The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, December 27, 1824, Image 1

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TI PE MISSIONARY. No 26 Vou Vl.] From the National Intelligencer of Dte. 7. The President of the United States transn.it ted, this day, to both Houses of Congress the following IsBSsSA'MI Fellow Citizens of the Senate , and of the Home cf Representatives : The view which I have now to present to you of oar affair*, Foreign aod Dmestick, tealizes the most sanguine anticipations, which have been entertained of the puhlick prosperity. If we look to the whole, our growth, as a nation, continues to be rapid, beyond example ; if to the States which compose it, the same gratifying spectacle is exhibited. Onr expansion over the vast territory within our limits, has been great, without indicating any decline in those sec tions from which the emigration has been most conspicuous. We have daily gamed strength by a native population in every quarter—a population devoted to our hap py system of Government, and cherishing the bond of union with fraternal affection. F.xperience has already shown, that the dif ference of climate, and of industry, proceed ing from that cause, inseparable from such .vast domains, and which, under other sys tem- might have a repulsive tendency, can not fail to produce, with ns, under wise reg ulations, the opposite effect. What out portion wants, the other may supply, and this will be most sansibly felt by the parts most distant from each other, forming there by, a ilomesm k market, and an active in tercourse between the extremes, and throughout every portion of our Union. Thus, by a happy dis ribution of power be tween the National and State Governments, governments which rest on the sovereignty of the People, and are fully adequate to the grea’ purposes for which they were res pectively instituted,causes which might oth erwise lead to dismemberment, operate powerfully to draw ns closer together In every other circumstance, a correct view ol the actual slate of our Union, must be equally gratifying to onr constituents. Our relai ions with foreign powers are of a friend ly character, although certain interesting differences remain unsettled with some. Our revenue, under the mild system of im post and tonnage, continues to be adequate to all llip purposes of the Government Our agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and navigation, flourish. Our fortifications are advancing in the degree authorized by existing appropriations, to maturity; and duo progress is mads in the augmentation of the Navy, to the limit prescribed for ii by law. For thpse blessings we owe to A1 mighty God, from whom we derive them, and with profound reverence, our most grateful and unceasing acknowledgements. In adverting to our relations with foreign power*, which are always an object of the highest imporiance, I have to remark, that of the subjects which have been brought into discussion with them during the pres ent Administration, some have been satis factorily terminated: other* have been sus pended, to be resumed hereafter, under cir- j cumstantes more favouiable to success; and others are slil! in negotiation, with the hope that they may be adjusted, witbmutu al accommodation to the interests and to the satisfaction of the respective parties It has been the invariable object of thiir Government, to cherish the most friendly! relations with every power, and on prion pies and conditions which might make them permanent. A systematick effort has bee made to place oor commerce with each power, on a footing of perfect reciprocity; to settle with each, in a spirit of candout aod liberality, all existing differences, and to anticipate and remove, so far as it might be practicable, all causes of future variance. It having been stipulated by the Seventh Article of the Convention of Navigation and Commerce, which was concluded on the twenty-fourth June, eighteen hundred and twenty-two, between the United States and France, (bat the said Convention should con tinue in force for two year;,from the first of October, of that year, and for an indefinite term afterwards, unless one of the parties should declare its intention to reoonuce it, in which event, it should cease to operate at the pnd of six months, from such declara tion ; and, no such intention having been an nonneed, the Convention having been found advantageous to both parties, it has since remained, and still remains, in force. \t the time when that Convention was concln fled, many interesting subjects were left unsettled, and particularly our claim loin deronily for spoliations which were commit ted on onr commerce in the late wars. For these interests and claims, it was in the con templation of the parties, to make provision at a subsequent day, by a more comprehen sive and definitive Treaty. The object ha 9 been duly attended to since by the Execu tive, but, as yet, it has not been accomplish ed- It is hoped that a favourable opportu nity will present itself, for opening a nego tiation, which may embrace and arrange all existing differences, and every other con cern, in which they have a common inter est. upon the accession of the present King of France, an event which has occurred •mce the close of the last Session of Con gress. With Great Britain our commercial inter course rests on the same footing that it did MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK CQ UNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1824. at the last Session. By the convention of one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, the commerce between the United States and the British dominions, in Europe and the East Indies, was arranged on a principle of reciprocity. That convention was confirm ed and continued in force, with slight ex ceptions, by a subsequent Treaty, for the term often years, front the twentieth Oc tober, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, the date of the latter. The trade with the British colonies in the West Indies, has not, as yet, been arranged by treaty or otherwise, to our satisfaction. An approach to that result has been made by Legislative acts, whereby many serious impediments which had been raised by the parties n de fence of their respective claims, were re moved. An earnest desire exists, and has been manifested on the part of IhisGorern ment, to place the commerce with the col onies likewise on a footing of reciprocal ad vantage; and it is hoped that the British Government, seeing the justice of the pro posal, and its importance to the colsnies, will, ere long, accede to it. The Commissioners who were appointed for the adjustment of the boundary, be tween the territories of the United States and those of Great Britain specified in.the fifth article of the Treaty of Ghent, having disagreed in their decision, and both gov ernments having agreed to establish that boundary by amicable negotiation be tween them, it is hoped that it may be sat isfactorily adjusted in that mode. The houhdary specified by the sixth article has ‘ been established by the decision of the com missioners. From the progress made in (hat provided for by the seventh, according to a report recently received, there is good cause to presume that it will be settled ih the course of the ensuing year. It is a cause of serious regret, that no ar rangement has yet been finally concluded between the two Governments, to secure by joint co-operation, the suppression of the slave trade. It was the object of the Brit ish Government, in the early stages of the negotiation, to adopt a plan for the sup. pression, which should include she conces ston of the mutual right of search, by the ships of war of each party, of the vessels of the other, for suspected offenders. This was objected to by this Government on the principle, that, us the right of search was a right of war of a belligerent towards a neu tral power, it might have aq ill effect to ex tend it, by treaty, to an offence which had been made comparatively mild, to a time of peace. Anxious, however, for the suppres sion of this trade, it was thought adviseable, in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives, founded on an act of Congress, to propose, to the British Gov ernment, an expedient which should be free from that objection, and more effectual for the object, by making it piratical. In that mode, the enormity of the crime would place the offenders out of the protection of their Government, and involve no question of search, or other question between the parties, touching their respective rights. It was believed, also, (bat it would com pletely suppress the trade in the vessels of: both parties, and by their respective citi- 1 zc-ns and subjects, in those of other 1 with whom, it was hoped, that the odium ! which would thereby be attached to it, voiild produce a corresponding arrange- j i.imt, and, by means thereof, its entire ex-1 tirpafion forever. A Convention, to this effect, was concluded and signed, in London, j ou the day of , by Plenipo tentiaries duly authorized by both Govern ments, to the ratification of which certain obstacles have arisen, which are not yet entirely removed. The difference between the parties, still remaining, has been reduc ed to a point, not of sufficient magnitude, as is presumed, to be permitted to defeat an object so near to the heart of both nations, and so desirable to the friends of humanity throughout the world. As objections, how ever, to the principle recommended by the House of Rep’s, or at least to the conse quences inseparable from it, and which are understood to apply to the law, have been raised, which may deserve a re-considera tionofthe whole subject, I have thought it proper to suspend the conclusion of anew Convention, until the definitive sentiments if Congress may be ascertained. The doc uments relating to the negotiation are, with hat intent, submitted to your consideration. Our commerce with Sweden has been placed on a footing of perfect reciprocity by treaty, and, with Russia, the Nether lands, Prussia, the free Uanseatick Cities, the Dukedom of Oldenburg, and Sardinia, by internal regulations on each side, found ed on mutual agreement between the res pective Governments. The principles upon which the commer cial policy of the United States is founded, are to be traced to an early period. They ! are essentially connected with those upon which their independence was declared, and owe their origin to the enlightened men who took the lead in oor affairs at that im portant epoch. They are developed in their first treaty of commerce with France of sixth February, one tho isaiid seven hun dred and seventy-eight, and by a formal commission, which was instituted immedi ately after the conclusion of their ReVolu- tionary struggle, f or the purpose of negotia ting treaties of commerce with every Euro pean power. The first treaty of (he Unit ed States with Prussia, which was negotiat ed by that commission, affords a signal il lustration of those principles. The act of Congress of the third March, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, adopted immedi ately after the return of a general peace, was anew overture to foreign nations to es tablish our commercial relations with them on the basis of free and equal reciprocity. That principle has pervaded all the acts of Congress, and all the negotiations of the Executive on the subject since. A convention for the settlement of im portunt questions in relation to the North west Coast of this Continent, and its adjoin ing seas, was concluded and signed at St. Petersburg, on the . day of last, by the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, and Plenipotentiaries of the Imperial Government of Russia. It will im mediately be laid before the Senate for the exercise of the constitutional authority of that body, with reference to its ratification. .It is proper to add, that the manner in which this negotiation was invited and conducted on the part of the Emperour, has beeu very satisfactory The great and extraordinary changes which have happened in the government of Spain and Portugal, within the last two years, without seriously affecting the friend ly relations which, under all of them, have been maintained with those powers by the United States, have been obstacles to the adjustment of the particular subjects of dis cussion which have arisen with each. A resolution of the Senate, adopted at their last session, culled for information as to the effect produced upon our relations with Spain, by the recognition, on the part of j the United Slates, of the Independent South i American Governments. Tlie papers con taining that information are now communi cated to Congress. A Charge d’Affaires has been received from the Independent Government ot Bra zil. That country, heretofore a colonial possession of Portugal, had, some years since, been proclaimed, by the Sovereign ol Portugal himself, an independent king dom. Since his return to Lisbon, a revolu tion in Brazil has established anew govern ment there, with an Imperial title, at the head of which, is placed the Prince, in whom the Regency had been vested by the King, at the time of his departure. There is reason to expect that, by amicable negotia tion, the independence of Brazil will, ere long, be recognized by Portugal herself. With the remaining Powers of Europe, with those on the coast of Barbary,and with all the new South American States, our re lations are of a friendly character. We have Ministers Plenipotentiary residing with the Republicks of Columbia and Chili, and have received Ministers of the same rank from Colombia, Guatimala, Buenos Ayres, and Mexico. Our commercial rela tions with all those States are mutually beneficial and increasing. With the Repub lick of Colombia, a trealy of Commerce bxs been formed, of which a copy is receiv ed, and the original daily expected. A ne gotiation for a like treaty would have been Commenced with Buenos Ayres, had it not been prevented by the indisposition and la mented decease of Mr. Rodney, our Minis ter there ; and to whose memory the most respectful attention has been shown by the Government of that Republicfc. An advan tageous alteration ofour treaty with Tunis, has been obtained by our Consular Agent residing there ; the official document of which, when received, will be laid before -the Senate. 1 he atttention of the Government has been drawn, with great solicitude, to other subjects, and particularly to that relating to a state of maritime war involving the re lative rights of neutral and belligerent in such wars. Most of the difficulties which we have experienced, and of the losses which we have sustained, since the estab lishment of our Independence, have pro ceeded from the unsettled state of those rights, and the extent to which the belli gerent claim has been carried against the neutral party. It is impossible to look back on the occurrences of the late wars in Eu rope, aod to behold the disregard which was paid to our rights, as a neutral pow er, and the waste which was made of our commerce by the parties to those wars, by various acts of their respec tive Governments, and under the pretext, by each, that the other had set the exam ple, without great mortification, and a fixed purpose never to submit to the like in fu ture. An attempt to remove those causes of possible variance, by friendly negotia tion, and on just principles which would be applicable to all parties, could, it was pre sowed, be viewed by none, other than as a proof of an earnest desire to preserve these relations with every power. In the late war between France and Spain, a cris is occurred in which it seemed probable that all the controvertible principles involv ed in such wars might be brought iDto dis cussion, and settled to the satisfaction of all parties. Propositions, having this object in view, have been made to the Govern ments of Great Britain, France, Rustic, and ot other Poweis, which have been receiv ed in a friendly manner by all, but as yet no treaty has been formed with either for its accomplishment. The policy will, it is presumed, be persevered in, and in the hope that it may be successful. It will always he recollected that with one of the parties to those wars, aod from whom we received those injuries, we sought redress by war. From the other, by whose then reigning Government our vessels were seized in port as well as at sea, and their cargoes confiscated, indemnity has been expected, but has not yet been ren dered. It was under the influence of the latter, that our vessels were likewise seiz ed by the Governments of Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Naples, and from whom indemnity has been claimed and is still expected, with the exception of Spain, by whom it has been rendered. With both parties we had abundant cause of war, but we had no alternative but to resist that which was most powerful at sea, and pres sed us nearest at borne. With this, all differences were settled by a treaty found ed on conditions fair and honourable to both, and which has been so far executed with perfect good faith, ft has been earnestly hoped, that the other would, of its own ac cord, and from a sentiment of justice and conciliation, make to our citizens the indem nity to which they are entitled, B od there by remove from our relations any just cause ot discontent on our side. I. Is estimated that the receipts into the Treasury during the current year, exclu sive of loans, will exceed eighteen millions live hundred thousand dollars, which with the sum remaining in the Treasury, at the end of the last year amounting to nine mil lions four hundred sixly-tbree thousand nine hundred twenty-two dollars and eighty. | one cents, will, after discharging the cur rent disbursements of the year, the interest : on pobfick debt, and upwards of eleven millions five hundred thousand dollars of the principal, leave a balance of more than three million dollars in the Treasury on the first day of January next. A larger amount of the debt contracted during the late war, bearing an interest of six per cent, becoming redeemable in the course of the ensuing year, than could lie discharged by the ordinary revenue, the act of the twenty sixth of May, authorized a loan of five million dollars at four nnd a half per cent to meet the same. By this arrangement an annual saving will accrue to the publick of seventy-five thousand dol lars. Under the act of the twenty fourth of May last, a loan of five million dollars, was authorized m order to meet the awards, under the Florida Treaty, which was no gotiated at par, with the Batik of the United States at four and a half per ceot. the lim it of interest fixed by the act. By this provision the claims of our citizens, who bad sustained so great a loss by spoliations, and from whom indemnity had been so long withheld, were promptly paid. For these advances the puhlick will be amply repaid, at no distant day, by the sale of the lands in Florida. Os the great advantage resulting from the acquisition of the territory, in oth er respects, too high an estimate cannot be formed. It is estimated that the receipts into the Treasury, during the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, will be suf ficient to meet the disbursements of the year, including the sum of ten millions of dollars, which is annually appropriated by the act, constituting the Sinking Fund, to the payment of the principal and interest of the publick debt. The whole amount of the publick debt, on the first of January next, may be estima ted at eighty six millions of dollars, inclu sive of two millions five hundred thousand dollars of the loan authorized by the act of the twenty-sixth of May last. In this esti mate is included a stock of seven million dollars issued for the purchase of that amount of the capital stock of the Bank of the United States, and which, as the stock of the Bank still held by the Government, will at least be fully equal to its reimburse ment, ought not to be considered as con stituting a part of the publick debt. Esti mating then, the whole amount of the pub lick debt at seventy-nine million dollars, & regarding the annual receipts and expendi tures of the Government, a well-founded hope may be entertained, that, should no unexpected event occur, the whole publick debt may be discharged in the course of ten years, and the Government he left at liberty thereafter, to apply such portion of the revenue as may not be necessary for current expenses, to such other objects as may be most conducive to the publick se curity and welfare. That the sum appli cable to these objects, will be very consid erable, may be fairly concluded, when it is recollected, that a large amount of the pub lick revenue bag been applied since the late war, to (he construction of the publick buildings in this city ; to the erection of fortifications along the coast, and of arsenals in different parts of the Union; to the aug mentation of the navy, to the extinguish ment of the Indian title to large tracts of fertile territory ; to the acquisition of Flor ida ; to pensions te revolutionary officer*