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‘PRESIDENT'S MESS AG E.
WASHINGTON, Dec.?.
This rhtv at 12 o’cfofk, the Pre
sident of the Ufii'ed States
r.rmmunicated bv Mr. Colvs
his Secretary, the following
MESSAGE, to both Houses
of Congress.
’ To the Senate and Fmse of ZV
preventative* f the U. States of
America in Congress assembled.
IT would have given me, FU-
Jow-Citrzens, great satisfaction
to announce, in the troment of
vour meeting, that the difficulties
in our foreign relations, existing
at the time of your last separati
on, had been amicably ands just
lv terminated. I lost no time in
taking those measures which
were most likely to bung them to
euch a tetmlna ion, by special
missions, charged with such
powers and ins'ructian®, as, in
thee * r.t of failure,caulcl leave no
•imputation on eithet our modera
t on or forbearance. ‘I he delays,
which have since taken place in
•cur negociationa with the British
government, appear to have pro
ceeded from causes which do not
ioi bid the expectation that, dur
ing the coutse of the session, I
may be enabled to lay before you
• their final issue. What will be
that of the negotiations for set
tling our differences with Spain,
both lag which bad taken place at
the date of the last dispatches,
enables us to pronounce. On
the Western side of the Missis
sippi she advanced in considera
ble force, and tock post at the
settlement of Bayou Pierre, on
the Red river. This village was
originally settled by France, vvas
held by her us long as she held
.Louisiana, and w s delivered to
S-pain only a; a part of Louisia
na. Being small, insulated and
distant, it was not observed at
the moment of rc-dt livery to
France and the United States,
that she continued a guard of
half a dozen men, which had
been stationed there; A propo”
B itin however having been lately
made by our commander in chief,
to assume the Sabine river as a
temporary line of separation be
tween the troop* of the two nati
ons, unrU the issue of our ne*
gociations~-*hirtl be known, this
ha* been rrarred by the Spanish
commandant to his superior, and
in the mean time he has with
drawn his forces to the western
side of the Sabine river. The
correspondence on this subject,
new communicated, will exhibit
more particularly the present
state of things in that quarter.
/'I he nature of that country
requires indispensably that an
unusual proportion of the force
employed there should be caval
ry ,or mounted infantry. In or
der, therefore, that the com
manding officer might be enabled
to act v h effect, 1 had autho
rised him to call ®n the Gover
nors of Oilcans and Mississippi
for a corps es five hundred vo
lunteer cavalry. The tempora
ry arrangement he has proposed
may perhaps render this unne
cessary. But 1 inform you with
great pleasure, of the prompti
tude with which the inhabitants
of those territories have tender
ed their services in defence of
their country. It has done ho
nor to themselves, entitled them
to the ccntidence of their fellow
citizens in every part of the Uni
on, and must strength; n the ge
neral determination to protect
them efficaciously under all cir
cumstances which may occur.
Having received information
that in another part of the Unit
ed Statesa great number of pri
vate individuals were combining
together, arming and organising
themselves, contrary to law, to
xatry on a military expedition a
gainst the territories of Spain,
I thought it necessary, by Pro
clamation, as well as by special
orders, to taxe measures for pre
venting and suppressing this en
terprise, far seizing the vessels,
arms and other means provided
for it, & for arresting ‘and bring
ing to justice its authors St abet
tois. it was due to that good
faith wMrb rmrht ever to he the
rule of action in public, as well as
in p- ivnte transactions; it was due
to good order and regular {>ov
ernrmnt, thar, while •the public
force was acting strictly on the
defensive, and merely to protect
nnr citizens from aggression, the
criminal attempts of private in
dividuals to decide, for their
country, the question of peace,
or war, by rorrmerctng active
& unauthorised hostilities,should
be pet mptly and efficaciously
suppressed.
Whether it will he necessary
to enlarge nnr regular force, will
depend on the result of our ne
gotiations with Spain. But as it
is uncertain when that result will
he known, the provisional mea
sures requisite for that, and to
meet any pressure intervening in
that quarter, will he a subject for
your early cnsideration*
The possession of both banks
of the Mississippi reducing to a
single point the defence of that
river, its waters and the country
adjacent, it becomes highly ne
c< ssary t provide, for that point,
a more adequate security. Seme
position above its mouth, com
manding the passage of the river
should be rendered sufficiently
strong to cover the armed vessels
which mnv be stationed there for
defence; and, in conjunction with
them, to present an insuperable
obstacle to any force attempting
t<> pass, ‘l'lie approaches to the
city of Nt w-Orleans, from the
eastern quarter also, will require
to be examined, and more effec
tually guarded. For the inter
nal support of the country, the
encouragement of a strong settle
ment on the Western side of the
Mississippi, within the teach of
Ne w Orleans, will be worthy the
consideration f the Legislature*
‘1 he gun boats authorised by
an act of the last session, are so
advanced that thev will be ready
for service in the ensuing spring.
Circumstances permitted us to
allow the time necessary for their
more solid construction. Asa
much larger number will still
he wanting to place our Sea
port towns and waters in that
state of defence to which we are
competent, and they entitled, a
similar appropriation f<>r a fur
ther provision of them is tecom
mencied for the ensuing year.
A further appropriation will al
so be necessary for repairing for
t fications already established, St
the erection of such other works
as naav have real effect in ob
structing the approach of an ene
my to our sea port towns, or their
remaining bcioie them.
In a country whose constituti
on is derived from the will of
the people, directly expressed by
their free suffrage*, where the
principal executive lunctionaries
and those of the legislature are
renewed by them at short peri
ods, where under the character of
jurors, they exercise in person,
the greatest portion of the judi
ciary powers, where the laws are
consequently so formed and ad
ministered as t* bear with equal
weight and favor on all, rcsttaiu
mg no man in the pursuits ol ho
nest industry, and securing to e
verv one the property wliicn that
acquires, it would not be suppos
ed that any saleguards couid be
needed against insurrection or
enterprise, on the public peace or
authority. Ihe laws, however,
aware that these should not be
trusted to moral restraints only,
have wisely provided punishment
for these cilines when cotnmit
ted. but woedd it no* be saiuia
r> to give also the means ot pre
venting their commission? where
an cttierprize is meditated Uy
private individuals, against a so
vereign nation in amny with the
United States, powers ot preven
tion to a certain extent ate given
by the laws. Would they not be
as reasonable and us'elul, wheie
ihe etuerprize preparing is a*
gainst the United Siateo’ vV tnle
adverting to this brauch of jaw,
it is proper to observe, ettat in *a
leiprtsts meditated against fo
reign nations, the ordinary pro
cess oi Lauding tv the observance
of the peace and good behaviour,
could it he extended to acts to he
done out of the jurisdiction of
the United State*, would be ef
fectual in some cases where the
offender is able to keep out of
si p-bt every indication of his pur
pose which could draw on him the
exercise of the powers now giv
en hv law.
The states on the coast of Bar
hary seem generally disposed at
present to respect enr peace and
friendship. WithJ Tunis alone,
some uncertainty remains. Per
suaded that it is our interest to
maintain our peace with them on
equal terms, or not at all, I pro
pose to send, in due time, a rein
forcement into the Mediterrana
ar; unless previous information
shall show it to he unnecessary.
We continue to receive proofs
of the growing attachment of our
Indian neighbors, and of their
disposition to place all their in
terests under the patronage of
the United States. These dis
position* are inspired by their
confidence in our justice, and in
the sincere concern we feel for
their welfare, And as long as
we discharge these high and ho r
notable functions with the in e
grily and good fault which alone
can entitle us to their continu
ance, v e mav expect to reap the
just reward in their peace and
friendship.
The evperfi*ion of Messrs.
Lewis and Clarke, for exploring
(he rivet Missouri at;4 the best
communication from that to the
Pacific Ocean, has had all the
success which could have been
expected. They have traced the
Missouri nearly to its source,
descended the Columbia to the
Pacific Ocean, ascertained with
accuracy, the geography of that
interesting communication across
ourcontitienr, leatnt the character
of the country, of its commerce,
and inhabitants, and it is hut jus
tice to say, that Messrs. Lewis St
Clarke,and their brave compani
ons, have, fey this arduous ser
vice, deserved well ol their coun
try.
The attempt to explore the
Red river, under the direction of
Mr. Freeman, though conducted
with a zeal and prudence merit
ing entire approbation, has not
been equally successful. After
proceeding up it afeout 600 miles
nearly as far as the Ftench set
tlements had extended when the
country was in their possession,
our geographers were obliged to
return w ithout completing their
work.
Very useful additions have also
beer, made to our knowledge of
the Mississippi, by lieut. Pike,
who has ascended it to its source,
and whose journal and map, giv
ing the details of his journey, will
shortly be ready lor communica
tion to both Houses of Congress,
‘ihose of Messrs, Lewis, Claike
and Freeman, will require fur
ther time to be digested aud pre
pared. These important surveys,
in addition to those before posses
sed, furnish materials lor com
mencing an accurate map of
the Mississippi and its west
ern waters. Some principal ri
vers however remain still to be
explored, towards which the au
thorisation cl Cangtess, by mo
del ate appropriations, will be re
quisite.
I congratulate you, fellow citi
zens, on the approach of the peri
od at which you may interpose
your authority , constitutionally,
to withdraw the citizens of the
United States from all further
participation in those violations
of human rights which have been
so long continued on the unof
fending inhabitants of Africa, and
which the moiaiity, the reputati
on, and the best interests of our
country, have long been eager to
prescribe. Although no law you
may pass can take prohibitory ef
fect till the first day of the year
one thousand eight hundred and
eight, yet the intervening period
is not too long to prevent, by
timely notice, expeditious which
cannot be compiealed before that
day.
The receipts, at the Treasury,
during tire j car ending on the 30th
day of September last, have a*
mounted io near fifteen mil T-ons
t .f dollars ; which have enabled
lls , after meeting the current de
mands. to pay two millions seven
hundred thousand-dollars of the
American claims, in part of the
price of Louisiana ;to pat, of the
funded debt, upwards of three
millions of principal, and neatly
four of interest, and, in addition,
to reimburse, in the course of the
present month, near two millions
of five and an half per cent, stock.
These payments and reimburse,
n.ents of ihe funded debt, with
those which had been made in
the four years and an half preced
ing, will at the close of the pre
snt year, have extinguished np
wards of twenty-three millions of
principal.
The duties composing the
Mediterranean fund will cease
by law at the end of the pre
sent leffion. Considering, how
ever, that they are levied chief
ly on luxuries, and (hat we
have an import on (ait, a ne.
cedary of life, the free use of
which other wife is so import
ant, I recommend to your
confideratjon the lupprcflion
of the duties on fall, and the
continuation of the Mediterra
nean fund, inrtead thereof, for
a ihort time, after which that
alio will become unneceflaYy
lot any purpoie now within
contemplation.
When both of thefc branch
es of revenue fit all, in this way
be relinquished there will ft ill,
erelong, be an accumulation
of monies in the treasury be
yond the inrtainients of pub
lic debt which we are permit
ted by contrast to pay. They
cannot then, without a modi
fication, afiemed to by the
public creditors, be applied to
the extinguifitment of this debt
and the compleat liberation of
our revenues, the molt desira
ble of all objects. Nor if our
peace continues, will they be
wanting for any other exirting
purpoie. The question, there
fore, now comes forward, to
what other objects /hall these
fnrpluffes be appropriated,
and the whole surplus of im
port after the entire difeharge
of the public debt, and during
those intervals when the pur
poses of war (hail not call for
them ? Shall we lupprefs the
import, and give that adven.
tage to foreign, over domertic
manufabtures ? On a few ar
ticles of more general and ne.
ceffary ule, the fuppreflion, in
due leafon, will doubtlels be
right; but the great mass of the
articles on which import is paid
are foreign luxuries purchased
by those only who are rich c
nough to afford themselves the
use of them. Their patriotism
would certainly prefer its con.
tinuance, and application to
the great purposes of the pub.*
lie education, roads, rivers,
canals, and such other objetts
of public improvement, as it
may be thought proper to add
to the conrtitutional enumera
tion of federal powers. By
these operations, new channels
of communication will be o
pened between the Rate* ; the
lines of separation will difap.
pear, their intererts will be i
dentified, and their union ce
mented by new and indilfolu
ble ties.
Education is here placed a
mong the articles of public
care, not that it would be pro*
poled to take its ordinary
branches out of the hands of
private emerprize, which ma.
nages so much better all the
concerns to which it is equal :
but a public intiiiution can a
lorte supply thole sciences,
which though rarely called for,
are yet necdi'ary to compieat
the circle, all the parts of\;;
contribute to the improved
of the country, and sonf on , t
them to its pi Tervation, y
fubjefl is now propofrd f
the confideraiion of Congttj
because, if approved, by a
time the Hate ‘Legi{l*iurfc
have deliberated on this
tension of the federal lr „j
and the laws shall be p 2 ff e
and other arrangements
for their execution, the r , CCf
fary funds will be on hand
without employment. I u
pole an amendment of i
conftiiuliofi, hy con sent of,
Hates, neceflary ; because if
objefls new recommended
not among thole enumerate
in the constitution, and,
which it permits the p„j,|
monies to be applied.
The present cotifideratii
of a national eflubhfhmcntij
education particularly, is re
dered proper by this circut
Hai.ce also, that, if Congrtl
approving the propolis
shall think it more eligible,
found it on a donation of| 5l;
they have it now in theirpo
er to endow it with those whit
will be among the earliest i
produce the neceflary incon,
The foundation wouid b
the advantage of being ine
pendent on war, whic.v m
suspend other imptovemoi
by requiring for its own pm
poses the resources dell tut
for them.
This, fellow citizens, is if
Hate of the public interests
the pTcfcnt momentt and at
cording to the informal*
now porteffed. But such isti
liiuation of the nations of I
rope, and such too the pred
cament in which we ft and wit
fome ofthem,that we cannoin
ly with ceilainty on the prefc
aipeft of our affairs, thatu
change from moment tom
merit, during the courfei
your ft ffion, or after you I
have separated. Our duty
therefore to ad upon ii
things as they are, and to mi
a reasonable provision fi
whatever they may be. Wei
armies to be raised whenever
speck of war is visible in n
horizon, we never fhouldhi
been without them. Our i
sources would have been
haufted on dangers which b
never happened, inrtead of#
ing reserved for what is red
to take place. A Heady, pt
haps a quickened pace, in ?n
parations for the defence off
iea-port towns and waters, 1
early settlement of the molte
poled and vulnerable parts <
our country, a militia foor{i
if'ed that its effective port®
can be called to any point!
the union, or volunteers i
(lead of them, to serve a W
cient time, are means
mav always be ready yet nen
preying on our resources uni
actually c ailed into use. T#
will maintain the public inie
ells while a more pennant
force shall be in a courfe 1
preparation. But much*
depend on the
with which these means can ■
brought into activity, A *
be forced upon us, in fp lic ’
our long and vatn app^ l
thejuflice of nations, rapid ll
vigorous movements, in it*
let, will go tar towards kj'j
ing us in its course and
and towards throwing its *
thens on thole who render •
ceffary the resort Rosa l>
to force.
The refu't of our
ons, or such incidents in 1
course as may enable us lo .
fer their probable i/Tue