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and soldier*, nd (o invalids of the late war.
On many of these object* the expense will
annually be diminished, and cease at no
distant period on most of them. On the
first of January, one thousand eight hund
red and seventeen,the publick debt amount
ed to one hundred and twenty-three million
four hundred and ninety-one thousand nine
hundred and sixty-five dollars and sixteen
cents ; and notwithstanding the large sums
which have been applied to these objects,
it has been reduced since that period, thir
ty-seven million four hundred and forty-six
thousand nine hundred and sixty-one dol
lars and seventy-eight cents. The lasi
portion of the publick debt will be redeem
able on the first of January, one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-five; and while
there is the best reason to believe that the
resources of the Government will be coo
tinually adequate to snch portions of it as
may become due in the interval, it is re
commended to Congress to seize every op
portunity which may present itself, to re
diice the rate of interest on every part
thereof. The high state of the publick
credit, and the great abudance of money,
are at this time very favourable to such a
result. It must be very gratifying to our
fellow-citizens, to witness this flourishing
slate of the publick finances, when it is re
collected, that no burthen whatever has
been imposed upon them.
The Military Establishment, in all its
branches, in the performance of the vari
ous duties assigned to each, justifies tbe fa
vourable view which was presented, of the
efficiency of its organization, at the lastses
eioo. All the appropriations have been re
gularly applied to tbe objects intended by
Congress-, and, so far as the disbursements
have been made, the accounts have been
rendered and settled, without loss to the
publick. The condition of tbe army, itself,
as relates to the officers and men, in science
and discipline, is highly respectable. The
Military Academy, on which tbe Army, es
sentially re9ts, and to which it is much in
debted, for this state of improvement, has
attained, in comparison with any other in
stitution, of a like kind, a high degree of
perfection. Experience, however, has
} down that the. dispersed condition of the
corps of Artillery, w unfavourable to the
discipline of that important branch of the
Military Establishment. To remedy this
inconvenience, eleven companies have
been assembled at the Fortification erected
at Old Point Comfort, as a school for
Artillery instruction, with intention, as they
shall be perfected in the various duties of
That service, to order them toother posts,
and to snppfy their places with other com
panies, for instruction in like manner. In
this mode, a complete knowledge of the
science and duties of this arm, will be ex
tended throughout the whole corps of ar
tillery. But, to carry this object into ef
fect, will require the aid of Congress; to
obtain which, the subject is now submitted
to your consideration
Os the progress which has been made
in the consiruclion of Fortifications, for the
permanent defence of our maritime fron
tier, according’ to the plan decided on, and
to the extent of the existing’appropriations,
‘he Report of the Secretary of War, which
i, herewith communicated, will give a de
tail’ and account. Their final completion
cannot fail to give great additional security
to tt.it frontier, and to diminish, proportion
ablv, the expense of defending it in the
event of war.
The provisions in the several acts of
Congrt -*s, of the last session, for the im
provement of the navigation of the Missis
sippi an ’ the Ohio, of the harbour of Pres
qu’isle, on Lake Erie, and the repair of the
Plymouth Beach, are in a course of regular
execution ; and there is reason to believe,
that the appropriation, in each instance,
will be adequate to the object. To carry
these improvements fully into effect, the
superintendence of them has been assigned
of officers of the Corps of Engineers.
Under the act of3olh April last, author
izing the President to cause a survey to be
made, with the necessary plans and esti
mates, of such roads andcanals, as he might
deem of national importance, in a com
mercial or military point of view, or for
the transportation of the mail, a Board has
been instituted, consisting of two distinguish
ed officers of the Corps of Engineers, and a
distingoshed civil Engineer,with assistants,
who have been actively employed, in carty
ing into effect the object of the act. They
have carefully examined the route be
tween the Potomack and the Ohio rivers;
between the latter and Lake Erie; between
the Alleghany and the Snsqehanoah ; and
the routes between the Delaware and the
Rariton, Barnstable ar.d Buzzard’s Bay, and
between Boston Harbour and Narragansei
Bay. Such portion of the corps of Topo
graphical Engineers, as e.onld be spared
from the survey of the coast, has been ero
ployed in surveying the very important
route between the Potomack and the Ohio.
Considerable progress la been made in it,
but the survey cannot be completed until
the next season. It is gratifying to add,
from the view already taken, that there is
good cause to believe, that this great na
tional object may be fully accomplished.
It is contemplated to commence early in
the next season, the execution of the other
branch of the Act, that which relates to
roads, and with the survey of a route from
this City through the Southern States to
New Orleans, the importance of which can
not be too highly estimated. All the nffi
cers of both the Corps of Engineers, who
could be spared from other services, have
been employed in exploring and surveying
the routes for canals. To digest n plan for
both objects, for the great purposes sped
tied, will require n thorough knowledge of
every part of our Union, and of the rela
tion of each part to the others and of all to
the seat of the General Goverament. For
such a digest it will be necessary that the
information be full, minute, and precise.
With a view to these important objects,l sub
mit to the consideration of Congress the pro
priely of enlarging both the corps of Engi
neers, the Military and Topographical. It
need scarcely be remarked,that the more ex
tensively these corps are engaged in the im
provement of their country, in the execu
tion of the powers of Congress, and in aid
of the states, in such improvements as lie
beyond that limit, when such aid is desired,
the happier the effect will be in many views
of which the sulject is susceptible. By
profiting of their science the works will al
ways be well executed; and by giving to
the officers such employment, our Union
will derive all the advantage in peace as
well as in war, from their talents, and ser
vices which they can afford. In this mode,
also, the Military will he incorporated with
the civil, and unfounded and injurious dis
tinctions and prejudices of every kind, be
done away. To the corps themselves, ibis
service cannot fail to be equally useful,
since, by the knowledge they would thus
acquire, they would be eminently bettei
qualified, in the event of war, for the great
purposes for which they were instituted.
Our relations with the Indian tribes with
in our limits, have nni been materially
changed during the year. The hostile dis
position evinced by certain tribes on the
Missouri during the lust year still continues,
and has extended in some degree to (hose
on the Upper Mississippi and the upper
Lakes. Several parties of our citizens have
been plundered and murdered by those
tribes. In order to establish relations ol
friendship with them, Congress at ihe last
sesiioD made an appropriation for Treaties
with them, and for the employment of a
suitable Military escort to accompany and;
attend the Commissioners, at the places
appointed for the negotiations. This ob
ject has not been effected. The season was
100 far advanced when the appropriation
was made,and the distance toogreat to permit
it, but measures have been taken, and all
the preparations will be completed, to ac
complish it at an early period in the next
season.
Believing that the hostility of the tribes,
particularly on the upper Mississippi, and
ihe Lakes, is in no small degree owing to
the wars which are carried on between the
tribes residing in that quarter, measures
have beeo taken to bring about a general
peace among them, which, if successful,
will not only tend to the security of our cit
izens, but be of great advantage to the In
dians themselves.
With the exception of the Tiibes refer
red to, our relations with all the others are
on the same friendly fooling,, and it affords
me great satisfaction to add, that they are
making steady advances in civilization, and
tbe improvement of their condition. Many
of the Tribes have already made great
progress in the arts of civilized life. This
result has been brought about by the hu
mane and persevering policy of the Gov
ernment ; and, particularly, by means of the
appropriation for the civilization of the In
dians. There have been established-, under
the provisions of this act, Ihirly-two schools,
containing nine bundred and sixteen schol
ars, who are well instructed in, several
branches of literature, and likewise in.ag"-
riculture, and the ordinary arts of life.
Under the appropriation to authorize
treaties with the Creeks, and Quapaw In
dians, commissioners have been appointed,
and negotiations are now pending, but the
result is not yet known.
For more full information respecting the
principle which has been adopted for car
rying into effect Ihe act of Congress author
izing surveys, with plans and estimates for
canals and roads, and on every other branch
of duty incident to the Department of War,
I refer you to the Report of the Secretary.
The squadron in the Mediterranean has
been maintained in the extent which was
proposed in the Report of the Secretary of
the Navy of the last year, and has afforded
to our commerce the necessary protection
in that sea. Apprehending, however, that
the unfriendly relations which have existed
between Algiers and some of the Powers of
Europe, might be extended to us, it has
been thought expedient to augment the
force- there, and, in consequence, tbe
“ North- Carolina,” a ship of the line, has
been prepared, and will sail in a few days
to join it.
The force employed in. the Gulph of
Mexico, and in the neighbouring seas, for
the suppression of Piracy, has likewise been
preserved essentially in the state in which
it was during tbe last year. A persevering
effort has been made for the accomplish
ment of that object, and much protection
has thereby- been afforded to our com
merce, but still the practice is far from be
ing suppressed. From every view which
has been taken of the subject, it is thought
that it will be necessary rather to augment
than to diminish our force in that quarter.
There is reason to believe that the pira
cies soow complained of, are committed by
Bands of Robbers who inhabit the land, and
who, by preserving good intelligence with
the towns, and seizing favourable opportu
nities, rush forth aud fall on unprotected
merchant vessels, of which they make an
easy prey. The pillage thus taken they
ciftry to their lurking places, anJ dispose
of afterward* at prices tending to seduce the
neighbouring population. This combina
tion is understood to be of great extent, and
is the more to be deprecated because the
crime of piracy is alien attended with tbe
murder of the crews,these robbers knowing,
if rfny survive, their lurking places would be
exposed, and they be caught and punished.
That this atrocious practice should be car
ried to such extent, is cause of equal sur
prise and regret. It is presumed that it
must be attributed to (he relaxed and feeble
stale of the local Governments, since it is
not doubled, from the high character of tfte
(iovernour of Cuba, who ip well known and
much respected here, that, if he had the
power, he would promptly suppress it.
Whether those robbers should be pursued
on the land, Ihe local authorities be made
lesponsible tor these atrocities, or any oth
er measure he resorted to, to suppress them,
is submitted to tbe consideration of Con
gresi.
In execution of the laws lor the suppres
siou of the slave trade, a vessel has been
occasionally sent from that squadron to the
‘coast of Africa, with orders to return thence
by Ike usual track of the slave ships, ant!
to seize any of our lessels which might he
engaged in that trade. None have been
founl, and, it i9 believed, that none are the,
employed. I.t is well known, however,
‘hat the-trade still exists under other flag-
The health of our squadron while at
Thompson’s Island, has been much better
during the present than it was the last sea
son. Some improvements have been madt
and others are contemplated there, which
it is believed will have a very salutary el
feet. *
On the Pacifick our commerce lias much
increased, and on that coast, as well as on
that sea, the United Stales have many im
portant interests which require attention
and protection. It is thought that all ihe
considerations which suggested the uxpedi
ency of placing a squadron on that sea, op
erate with augmented forep, for maintain
ing it there at least in equal extent.
For del-ailed’ information respecting (In
state of our mantime force, on each sea,
the improvement necessary to ho made on
either, in the orgenization of tbe naval es
tablishment generally, and of the laws lor
its better government, I refer you tu the
report of the Secretary of the Navy, which
is herewith communicated.
The revenue of the Post Office Depart
ment has received a considerable augmen
tation, in Ihe present year. The corren’
receipts will exceed the expenditures, al
though the transportation of the mail, with
in the year,, has been much increased. A
report of the Postmaster General, which is
transmitted, will furnish in detail, the neces
sary information respecting the administra
tion and present sate of this Department.
tn conformity with a resolution of Con
gress of the last session, an invitation wu
given to general Lafayette to visit the Unit
ed States, with an assurance that a ship r.f
war should attend at any port of Fiance
which he might designate, to receive and
convey him across tbe Atlantick, whenever
it might be convenient for him tnsail. He de
dined the offer of the publick ship, from
motives of delicacy, hul assured me that he
had long intended, and would.certainly visii
our Union, in the course of the present
year. In August last he arrived at New
York, where he was- received uui) the
warmth of affection and gratitude to which
his very important and disinterested servi
ces and sacrifices, in our Revolutionary
struggle, so eminently enlilled him. A cor
responding sentiment has since been tnani
Tested in his favour throughout every por
tion of our Union, and affectionate invila
.tioos have been given him to extend hi
visits-to them. To these he has yielded ali
the accommodation in his power. At eve
ry designated point of rendezvous, the
whole population of the neighbouringcoun
try has beeo assembled to greet.him, among
whom it has excited, in a peculiar manner,
the sensibility of all, to behold the surviv
ing members of our Revolutionary contest,
civil and military, who had shared with him
in the toils and dangers of the war, many
of them in a decrepit stale. A more inter
esting spectacle, it is believed, was never
witnessed, because none could be founded
on purer principles, none proceed from
higher or more disinterested motives. Tha 1
the feelings of those who had fought and
bled with him, in a common cause, should
have been much excited, was natural.
There are, however, circumstances attend
ing these interviews, which pervaded the
whole community, and touched the breasts
of evsny age, even the youngest among us
There was not an individual present, w In
bad not some relative who had partaken ir.
thoie scenes, nor an iufitdt who had no<
heard the relation of them. But the cir
cutnstance which was roost sensibly felt, and
which his presence brought forcibly to tb.
recollection of all, was the great cause in
which we were engaged, and the blessings
which we have derived from our succes in
if. The struggle was fpr independence
and liberty, publick and personal, and in
this we succeeded. The meeting with one
who had borne so distinguished a part in
that great struggle, and from such lofty and
disinterested motives, could not fail to af
fect, profoundly, every individual, and of
every age. It is natural that we should all
lake a deep interest in his future welfare,
as we do. His high claims on our Union
are felt, and the sentiment universal, that
they should be met in a generous spirit.
Under these impressions, I invite your at
\ Vi . V
tentiou with a view that, re
garding important services, losses,
aud sacrifice?, a provision may be made and
tendered to him, which shall correspond
with the sentiments, and be worthy the
character, of the American people.
In taming our attention to ttie condition of tha.
civilized world, in which the United States have
always taken a deep interest, it is gratifying to
see how large a portion of it is blessed with peace.
The only wars which now exist within that limit,
are those between Turkey and Greece, in Eu
rope, and between Spain and the new Govern
ments, our neighbours, in this hemisphere. In
both these wars, Ihe cause of independence, of
liberty and humanity, continues to prevail. The
-ucccss of Greece, when the relative population
of (lie contending parties is considered, commands
our admiration and applause, and (lint it lias had
a similar effect with the neighbouring Powers, is
ohvions. The feeling of the whole civilized world
is excited, in a high degree, in their favour. May
n-e not hope that these sentiments, winning on
ihe hearts of their respective Governments, may
lend to a more decisive result ? that they may pro
duce’ an accord among them, to replace Greece
on ltie ground which she formerly held, and to
which her heroick exertions, at tins day, so emi
nently entitle her ?
Willi respect tothe contest l , to which our neigh
bours are a party, it is evident that Spain, as a
power, is scarcely felt in it. These new states
had completely achieved their independence, be
fore it was acknowledged- by the United States,,
and they have since maintained it, with little for
eign pressure. The disturbances which have ap
peared i:i ceitain portions of that vast territory,
have proceeded from internal causes, which had’
iheir origin in their former governments, and have
not yet been thoroughly removed. It is manifest
that these causes are daily losing ‘.heir effect, and
that these new states are settling down under gov
ernments el. clive and representative in every
branch, similar to our own. In this course we
.irdv nllv wisli them to persevere, under a firm con
viction that it will promote their happiness. In
this career, however, we have not interfered, be
lieving (hut every people have a rigid lo institute
for themselves the government, which, in their
judgement, may suit them btsl. Our example is
before them, of the good effect of which, being
‘our neighbours, (hey are competent judges, and
to their judgement we leave it, in the expecta
tion that other powers w ill puisne Ihe same poli
cy. The deep interest which we take in their
independence, which we have acknowledged, and
in llieir enjoyment, of all the rights incident there
to, especially in (lie very important one of insti
tuting their own governments, has been declared,
and is known to the world. Separated, as we
are from Europe hv the great Atlantick ocean, we
can have no concern in the wars of the European
Governn ents, nor in the causes which produce
tlirni. The balance of power between them, into
.'whichever scale it may turn in its various vibra
tions, cannot affect us. It is the interest of the
United States to preserve tlie most friendly rela
tions with every power, and on conditions fair,
equal, and applicable to all. Dut, in regard to
our neighbours our situation is different. It is im
possible for the European Governments to inter
fere in their concerns, especially in those alluded
to, which are vital, without affecting us; indeed',
the motiie whicli might induce such interference
in the present state of the war between the par
ties, if a war it may be called, would appear to
be equally applicable to us. It is'gratify tog-to
know that some of the powers with whom we en
joy a very friendly intercourse, and to whom
these views have been communicated, have ap
peared to acquiesce iu them.
Tiie augmentation of our population, with the
expansion of our Uni. n, and increased number of
States, have produced effects in certain branel.ee
of our system, which merit (he attention of Con
gres. Some of onr arrangements, and particular
ly the Judiciary Establishim nt, were made with
a view to the original thirteen states only. Since,
then the United States have acquired a vast ex
tent of territory ; eleven nciv states have been ad
mitted into the Union, and lelritories have been
laid off for three others, winch will, likewise, ho
admitted at no distant day. An organization off
the Supreme Court, which assigns to the Judges
any portion of the duties whicli belong to the jn
feriour, requiring their passage over so vast a
space, undtr any distribution of the states that
may now be made, if not impracticable in the ex
ecution, must render it impossible for them to dis
charge the duties of either branch with advan
tage- to tlie Union. The duties of the Supreme”
Court would be of great importance, if its decis
ions were confined to the ordinary limits of other
tribunals; but when it is considered that this
court decides, and in the last resort, on all the
great questions which arise under our Coustitu--
lion, involving those between the United'States,,
individually, between the states and the United
States, and between the foreign powers, tod high
an estimate of tiieir importance cannot be formed.
The great interests of the nation seem to require
that the Judges of the Supreme Court should be
exempted from every other duty, than those
which are incident to that high trust. The organ
ization of the inferiour courts would, of course-,
be adapted to ciiciirnstanccs. It is presumed
that such an one might be formed, as would se
cure an able and faithful discharge of their duties,
and without any material augmentation of. ex
pense.
The condition of the Aborigines within our.liin
its, and especially those who are within the lim
its of any of the states, merits likewise particular
attention. Experience has shown, that unless the
tribes be civilized, they can never be incorporat
ed into our system, in any form whatever. It
has likewise shown, that in the regular augmenta
tion of our population, with the extension of our
settlements, their situation will become deplora
ble, if their extinction is not menaced. Some
well digested plan, which will rescue them from
such calamities, is due to their rights, to the
rights of humanity, and to the honour of the na
tion. Their, civilization is indispensable to theif
safety ; and this can he accomplished only by de
grees. The process must commence with the in
fant state, through whom some effect may be
wrought on the parental. Difficulties of (he most
serious character present themselves to the at
tainment of this very desirable result, on the ter
ritory on which they now reside. To remove
them from it by force, even with a view to their
own security and happiness, would be revolting to
humanity, and utterly unjustifiable. Between
the limits of our present states and territories, and
the Rocky Mountain and Mexico, there is a vast
territory, to which they might be invited, with in
ducements which might be successful. It i*
thought, if that territory should he divided into
districts, by previous agreement with the tribes
now residing there, and civil governments be e
tablished in each, with schools, for every branch
of instruction in literature and the art* of civiliie>J
life, that all the tribes now within our limit* night
gradually be drawn there. The execution of thi*
plan would necessarily be attended with expense,
and that not inconsiderable ; but it is doubted
whether any other can he devised, whitsb woM