures and tiic grounds on which they were made. The fortifications for the defence of our maritime frontier have been prosecuted according to the plan laid down in 1808. The works with some exceptions, are completed, and furnished with ordnance. Those for the security of the city of New- York, though far advanced towards completition, will require a further time and appropriation. This is the case with a few others, either not completed or in need of repairs. Tire improvements, in quality and quality made in the manufactory of cannon ; and of small arms, both at the public armories, and private fac tories, warrant additional confidence in the competency of these resources, for supplying the public exigencies. These preparations for arming the militia, having thus far provided 1W oue of the objects contemplated by the power vested in congress, with respect to that great bulw ark of the public safety ; it is for their conside ration whether further provisions are not requisite,for the other contempla ted objects, of organization and deci- pline. To give to this great mass of physical and moral iorce, the affi • ciencv vvhi. h it merits, and is capa ble of receiving ; it is indispensable they should be instructed and prac tised in the rules by which they are to be governed. Towards an accom plishment of this important work, I recommend for the consideration of Congress the expediency of in stituting a system, which shall iu the first instance, call into the field, at the public expence, and for a gi ven time, certain portions of the commissioned and non commission ed officers. The instruction and dis cipline thu3 acquired would gradu ally diffuse through the entire body of the militia, that practical know ledge and promptitude for active service which are the gh at ends to he pursued. Experience has left no doubt either of the necessity, or ot the efficacy, of competent military skill, in those portions of an army in fitting it for the final duties, which it tnav have to perform. L’be corps of Engine e r s, with the. Military Academy, are entitled to the early attention of congress.— The buildings at the seat, fixed by law, for th..- present Academy, arc so far in decay, as not to afford the necessary accommodation. But hi revision of the law is recommen ded, principally with aview toa more enlarged cultivation and diffusion of the advantages ol such institutions, by providing professorships for all the necessary branches of military instuction, and by the establishment: of an additional Academy at the seat of government or elsewhere. The means by which war, as well lor defence as for offence, are now car ried on, render these schools of the more scientific operations and in dispensable part of every adequate system . Even among nations whose large standing armies and feqnent wars afford every other opportunity of instruction, these establishments are found to be indespensable for the due attainment of the branches of military science, which require a re gular course of study and experi ment. In a government, happily without tlieo- tber opportunities ; feminaries where the e- lementary principles of the art of war can be taught withou' actual war and without the expense of extensive and standing ar- nves, h-eve the pi conus advantage of uniting an e(T nt'al preparation againft external dan ger, with a frrnpuloun regard to internal safe' y. Inner other way, probably, can a provision of equal iffi-wy for the puMic UeUnce, be made at lit te expen a , or more consistency wi’h the public lihtr'y. The tec ipts .»to 'h. treasury during the year ending on >he 30’b September last (and amounting to more ban eight millions and a half of cto'larp) (»?• v • exceeded current expences of the government, inruding the interest oil the pnnlie debt. F ir the pur' pose of re imbursir.g, at the tnd of the year, 3 75<V)00 dollars of the principal, a loan, as authorized by law, had been negotiated to that amount ; but has since been tedu- ced to 2 500,000 dollar- ; the reduction be ing permitted by the state of iheTreasury; in which there will be a balance, remaining at the cud of the year, estimated at 2,000,00 dollar*. For the probable receipts of n xt year, and other detail*, I refer to the state ments wh>ch will be transmitted from the Treafury, and which will enable you to judge what further provisions may be ne cessary for the ensuing year. Reserving for future occasions in the course of the session, whatever other com munications may claim your attention, I close the present, by expressing my reli ance, under the blrffing of Divine Provi dence on the judgment and patriotism which will guide your measures, at a period parti- cularly calling for united councils, and iti- ftexible exertions, for the welfare of our country, and by assuring you of the fidel ity and alacrity with which my co-opcav tion will be afforded. ♦**'■ - James Madison-