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Ourtarethe plaaof fair, ellghrfu Peace, , L'nwarpV! by party rage, to live like Ere-thera." 9HRS8XS Vol. XVIII. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1817, No. 951 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE, ITash inton City, Dec. 1. Thi' lav, at Ji2 o'clock the Presi oj.n i- of the United. Status trans mitted, to both Uouj.es of Congress, tin" fiiliiiwins Message, by Mr. Joseph J ox us Monroe. his Secretary : Fcl'c-v Citizen of the Senate, aid r'fihe House of Reiresentatives At no period of our political exi' tp"ce hail we fio much cause to felici tate ourselves at the prosperous and V condition of our country. The abundant fruits of the earth have fil led it with plenty. An extensive and profitable commerce has greatly aug xiicnted our revenue. 'Hse public cre dit, has attained an extraordinary ele vation.. Our preparations for defence, in case of future wars, "from which, bv the experience of all nations, we ought not to expect to be exempted, are advancing, under, a well digested sys tem, with all the dispatch which so impnrtana work will admit. Our free government, founded on the interest and affections of the people, has gain ed, and is daily gaining, strength. Lo cal jealousies" are rapidly -yielding to more generous, enlarged, and enlight ened views of national policy For advantages so numerous and highly important, it is our cluty to unite in rafeful acknowledgments to that om nipotent Being from whom they ate -derived, and in unceasing prayer that he will endow us with virtue and strength to maintain and hand them 4twnT in their utmost purity to our latest posterity. - I have the- satisfaction to inform Tiiii, that an arrangement, which had been commenced by my predecessor, vith the British government, for the reduction of the naval force, by Great IVnram.anil the United States, on the lakes, has been concluded ; by which ir is provided, that neither party shall ii'e'p in service, on Lake Champlain, more than oiia vessel ; on Lake On tario, more than one ; aud on Lake trie, and the upper lakes, more than two ; to b armed. each,vith one can twmt mil v : and that all the bthe r arm ed vessels, of both parties, of which l an exact list is interchanged, shall be j dismantled, it lh aiso a$;iecu, iai li e foi re retained shall be restricted; in its tlut v.-. to the inf e r nal p u rposes 'of each Kciiy : aul that the arrange men sh;Jl remain in force until six months .-.shall. have expired, after no tice given bv one of the parties to the .tiler of U desire that it should fer L r.ate. Bv iVis arrangement, useless : pt ce, oil both sides." and, what is t f suil Renter importance, th-dan-f er of i between anm-d ves sels. inllioe imaml waters, which was ri-rtt, U prevented. I have the satisfaction also to state, tii.u the commissioners, under the iWth article of the treaty of Ghent, whom it was rcferted to decide, to v. ! iYVi nnrtv thfc several islands in the Xoy ol Passamaquoddy belonged un- i Jrthe treaty of one thousand seveu J hundred and eighty-three, have a greed in a report, by which all the is lands in the possession of each party before the late war have been decreed ; to it. The Commissioners acting un-; di r the other articles of the tieaty ot . . ...... i-1. .i i Ghent, lor the settlement oi uoumia ries, have also beeu engaged in the dis charge of their respective duties, but have not yet completed them. The difference which arose between, the two governments under that .trea tv, respecting the right of the United States to take and cure fish on the coast of the British provinces north of our limits, which had been secured bv the treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, is. still ..in liegociation. The proposition made bv this ww rrimeiit. to extend to the colonies)' of Great Britain the principle j of the convention of London, by which j the commerce between the ports ot the t United States arid .British ports in Eu- j rope, had been placed on a footiug of j equality, has been declined uy tne Bri tish government This subject hav ing been thus amicably discussed be tween the two governments, and it appearing that the British government is unwilling to depart from its present regulations, it remains for Congress to decide whether they will make any other regulations, in consequence -v.thereof, for the protection and im provement of our navigation. The negociation with Spain, for polktlcns oil cur commcrcs and the settlement of boundaries, remains, es sentially, in the state it held, by the communications that were , made to Congress by my predecessor; It has been evidently the poUcy.of the Span ish government to keep the negocia tion suspended, and in this the Uni ted States have acquiesced, from an amicable disposition towards Spain, and in the expectation tnat her gov ernment saiuld, from a sense of jus tice, finally eccede to such an arrange ment a3 Uii'd be equal between the parties. A disposition has been late ly shewn, by the Spanish government to move in the negociation, which has been met by this government, and, j should the conciliatory and friendly : policy, which has invariably guided our councils, be reciprocated, a just J and satisfactory arrangement maybe! expected. It is proper, however, to ! remark, that no proposition has yet been ' made, from which such a result can be presumed. - V It was anticipated, at an early stage, that the contest bet ween Spain and the colonies would become highly inter est ng to the United S tates. It was natural that our citizens should sym pathise in events which alVected their neiglibors. It seemed probable, also, that the prosecution of the conflict a long our coast, and in contiguous countries, would occasionally inter rupt our commerce, and th e r w is e af fect the persons and p uperty of our citizens. These anticipations have been realized. Such injuries have been received from persons acting un der the authority of both the parties, & for which redress lias, in most instances, been withheld. Through etery stage of the conflict the United States have mai n tain ed an i m partial n eu t r-! i ty, gi -ving aid to neither of the pra ties in me n , money , ships or m un itious ol war i They have regaf-ded the contest, not in the light of ah ordinary insur rection or rebel I ion j but as a civil nar between parties nearly equal, havfng, as to neutral powers, equal rihi. Our ports have been open to bMh. ar.il every article, the fruit of our sruil. or of the industry of our citizens which cither was permitted to take, i as bet u H equally free to the ot!e; Should tin ; colonies establish tiieir independence, it is proper now to state, that this go- vernment neither seeks, nor would ac : cept, from them any advantage, in II commerce or oth.'ru :e. which will ! not be eqmiily ifpeti to all other na tions. Toe colonic win . in that e vent, become iiidepcr:ticnt states, tree -' -a;ui ; ' -ti.k mudn and l. cid mai re from any obiigat ion to, or co u flection 1 1 c .s, at live a.o;ii wi moui.i.id, m -kii.g v. ilh, us. wliich it. mav m( then be li i-i the win ie, iwct'ty-i iir CudhoOi ai.dav tiieir interest tu .'orm on the basis o; ;i j :,i::;r"-Mi l',!f'-,s-"1('ll""',ls- v fair reciprodty. ; In the sumnr of the present vear an expechtron was ,et on - foU against -test ..:i'l,?v n n,v y.taoasUtd rmrida, bv pertuWcinung t: act imder i 'V V Ht:i5s t;igut the authoritv olso;,u of the cronies, vvhr ' .lu 'vra toMand ;t!a; ana t,r toe took... possession ,ion of Atoeh inland, at the iv St.Malys rher, near the mouth or thv ot. Alan boundary ot the State or (icu g ia. Ai this PrtninCe lies eastward of ?he Missis sippi, and is bounded by tlie United States and the ocean p:r every side, i'ud has been a subject of negotiation with ttie govern ment of Spain, as an indemnity for losses of spoliation, or in exchange for territor) f jy equal value vesiw ard ot the Mississippi, a fact vv ell known to the worid, it excitti1 surprise tiiat any countenance should be given to this measure by any of the colo nies. As it would be difficult to recon cile it with the friendly relations existing between the United States and the colo nies, a doubt as entertained vvhetner it had been authorized by them, or any of them. This doubt has gained strength by the circumstances which have onioldcd themsel ves in the prosecutiou of the en ter; rize, which ha ve marked it as a meie p rivate unauth ori z ed ail v e ntu re. Pro jectetfaud commenced vvtth an incompe tent force, reliance seems to ha e been placed on what might be drawn, in defV a nee of our laws, from within our limits ; and of late, is their resources have failed, it has asumetl a more marked character 111 u ;!VC "iicu vnousa, u -a aiai s, maiw of unfriendliiiess to us, the island being " loas.ent annual reventieanuunt made a channel for the illicit introducticu .1" twent -six mimons ot deliaih, and ka or slaves from Africa into the U, States, l v'"' .annual excb; ot . i-ev eiuic, .after. an asylum for fugitive slaves tVom the neigiiboring states, and a port for smug gling lev civ khid. A similar estaolishment was made, at an earner period, by persons of the same description, in the GuJph of M exico, at a place called Galvezi.on, withia the limiu of the United States, as we o utend, un der the cession of Louisiana. This enter prise has been marked, in a more signal manner, by all tlie objectionable circum stances which characterized the other, and more particularly by the equipment of privateers which have annoyed our commerce, and by smuggling. These es tablishments, if ever sanctioned by any authority whatever, which is not believed, have aLuiud their irusV aud forfeited all it ? claim to consideration. A rust record for the r;r!;ts and interests of thi Uuited 'States required that they shi;ukVJ)e sop prtssed ; and orders have accordingly is sued to that effect. The imperious consi derations wliich produced this nieasure wilL be explttihed lo the parlies whom it may, in any degree c nccrn. . To obtain correct 'information' cn every subject in hich the United States are m tei estc d ; to inspire jnst sentiments, in all persf ns-in authority, on eitlver side, of our friendly disposition, so far s it may rom port with an impartial ncutraliiy ; and to secure proper i esi.c ct to ur cotr'i'mct ce in every port, and from erery flag, it lias ben thought proper to eiuv .j; cf war with three tiiMir.guihhed HtizerS, along the southern coast, v ith instruction to touch at such psirts as they nay hnd most expedient fi r these purp le-. V ill the exiftiug authorit ie, . vv nfi t!u se in the possession of, and exercisin:j the sove reignt) ,must the ccmntuaiuxti'ij be lit Id ; irom then ahne can rcciress'tor p'a't in juries, cummin ed by persons acting under them, be obtained : by them al ne ca'i the com ntissioh oi the liLeV in future, be prevented, t : ; '' ' .'. - ::';-V Our. relations vith the other nowers of fjurops nave .'experienced, no cs: eiitm: change since the U:vt session. Iii our i:i tercourse with each, iue attention conti nues to be p.iKl to the proutlion f our com nierce, and to eerv ether K;jt';t in which the United Siates are interested. A strong iiope is ciuruuned, that, b. ati- ; hering to the max'tns tn a jtut; a candid, and friemtl' policy, 'c may Long p.'esrve amicable lef.tijns with ;Ji the powers ot Europe. ';'cn coiid"uioii! adx antuetus aud honorable lo our couu.n . With the. IJarbai v ri.;uc3 and the Indi an tribes oa pxitc reialio.oa have been ( f l ii .am i i ing your attentioii to the lute rnal C'jocern j ot oar country , the v iew w hicu th. cxhihit !- pecu !iary grai ify ing. The pav u:; witicii tia e tiec.i m.Lue mio the f treasiii-i shi-u the very productive.; state of tiu Public Hevenue. After satisfying I fiie appr'priaiioi,s made bv iaw iVr the ; vsvtj jmri ot the- civil govern ment, and of i the m ihlarv iii.d naval i"stu.b'islinie;its,em ; brat .MgiiiT.abie provision tor h rtdications ' and u r the gradual increase or uie navy pav ing the mtei e?t; oi the public debt, anu ex iiaguishiiig more than eighteen mil lions ot tiie pi io"ipal, witiiiu tae present yer, it is estimated that a balance of ; u.cre .'.than', six miihoos f dollars will re ; in the Tr aiy on the iirst day of J' uuary,-'ajpi:c,.me:toi tac cune-.i vice : nlc ui- ciisiiii . e .r. . :acnts iht-j the treasury during .'. - i i i asand Cini nui.ored aud j v i-.i.v.t 1 . : accu.i t oif imposts and tou ' ni.A'p iiv i.'oifi duties 'liioc. wh ; . . . i.e-f 'eii .a the pr. sent j Car, mty i, '' ,: Jr "t su:ii ite'd 'it twenty milli .:Vv S-i . vin j ;;,rueri..d ; revenues, at-t.w. y hve tituidrt u thoaanu ; pubhc , laiki- tu oe mulioii hv c iUw'ii ea tii . u- ' Sl '5' 1 ' ""' ' ! 7iC u ',oic lVNuv'r?,;- drtd tii'Hi.sand d Jll .trs ; ieav e -ss l fevenue btr)t;ud t'tc eXe..diiurt of two millions seven hundred u u:.o,u d. liars, excl jslv e oi the balance estimat ed to ic in the treasury on the m st uay of j ja!iu tiv , one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. : ;'.;..' In the present state of the Treasury, tii.' h lv of t!ic Louisiana uebt may be ! re dee nied in t! ie y ear one thousand eigne :uiuirtti and nineteen ; after wliich, it I tiie pubhc dc!)t ct.ntiouea as it now is, a- t hove p ir, tlu:'e v ni 'oe annu diy ai)ut hve, iuiih'ns .i the sinking fund unexpen ded, unttr the v ear oie thousand etgiit i huiahu arid twentv-hv t, wiien the loan j of one thousand -eight hundred -and t.vv'elv e, t and the stocii. Ci eated bv tu:din:: trcasurv ... 1 w noies, vviri e redeemabie. It is aiv.'es.:.i iled tnat the Mississippi ; stock w:lr be tii chat gea duiin toe year one tuocrtiud eigiit hui.iUred i-nd nineteen, fi t in vht pi ocCtvls of the puoiiC lands as- ! signed to that object ; auei vlnch tlie re- ceipis irom tiu'se lanay um u.inuajiy auci to the public revenue tot svm of one mii- j me ear one tnousaua eigut nuiiureu ana j niiieteeu, bevi.nd tiiC ptj'mar.eut authort i sed epchditure, of nnic than four mil lions ot d.iiias s. . By tiie best returns from tlie Depart ment ot War, tiie nwhtia force df the sc- f vei"d" Stales mav be estimated at "eieht j hu.Mth ed thousand men, infantry, artillery and cavaliy. Great part of this force is j aruied, and measures are taken to arm the vv htiie. An improvement in the or l ganrzation and discipline ot the militia; is one of the great objects which claims the unremitted attention of Congress. The regular force amounts nearly to tlie number required by taw, and U siati- oned aloii the Atlaiiuc and iniud hvu.- Of the naval force, :t has been neces-, . public. They would also have the power tsary to maintain strong squadrons ia the' in that degree, to control the emigration. Udediterr'anean ' & in the Ciiilf cf Mexico. ! u;:U settlement in such manner as their Prom severul of the Tndmri rtihesinha biting tlie country bordering on Lake Erie, purchases have been made 'of lands, on conditions very favorable to. the United States, and, as it is presumed, not less so to the tribes themselves. By these pur tiiases, the Indian title, with moderate reservations, has been extinguished tothe whole of the land within the li. nils of the State of Ohm, and to a great part ot that in the Michigair.trritory.and of the state of Indiana. From the Cherokee tribe. u tract has been purchased, in the State cf Georgia, andj an arrangement luade, by which, in exchangr for 1 tnds beyond the Mississippi, a great part, if nut the whole ot. the land belonging to that tribe, east ward of that riv er, in the States of North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, and in ithe Aluj iuKt territory, wiii i,oin be uo quired. By these acqtnsitiyns, and ,thers, that may reasonably uc expected auon to j follow, we shall be enabled to extern! our j -settlements t n ra the iniiauited par- oi the stat e of Ohio, along Lake Eric; into j the Xli'e-iiguii teriitory, and to coimect i v.'.iv settlements by degrees, liiroug'i the ; state t i"i.t.i ina arid the Illinois territory, Uo tiint ci Jilibsouri. A simiixir, andequal- S ly ad . .iiiiaget;us eil'cct will soon be pnxiu- . e l in the smith, througlt the whole ex tent i f the States and Territory, which border mi till: waters empiying inu the Alississioui 'and the Mt biiei In this pro j ess, which tlie riehts of naiure demand, f cc n-thisf,; can prevent, markimr a growth ra.td and gitntic, It is our duty to make ne vv eiit.rts for the preservation, improve- tiit'nt, aud civilizaiim oi tltr native inha I bitants. The hunter state can exist only m tne vast, uncuitiv ated desart. It yields ) to "tlie more cense and c mpactiorm, ana j greater force, of ci v dized population ; and of right it ought to y ield.for the earth was given to ma4i Kind to support the greatest number of which it is capable, and no j tribe or people have a right to withhold 'ifroni the wants of others iworc than is ne- cessary for their own supportand comfort lit is irratifvine to know, that the reserva tions oHand made by tie treaties with the tribes on t-.ke Er:e, w ere made with a view to individual vvnerhip among them, and to the cultivation of the soil by all, and tliat an annual stipend has been pledged to supply their other wants. It wiii merit the conside ration of Cuiigress, whether otner provision, hot stipulated by the treaiy, ought to be made for these vribes, and ior the advan enieutof -the li berai and humane policy of the United States towards ail the tribes within our limits, tu.d more particularly for their improvement in the arts of civilized lite. . - Amonir the au vantages incident to these ! purchases, and to tnese vvnicn nave pie ceded, the security which, may thereby be aftorded to our inland frontiers, is pe ' culiarly important. With, a strong bar I rier. Consisting of our own people, thus planted on the Lakes, the Mississippi U he Mobile, witli the protection to be de rived from the regular force, Indian hos tilities, if . they' do not altogether cease, will henceforth lose their terror, r orti j ncaiicns in thse. quarters to any extent, ; wiU not be necessarv, aud the expence at- I' tendhig Uiem may be saved. A people I accustcmed to the ue : of rire-arms only, ; as the Indian tribes are, wiii shun even j moderate,', w oi ks, wlucli are defended by j c.innon. Great fortihcatioi.s will, there I f re, be requiic only, in future, along hhe cast, and at soni- points in the inte rior connected with it. On these will tlie s ifeiy of our .towns, and the commerce of our trreat rivers, from the bay of lum- idy'th'thc Mississippi, depend. On these, tilt l eiv l C, : SllOUltl tlie UUUl unnniuu, skill and lab- ur be bestovveiL , A considerable and rapid augnvr.itatfon in the value of ail tiie pubhc lands, pio- ceed ing from liiese and other obvious causes, -may henceforward be expected. The difficulties attending early emigra- JtitoiiS, w id be dissipated even in the most j remote prts. Several new states have i bt.cn admifl vd into our Union, to the West I and South, a.d territorial governments, ' happily organized, established over every other ponton in which there rs vacant land for sale. In terminating Indian hostilities, as must soon he dciie, in a forinidabie shape at least, tiie emigration which has heretofore ben great, will probably en crease, and the uei'naud for tand, and the augmentation in its value, be in like pro portion. The great increase of our popu lation thro nghout the. Union, will alone produce an -.important eflect, and' in n - quarter vviii it be so seiisioly it it as in those in contemplation. The public lands are a pubhc stock, which ought to be dis posed of to the best advantage for tiie j nation. The nation snould, therefore, derive the profit p'receeding frcm the Icoiitiaual rise in their value. Every en- couiaeinent should be giveu to the eini- Lrrants, consistent with a fair competitfon between them, but that competition snouiu onerale, in the hrst sale, to the advantage ot the nation, lather Ulan cf individuals. iGreatcapitaikts will derive all the fcenc ! ht incident to their superior vealth,under ' any mode of sale which may be adopted. : But it. lookinu forward to the rise in the J I w . . ... value of the public laadsthey should have the omiortumtv of amassinjr. at a low ! pnee, v ast bouies in tlicir hands, the pro- j At will accrue to 'drcm, auu uut ;uUij ; opinion of their respective interests might dictate I submit tins subject to the con ; siicnitiou of- Congress, that such forth r ' pvi ion may be made in a sale of the public lo.li ds, with a view to the public in-. , terest, should any be deemed expedient ! as in -h ir judgment may b; best adapted to the ohject. f Wlien we consider the vast extent of territory vvitliia tlie United States, the great amount and value of its production", the connection of its parts, and other cir cumstances, on which their prosperity and happiness depend, we cannot fail to entertain a llirli sense of the advantage to be derived from the facility which may be affmled in the intercourse between them by means of good roads and cabals. Nev er-dida country of sucli vast extent offer equal inducements to improvemen t of mis kind, aor ever were c riseueiK vs of such magnitude involved in tae.n. As , this snoject w as acted ou by Congress at - the last session, and there may be a t!is ' position to revive it at the present. I have , , bro't it into view, for the purpose of dm ! municaiing myjcntiments on a verv i:n ' portant circuuistance connected with it, with that freedom and candor which a re j g..rd for the public interest, v.hd a proper respect fc.r digress, require. A diirer- i r ....:' ... i ... . .. i x- tu.c ui opiuioii udi ex-isieu, irom tne nrsc formation of our constitution to the present time, among our most enlightened . and virtuous cit:zens, respecting the right of Congresi to establish such a system of im pr...veiiieiit. Taking into view the trust with which I am now honored, it would be improper, after what has passed, that this discussion should be revived, with an uncertainty of my opiuiou respecting the ngut. JJisregardiiig early impression I have bestowed on the subject Mi tlie de liberation which its great importance, and . a just sense of. my -duty, required and -the result is, a settled conviction in my mind, '-that Congress do not possess the. right. It is not contained in any f the specified powers granted to Congress ; nor can I consider it incidental to, ur a necessary' mean, vievved on the most li beral scale, for carrying into effect any of the powers which arc specifically grant ed. In communicating this result I can not resist the pbligatum which I feel to suggest to Congress the propriety of re coin mending to the states the adoption of an amendment to tlie constitution, which, shall g've to Congress tlie right in ques tion. In cases of doubtful construction, especially of such, vital interest, it com- p rts with the nature and origiu of our institutions, and will contribute much ti preserve them, to apply to our conslitu tnts for an explicit grant of the power.. We may confidently rely, that if it ap pears to their satisfaction, that the power is necessary, it will always be granted. In this case I am happy, to observe, that experience has alibvded the most ample proof of its utility, and that the beuigu spirit of conciliation and harmony which now manifests itself throughout the Uuiori" promises to such a recommendation" the most prompt and favorable result. I hinki proper to suggest, also, incuse this mea sure is adopted, that it be recommended to the state to include, in tkeameudmeut sought, a right in Congress to institu e, likewLe, minarizs of learning, h r tne all-important purpose of diduvir.g know out .he United States. Our manufactories wi'.l require the con t jr.ucd attention of Congrtss. The capii tal emploved in tht m is considerable, and the knowfedje acquired in the machinery and tabric of all the most useful manufac tures is of great' value. Their pie-.rva- tion, wi.ich depends on due ericourage meut, is connecte'd viJb the high interests of the nation. , , Although the progress ot the public buildings has been as: favorable as circum stances have permitted, it is to be regret -tetl that the Capitol js .i:Vt yet in a state to receive you; Th'-rc h fjood cause to jiresume, that the two wings, the onty parts as yet commenced, will be prepar ed for that purpose at the next session. The time seems now jto have arrived," when this subject may be deemed worths the attention of Congress, on a. scale a Ic- turn oi tne .miuuie ounuing will tz nee "s try to the coHvcncnt accoranu. I-1' Congress, r.i the Committees,- ' offices belonging to it. j tlie oiher public buihliav uisioncicut ior uie acay several executive depV whom are nr'uch cro jecteil lo the neces. I d to tne neces. f ite buildings, (U tead of the d f e&ience to t the head coiive public business an interest and a ment and omamf and none were rat respect thau tlie : policy which die of aDermanent r I government, and i commenced and shew that such imf . - . I . . . .. j fortny uie attentj I central position, bt . SOUtkua extremes
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Dec. 12, 1817, edition 1
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