{ title: 'Mohawk sentinel. (Schenectady [N.Y.]) 1824-1825, December 16, 1824, Page 3, Image 3', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031681/1824-12-16/ed-1/seq-3/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031681/1824-12-16/ed-1/seq-3.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031681/1824-12-16/ed-1/seq-3/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031681/1824-12-16/ed-1/seq-3/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: New York State Library
msm {PPCSgrTTSEXiS W a s h i n g t o n , December 7, 1824. This day at <2 o’clock, the President of the United States communicated to both Houses df Congress the fol lowing , MESSAGE : Fellow Citizdis of the 'Senate, and o f tne House o f Representatives .- The vieiv which I have now to present to you, of pu? affairs, foreign and domestic,1 realizes the most sanguine anticipations which ha e been entertained of the public prosperity. If we lodk to the whole, our growth, as a na tion, continues to be rapid beyond example j if to the states which compose it, the same gratifying spectacle is exhibit ed. * Our expansion over the vast fei'l'itdl'y Vvitltir. our li mits, has been great, without indicating W deciin*- in -those sections from which the emigration hras been most conspicuous. 'Ve have daily grinned strength, by A na tive population, in every quarter; a population devoted to our happy systetn o f government, and cherishing the bond of union with fraternal affection. Experience has always shown,' that the difference of climate, and of in dustry proceeding from that Cause, inseparable\from such j vast domains, and which, under other systems, mig-ht have > a repulsive tendency, Cannot fail to produce With US, Utl- , der wile regulations, the opposite effect, What one por- j tion wahts1,* the bthdi* rhay supply, ancl this will be most i sensibly felt by tiie parts” most distant from each other, j forming thereby a domestic market, and an active inter- . course betweeb th:e extremes, and throughout every por- j tion of our Union. Thus, by a happy distribution of pow er between the national and state governments ; govern ments Which test, exclusively, on the sovereignty of the people, aVid-are fully adequate to the great purposes tor j Which they were respectively instituted, causes which j might otherwise lead to dismemberment, operate power- j fully to draw us closer together. In every other circum- j stance, a correct view of the actual state of our Union, must be equally gratifying to our constituents. Ourrela- ti6ns with foreign powers are of a friendly character, al though certain interesting differences remain unsettled with some. Our revenue, under the mild system of im post and tonnage, continues to be adequate to ah the pur poses of the government. Our agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and navigation, flourish. Our fortifications are advancing in the degree authorized by existing appro priations, to maturity ; ancl due progress is made in the augmentation o f the navy, to the limit prescribed for it by law. For these blessings we owe to Almighty God, from whom we derive them, ancl with profound reverence, our most grateful and unceasing acknowledgements. In adverting tO: our relations With foreign powers, which: are always an object Of the highest importance, I have to remark, that of the subjects which have been brought in to discussion with them, during the present administra- . tion, some-have been satisfactorily terminated ; others have been suspended, to be resumed hereafter, under cir cumstances more favourable to success ; and others are Still in negotiation, with the hope that they may be adjust ed, with mutual accommodation, to the interests and to the satisfaction of the respective parties. .It has been the invariable obje t of this' government to cherish the most friendly relation with every power, ancl on principles and conditions which might make them permanent, A system*' atic effort has been made to place our commerce, with each power, on a footing of perfect reciprocity : to settle with each, in a spirit of candour and liberality, all existing differences, and to anticipate and remove,; ao 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 con cluded on the 24th of June, 1822, between the U. .-Uates and France, that the said convention shuttle! continue in force for two years from the- first of October of that year, and for an* indefinite term afterwards, unless one ofth e parties should declare its intention to renounce it, in Which event* it should cease to operate at the end of ?ix months from such declaration ; aiyl no such intention hav ing-been announced\ the convention- having been found advantageous to both parlies, it has sific'C remained and still remains in full’force. At thetim o when that conven tion was concluded, many interesting subjects were left unsettled, and particularly our claims to indemnity for governments, to the ratification o f which certain obstacles have arisen, which are not yet entirely removed. The dif ferences between the parties still remaining have been re duced to a point, not of sufficient magnitude, as is pre sumed, 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, hbWfever, to the principle recommended by the house of representa tives, or at least to the consequences inseparable from it, ancl which are understood to apply to the law, have been raised, wh'ch may deserve a reconsideration of tiie Whole subject, I have thought it proper to suspend the conclu sion of a new convention until the definitive sentiments of congress may be ascertained. The documents relating to the negotiation, arc, with that intent, submitted to your consideration. O u r c o m m e r c e w i t h Sw e e ten h a s b e e n p l a c e d on a f o o t in g o f p e r f e c t r e e l p r o o ltv , by treaty, a n d with RuSfiiil, tllG Netherlands* Prussia, tiie free iiauseaVie m s u«ke- cloms of\ Old&nbui’g* and Sardinia, by internal regulations on e a c h s i d e , founded d n mutual agreement, betweeil the respective governments, T h e p r i n c i p l e s u p o n w h i c h th e c o m m e r c ia l p o li c y o f t h e United States is founded, are to be traced to an early pe riod. They are essentially connected with those upon which tiicir independence was declared, and owe their origin to. th;- enlightened men who toolc the lead in our affairs at that important epoch. They are developed ill the first treaty of commerce with France, of the 6th of February, 1778, and by a formal commission which was instituted immediately after the conclusion of their revolu tionary struggle, for the purpose of negotiating treaties of commerce with every European power. The first treaty o f the United States with Prussia, whic'h was negotiated by that commission, affor Is a signal illustration of those principles. The act of congress of the 3d o f Jarch* 811, adopted immediately after the veturit of a general peace, was a new overture to foreign nations to establish our commercial relations.with them, on the basis of ffee and equal reciprocity. That principle has pervaded all the acts of congress, and all the negotiations of the executive on the subject. A con ention for the settlement of important questions in relation to the northwest coast of this continent, and its adjoining seas, was concluded and signed at St. Pcters- burgh, on the — day o f — last, by the minister plenipo tentiary of the United States, and plenipotentiaries ofthe Imperial government of Russia. It will immediately be 1 j made, the accounts'have b£en rendered ana set tled, without loss to the public. The coudition of the army itself, as relates to the officers and men, in science and discipline, is highly respec table. The Military Academy, on which the ar my essentially rests, and to which it is much in debted for this state of improvement, has attain ed, in comparison with any other institution of a like kind', a high degree of perfection. Expe rience, however, has shown, that the dispersed' condition of the Corps of Artillery is unfavoura-. ble to Hie discipline of that important branch of the Military Establishment. To remedy this in convenience, eleven companies h'dve been assem bled at Old Point Comfort, as a' §cbo'ol for ar- 1,1 1 1 tillery instruction 5 with intention, as t h e y shall b e p e r f e c t e d Iri (hd various duties o f th a t Service, to founded on cdnclitions fair and honoarabie to both, ( order them id other posts, and to supply their and which has been so far executed with perfect i places with other companies for instruction in good faiths it has been earnestly hoped, that ^ like manner. In this mode, a complete know- the other would, of its own accord, and from a * ledge of the science ities of this branch wili be' sentiment of justice and conciliation, make to ; extended throughout the wholeCorps of Artillery, our citizens the indemnity to which they are enti- j But, to carry this object fully into effect, wifi tied, and thereby remove, from our relations, any I require the aid of Congress ; to obtain which,' just cause of discontent on our side. j the subject is now submitted to your consider- It is eaiimaied that the receipts into the trea- 1 ation. sury during the current year, exclusive of loans, j Ofthe progress which has been made in the* will exceed $18,500,000 which, with the sum j construction of Fortifications for the permanent remaining in the Treasury at the end ofthe last i defence of our maritime frontier, according to the year, amounting to $9.463,922,81, will, tifter J plan decided on, and to the extent of the existing discharging Ihe Current disbursements of the year, 1 appropriations, the report ofthe Secretary of vYar, the interest on the public debt, and upwards of j which is herewith communicated, will give a' It will always be recollected ,4 that with one of the parties to tiiose wars, and from whom we re ceived those injuries, we sought redress by war. From the other, by whose then reigning gov ernment our vessels were seized in port ,1 as well as at sea,and their cargoes confiscated, inderhnity 1 has been expected, but has not yet been render ed. It was under the influence ofthe latter that our vessels were likewise seized by the govern ments of Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Naples, and from wh >m indemnity has been claim ed, and is still expected, with the exception of Spain, bv whom it has been rendered. With both parties we had abundant cause o f w a r , but w e h a d no a lt e r n a t iv e but t o r e s i s t t h a t w h i c h w a s m o s t p o w e r f u l a t s e a , <Sz: p r e s s e d n e a r e s t a t h o m e . With t h i s a l l d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e s e t t l e d b’y a t r e a t y $1 1.633,011,52 of the principal, leave a balance of more than $3,000,000 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 percent. becoming redeemable in the course of su in g year, than would be discharged by the en- the or laid before the «eruitc fov the exercise of the constitution id authority of that body, with reference to its ratification. - , . It is proper to acid, that the manner in which this negotia- : uUliiry rCVGHUG* the fict Ol 2G(h iVIny, <!UifiOi IS6Ci tion was invited and concluded, on the part of the empe** ! ;i | 0!U, 0 f $ 5 ,6 0 0 ,0 0 0 at 4 1-2 per Cent, to m e e t the ror, has been very satisfactory. _ .. i same. By this arran g e m e n t an annual savinglw.dl I'he ffreat and extraordinary changes which have nap- j - . c ~ ,in i penecl in the governments of Spain and Portugal, within | aci rue to the public, Ol 7 o ,0 0 0 doll spoliations which were committed on our commerce in the those Oil the coast of Barbary, and with all late wars. For these interests and claims, it was in the ne^. American states, our relations ai the last two years, without seriously affecting the friendly relations which* under' ad of them, have been maintained with those powers by the United \dates have been obsta cles to the adjustment of the particular subjects of discus sion which have arisen with each. A resolution of the senate, adopted at their last session, called for information as to the effect produced upon our relations with Spain, by the recognition on the part oftlm United States, o fthe independent* \South American governments. The papers containing that information are now communicated to con g r e s s . A charge d’affaires has been received from the independent government of Brazil. That coun try. heretofore a colonial possession of Portugal, had some years since been proclaimed, by the sovereign of Portugal himself, an independent kingdom. Since his return to Lisbon, a revolu tion in Brazil has established a new government 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 depar ture. There is reason to expect, that by amica ble negotiation* the independence of Brazil will ere long b‘e recognized by Pffffugnl herself. With the remaining pod'era of- Europe, with the are of lars. Under the act of the 24th May last, a loan of $5,00Q,H00, was authorized. In order to meet the awards under the Florida treaty, which was ne detailed account. Their final completion cannot fail to give great additional security to that fron tier, and to diminish proportionably the expense of defending it in the event of war. The provisions in the several acts of Congress of the last session, for the improvement of the na vigation of the Mississippi and the Ohio, of the Harbour of Presq’isle on Lake Erie, and the re pair of the Plymouth Beach, are in a course of regular execution 5 and there is reason to believe, that the appropriation in each instance wili be adequate to the object. To carry these improve ments fully into effect the superintendence of th«m has been assigned to the officers of the Corps contemplation off the parties to make provision at a sub- /v- ii r u „ r„r<pr \ y e i,., v e m inisters nleni sequent day, by a more comprehensive and definitive trea- AilieUCll} Cnaracior. U K Ti r n l l ty. The object has been duly attended to sine'e, by the Executive, but as y et it has not been accomplished. It is hoped that a favourable opportunity will present itself for opening a negotiation, which may embrace and arrange all ex!§ting differences, and e* ery other concern in which they have a common interest, upon the accession of the present king o f France, an event which has occurred since the close of the last Session of congress. With Great Britain, our commercial intercourse rests on the same footing that it did at th*> last session, By the eonvention1 o f 1815, the commerce between the United States and the British dominions, in Europe and the East Indies, was arranged on the principle of reciprocity. The convention was confirmed and continued in force, with Slight exceptions, by a subsequent treaty for the term of ten years, from the 20th of October, 1818, the date of the iatter. The trade with the British colonies in the West- Indies, has not\ as yet, been arranged by treaty, or other wise, to our satisfaction. An approach to that result has same rank, from Colombia, Gnalimalia, Buenos Ayres and Ji/exico. Our commercial relations, with all those states, are mutually beneficial and increasing. With the republic of Colombia, a treaty of commerce has been formed, of which a copy is received, and the original daily expected. A negotiation for a like treaty, would have been commenced wish Buenos Ayres, had it not been prevented by the indisposition and lamented de cease of Mr Rodney, our minister there, and to whose memory the most respectful attention has been shown by the government of that republic. An advantageous alteration in our treaty with been made by legislative acts, whereby many serious im- Tunis, has been obtained, by our consular agent 1 * J. _ . . . t . ? 1. 1 J tL ^ k . . *• t , M .14*. r, a. 3 A . ^ . a . . pediments which had been raised by the parties, in defence of their respective claims, were removed. An earnest de sire exists, and has been manifested, on the part of this go vernment, to place the commerce with the colonies, like wise on a footing o f reciprocal advantage ; and it is hoped that the British government, seeing the justice of the pro posal, and its importance to Jhe colonies, will, ere long, accede to it residing there, the official document of which, when received, will be laid before the senate. The attention of the government has been drawn with great solicitude to other' subjects, and particularly to that relating to a maritime war, involving the relative rights of neutral and belli- The commissioners who were appointed for the adjust- gerent in such wars. Most o f the difficulties which- m e n tof the boundary, between the territories of the Unit- we have experjencetj, and of the losses which we have sustained, since the establishment of our independence, have proceeded from the unset- ed States, and those of Great Britain, specified in the fifth article of the treaty of Ghent, having disagreed in their decision ; and both governments having agreed to esta blish that boundary, by amicable negotiation between them ,-it is-hoped that it may be satisfactorily adjusted in that mode. The boundary specified by the sixth article, has been establised, by the decision of the commissioners F r o m th e rvrnp-ress m a rie in that nrovided for bv the se- gocialed at par with the Bank of the U. States, j of Engineers, at 4 1-2 per cent- the limit of interest fixed by the j Under the act ofthe 30th April last, authorizing act. By this provision, the claims of our citizens, the President to cause a survey to be made with who had sustained so great a loss by spoliations, the necessary plans and estimates of such roads and from whom indemnity had been so long . and canals, as he might deem of national impor- withheld, were promptly paid. For these advan- | tance, in a commercial or military point of view, ces, the public will be amply repaid, at no dis- or for the transportation of the mail, a board has tant day, by the sale of the lands in Florida. Of been instituted, consisting; of two distinguished the great ad vantages resulting from the acquisition t officers of the Corps of Engineers and a distin- ofthe Territory, in other respects, too high anes- j gUished Civil Engineer with assistants, who have timate cannot be formed. j been actively employed in carrying into effect the It is estimated that the receipts into the treasury, : objects ofthe act. They have carefully examined during the year 1825, will be sufficient to' meet between the Potomac and the Ohio rivers; be- the disbursements of the year, including the sum tween the latter and Lake Erie; between the of $ 10 , 000,000 which is annually appropriated by Alleghany and the Susquehanna ; and the routes the act constituting the Sinking Fund, for the t between the Delaware and the Raritan, Barn- payment o fthe principal and interest of the pub-i ■ stable and Buzzard’s bay ; and between Boston lie debt. | harbour and NarrAgan&et Such portion of The whole amount of the public debt, on the the Corps of Topographical Engineers as could first day of January next, may be estimated at be spared from the survey of the coast, has been $86,000,000, inclusive of $2,500,000 of the loan '. employed in surveying the very important route authorized by the act of 26th May last. In this between the Potomac and the Ohio. Consider- j - - — ------------ 7 — — / o J o 7 v ‘ , v ' ’ J ; the stock of the Bank still held by the government* that there is good cause to believe that this great will at least be fully equal to its reimbursement* • national object may be fully accomplished, ought not to be considered as constituting a part It is contemplated to commence early in the of the public debt.— Estimating, then, the whole? next season the execution of the other branch of amount of the public debt at $79,000,000, and , the act, that which relates to roads, and with the regarding the annual receipts and expenditures : survey of a route from this city, through the sou- of the government, a well-founded hope may be ; them states, to New-Orleans, the importance of entertained, that, should no unexpected event which cannot be too highly estimated. All the occur, the whole of the public debt may be dis- • officers of both the Corps of Engineers, who could charged in the course of ten years, and the gov- ; be spared from other services, have been employ- ernrnent be left at liberty afterwards to apply ; ed in exploring and surveying the routes for ca- such portion of the revenue as may not be neces- 1 nals. To digest a pian for both objects for the sary for current expenses,to such other objects as great purpose specified, will require a thorough may be most conducive to the public security knowledge of every part of our Union, and of the and welfare. That the sums applicable to these i relation of each part to the others, and of all to' objects will be very considerable, maybe fairly j the seat o fthe General Government. For such a concluded, when it is recollected, that a large 1 digest it Will be necessary that the information bfc amount of the public revenue has been applied, . full, minute, and precise. With a view to these since the late war, to the construction of the pub- j important objects, I submit to the consideration lie buildings in this city, to the erection of fortili- j of Congress, the propriety of enlarging both the cations along the coast, and of arsenals in differ- . Corps of Engineers, the Military and Topograpb- ent parts of the Union ; to- the augmentation of j ical. It need scarcely be remarked, that the more the N a v y ; to (he extinguishment ofthe Indian ti- extensively, these Corps are engaged in the im- tle to large tracts of fertile territory yto the ac- | provement of their country, in the execution of to behold the disregard which was paid to o im 4' rights as a neutral power, and ihe waste which was made of our commerce by the parties to those wars, by various acts of (heir respective govern ments, and tinder Ike pretext by each that the other had set the example, without great morti- the like in future, causes of tion, and on the belligerent claim has been carried against the' neutral party. It is impossible to look back on From the progress made in that provided for by th e s e the occurrences of the late wars in Europe, and venth, according to a report recently leceived, there is ................... - - • • ■ good cause to-presume that it will be settled in the course of the ensuing year. It is a canse of serious regret, that no arrangement has yet been-finally concluded between the two governments, to secui’e* by joint co-operation, the suppression of the slave trade. It was the object of the British go-v ernment, in the early st&ges o f the negotiation, to adopt a plan for the suppression, which should include the concession of the mutual right o f search, by the ships of war of each party, of the vessels\of the other, for suspected offenders. This was objected to by this goverhment, on the princi ple that as the .right of search was a right of war, of a b el ligerent towards a neutral power,- i f might have an ill ef- pjica.ble to ajj parties, ‘ could, it Was presumed, feet to extend-it, by treaty, to an Offence which had been r r - v - made comparatively milcl fo a*time df-peace. • Anxious, however, for the suppression Of this trade, it was'thought advisable, in compliance with'a resolution of the house of representatives, founded’ on ah act o f congress, to propose to the British government an expedient which’should be free from that objection,, and more effectual for the object, by making it piratical. In that mode, the enormity ofthe 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 re spective rights. It was believed, also, that it would com pletely suppress the trade, in the vessels of both parties* Britain, France, Russia, and of other powers, J , W ich have been received in a friendly manner ' which would thereby b.e attached to it, would produce a corresponding arrangement, and by means thereof, its en tire extirpation for ever. A convention to this effect was concluded and signed in London, on the thirteenth day of tied state of th o s e rights, and the extent to wbirh ; quisitio'n of Florida ; to pensions to Revolution- | the powers of Congress, and in aid ofthe states • ''\Q ary officers and soldiers ; and to invalids ofthe 1 in such improvements as lie beyond that limit* late war. On many of these objects, the expense j when such aid is desired, the happier the effect will annually be diminished, and at no distant j will be, in many views, of which the subject is period cease on most or all. On the first day of ' susceptible. By profitting of their science, the January, 1817, the public debt amounted $123, ’ works will always be well executed ; and Bygiv- 491,965 15 ; and, notwithstanding the large sums ing to the officers such employment, our uni^n which have been applied to these objects, it has will derive all the advantage, in peace as w e lfas been reduced, since then $37,446,961 78. The i war, from their talents and services, which they . . . . . - , . last of the public debt will be redeemable on the can afford. In this mode also, the Military will facation, and a fixed purpose never lo submit to* tjrst 0f January, 1S35*, and while there is the best be incorporated with the Civil, and unfounded flm 1»lrr» in t n t n r p A n o f f p m n l I a * r p m n v o fn r ic p . ________ i_ l __ 1 ! ____ i L . i iL __ _______ il __ ______ i ♦ .. . . _ 1 . c,u recommended to Congress to seize every oppor and Spain, a crisis occurred in which it seemed probable that all the controvertible principles, in volved in such wars, might be brought into dis cussiori, and settled to the satisfaction of all par- s ties. Propositions, having this object in view, \ have been made to the governments of Great fellow-citizens', to witness this flourishing state of tbe public finances, when it is recollected that no burden whatever has been imposed upon them. The Military Establishment, in all its branches, in the performance of the various duties assigned to each, justifies the favourable view which was by all, but as yet no treaty has been formed with presented of the efficiency of its organization, at either for its accomplishment. The policy will, the last session. All the appropriations have been of money, are at this time very favourable to j Our relations with-the M a n tribes within our such a result.- It must be very gratifying to our j limits, have not been materially changed during fellow-citizens: to witness this flounshmp state ot th* w *r The hostile disposition evinced by it is presumed, be persevered in, and in the hope March* 1824, by plenipotentiaries duly authorised by both j that it may be successful* regularly applied to the objects intended by Con gress ; and, so far as the disbursements have been the year. certain tribes on the Missouri, during the last year, still continues, and' has extended in some''degree to those on the upper xMississippi and'Hire upper Lakes. Several parties of our citizens have been plundered and\ murdered by those tribes. In or der to establish relations of friendship with them,* Congress, at the last session made an appropria tion for treaties with them, and for the employ-* ment of a suitable mili tary escort to accompany.
