I if, r ? .J? WE WBERN, N.-C. SATURDAY; MARCH 1 7, 1 821 :
VOLUME. Ill
NUMBER 156.
: 4 v-'i-
a. ' . - u . i. i
V. :
BIT
,,iSTEO A0 ruouu" -
PASTEUR WATSON,
At $ 3 per annum-half in adnce.
INAUGURAL SPEECH
Washington City, Mabch 6.-
Yesterday, at 12 o'clock, on' - taking
the oath to support the Constitution of
the LV.ted States, the following Speech
delivered by JAMES MONROE,
pfCaiJent of the United States :
rri LOW-CITIZENS.
4 M
I shall not attempt
to describe the
xpd emotions
winch me new aim
verv ditinb'uis!ed proofof the confidence
r :.w iVII.iw citizens, evinced by my re-
hioh tiust, has excited in
njv bosom. The approbation iiich it aij
nouns of my ct-nduct, i:i the preyed-io-
term,. affords me a consolation whicb
I shall profoundly feel through life. Tlie
eellt.fal accord wijh which it has been
expressed, adds to the great and never
ceasins,'obligation which it imposes. To
oerit the countenance of this good opinion
an J to carry it with me into my retire
ment,' as the solace of advancing years,
will be the object of my most zealous
and unceasing efforts.
Having no pretensions to the high and
co:ii-nanding claims of my predecessors,
wli se names are so much more conspi
cuously identified with our revolution,
and who contributed so pre eminently to
prmiote its success, I consider myself
rather a the instrument than the cause
n.iinii which has' prevailed in the-
VI in- -" - " t
late flection. In surmounting, in favor
o! my humble pretensions, the diilkullies
winch so often produce division iin like
occurrences, it is obvious tliat other pow
erful c.iues, indicating the great strength
a i l stability of our Union, have essen
tial!) contributed to draw you together.
That these powerful causes xist, and
that tVv are permanent, is ray fixed o
piuioii ; tuat they may produce a like ac
cord in all q lections, touching, however
remotely, the liberty, prosperity, and
happiness, of, our country, will always be
the object of ray most fervent prayers to
the Supreme Author of all Good.
In a government which is founded by
the people, who possess exclusively the
sovereignty, it seems proper that the per
son who may be placed by their suffra
ges in this high trust, should declare, on
commencing its duties, the principles on
which he intends to conduct the adminis-
ration. If the person, thus elected, has j
served lue precetl ins: terra, an opportu
rjity is afforded him to review its princi
pal occurences, and to give such further
eiplmation respecting them as, in his
judgment, may ue uselul to his constitu-j
enu
Ihe events ol one year have in-
fl'jence on those of another ; and, in like
manner, of a preceding on the succeed-
in:! administration. 1 he movements
.f j
a "reat nation are connected in all
tneir
parts. If errors have been committed, j
they ought to be corrected ; if the poll
cy is sound, it ought to be supported.
It
by a thorough knowledge of he j .
,i...u ..u: .u., .-it :.:
enabled to judge correctly of the past.i
and to give a proper diseetion to the fu- At tne period .adverted to, the powers
ture. of Ecrope, after having been engaged-in
Just before the commencement of the lnS ani destructive wars with each oth
hst terra, the United States had conclu- I erl bad concluded a peace, which happi
ded a war with a very powerful nation ' tyi st' exists. Our peace with the pow
on conditions, equal and honorable to both w'tn whom we had been engaged,
parties. The events of that war are too j ka'iJ also been concluded. The war be
recent, and too deeply impressed on the I tween Spain and the colonies in South
memory of all, to require a developeraent . America, which had commenced many
from me. Our commerce had been, in I years before, was then the only conflct
a great measure, driven from the sea ; that remained unsettled. This being a
our Atlantic and inland frontiers were contest between different parts of the
invaded in almost every part; the waste same community, In whieh other pow
of life along our coast, apd on some parts j ers had not interfered, was not affected
of our inland frontiers, to the defence of by their accommodations.
.u:.i ii . i ....... I
...tuurguiuK"u patriotic citizens!
were called, was immense: m addition to
w'a.ch,not less than one hundred and
twenty millions of dollars were added at
its end to the public debt.
As soon as the war had terminated, the
nation, admonished by its events, resolv-
v. pmtc ucii ma siiaduon, . Which
should be better calculated til ' lira,
I'"- I
.u,e recurrence oi a HKe evil, and, in
snould recur, to miUgate iu ca
nities. With this view, after reducing
Uad force to the basis of a peace es
rlKhmet,t, which has been further mod-
-Mnce, provision was made
ruction of fortifications at
for the
proper
F'ks, through the
Cot, and
whole extent of oar
' vn an
augmentation
of
:i 'ore, s should be well adapted to
our
V.. .i
nr-; ."Fe. Ihe laws, mtkine this
the laws,
anil it u r- ioij auu
" is bee", since, the constant
in 'ere P-a in IS 13 and 16
fort of the Executive; ;: to carrj them into
effects '.' v jT' ---j' i,';'C ' " ' -
The advantage of these i fortifications,
and of an augmented naval force.-ia the
extent contemplated, inpainCof;.ecorio-'
my, Iras iieen fujly illustrated, by Re
port of the'boafd of Engineers and Na
val Commissioners, - lately communica
ted tot Congress, by "which it appears,
that an invasion by twenty thousand men,
with a. correspondent tiaval , force, in .a.
campaign of six months only, .the whole
expense o"f the construction of the works
would be defrayed by the 'difference in
the sum necessary to maintain the force
which' would be adequate to our defence
with the aid of ' those works, and that
which would be incurred without1 them.
The reason of this difference is obvious., If
fortifications are judiciously placed on our
great inlets,' as' distant froraonr cities, as
circumstances will permit, they will -form
the only point3 of attack, and the enemy
will be detained there by a small' regular ,
force, a suthcieut time to enable our, mi
litia to collect, and repair to that orrwhich
the attack was made A force -adequate
to the enemy, collected at that single
point, with suitable preparation for such
others as might be menaced, is all that
would be requisite. Cut, if there were
no fortifications, then the enemy might
go where he pleased, and, changing his
position, and sailing from place to place,
our force must be called out and spread
in vast numbers along the whole coast
and on both sides of every bay and river,
as high up in each us might be navigable;
for ships of warP By these fortifications.
supported by our navy, to. which they and, as was represented, of that of other
would afford like support, we should pre- powers. Of this spirit, and of its injuri
sent to other powers an armed front jfrom ; ous bearing on the United States, strong
St. Croix to the Sabine, which would f proofs were afforded! by the establish-
protect; in the event at war, our whole
coast and interior from invasion, and e-
veu in the wars of other powers, in which
we were neutral, they would be found em
inently ; useful, as, by keeping their public
ships at ;i distance from our cities, peace
and order in them would be preserved,
and the government protected from" in
sult. It need scarcely be remarked, that
these, measures have not been resorted to
in a spirit of hostility to other powers.
Such a disposition does not exist towards
any power. Peace and good will have
been, and will hereafter be cultivated with
all, and by the most faithful regard to
justice. They have been dictated by - a
love of peace, of economy, and an ear
nest desire to save the lives of our fellow
citizens from that destruction, and our
country from that devastation, which are
inseparable from war, when it finds us
unprepared for it. It is believed, and
experience has shown, that such a prepa
ration is the best expedient that can be
resorted to, to prevent war. I add,
with much pleasure, that considerable
progress has already been made in these
measures of defence, and that they will
be completed in a few years, considering
the ereat extent and importance of the
object, if the plan be zealously and itead
ly persevered in. .'
The conduct of the government in
what relates to foreign powers, is always
an object of the highest importance to
i the nation. Its agriculture, commerce,
manufactures, fisheries, revenue; in short,
us peace, may an oe anecieu oy u. ii
ii l. ar-i i ' a a
tentlon ls' thereforeJ due to lh,s subject.
Thi contest was considered, at an
6tana
war in .ul J
A CIVIL
parties were entitled
to equal rights in our ports. This de
cision, the first made by any power, be
ing formed on great consideration of the
comparative strength and resources of
the Parties. thf lr(rtl-i nf timp. and sue-
cessfol
- , III .UU UJ HI-L, vr.v-...x.,
ana o.aH other circumstances on which
it ouglu to depend, was in strict accord
with ihe law of nations. . Congress has
invariably acted on this principle, having
made no clmnge in our relations with ei
ther party. Our attitude has, therefore,
been that of neutrality between them,
which has been maintained by the gov
ernment with the strictest impartiality.
No aid lias been afforded to either, nor
,has any privil-g been enjoyed by the
"one, which hs not been equally open to
the other party 5 and every exertion has
been made in its power, to 'enforce the I years from she time of the expiration i
execution of the Saws prohibiting illegal By that treat, also, the differences whicb
equipments, tBequI rigor against had arisen under the treaty of Ghent, re-bVtfcv'-rT
' specting the right claimed bf the United
By this equality between the parties, States fqr the citizens to take and cure
their public, vessels ha vebeen received in fish on the coast of his Britannic Majes
our ports on theatne footing ; Uiey have ty's dominions in America with other
enjoyed an equal rightto purchase and differences on important interests, were
export arms; inunUionSj of wax,, and eve-; adjusted, to the satisfaction of both par
ry other suppty-pthe exportation of all ties. No agreement has yet beeul enter
articles whatever1eing permitted under ed into respecting the commerce between
laws which were j passed long before the the United.States andthe British domm
, commencement of the :ontest;. our citi- ions' in the West Indies, and. on this con
zens have tradedj equajly with both, and tinent. The restraints imposed on that
their commerce ivith each has been alike commerce by Great Britaini and recip
protected by the government. . rocated by the United Stateis, oti a prin-
Respecting the attitude which it may , ciple of defence, continue stll in force,
be proper for the; United States to main-i The negotiation with Fririce for the
tain hereafter between the patties, Ijhave . regulation of the commercial relations
no hesitation irr sfathigj it as my opinion, . between tie two countries, which, in the
that the neutrality heretofore .observed, t course of. the last summer, had been
should, still be- Adhered : to. '. From the commenced at Paris, has since been trahs
charige in the government of Spain, and - ferred to this city, and will be pursued.
tne uegoiiauon -now aepenamg mvnea
by the Cortes and accepted by the colo
nies, it may be presumed that tfieir dif
ferences will be settled on the terms "pro
posed by the colonies. Should the - war
be continued tlie United States, regar
ding its occurrences, will always have it
in their power to adJpt such measures
respecting it, as their honor and interest
may require, v -'
Shortly 'after the general peace, a band
of adventurers took advantage of "this con
flict, and of the factilit Ayhicli it afforded,
to establish a syjstem of buccaneering 'in
the neighbouring seas, -to the great annoy
ance of the commerce of the U. States,
. i .... L IJ - f ' . 1
mental Amelia -island,; and, the purpo-
sesto which it was made instrumental, by
this band in 181$, antl by the occurren
ces which took place j in other parts of
Florida, in 181 8 j the details of which, 'in
both instances, are tod well known to re
quire to be now recited. I am satisfied,had
j a less decisive course b0en adopted,that the
! worst consequences. Would have resulted
from it. We have seen that these checks,
decisive as they Jwere, were not sufficient
to crush that piratical j spirit. Many cul
prits, brought within our limits, have been
condemned to suffer death, the punishment
due to that atrocious i crime; The de
cisions of upright ancf enlightened tribu
nals fall equally on jail, whose crimes
subject them, by a fair interpretation of
the law, to its censure. It .belongs to
the Executive not to suffer the execu
tions, under theie decisions, to transcend
the great purpose fori which punishment
is necessary, the full benefit of exam
ple being secured, policy, as well as, hu
manity, equally Iforbids that they should
be carried further. ' X have acted on this
principle, pardoning, (hose who appear to
have been led astray jby ignorance of the
criminality of tlje acts they - had commit
ted, and suffering thef law to take effect
on those only, in whdse favor no extenu
ating circumstances "could be urged. I
Great confidence i-s entertained, that'
the late treaty j with Spain, which has
been ratified -byiboth parties, and the rati
ficat ions-whereof have been exchanged,
has placed the relations of the two coun-
. .-I Li" "L . ,
tries on usoasis 01 permanent irienosmp.
The provision made by it for such of our
citizens as have claims 011 Spain, of the
character described,-will, it is presumed
be very, satisfactory to them : and the
boundary which is established between
the territories bfj the parties,, westward of
ine lTiississippi, neretoiore in aispute, nas,
it is thought, been settled on conditions
just and advantageous to both. But, to
the acquisition of Florida, too much im
portance cannot be atached. , It secures
to the United States a territory important
in iself, and whose importance is much
increased by its bearing on many of the
highest interests of trie Union. It opens
to several of the neighbouring states a
ff ee passage to the ocean, through the
province ceded, by Several rivers, hay
ing their sources high up withhi " their
limits. It secures us against all future
annoyance from powerful Indian tribes.
It gives us several excellent harbors in
the Gulf of Mexico for ships of war of
the largest size. It covers by its posi
tion in the Gulf, the jMississippi and oth
er great waters within our extended lim
its, and thereby enables the United States
to afford complete protection to the vast
and very valuable productions of our
whole western country, which find a mar-
ket through those streams.
By a treaty with fthe British govern-,
mer.t bearing date ori the twentieth day
of October, one; thousand eight hundred
and eighteen, " the convention regulating
the commerce of the ! United States iand
Great Britain concluded on the third of
July, one thousand (eight hundred and
fifteen, which was about expiring, was
rivived ana continued for the term of ten
en the part of the Unired States, in the
spirit of conciliation, and witli an ear
nest desire thaf it niay terminate In an
arrangement satisfactory Ifo both par-
ties- - ' ' .. .
Our relations with the arbary pow
ers are preserved in the same state, and
by the same means, that were employed
when I came into this office. As early
as 1801, it was found necessary to, send
a squadron into the Mediterranean,, for J
the protectioajof our commerce, and no
period has intervened, a sfiort term ex
cepted, when it was houg jit advisable to
withdraw it; The great interest which
the United States have in the Pacific, in
commerce and the fisheries, have alsoj
made it necessary to maintain a naval'
force theie. In disposing )f this force,'
in both instances, tlie mostf effectual mea
sures in our pover; have been taken,
without interfering with its-mother. ..duties,'
for the suppression of th ; slave jtrade,
and of piracy in the neighboring seas.
The situation of the Unjited States, in
regard to their resources, j the extent of
their revenue, and the facility with which
it is raised, anords a tost gratilying
spectacle. The payment ilf nearly sixty
seven millions ofdollarsof! the public
debt, with the great progress made in
measures of -defence, anr in- other im
provements of various kirds, since the
late war, are conclusive iiroofs of this
extraordinary prosperity, j-pecially when
it is recollected that thesii expenditures
have beeii defrayed, without a burthen
oh the people, the directrix and excise
having been repealed soolafter the con
clusion of the late war, the revenue
applied to these great jects having
been raised in a manner t?t to be felt.
Our great resources, therefore, remain
untouched, for any purpose which may
affect the vital interests ojthe nition.
Foi all such purposes ther are inexhaus
tible.' They are more especially to be
found in the virtue, patriotism, and intelli
gence, of our fellow-citizens, and in the
devotion with Which they would yield
up, by any just measure Of taxation,' all
their property, in support of the rights
and honor or their country.
. Under the present depression of pri
ces, affecting all the. productions of the
Country, and every branch of industry,
proceeding from causesr explained on a
former occasion, the revenue has consid
erably diminished ; the effect of which
has been to compel Congress either to a
bandon these gieat measures of defence,
or to resort to loans or internal taxes, to
supply the deficiency. (In thepiesump-
tion that this depression and the defi
ciency
in the revenue
arising
from it,
would be" temporary jMoaHs were author
ised for the demands of tne last and pre
sent year. ; Anxious to Relieve my fellow-citizens
in 1817 from! every burthen
which could be dispensed jwith, and tha
state of the Treasury perr iitting if, 1 re
commend the repeal of tlje internal tax
es, knowinglfhat such relpf was then pe
culiarly necessary, in coritquertce of the
great exertions made in tr late war. I
matle that recommendatiofnder a pledge
that should the public etjrencies tequire
a recurrence to them at ajy time while 1
remained in this trust, I would, with equal
promptitude, pertorm ine amy wuk.ii
would then be alike incumbent on me.
By the experiment nowmaking it will
be seen, by the next sessioji of Congress,
whether the revenue shall ihave been so
augmented as to be adequate to all these ,
necessary purposes. Should the defi
ciency still continue, ind especiajly
should it be probable tha ii would be
permanent, the course to-rpe pursued ap-
.1 . IT . . - . .
fied that under certain f circumstances, flight of experience, could not fail o pro
bans may be resorted toWilh great ad- Nuce an effect, equally salutary,1 on
vantage, I am equally wju satisfied, as .those questions connected with the inter
rgeniral rule, that the demands of the nal organisation. These favorable ant.
cuSyear, especially inj time of peace, ptmns have hzed In our
-fcM Hp nrovided for bv the revenue of
that year. .1 nave nevec dreaded, nor
have lever shunned, in 4ny situation in
OIIWMI" " I - - J r
which i have been .placed, making
i ! I I
peals lo.the virtue and patriotism of my
fellow-citizens, well knowinsr that they
could never be made, in vain, especially ;
in times ofgreat emergency, or for bur
posesjof high national importance, fin- f
deperidently of the exigency of the case,
many considerations of great weight orgy
a policy. haying io view a provbiori of
revenue : to meet, to a certain extent, r
the demands of the nation, witlunit rely
ing altogether on the precarious resource
of foreign commerce. I am satisfied haU
internal duties and excises, with corres- '
ponding imposts on foreign articles of
the same kind,; would,1 without imposing
any serious burthens on ihe people,! en
hance the price of produce, promote our
manufactures, arid augment the reveoue,
at the same time that tKey made it more '
secure and permanent: ,; :
j The care of the Indian tribes w ithin
our limits has long been an essential pai r
of our system, but qnforlunately, it! has
not been executed hi a manner toj ac
complish all the objects j intended by it
We have treated them as independen:
nations without their having any substan
tial pretension to that rank. The distinc
tion has flattered their; pride, '" retarded
their improvement, and, in many instan
ces, payed the way to their destruction.'
The progress of Jour sttleraents westward,
supported, as' tpey arej by a dense po
pulation, v has, constantly driven' them
hack with almost the total sacrifice o;
the laiids which they have been compel
led to abandon. ' They have claims on
the magnanimity, andjj I may add on
the Justice of this nation, which wemust
all feel. We should become their real
benefactors, we should perform the office
of their Great Father, the endearing title
which they emphatically give to theJChief
Magistrate of pur Union. Their sove
reignity over vast territories should cease,
in lieu of which the right of soil should ,
be secured to each individual, and . bis
prosperity, in competent portion, and,
ibr thei territory thus ceded by each tribe, ;
some reasonable equivalent should be ,
granted, to be vested in perrajfftent'fund r
for the4 support of civil government over
them, and for the education of j their j
children, for their instruction in the arjt's '.
of husbandary, and to provide sustenance
for them until they could provide it for $
themselves. My earnest hope is, j that
Congress will digest some plan, founded '
on these principles, with such , improve
ments as their wisdom ; may suggest, and
carry it into effect as soon as it may br
practicable r I
Europe is again unsettled, and Jthe
prospect of war increasing. Should thj
flame light up, in any quarter, how,- far
it may-extend, it is impossible to foresee.
It is our fieculiar felicity to be altogether
unconnected with the causes which pro-
duce this- menacing aspect elsewher.--
With everypower we are in perfect amity,
and it is bur interest to remain so, if it be '
practicable on just conditions. I see na
reasonable cause to apprehend variance
from any power,-unless it proceed from
a violation of our raaratime rights., jn
these cob tests, should they occur, and to
whatever extent they may be carried, we
shall be neutral
but, as a neutral power,
ihich it is our cut v to
we have rights - which it is our ciity to
maintain, ror light injuries it will le
incumbent on us to seek redress in a spir- ,
it of amity, iu full confidence that, injur
ing none, none would knowingly injure
us. For more immediate dangers we
should be prepared, andit should always
be recollected that such preparation, ad
apted to tle circumstances, and. sane tim
ed by ihe judgment and wishei of our
constituents cannot ifail to have argood
effect, in averting dangers of every kind.
Wei should recollect, also, that the sea
son of peace is best adapted to these pre
parations. ' - J .
If we turn our attention, fellow-citizen,
more immediately to the internal concerns,
of our country, and more especially id
those on which its future welfare dependi,
we have every reason 'to anticipate the
happiest results. . It is now rather more
than forty-four years since We declared
our independence, and thirty-seven since
it was acknowledged. The talents and
vi. tues which were displayed in that great
struggle, were a sure presage of all that ,
has since followed.
j A people who wei e
in their infant state,
able to surmount.
such great perils, would be more compe
tent, as they rose into manhood, to rep i
any which they might meet in 'thejr pro
gress. ' Their physical strength would bo
more adequate to foreign danger, and the
practice of self-government aided by th
Whole system, uauuun a,,u biair, wpua.e
shunned all the defects which unceasingly
preyed on the vitals and destroyed ii?
ancient republics. Jnthem, there were
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