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_ , mmmmmm «■ tm m iwm—-i —i 1—;— —i-rimmruriii rn-i i mmmmmmm wi«wiwm mm wag 11 1 . 11 IIW -- • • .I.l'!y •.i ■ '■■ i •-• b *v*ry C’ouniry in the w -I • 1 ■ 1 - ' ■’ " 1 ■ ■ l ■' us { ** ' • ~ _ T I NEW SERIES Vo!. IX. AUGUSTA, FRIDAY VIOttNING, DECEMBER 16. 1831. Mu. 52. PRBSWESTS MESSAGE. j e Washington, City, December 6, 18.3). / Od Thur-day, ilie President irni.ndt ted to both H rases the following ,1* t ;; h'r ll ’w Citizens of Cm Senate and House <f h Representatives: 11 The rep r C9tMitiHioD of th- Peop'c Ins l»crn j* renewed (or the tweniy-9>cond lime since J llie Constitution they formed has h “cn in’ force For near ii df a century the Chief Masistrate# who Itave. been successively . nI. | | chosen hive made their annual communica tions of the State of the nation to its repre- aentatives Generally, these communica tions have been of the most gratifying nature, testifying an advance in all the improve- J 1 men's of social, and all the securities of po inical life.--But frequently, and justly,/as J you have been called onto b- ft ateful tor the boun'les ol Providence, at lew periods k have, die) been more abundantly or exten sively bes'ow.d than at the present; rarely, } it ever, have, we had greater reason to con- 11 vratula'e each other on the. continued and " p ( riii ft increasing prosper) y of our beloved coun-,' try. Agriculture, (be first and moat important ? Occupidon us man, has compensated the la-!j, bnrs of the husbandman with plentiful crops ,j of all the varied products of our extensive country. Manufactures have been esiab n fisli 0, in ntiicli ine Annls ul itm capitalist find a ptofi able investment, and which give employment and subsistence to a numerous and increasing body of industrious and dex trous mechanics.---The laborer is rewarded | by high wages, in (he construction of works of in.ernal improvement, which are extend- . ing with unprecedented rapidity. Science j is steadily penetrating the recesses of nature ’ and disclosing her secrets, while the ingenu- . ity of free minds is subjecting the elements ( to the power ol man, and making each new conquest auxiliary to his comfort. By our mails, whose speed is regularly increased,|| and whose routes are every year extended, the communica'ion of public intelligence and private business is rendered frequent] and safe —the intercourse between cities, which it formerly required weeks to accomplish, is now ffcied in n few days; j and in the construction of railrbads, and the/ application of steam power, we have area- xonnble prospect that the extreme parts of our country will be so much approximated,) and those, most isolated by the obstacles of) { nature, rendered so accessible as to an apprehension, sometimes entertained,/ that the great extent ol the Union would cn ! , danger its permanent existence. If. from (he satisfactory view of our ngri-( v culture, manufactures, A. internal improve i inents, we turn to the state (if our naviga-! ' lion and trade with foreign Nations, and be-L tween the Slates, we shall scarcely find leßs' s cause for gratulation. A benvfi.ient Provi-j, dence has provided, for their exercise andj. ( encouragement, an extensive coast indented by capacious bays, noble rivers, inland aeas.j, with a country productive ot every material), tor shipbuilding, and every commodity gainful commerce, and filled with apnpula lion active, intelligent, well informed, nnd ! t fearless of danger. These advantages are), not neglected; and an impulse has lately , been given to commercial enterprise, which j fills our snip yards with new constructions/, encuurag s all the art* and branches of in-/ duatry connected with them, crowds the ( wharves of our cities with vessels, and co vers the most distant seas with our canvass.! ( Let us be grateful for these blessings to , the beneficicnt Being who has conferred them, and who sutlers us to indulge area- ' amiable hope of their continuance and exten- , aion, while we neglect not the means by , which they may be preserved. If we may dare tojudge of Hi* In ure designs by the ( manner in which hi* pas; favors hive been , bestowed, he has made uur national prosper!- ( ty to depend on the preservation <d our liber | ties —our national torce on our tederal union j --•and our individual happiness on the main- . tenance ot our Slate rights anil wiscinstitu- ( tions. it we are prosperous at home, and , respected abroad, it is because we are free, , uni ed, industrious, & obedient to the laws. , While we continue so, we shall, by the blessing of Heaven, go on in (he happy r» j reer we have begun, and which has brought , us.in the short period of nur political exis fence, from a population ol three to thirteen , millions from thirteen separate Colonies to ( twenty four United States—from weakness i to strength—from a rank scarcely marked/ in the scale of Nations to a high place ini their respect. This last advantage is one that has re itihed, in a great degree, from the princi ples which have guided out intercourse with toicign Bowers, since we have assumed an equal st .tiou among them: and hence, the Sonus* account which the Executive renders to Uie country, ot the manner in which that branch of his duties has been fueled, proves instructive and salutary. ■i _ynnx-laJi msmzw a «r kvc .af-..s«*<;m.o<. wiimi Tlie specific and wise p tlicy of out- Gov Brnrnent kep* us in a slate of neutrality du ring the war* Hint have »t dili'erent periods tinco nur political existence, b 'en carried in by other Powers : but this policy, while t gave activity arid extent to our corn Tierce, exposed it in the *atne proportion to ojuiics (nun the belligerent nations- Hence lave arisen claim* of indemni'y (<>r th.se njuties. England, France, Bp tin, Hoi and, Sweden, Denmark, Naples, and I i'e y Portugal, and all, in a greater or le-iS legres, infringed our neutral rights. Ue nands for reparation weie made upon all. They have liad in all, and continue to have n some coses, a leading influence on the nature of our relations v/ih the Poweis on whom they were made. Os the claims upon England it is un necessary to speak (mther than to say that he state of things (o which their pro»ecu lion and denial gave rise has been succeed i*d by arrangements productive of mutual good feeling and amicable rotations between th" two countries, which it is hoped will nut be interrupted. One ot these arrangements is that rr.latmg to the colonial trade, which was communicated to Congress at tfie last session ; and although the short period du ring which it has been in force will not en able me to form an accurate judgment of ita operation, there is every reason to be lieve that it will prove highly beneficial. Ihe trade thereby authorized has employ ed, to the 30lh September lest, upwards of 00 non tuna of American, and 15,000 tons of foreign shipping in (he outward voyages ; and, in the inward, nearly an equal amount of American, and 29,000 only of foreign tonnage. Advantages, too, have resulted to our agricultural interests from the state us the trade between Canada and our Ter ritories and States bordering on the St, Lawrence and the Lakes, which may prove more than equivalent to the loss sustained by the discrimination made to favor the trade of the Northern colonies with the West Indies. After our transition from the state of co lonies to that of an independent nation, many points were found necessary to be settled between us and Great Britain. A tnong them was the derparcation of boun daries, not described with sufficient preci sion in (he Treaty of Peace. Some of the line* that divide the States and Territories of th p United States from the British Pro vinces, have hern definitively fixed, 'That, however, which separates u« from the Pro vinces of Canada and Ncw-Btunewick to the N irth and (he East, was s'ill in dis pute when I came into office. But I found arrangements made for its settlement, over which I had no control. The Commission ers who had been appointed under the pro visions of (he Treaty of Ghent, having been enable to agree, a convention was made with Great Britain by my immediate pre decessor in office, v/illi the advice and con sent of the Senate, by which it was agreed '* that the points of difference which have arisen >o the settlement of the boundary line b tween the American and Bri islt du minions, as described in the sth article ot the Treaty of Gnent, shall be referred as therein provided, to some friendly Sever eign or State, who shall he invited to inves tigate. and make a decision upon such points of difference and the K-ing of die Ne diet laud* having, by the late President,ami His Britannic Majesty, been designated as such friendly Sovereign, it became my duty to carry, with good faith, (he agreement on made, into full effect. To this end I caused all the measures to be taken which were ne cessary to a full exposition of our case to the Sovereign Arbiter; and nominated as Minister Plenipotentiary to his court, a distinguished citizen of the State most in terested in the question, and who had been one of the agents previously employed fur cettling the controversy. Co the 10 h day of January las', His Majesty the King ot ihe Netherlands d to the Plenipo tentiaries of the U. S ates, and of Great Biitain, his written opinion on the caae re ferred to him. The papers in relation tc the subject will be communicated, by spe cie! mess ge, to the proper branch of tlu Government, with the perfect confidence that its wisdom will adopt such measure* a* will secure an amicable settlement of th [controversy, without infringing any consti tutional right of the States immediately in iferested. 1 Ii affords me satisfaction to inform you that suggestions, made by my direction tr the Charge d’Atfaires of his Britannic Ma j-sty, to this Government, have had then desired effect in producing the release ol .certain American citizens who were impri soned for setting up the authority of tlu (State of Maine, at a place in the disputed territory under the actual jurisdiction of hit Bri annic Majesty.— From this, and the as suiances I have received of the desire o the local authorities to avoid any cause o collision, f have the best hopes that a gone understanding will be kept up until it i; 1 confirmed by the final disposition of tin subject Mrv.ttAAi.aur**. -- - »o . j- j ~joht. rae. a•. „ —-ram *ia»a«2*aWT The amicable relations which ro w sub nisi betw en ihe United S’atea and G■ at * Britain, the increasing intercourse between !; Jfieir citizens, arid (he rapid , hlitetatiun of p. r-nfi ietidl y prejudices to which former events -[ti a t u»a 117 gave rise --concurred to present iijthir, as a ft; period for rent wing out enden !■ vc>rs to provide against the recurrence of c causes of irritation, which, in the event of vyar between Great Britain and arty other ■ Power, would inevitably endanger our peace. a| Animated by the sinerrest de*irc to avoid, -.such a siate of things, and peat Hull) •» «e-j .Icara, under all possible circumstance*, (lie f i iglita and honor of ihe country, 1 have giv e(en .uch instructions (o the Minister laid; f>l ent to the C ‘Un of London, a* will evince mat desire; and if met by a ;.o.h'cspomirir . disposition, which we capnot doom, will pul I -;n end io causes of collision, which, widi out advantage to either, tend to estrange! from each u her two nations vvlio have eveiyi 1 motive u» preserve, not only peace, but am ! intercourse of the most amicable nature. 1 t In my Message at the opening of the lasti s session of Congees-, I expressed a confident)' /hope that the justice of our claims upon ( Fiance, urged as they were with peisever , ance anil signal abiliiy by ,our Minister 1 .Ithere, would finally be acknowledged. This 1 t hope has b :en realiZi d. A Treaty has been signed, which will immediately be laid be ) jfore the Senate, for its approbation; .*which, containing stipulations that require, f| Legislative acts, must have the cnrturronce! Jot bmh Houses before it can oe carried in /to effect. By it, the French Government,' I engage to pay a sum which, •' not quite e Zq'ial io that which no; ne fount due to oar: j citixens, will yet, it ia believed, under all . circums'ances, be deemed ea'iafactory by .[these interested. The offer of a gross sum, instead of the satisfaction of each individu- ' , al claim, was accepted, because the only al- 1 pternatives were s rigorous exaction «f thej > whole amount stated to be due on each claim, ! . which might, in some instances, be exugge- I rated by design, in oihers over-rated thip’ 1 „ error, and which theiefore, it womd .hove/ been both ungracious and unjust to have :a- 4 ! sisled on, or a settlement by a mixed com ! .'mission, to which the French negofciatois ! were very averse, and which experience in/ . other cases had rhuwn to be dilatory, and , . ofien wholly inadequate to the end. A 3 comparatively small sifm is siipulaud on 1 .'our jmrf, to go so the extinction of all claims j by French citizens on our Government ; and * ! a reduction of duties on our Cotton and i ,.<heir Wines has been agreed un, as a consi- i . deration for the renunciation ot an iinpur-/ ) tant claim for commercial privileges, under * r the construction hey gave to the Treaty for * . the cession of Louisiana. r * . j Should this Treaty receive the proper* , sanction, a source of irritation will be sli p- j e pod, that has, for so many years, in some/ ..degree alienated from each other rwo na j 1 lions who, from interest as well as the re-/ jjmembrance of early associations, ought to 1 e cherish the most friendly relations—ao en-; 1 „ couragement will be given for perseverance, 1 .in the demands of justice, by this new 1 j proof, that, il steadily pursued, (hey will 1 9 jbe listened t«---and admonition will be 01-' 1 .i'fVred to those Poweis, if any, which may ~be inclined to evade them, that they will . S 1 never be abandoned. Above all, a just con-/ ifidence will be inspired in oui fellow citi t | zens, that their Government will exert all I B /he powers with which they have invested! y il, in support of their just claims upon for eign nations j at the same time that the j frank acknowledgement and provision for the pay meat of those which vvers address-; () ed to our equity, although unsupported by 1 j legal proof, affords a practical illustration u of oar submission (o the divine rule of do ling to others what we desired they should/ n do unto us. 1 r Sweden and Denmark havi g made com- ! ~ pensali m tor the irregularities committed I ,C by their vessels, or in their ports, to the per .feet satisfaction of the parties concerned.. t ai d having renewed the F»e ities of Cura . inerce entered into with them, our political () and commercial relations wufi those Powers continue to been the most friendly tooling, ej With Spain, rur differences sp to the 22 : j e)of February, 1819, were settled by the s.Trea'y of Washington of (hat da'e : cut, a j ■ a subsequent period, our commerce with the States formerly colonies of Spain on the! -'continent of America, was annoyed and be quently interrupted by her public and pri I u vaie armed ships. Tiiey captu ed many ofi iijour vessels prosecuting a lawful commerce,| -(and sold themand their cargoes; and at one) ( time, to our demands for res'oia ion and in d delimit), opposed th< allegation, ihui they i- ! Acre taken tn the violation ot a blockade oli ejall the ports of those States. This blockade! d was declaratmy only, and the inadequacy ot) t (lie force to maintain it, was so manifest,) i-.that this allegation was varied to a charge if'of trade in contraband ot war. This, ions, jfjtuni, was also f on I untenable ; and the d;minister whom I sent with ins’ructions (oj is press lor the reparation iha? was du; to oui ( e injured fellow-citizens, Inis transini ted an' 'answer to hi* demand, by which the cau l n x.auta.MVJV.'x-Jj- wjKara jpiraigti •>— - i ■ m inr ■■nm* . turcs are lared to have bc-n legal, and are just died, the irr if * -pc . ,«l p n.r.e ol i the h ates o' Aim i ic.anevei h..>icg been nc f knew lodged by Spain, she had a right to i prohibit trade with them under her old co-l lonia! laws ITU giouod of defence was cnntradiciory, not only to th se which had : been/oimerly alleged'’, but to she uniform praedee and es abli-hed laws of nations, and had been abindoned by Spain hersel! in the /convention which granted indemnity to B itish subj x'.s foi captures made at the' jsutnc lime, under the same circ ,‘instances,! l and for the s.ine allegations with those of; which we complain. Il l.owevej indulge the in pe that further) reflection will lead io other views, and feel 1 t ui.Hil. r»t that llie Onthxiltc Majesty ' shall In; convinced of the jus,ice. of the claim,' his desire to preserve fiiendly relations be- 1 ' iween the two countries, which it is my ear nest endeavor to maintain, will induce him to accede to our demand, I have therefore (despatched a special messenger within* struedons to our Minister to bring the case; once more to his consideration : (o Ihe end i 'that if, which 1 c mint bring myself to be lieve, (he same d cision, >4ha( cannot but be deemed an unfriendly denial of justice,! 1 should b" persisted in, llie matter may, be- I lore your adj >urnment, be laid before you, I lihe coi siitu.iohal judges of what i* proper i to be done when negotiation tor redress of I [injury fail?, r ~y :t j 'l’he conciaaion of u Treaty for itijTemni 'y/ with Franca seemed to present a favorable I opportunity to renew our cl. ims of a similar I 'nature on other Powers, and particularly in 1 ihe case of those upon Naples, more especi- 1 ] ally as in the course of former negotiations ■ with that Power, our failure to induce' France to render us justice was used as any argument against us. The desires of thej merchants who were the principal sufferers ( have therefore been acceded to, and a mis- i sioo has been instituted (or the special pur- 1 pose of obtaining for them a reparationj already 100 long delayed. This measure ( having been resolved on, it was pul in xe-|, cation wi hout waiting for the meeting of ( Congress, because, the state of Eur-ope ere- | alod an apprehension of events that might j have rendered our application ineffectual. ; Our demands upon the Government of the, , Two Sicilies are of a peculiar nature : Ihe , injuries on which they are founded are not j denied, nor are the atrocity and perfidy un- ( der which those injuries were perpetrated < attempted to be extenuated. The sole] ground on which indent dry has been re- ( I used is the alleged illegality of (ho (crime . by which the monarch who made the seizures j held his crown. Phis defence, always on- , founded in any principle of tiie law of na-j tions—-now universally abandoned, even by . those Powers upon whom die responsibility , for acts of past rulers bore the most heavily, j ! will unquestionably be given up by His'Si-1, [cilian Majesty; whose counsels will receive J lan impulse from (hat high sense of honor ] iaud regard to justice which are said to '.characterize him; and 1 feel the fullest con-j 1 tidence that the tulen s of the cidzen com-/ 'missioned lor (ha. purpose will place before ( ihim the just claims ot oar injured citizens, dnsucha light as will enable me, before ynui adjournment, to announce that they' [have been adjusted and secured. Precise' 'instructions, to the effect ol bringing (he ne- I goiiaiio.es to a speedy issue, have been given 1 iaud will be obeyed. in the late blockade of Terceira, some of, 1 ithe Poriuguese fleet captured scvcrr.l o! our' [vessels and committed other excesses for/ I which reparation was demanded.; ami 1 was 1 ' on the point of despatching an armed force/ to prevent .my recurrence of a similar vio- 1 ler.ee ami protect our cit.zens in the prose-1 culion of their lawful commerce, when ufli ;1 cial assurances, on which 1 relied, made ihe/ sailing of the ships unnecessary. Since that/ period frequent promises have been made ' that full indemnity shall be given for die in 1 juries inflicted and Ihe losses sustained. Inj ! the periennance there has been some, per-la haps unavoidable delay : but 1 have the/ fullest confidence that my earnest de-/ sire that this business may at once be/ closed, which our Minister has been in > structed . ongly to express, will very eocm * [be gratified. I have t,e better ground forji I Ins lope, firm die cvidriee of a friendly/ Idisposi ion which that Givernrnent hasjo [shewn by an actual reduc ion in the duty on nre, the produce of nur Southern State?, t jauhorizing the anticipation that this impc '( lianl article of our export will soon be ad-/ jmitied on the same footing with that pro 't uiuced bv ihe must favored nation. t With (ho other Powers of Europe, we * have fortunately had no cause of discus 1 /ions for the mires* of injuries. V\ ith the I Empire of the Uussias, our political con juexion is of the must friendly, and uur com jmercialf of the most liberal ki d. We cn 1 'joy the ailvamag.’s of naviga'ion and trade, 1 given to the nn«s' favored uad< n : but it has/ [not yet suited their policy or p chap* has) 1 loot been foutid convenum from oilier con-d 'sidendinns, o give *(ub ii r y and reciprocity)‘ |to those piivileges, by « ccani't.-rcis! Trva- * « - -xz-jzwunifzi.jnzjs'.K *»>«. v-c-wwar-ve ** ■ x. .... . ty. •he ill health of I lit* Mil i-u-r last }ear chared wish making a |*r'«i|>(»»lii6n (or that a; i itiguiu nt, did noi p t imi. him to re in in a; S>. Feteisbmgh, and the attention nl ;ha' (Jut emmeiit, during the whole of the pet ini! Mnce his departure, having been oc eupied by the war in which ii wu* ei gaged, we have been assured that nothing could have becD'«flVr.ted by his presence. A Min is cr will soon be nominated as well to ef fect this important abject, a» to keep up the lelationsof amity and good understanding ■td which we ha»e received so many assur ances and proof* front fits Inrperitl Majes ty and the Emperor his predecessor; y She l Ircaty with Austria is opcnin r to us an impoitint bade with the hereditary duinioiiiiis oi the Emperor, the value of which has hern hitherto liitle known, and |ol course not sufficiently appieciated. While uur commerce find* an entrance into the Si uth ol Germany by means of this treaty, those we have formed with the Hanseatic lowns A. PMissis, and others now in nego tiation, will open that vast country to the enlerprizing spirit of our merchants, on (he North ; a country abounding m all the na teiials fur a mutually bum field commerce-, filled with enlightened and industrious in habitants, holding an important nlace in the politics of Europe, and to which we ov/e so many valuable citizens. 'I he rntifica |tion of the Treaty with tiie Porte was sent to be exchanged by the gentlen an appoint ed our Charge ((’Affaires to that Court. Some diffioiltirs occurred on his arrival ; but at the date of his last official despatch, he supposed they had been obviated, and that there was every prospect of the ex change being speedily effected, ; i’his finishes the connected view I have thought it proper to give of our political and commercial relations in Europe, Eve.y effort in my power will be continued to strengthen and extend them by Treaties founded on principles of the most perfect recipiocity of interest, neither asking nor conceding any exclusive advantage but lib erating as far as it lies in my power the ac tivity and industry of our fellow-citizens from tire shackles which Soieign resit lo tions may impose. To China and the East Indies, our com merce continues in its usual extent and with increased facilities, which vhe ****ed*t and capita) of oar merchants afford; by sub stituting hills for payments in specie. A daring outrage having been committed in those seas by the plunder of cue of our mer chantmen’engaged in the pepper trade at a port in Sumalria, nnd the piraticel perpe trators belonging to tribes in such a state of S' ciefy, that the usual course of proceed ings between civilized nations could not be pursued, I forhwi h despatched a Frigate wirh orders to r-quire immediate satisfac tion for tiie .injury, and indemnity tu the 'sufferers ! changes hive taken piece in oar con yiexion with the independent 3 ates of Ame rica since my last communication to Con giess. Ihe ratification of a Commercial j treaty with the United R publics of Mesi co has been far some time under delibera 'tion iu their,Congress, but was still unde ciced at the date c! our last despatches. I The "Jnhappy civil commotions that have picvailed there, were undoubtedly (he cause of the delay ; but as the Government is now - said to be tranquilized, we may hope soon ho receive the ratification of the Treaty aud an arrangement for the denmkation of tho boundaries between us. In the meantime an important trade has been opened, with mutual benefit, from St. Louis in the Slate of Missouri, by caravans, to (he interior provinces of Mexico. This commerce is protected in its progrra* through the Indian countries by the troops of the. U, S. which have be. n permitted to escort the caravans beyond oui boundaries to the settled pait of 'he Mexican territory. Fiom Cential America 1 have received assurances of the most friendly kir'd, and die gratifying application (~ ur g„ ()1 ] of , bees to remove a supposed irriispcsidon to wauls that G veinment in a neighboring Stale : this application was immediately and successfully complied wi h. They gave us also the pleasing intelligence that differ ences which had pievaiied in (heir iute r.a! * affairs had been pnaceab'y ndju<t»tl Gu I reaty with this It -public continues’ to L< faithfully observed and piomises a great and beneficial rommerec b -ween the two com-.. -I Us ; a commerce ■ I t c -’i, , ■ - aiiee, it (he magi ilicent project of a thin canai thn ugu tiie dominions of that State Irom the. Ailuntic to the P..tific Ocean, now m serious contempla-ion, sha'l be executed. I have great satisfaction in cemmunica tng the success which lias attended the tz t'iois ol uur Minister to Colombia to pro cure a very considerable reduction in the duties on uur sh ur in that Republic. In tleini i y, ala >, has bten stipulated fur it j >- ties reciivod by uurnercl.au s fiom dm a I seizures; and renewed assurances ute ujv en .hat the treaty be-w m •> e two countries •hall be faithfully üb-eived.