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NE
EAT E T T E V ILL E A D V E ITT I S E K
Mi
THE
Vol. n.
VATET-TEriLLli . Pubi.ishi;o-j; very SATURDAYtsy HODGE and liOY LAN.
-; - SATURDAY, June j, i?97- . . -,
Numb.'6j
PHILADELPHIA, May 16.
This Day, precifely at 12 o'clock, -THE
PRESIDENT f the UNITED STATES me
both Houies ef Congrefs In the Hall ot the Re
refentativcs, where lie addrefled them in the lol
-I
owing
S P E E C H.
Gentlemen of the. Senate, and 1 "C
Gentlemen of the liouft of Kept eftnttitiv.es,
H E perfonal inconveniences to the members of
fives', in leaving their families; and private affairs,:
at this feafon of the vear, are fo obvious, that 1 the
more regret" the extraordinary occafioa, which has
rendered the conventianTot Congrefs i n di fpe r. lab 1 e .
It would have afforded me the highert fatisfadion,
. 'to have been able to conciatulateyou, on aretlora
tion of peace. to.the nations of Europe, whofe ani
- hielities have eridangered our tranquility, but we
'have Hill abundant .ule of gratitude to thefupreme
difpe'nfer of national bleffins, for general healta
and promifllnfc feafotis ; for dohiedic and focial hap
pinefs ; for the rapid pi ogrefs and ample acquiii
tions of induftry, through , extenfive territories ,
for civil, political and religious liberty. W hile o
ther dates are defolated wah foreign waror con
vulfed with inteltine diviuons, "the United States
ptefent Jthe pleafing profped of a natmm governed
- by mild and equal lawsTgeiiefatly-fat isfied withThr
polFeflion' of their rights 1 neither envy ipg the ad
V a"Oia gYsno fartfflllieowerTH'jo t lie r n a t i o u s ;
folicitous only for the maintenance of order andjuf
tice, and the prefervation of liberty ; increafing dai
ly In their attachment to a fvfterii of government in
' proportion to their experience of its-utility ; yield-
ing a .ready and general. obedience to laws flow ing
rfrqm the reafon,:and .reftiug.naUe.onlyJblrd.iai.
dation, the affections of the people.
It is vith extreme regret that I fhall be obliged
to turn yorir thoughts to other ciicumdancesV which
admonifh US, that foriie of thefe felicities Tnaynot
be lading. But if the tide of our profperiiy is fuln
and a reflux commencing, a vigilant circutntpedion
becomes us, that we may meet our reveries with
fortitude and extricate ourfelves from their confe
quences with- all, the fkill, we poflefs, and all the et-
forts in our power. r- . , , -. '.-
In giving to Congrefs, information of tlie ftate of
the Union, and recommending to their ctinhdera
tion fuch meafures as appear to me to be necctfary
pr expedienf, according ro my conftitutional duty,
the caufes and the obeds of the prefent extraordi-
. . . iiary feffiqn will be explained,
After the Prefident of the United States, received
information, that the trench government had ex
prefTed. ferious difcontents ttlome proceedings o
the gqvernment of thefe ftatcs, fa id to atfect the in
teretts of France, he thought it expedient to lend to
that country, a new nyniltcr, fully inlh uclrd to en
ter on fuch amicable difcuffions, and to give fuch
candid explanations, as might happily remove tlit
ilifrnntents and fufpiciops of the. French govern
ted 5tt
)ns, .the one a copy of his letters of recal, the other
copv 61 bjsjetter otj:rjrQni.
TheTe've.re TaTTefcTre the'Executive Duedlpry.
Two days afterward?, the minifUr of foreign rela
tions informed tlie recalled American minilier, that
1 lie Executive Uiiectory had deitrmincd not 10 re
ceive another Minilier PlertipoientiaryJ touiihe U.
States, Until after .the redrel 0 grievances demand
?d o i t.b..e Ame rka n rgvjeirnveitxajdwhicliiLie.
French Republic had a right to expert from it.
sl he American minirtrr immediately endeavoured 10
Irtcertain," whether by revotingcrTeceTrrhini. it war
iatcnikq,aliat ligi4httM.itiirtirwyiM
of the rVenQh Rt public verbal antwers, were giv-
en" that loch was ilie inrenrion ot the liii tlftory. r'xr
his own juUificatidii he deliied a written anfwtr
t in r ohiaintrl nnift. until towards' the I alt of farws
ry ; when, receiving nofoe "in writing to cjuif the
t e r r i t or i es ot t IWRepublic, he proceed rd 1 o Amde r -dam,"wliei'e
he j.ropol'ed to wait tor inllrurtions Irom
ibis government Dunnft bis refidence at Paris,
fed him, and he was
1 J-.uCe'ned' with t in'u.bjetvt-4.o the jur jidicton ot
the minilier of pol.ee ; 1mm, vvi;li becoming firn'-nefs
l)e inlilted on tlu protection ot the hw ot nalicns
doe to him as 1 lie known niiniiltt of a Joreign pqw.-'
er. on will de rive tut iher iibornution from his
difptches which will be laid betore 011. - x
- iffv it is ofirn-4iei(lhiry that natir.s (hoiild treat
for, tlie mutual ad-vamane o1 Ttra3au",' and ei'pe .
dull yJ-oe-ixccMuod-3A -ayd.,1 e r mi uat&jdiiieiu; nctS-ia ud
as ihey"ret oiily by to'iniliVrs, the 1 ightoljmbjijlyj
is wen Known and eituniMiitu, n.y nit law ou
of nations Theefulai on the part or France to 1 e
ceive and hear our minilter, is- iht-n ihe tlei.ial of a
righr .; biitthe r-UiUl to tcceive him, un.il we
have acededto their. deiiiaK'S, without ditculiion
and without imelt'gtM ion i to neat ut- neili'Ci as
1 1 j"M7Tiqr a s ripd - of as a lovtrtlpn Hate."
With this toiujuot ot the. Jircncli government, it
will be proper. toWke- into viiw, tne public ainli
ence given "to the laV miu.Ulef.i't the .Uiiiirtl Jtates;
011 bis raking lraveof the t xecuiive 1irectory.
The fpeech of the ' jrfnUnf c'ikloies lentiments
more alarming -than the rttuial ot a niinirter, bt
catife more dangerous tijVour Independence and L
ferences with t rance, by amicable negciatiori, the
our commerce, tne perio.nai injuries 10 oui citizens,
and the grntraUompltxion ot a flairs', render it my
indilpenlable duiy to reconi'nend toujour confidera
lion effcdtual meafures ot defence,"
1 he commerce of the United States has become
an interelting objeft of atiemion, whether we cpnfi
d r-itin Tclat ion- to-1 lie w ea 1 1 h and fin a ncesT the
(Ifenght and refourfes of the nation. Witli a fe
coall of near two tboulaud miles in extent, opening
aidenruMor
fvif a t p l-i tnui t izen irnatu r a 1 1 y apply t he i r
-ndujlry and enterprize to thofe objeds. rny fe
lons and permaoeiu iriurv 1o commerce would not
fait to proihice the nioll cmbarrafling diiorders ; to
jre-vent it from being undermiinicd and tlellroytdy-
it is eflential that it receive an adtquate pfaiec-
rion. ..... : . .!. .. . .
The naval edabViflimeht mnd occur to every man
who confide s the inj iries'committed on our com
im rce and the itifults offertd to our citizens, and the
delcription of the vtflcl by vhich thele abirfes.haveT
been practifed. As the fuderings of our mercantile
and 'ealarmg citizens, cannot be afciibed to the
omilTion of duties de mandablexonlider ing the nen-
tral fhuatiort. of our coilntry, they . are to be attri
buted to the hope of jmpunity, arifingfiom a fup."
ppled4ebUilj)j3u.r part-to atfuid prjoteclian..;
l o refilf t he conU ci lences of fuch imprelfions on the
mi nd if -4o r e i gtr n a Hon s,- a nd i o gu a r d aainft he
deradation.aiidlervi
damp on the .American characters, is an important
dut) jf governriienr. S' ' ' "r V
naval power, next to the militia, is the natural ,
defence .pi" t1e United-vSraies. 'The experience of
i .e I ill varvliuld be fuffident to (hew, that a mo:
clerae naval force fuch as would be eafily within
the preleWlbm teirb'eTnniin7OTcr CI V?lieeit
luflicietito hav.' baffled many formidable tranlpor
tationo' troops from; one date to another,jwhich:
were hen practifed. Our fea coads from their
greaf extent are more ealily annoyed and nvbreea
lily defended by a naval force than any other. ith.
allthe ma ermls oar country a'ronnds: in fkill our x
naval architr&s and navigators, are equal to any :
nion ; and at the la.nif tinc IliuliouOv markvd.wiih 1 commanders and ft amen will not he wanting.
intlignitis jn vvMdsLCgbA a "permanent
Stales. It evtht.es a difpolitmn to Itparate the pto
pie 01 me U; Mates irom 1 n'1 govei nu cni ; 10 per.
, -h I FT"
.:.. men t. and vindicate. til e cond uCLot 1 pe Un it ed states
For this purpols he felecled from among his fellow.
- : citizens a charaaer whofe integrity, talents, expe
rience and lervices, had placed him' in the rank dl
JUtheoft .efteem da
"w.''.':iWeft-'bbecl; of his miffion was exprclled in-Jik
letter of credence to the French Repiihli; ; being
' to maintain that good uriderdahdin which from
' ""'ltb'''cVncnxement'' of the alliance -bad f'ibfided.
. between the two nations";and to efface -unfa-tt
vourable impteflions, bapifh fqfpicions, and reliore
a that cordiality, Which was pnee the evidence and
" pledge of a friendly union." And his indruions
""'ereoPtbe fame effect, " laithiultyTTo reprclent
.. the dil'pofnipn of-the government and people ot
' 1 " the United States. difpoiitipu being one, ro
" remove jealoufies nnd obviate complaints, by fiiew
ing that they were groundlels, to reliore that
- ' mutual confidence,. which had been fo u'ntcrtunate-i.jydjnurioufly-4niaired-andj(o
explain the re
- . " laiive intereds of both ccaturies and" tlie real fen-
-iiment s-t)f his-ow;it
luade them fhat the) have difierent alifctioiis, prin
ciples and tne rtts, Itoiii tiioie ot, their lellttw-iiii
zeus, whom tliej il.en ftUe-i have cholen to manage
tiieir common concerns ; and thus, to produce d'ii
fions fatal to oin peace. hiichat t em ps ougRjTolbe
repelled wit nra dtciluin which fhall 1 conv itictvr'rance
and tlie woj-Id, that we -are .not i ij degraded people ;
liumi.iated under a colonial fpirii of fear,and lenfe
of inferiority, fitt-d to he the ni'kruble indruments
ot lorein influence." l egardlels of national honour,
cha'racter and interefl. j
7 1 (httulci Im e hten happyto have thrown a veil
over thefe tranlactions, it ir had Hce'n.poflible to
conceal tlie.ni ; but tliey have paflcdon .the great
thearreoftfTe"Wqr ldTrvr of all Europe and!
Aiiierica ; and with fuch circumdat ccs ot publicity
and Solemnity that they cannot- be di Ignited and
will not be I001V torgot ten ; they . have infliified a
LouBdiiy
Ir is my fincere dt hre however that it may he
healed. It is my fincere dt fire, -and in tiusj pre
fvd 111 of naval defence, appears to be requ.ifite, t.'
am. icuiinie u canuoi jjgjruriiicu ipccucijr auu va.-..
Tcnti'vtly as the piefent cfifis demands. Hitherto,'
1 have thought pretqprevent the failing of
anil' :d.:vt'l!eTxcepi on; a.vojage to the Ead-Indies,
where general ulage and the danger lrom "pir&tjs
appeard 10 render the permiflloh, proper ;. yet re
di iction has originated folely from a w ill) to prevent
collufions with the powers at war, contravening the
act of Congrels of June. bne thoufand feven hundred ,
and ninty-fqnr, and riot from any doubt entertained
by nie ot the policy and propriety of permitting our
vefftls to. .employ means ot deteuce, while engaged
in a lawful foreign commerce.; -It reinains,for..Con-!
greis to- prefcribe fuch regulations as .will enable'
our featarmg crt zens to dctetid . themlelves, againlt
fume'I concur withyou and with rtur condnuents, to
preferve peace and Jierodjip witji all tiatiqns : and
befievirg that neither the- honour nor tlie interelf of
the United States sblolutely forbid the repetition of
advances for fectning thele dtlirable ol jt-ds with
France, I fhall inltitu'e a,"treth. attempt at negocia
tion, anil man 1101 ran rnpmiiioic aim oniiimic .m
accomodation on ternis(.conipatible wit h the rights,
duties, ititertds and honour ot the nation, jit we
have commit! ed errors; and thefe can be demondrar
ed'we fnall be willing to correal them : if we have
done injiii ies, we fhall be willing 011 convidion to
i-edrei's- them, r-A'-nd-c qual meaiures ' of judicewe
Juve'a rigiit to expea i
-a44f-nr
& A minidef thus, fpecially comrniiTionedt was j- The diplomatic intercourie oetween-rne urn ec,
Jiiiics iijii ' r ti I -, 1 -
expected would have. provecMJK: inih(iinicnt of J e
.'"'' i l!iC to Repub,. j
lies, rite firlV.dep cf the. French govemment cor- I
rel ponded with t lia t ' e x p'ect a 1 10.11 .' ' n 1 c w days he
fore ,is arrival ..avPiiriS. t!ie fjTcI JJni'f
' foreign relations, informed the'. American minilter
then rehdent at fais, ot tjie toi maiitrcs to . De on-..
nVw fr rartTl5e IrealtVofirmity atTcT"conimerce of one
thciuland feven,htintrred and lever ty e'-:lit, injurious
. " - 1 ft . i.jJ srtrlnn m. tunv ttiu li u C
fervrdbrimtelf itt4tW
nr nrerrarorv to his recentio.i. J hele formali- otour citizens, tx copy - -..-.
: ties they obferved, and on the ninth cf December
to Tuc nunuteiio!; . tcrcign .rejati-:
inution fronT inat country
fed a jjecree qifrhg ,fconu o.t March lad, contraven
beforevoil.
EAVifew ece mli aWutipto adjud air our
viotadbhs ofTl.ie:JTaw ornatToiis, andat the lame
time rellram them, from committing afts of hodili
y ag-iind the powers at war. In addition to this
voluntary provitiort for defence by individual citi-
gates ana pro viae oiuer vtncis , oi-niicrior rorce
ro take under conioy i'uch merchant vtflcls as (ball
remain unarmed. ... ' . ,
'The greater part afthe cfuifers.wjipre depredations
have been mod injivrious, have been bniltrand foni'e
of them partly , equipped in the U-nilcd States.
rtlthoirgh ah effectual remedy may be attended
vitn aiuicui'y, yet nave tiiougm 11 my oury ro pre
teirrlhubjeifl generally to juFcohlideration. I
a mode can be dev.ifed, by the wifdom ot Congrefs
to prevent tlie relources ol the united Mates tro
being, converted into the means of annoying pur
trade, a great evil will , be prevented. Withythe
fame view f thirk it proper to mention that tome
o f 00 r - ci 1 ize 11 -r e tide n t-a b road,- lva ve- fii 1 ed otxt-prf-
Uaters a n d -,' othe r s h a v e v o runt a r i 1 y -J a ken thf com-
a r.a n d , o r . a t e r e d- w oaHUUftwJwu-WBimHtta
m
-
- I
v-,i . y
': . : ' A fFr'
-
tn
ipdllationsW the commerce ot-the United biatttz--
isiidi unnatural and iniquitous pradkes can be rC-
iirarneci qjny oy recrc puinjiiii im.-i - k
-r But befWes a-protedioivot Vi? commerce on thtf
feast Lihink it highty nectfl'ary fo pi oteft it at
boflte, where if is colTeded in o u r mo I1 1 m pun ant
The di dance ot tlie United Mates tronvhu-
, 1 1.
' " 4 . . . . ' 1
. . . a
4o.rts,
rope, and;the well kuowh promptitude', ardour, and
happily diminilh the probability of itvafi6i:'ne1Vie'r
thelefs to guard againlt luddeti and"prtdatory incq.r
llons'the fituatiohs of fume of our jrincipal .iea-
4-
1
M.
1 1 1 lv. t . ..rirtufinT rn am i r jhii n r en, i uvsua. liiw wiuanui"-w iw"'" " x. . .- , - . ; tw
i-... j 1 i.r.i-TTr mT7,i t i.t forirn nti;- - iv 1 iil c arz t utiji w "'K " -"J ' -..i 1 : . ... . - ,...x,i ........ - f, m