Newspaper Page Text
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!«[***«
(«rs of an Act of Parliament, opening the c«i-
Ionia 1 ports upon certain condition*, n*d not
Minister Plenipotentiary to »resldo « retotfoM botweei
From the interest taken by thi* Sovereign in
behalf of the suffering Greeks, and lVom trie
.. • > ■ • i .i iL<. ilea'll P.m-nnue
. I . .1 'll .olur t'rnm mast
-sequent pci
*cw -exclusion wakin resenimi nt became apn-
or Act of Parliament of
•colonialp> Hi under lieav
a'rirtinux to vessels of lL_ ,
not been reciprocated bv an admission of Writ-
>sh vessels from the colonies, and their cargoes,
without any restriction «' discrimination what*
ever. But, he the motive for the interdiction
what it may, the British govenimenthave man
ifested no disposition, either by negotiation or
bv corresponding legislative enactments, to re
cede from it, anil-we have been given distinct
ly to understand that neither of the bills winch
were under the consideration of Congress at
their bud session, would have been deemed
sufficient in their concessions, to havo been re
warded by any relaxation from the British in
terdict. It is »«ic of tho inconveniences insep
arably connected with the attempt to adjust by
reciprocal legislation interests of this nature,
>t hat neither party can know what would he sa-
. -tiifhctory t.» ****•*“*, ■
— •in-HfliMu.fiHlflTfl wiirccncraljy be found utter
ly inadequate to tho expectations of the other
•pal ly, and will terminate in mutual disappoint
ment.
The session of Congress having terminated
•■without any act upon die subject, a Proclama
tion was. issued on die lftb of March last, con
formably jo die provisions of the 6th section of
tins Act of 1st March, 1823, doclnring the fact
that the trade and intercourse authorized by the
British Act of Parliament of 24th June, 1822,
between the United States and tho British enu
merated colonial ports, had 6e«n by the subse
quent Acts of Parliament of5th July, 1825,and
the Order of Council of 27th July, 1826,
prohibited. The effect of this Proclamation,
by die terms of tho Act under which it was is
sued, lias been, that each and every provision
•of tho Act concerning Navigation, of 18th April,
IS 18, and of the Act supplementary thereto of
15tli May, 1820. revived, and is in full force.
•Such, thru is the present condition -of the trade,
that, useful as it is to both parties, it can, with
a single momentary exception, he carried on
directly by the vessels of neither. That excep
tion itself is found in a Proclamation of tho
Governor of tho Island of St. Christopher, and
of die Virgin Islands, inviting, for three months
from tho 28 th of August last, the importation of
tho nrtides of the produce of the United States,
which constitute theirexportportion ofthis trade,
in die vessels of all nations. That period hav
ing already expired, the stato of mutual inter
diction has again taken place. The British
• Government have not only dccliucd negotiation
upon this subject, but, by the principle they
have assumed with reference to it, havo preclu
ded even the means of negotiation. It becomes
not the self-respect of the United States, either
to solicit gratuitous favors, or to accept as tho
;raut of a lavor that for which an nmple equiv
alent is exacted. It roinains to be determined
trade shaU"be opened by'kiis oiteCtpifB^inBgilP
lution. It is in the mean time satisfactory to
know, that apart from the inconveniences resul-.
ting from a disturbance of the usualchannels of
trade, no loss lias been sustained by (he com
merce, the navigation or the revenue of the
United States, and nono of magnitude is to be
apprehended from this existing state of mutual
interdict.
With the other maritime and commercial Na
tions of Europe, our intercourse continues with
little variation. Since the ccssasion, by the
Convention of 24dt June, 1822, of all discrim
inating duties upon the vessels of the United
States and of France, in either country, our
trade with that nation has increased aud is
increasing. A disposition on the part of France
hat been manifested to renew that negotiation:
and, in acceding to the proposal, we have ex
pressed the wish that it might be extendod to
other objpets, upon which a good understanding
between the parties wodld be beneficial to'tho
interests of both. The origin of tho political
relations between tho United States and France,
is coeval with the first years of our Independ-
ancc. The memory of it is interwoven with
lhat of our arduous struggle for national' exist
ence. Weakened as it has occasionally been
- since that time, it can by us never be forgotten;
and wo should hail with exuhation the moment
which should indicate a recollection equally
friendly in spirit, on tho part of France. A
fresh effort has recently been madu by the Min
ister of the United Slate's residing at Paris, to
obtain a consideration of the just claims of citi
zens of the United States, to the reparation of
wrongs long since committed, many of them
frankly acknowledged, and all of them entitled
upon every principle of justice, to a candid ex
amination. The proposal last made to tho
French Government has been to refer tho sub
ject, which lias formed sn obstacle to this con
sideration, to the determination of a Sovereign,
the common friend of both. To this offer no de
finitive answer hasyetbeen received; but the gal
lant and honorable spirit which has at all times
been the pride end glory ofFra
tnately permit the demands of
ersto be exting
of the power to reject them.
A new Treaty of Amity, Navigation and
Commerce, has been concluded with the King
dom of Sweden, which will be submitted to
the Senate for t‘icir advice with regard to its
ratification. At a more recent date, a Minis
ter Plenipotentiary from the Hanseatic Repub
lic* of Hamburg, Lqbeck, and Bremen,lias been
received, charged with a special mission for the
negotiation of a Treaity of Amity and Com
merce between that ancient and renowned
league end the United States. This negotia-
tion has accordinglj^heen commenced, and is
now in progress, the result of which will, if suc-
cwful, be also aubmitted to the Sonatc for their
consideration.
Since the accession of the Emperor Nicho-
he to the Imperial throne of all the Rusiias,
the friendly disposition* towards the United
States, so constantly manifested by his prede
cessor, have continued unabated ; and havo
. teen recently testified by the appointment of a
alia * *■*..*••■—* - j *
the blessings of self goveromen^ vyhich^by their
eminent*, and the friendly
heir respective nations. ,
Turning from the momentous concerns ot
our Union in its intercourse with foreign na
tions, to those of the deopest interest in the ad
ministration of our internal affairs, we find
revenues of the present yew corresponding as
nearly as might be expected wrtli tho anucip •
sufferings iu the cause of liberty they have rich-
ly efirhqd; aud that their independence WM.ue
secured by those liberal institutions, of which
their country, furnished tho earliest -examples
in the history cif mankind, and which have
consecrated to immortal remembrance thevery
soil for which they are now again profusely
pouring forth their Wood. Tho sympathies,
which the People and Government of tho Uni
ted States havo so warmly indulged with thair
cause, have been acknowledged by their Gov
ernment, in a letter o1 thanks, which I have
received from their illustrious President, a
translation of which is now communicated to
Congress, tho Representatives of that Nation
to whom this tribute of gratitude was intended
to be gnid^iuid to whom it was justly due.
freedom and Independence has cortfmttlSi
prevail; and if signalized by none of thos3
splendid triumphs which had crowned with
glory »ime of the preceding years, it has only
been from the banishment of all external force
the struggle had been maintained,
victory has been superseded by
the expulsion of the cnomy over whom it could
have been achieved. Our friendly wishes and
cordial good will, which have constantly fol
lowed the southern nations of America ia all
the vicissitudes of their war of Independence,
are succeeded by a solicitude, equally ardent
and cordial, that, by tho wisdom and parity of
their iastitutions, they may secure to them
selves the choicest blesstngs of social order,
aud the best rewards of virtuous liberty. Dis
claiming alike all right and all intention.of in
terfering in those concerns which it is the pre
rogative of their Independence to regulate aS
to them shall see fit, we hail with joy every in
dication of their prosperity, of their harmony,
of their persevering and inflexible homage to
those priuciples of freedom aud of equal rights,
which are alone suited .to the genius and tem
per of tho Americau nations. It has been
therefore with some concern that wo have ob
served indications ef intestine divisions in some
of the Republics ef the South, and appearan
ces ef less union with one another, than we be
lieve to be the interest of all. Among the re
sults of this state of things has been that the
Treaties concluded at Panama do not appear
to have been ratified by the contracting parties,
and that tho meeting of tho Congress at Tacu-
baya has been indefinitely postponed. In ac
cepting tho invitations to be represented at this
Congress, while a manifestation was intended
on tho part of the United States, of the most
friendly disposition towards tho Southern Re-
mblics by whom it had been proposed, it was
loped that it would furnish an opportunity for
tioni'of thcTust, and presenting an aspect mill
fnvrvrr.til- iii tho oromise ot the next. 1 no
mein in particulars, some of which have been
heretofore submitted to the consideration
struction to the youths who devote theirhv^
ben, ““ ;i'*.,i—
in the Report of tho Secretary of War.
Tlie expediency of providing for additional
the service of their country upon the ocean «,•
solicits tho sanction of the Legislature, p 1
tical seamanship and tho art of navigation ^
'nme*,-will not ultl
innocent suffer-
extinguished in the mere consciousness
the principles, in the regulation of their inter
national relations, which would have secured a
lasting peace and harmony between diem, and
havo promoted tho cause of mutual benevo
lence throughout the globe. But as obstacles
appear to have arisen to the re-assembling of
die Congress, one of the uvo Ministers com
missioned an tbo part of the United States has
returned to the bosom of his country, whilo the
Minister charged with the ordinary mission to
Mexico remains authorized to attend at die
conferences of the Congress whenever they
may be resumed.
A hope was for a short time entertained, that
a Treaty of Peace actually signed between the
Governments of Buenos Ayres and Brazil
would supersede all further occasion for those
collisions between belligereut pretensions and
neutral rights, which are so commonly the re
sult of maritime war, and which itave unfortu
nately disturbed die harmony of the relations
betweon tho United States and tho Brazilian
Governments. At their last session, Congress
were informed that some of the naval officers
of that Empire had advanced and practised
upon principles in relation to blockades and to
neutral navigation, which we could not sanc
tion, and which our comraandors found it ne
cessary to resist.. It appears that they have
not been sustained by tho Government of Bru-
zil itself. Some of the vessels captured under
the assumed authority of these erroneous prin
ciples, have been restored; and we trust that
ourjust expectation will bo realized, that ad
equate indemnity will be made to nil the citi
zens of the United States who have suffered by
the uuwarran.ed captures which the Brazilian
tribunals themselves havo pronounced unlaw
ful- 4 V'
In the diplomatic discussions at Rio de Ja
neiro, of these wrongs sustained by citizens of
the United States, and of others which seemed
as if emanating immediately from the Govern
ment itself, the Charge d*Affaires of tho United
States, under an impression that his represen
tations in behalf of the rights and interests of
his countrymen were totally disregarded and
useless, deemed it his duty, without waiting for
instructions, to terrainato his official functions,
to demand his passports, and return to the Uni
ted States. This movement, dictated by an
honest zeal for the honor and interests of his
country; motives which operated exclusively
upon the mind of tho officer who resorted to
it, has^ not been disapproved by me. Tho
Brazilian Government, however, complained of
it as a measure for which no adequate intention
al cause had been given by them; and upon
an explicit assurance, through their Charge d’
Affaires, residing here, that a successor to the
late Representative of the United States near
that Government, the appointment of whom
they desired, should be received and treated
with the respect due to his character, and that
indemnity should be promptly made for all in
juries inflicted on citizens of the United States,
or their property, contrary to the laws of na
tions, a temporary commission as Charge d'
Affaires to that country has been issued, which
it is hoped will entirely restore the ordinary
more favorable in tho promise f .
balance in the Trtsasury on the first °f Janu
ary last was six millions three hundred and fifty
eight thousand six hundred and eighty-six *
lars and cghteen cents. The receipts from
that day to the 30th wf September last, as near
as the returns of thorn yet received can show,
amount to sixteen millions eight hundred ana
eighty-six thousand five hundjpd and eighty
one dollars and thirty two cents. The receipts
of the present quarter, estimated at four mill
ions five hundred and fifteen thousand, added
to the above, form an aggregate of twenty one
millions four hundred thousand dollars ot re
ceipts. The expenditures of the year may
jerhaps amount to twenty two millions three
lumlrod thousand dollars, presenting a small
to the discharge of the principal of the pnblic
debt; the Whole amount ef which, approach
ing seventy four millions on the first of Janua
ry last, will on the first day of next yearfall
short of sixty seven millions and a half. The
balance in the Treasury on the first of Janua
ry next, it is expected, will exceed five millions
four hundred and fifty thousand dollars; a sum
exceeding that of the first of January, 1825,
though faflmgriicrt of that exhibited on the first
of January last.
(t was foreseen that the revenue .of tho pre
sent year would not equal that of the’ last, which
had itself been less than that of the next pre
ceding year. But the hope has been realized
which was entertained, that these defitciencies
would in nowise interrupt tho steady operation
of the discharge of tho public debt by the an
nual ten millions devoted to that object by the
Act of the 3d March 1817-
The amount of duties secured on merchan
dise imported from the commencement of the
year until the 30th of September last, is twenty
one millions two hundred and twenty six thou
sand, and the probable amount of that which
will be secured during tho remainder of the
year, is five millions seven hundred and seven
ty four thousand dollars; forming a sum total of
twenty-seven millions. With the allowances
for drawbacks and contingent deficiencies which
may occur, though not specifically foreseen,
we may safely estimate the receipts of the en
suing year at twent-two millions three hundred
thousand dollars; a revenue for the next equal
to the expenditure of the present year.
The deep solicitude felt by the citizens of
all classes througout the Union for tho total dis
charge of tho public debt, will apologize for
the earnestness with which I deem it my doty
to urge tlus topic upon.tho consideration of
Congress—of recommending to, them again
■ ' the strictest economy in the
pui/itV 1UUU3* _ XIIBricpiw
sion upon tho receipts of the revenue which
had commenced with tho year 1826, continu
ed with increased severity daring the two first
quarters of tho presont year.—Tho returning
tide began to flow with the third quarter, am
so far as we can judgo from experience, may
bo expected to continue throUgh-lho course of
the ensuing year. In the meantime, an allovi*
ation from, the burden of the public debt will
in three years, Have been effected to the a-
raonnt of neatly sixteen millions, and the citarge
of annual interest will havo been reduced, up
wards of one'ntillion. But among tho maxims,
of political economy which the Stewards of the
public moneys should never suffer without ur
gent necessity to be transcended, is that of
teeping the expenditures of the year within the
limits of its receipts. The appropriations of
the two last-years, including the yearly ten mil
lions of'the sinking fund, have each equalled
the promised revenue of the ensuing year.
While wa foresee with confidence that the
public coffers will be replenished from the re
ceipts; as fust as they will be drained by the
expenditures, equal in amount to those of the
curreutyearj-it should not be forgotten that
they could ill suffer the exhaustion of larger
disbursements. *
The condition of the Army, and of all the
branches of the public service under tho super
intendence . of .the Secretary of War, will be
seen by-the report from that officer, and the
documenr with which it is accompanied,.
During (he course of tho last summer, a de
tachment ofthe -Arnty has.been usefully and
successfully called to perform their appropriate
duties.. At the moment .when tho Commission
ers appointed for carrying into execution cer
tain provisions;?! tho Treaty of August 19th,
1825, tuth various tribes of the Northwestern
Indians, were about to arrive at the 1 appointed
place bf--meeting,'the unprovoked murder of
several citizens, and other acta of unequivocal
hostility committed by a-party of tho Winne
bago tribe, oneof those associated in the Trea
ty, followed'by indications of a menacing cha<
racter, among other tribes of the same region
rendered necessary ati immediate display of
defensiveand protective force of the Union in
that quarter. It was accordingly exhibited by
tho immediate and concerted movements of
the Governors of the State ef Illinois and of
the Territory of Michigan, and competent lo-
vies of militia under their authority; with a
corps of seven hundred men of United States
troops under the command of General Atkin
son, who at the call of Governor Cass, imme
diately repaired to the scene of danger, from
their station at St. Louis. Their presence
dispailod tho alarms of our fellow-citizens on
those borders, and overawed the hostile pur
poses of the Indiads. The perpetrators of the
murders were surrendered to the authority and
operation of our laws; and every appearance of
purposed hostility from those Indian tribes has
subsided.
Although tho present organization of the Ar-
*ny, and the administration of its various bran
ches of service, are, upon the whole, satisfac
tory, they aroyetsuKeptible o much improve-
1 IIS ei iwirenv; «• U'“-- --
numbers of Officers in the two Corps of En
gineors will, io some degree, depend upon the
number and extent of tho objets of nat.ona
importance upon which Congress may think t
proper that surveys should be e ‘«f orm "*
bly to the Act of the 30th of April, 1824. O
the surveys which, before the last sessioni o
Congress*, bad been wade under the authori y
of that Act, reports were made: ^
1. Of the Board of Internal Improvement,
on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
2. On tho continuance of the National Road
from Cumberland to tho tide waters within the
District of Columbia. n .
3. On the continuation of the National Koaa
from Canton to Zanesville. , _ .
4. On the location of the National Road
from Zanesville to Columbus.
5. On the continuation of the same Road to
the Seat of Government in Missouri.
6. On a Post Road from Baltimore to Phi
ladelphia. ... .. .
7. Of* -f Kiwnehec Rjyct [in part]
a on a National Road from Washington to
Buffalo.
9. On the survey of Saugatuck Harbor and
River.
‘ 10. On a Canal from Lake Ponchartrain to
the Mississippi River.
11. On surveys at Edgartown, Newbury-
port, and Hyannis. Harbor.
12. On surveys of LaPlaisance Bay, in the
Territory of Michigan.
And reports are bow prepared, and will
be submitted to Congress—
On surveys of the -peninsula of Florida, to
ascertain tho practicability of a Canal to con
nect the waters of the Atlantic with the Gulf
of Mexico, across that peninsula; and also of
the country between the Bays of Mobilo and
ot Pensacola, with the view of connecting thorn
together by a Canal;
On surveys of a route for a Canal to con
nect the waters of James and Great Kenha-
be acquired upon the cruises of foe
which, from time to time, — J -
tant seas; but a competeni knowledge even 'f I
the art of ship building, tho higher mathennr I
und astronomy; the literature which can D i,i 9
our officers on a level of polished educatiA.
with the officers of other maritime nation,. I
knowledge of tho laiVs, municipaFand flat'’ *
which, in their intercourse with foreign I
and their Governments, are continually ea||u I
into operation; and above all, that acquaiM I
ance with the principles of honor, and iunS L
with the higher obligations of morals, and rfl
general lawa human and divine, which coatfll
tuto the great distinction between the wan ?|
patriot, and tho licensed robber and pirue-l
these can bo systematically taught and eminttul
ly acquired only in a permanent school, ,t,faZ I
ed upon tho shore; and provided whb tho-toach^l
ers, the instruments, and the books, Wnvtmgil
with and adapted to the communication of fa I
principles of these respective Sciences to fa I
youthful and inquiring mind. I
The report from the Post Master'Gum |
exhibits tho'condition bp that Department™I
highly satisfactory for the present, and stilltaoml
promising for the future. Its receipt* font; 1
year ending the first of July last amounted-,
one million four hundred and seveniy.iu.
thousand five hundred and fifty-one dolU I
and exceeded its expenditures by upvardi i'*
one hundred thousand do liars. It cannot t
an over sanguine estimate to predict that it I
less than ten years, of which one hhare e-l
lapsed, the receipts will have been mere fad
doubled. Ia the mean time, a reduced eipu.1
diture upon established routes has kept Ugl
with increased facilities of public accominoda.
tion, and additional services have been obtain!
ed at reduced ratos of compensation. Wifatl
the last year the transportation of the mailigl
stages has been greatly augmented. The mgJ
ber of Post Offices has been increased to sevrtl
thousand; and it may be anticipated that wh'jJ
the facilities of intercourse between fellow citi-l
wa rivers;
On the survey of the Swash in Pamlico
Sound, and that of Cape Fear below tho town
of Wilmington, in North Carolina;
On the survey of the Muscle Shoals in the
Tennessee river, and for a route for a contem
plated communication between the ILwassce
and Coosa rivers, in the State of Alabama..
Ollier reports of surveys upon objects point
ed out by tho several acts of Congress of the
last and preceding sessions, are in the progress
of preparation, and most of them may be com
pleted before the close of this session. All
the offices of both Corps of Engineers, with
1 other persons duly qualified, have been
constantly employed upon these services, from
the passago of the act of the 30th April, 1824,
to this time. Were no other advantage to ac
crue to the country from their labors, than tho
fund of topographical knowledge which they
Itave collected and communicated, that alone
would have been a profit to the Union more
inatr aavtjtsuw tu wit -«Lw t I, I
have been dovoted to the object; but the appro
priations for the rep air and continuation of the
Cumberland Road, for the construction of va
rious other Reads, for the removal of obstruc
tions from the Rivers and Harbors, for the e-
rection of Light-llouscs, Beacons, Piers and
Buoys, and for the completion of Canals un
dertaken by individual associations, but need
ing the assistance of means and resources more
comprehensive than individual onterpriso can
command, may be considered rather as treasures
laid up from the contributions of the present age,
for the benefit of posterity, than as unrequited
applications of the accruing revenues of the na
tion. To such objects of permanent improve
ment to the condition of the country, of real
addition to the wealth as to the comfort of tho
eople by whose authority and resources they
ave been effected, from throe to four millions
of the annual income of the nation have, by
laws enacted at the three most recent sessions
of Congress bceu applied, without intrenching
upon the necessities of the Treasury; without
adding a dollar te the taxes or debts of the com
munity; without suspending even the steady
and regular discharge of the debts contracted
in former days, which, within tho same three
years, have been diminished by tho amount of
nearly sixteen millions of dollars.
The same observations are; in a great degree,
applicable to the appropritaions made for forti
fications upon tho coasts and harbors of
the United States, for the maintenance of tho
Military Academy at West Point, and for the
lay
grass, under the exorcise of their constitotiot
powers, may devise, for the furthor estaUL
meat and improvement of the public Roii,«
by adding still further to the facilities is li
transportation of the mails. Of the iodiutioi
of the prosperous Condition of our conotrvj
none cau be more pleasing than those preset
ed by the multiplying relations of personal i
intimate intercourse betweon tho citizens oftht
Union dwelling at the remotest distances [
each other.
Among the subjects which have hsrrtofot
occupied the earnest solicitude and attentionol
Congress, is.tlie management and disposals
that portion of the property of the Nations"'
consists of the public lands. The acqui
of them, made at tho expense of the whoid
Union, not only in treasure but in blood,-marki
« -igUt -f pro|M>itj in thorn equally extensive.
By the report and statements from tho Get
Land Office now communicated, it api
that under the present Government of the l
ed States a sum little short of thirty-three i
ions of dollars has been paid from the com
Treasury for that portion ofthis property*
has been purchased from Franco and SpuJ
and for the extinction of the aboriginal tiilctl
Tlia amount of lands acquired isnoartvobaaJ
dred and sixty millions of acres, "I which, «■
the first of January, 1826, about one hundredl
and thirty-nine millions of acres h:id been sar-f
veyed, and little more than nineteen i
of acres had been sold. The amount paidl
into the Treasury by tho purchasers of fal
lands sold is not yot equal to the numspiidfol
tho whole, but leaves a small balance to b* Krl
funded; tho proceed, of ilia sales of tho landsl
have long been pledged to the creditors dl
the Nation; a pledge from which we l» v, l
reason to hope that they will in a very ft* |
years be redeemed. The system upon *Uck I
this great national interest has been nuoagM I
was the result of long, anxious and persevrricj 1
deliberation; matured and modified by the pro-1
gress of our population, and the lessons of ex-1
perience, it has been hitherto eminently sac-1
cessfol. More titan nine tenths of tho lands I
still remain tho common property of the Union, I
the appropriation ami disposal of which sm I
cred trusts in the hands of Congress. OftM I
lands sold, a considerable part were conyeyrt I
under extended credits, which, in the view-
tudes and fluctuations in tho value ofUnas,*™ |
. purchasers. N . .
interest or the policy of the nation to »' nc f I
from its own citizens tlie reasonable 1
tlieir industry und enterprise, by holding r
to the rigorous import of disastrous wtpf'
mints. In March, l821i'a debt of twenl £ L
millions of dollars, due by purchasers
public lands, had accumulated, wnicn '»I
were unable to pay. An act of COOP** .
the 2d of March, 1821, camo to *h c ' r ,;v! 1
and has been succeeded by others,
being tho act of the 4th of May, 18* r
dulgent provisions of which expired
various objects under the superintendence of of their produce, became oppressively burden-
the Department of the Navy. The Report of some to the purchasers. It can never bout
the Secretary of the Navy, and those from the
subordinate branches of both the Military De
partments, exhibit to Congress, in minute dc-
tail, the presont condition of the public estab
lishments dependent upon them; tho execution
of the acts of Congress* relating to them, and
the views of the officers engaged in the several
branches ef the service, concerning the im
provements which may tend to their perfection
The fortification of the Coasts, and the gradu-
al increase and improvement of the Navy, are
P. ar - ls a great system of national defence,
which has been upwards of ten years in pro-
gress, and which, for a series of years to come,
will continuo to claim the constant and perse
vering protection and superintendence of tho
legislative authority. Among the measures
Which have emanated from these principles, the
Act of the lost Session of Congress for tne grad-
al improvement of the Navy holds a conspicu
ous place. The collection of timber for the fu
ture construction of vessels of war; the preser
vation and reproduction of the species of tim
ber peculiarly adapted to that purpose; the con
struction of Dry Docks for the use of the Na
vy; the erection of* a Marine Railway for the
repair of tho.public ships, and the improvement
of the Navy Yards for the preservation of tho
public property deposited in them, havo all re
ceived from the executive the attention requir
ed by that Act; and will continue to receive it,
steadily proceeding towards the execution of all
ita purposes. The establishment of a Naval
Academy, furnishing the means of theoretic in-
being the act of the 4th of May, 1826, l ^ e '.
dulgent provisions of which expired on th * ‘
of July last. The effect of these lavs has bt«
to reduce the debt from the purchasers, to* r *
naming balance of about Foitr millions in
hundred .thousand dollars duo; more th*oi
fifths of which are'for lands within the _ .
of Alabama. I recommend to Congress
revival and 'continuance for a further
tho benificent accommodations to tho P“
debtors, of that statute; and submit to
consideration, in tha same spirit of.equity. ^
remission, under proper discriminations, o ^
forfeitures of partial payments on accou ,j 0 *
purchases of the public lands, so far as to
of their application toother payments- _•
There are various other subjects °* v ;
terest to tho whole Union, which have n ,
foro been recommended to tho consider* ^
Congress, as well by my predecessors ,
der the impression of the duties devolvi S ^
on me, by myself. Among these are
rather ot justice than gratitude to , { y
warriors of tho Revolutionary War; u» 8