JYa 41.
HALIFAX JV. CL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1824.
VOL L
THE "FREE PRESS,"
By George Howard,
Is published everv Friday, at
THREE DOLLARS per year,
consisting of 52 numbers, and in the
Fame proportion for a shorter pe
riod. Subscribers at liberty to dis
continue at any time, on paying ar
rearages. Advertisements inserted at fifty
Cents per square, or less, for the
first insertion, and twenty-five cents
each continuance.
Letters addressed to the Editor
must be tost jiaid.
DOMESTIC.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
.continued from our last.)
Our relations with the Indian
tribes, within our limits, have
not been materially changed
during the year. The hostile
disposition evinced by certain
tribes, on the Missouri, during
the last year, still continues, and
Ins extended, in' some degree,
to those on the upper Mississip-v
pi, and the upper Lakes. Se
veral parties of our citizens have
been plundered and murdered
by those tribes. In order to es
tablish relations of friendship
with them, Congress at the last
session made an appropriation
for treaties with them, and for
the employment of a suitable
military escort to accompany
and attend the commissioners at
the places appointed for the ne
gotiations. The object has not
been effected. The season was
too far advanced when the ap
propriation was made, and the
flistannp. to ereatto nermit: but
a i
measures have been taken, and
all the preparations will be com
nleted. to accomplish it at an
1 7 1
early period in the next season
Believing that the hostility of
the tribes, particularly on the
tipper Mississippi and the laiies,
is, in nt small degree, owing to
the wars which is carried on
between the tribes residing in
that quarter, measures have
been taken to bring about a gen
eral peace among them, which,
,if successful, will not only tend
to the security of our citizens,
but be of great advantage to the
Indians themselves. With the
exception of the tribes referred
to, our relations with all the o
thers are on the most friendly
footing; and it affords me great
satisfaction to add, that they are
making steady advances in ci
vilization, and the improvement
of their condition. Many of
the tribes have already made
great progress in the arts of ci
vilized life. The desirable re
sult has been brought about by
the humane and persevering po
licy of the government, and par
ticular! v by means of the appro-
nrhtion for the civilization of
the Indians. There have been
established, under the provi
sions of this act, thirty-two
schools, containing nine hundred
and sixteen scholars, who are
well instructed in several bran
ches of literature, and likewise
in agriculture and the ordinary
'arts of life.
Under the appropriation to au
thorize treaties with the Creek
and Quapaw Indians, Commis
sioners have been appointed
and negotiations are now pend
ing, but the result is not yet
known.
For more full information,
resoecting the principle which
has been adopted "for carrying
into efiect the act of Congress
athorizinjgsurveysj with plan
I and estimates for canals and
roads, and on everv other
branch of duty incident to the
Department of War, I refer you
to the report of the Secretary.
The Squadron in the Medi
terranean has been maintained
in the extent which was propos
ed in the report of the Secretary
of the Navy cfthe last year,'
and has afforded to our com
merce the necessary protection
m that sea. Apprehending,
however, that, the unfriendly
relations which have existed
between Algiers and some of
the powers of Europe, might i
be extended to us, it has been
thought expedient to augment
the force there, and, in conse
quence, the "North Carolina," a
ship of the line, has been pre
pared, and will sail in a few
days to join it.
1 he force employed in the
ulph of Mexico, and in the
neighbouring Seas, for the sup
pression ot piracy, has likewise
been preserved essentially in
the state in which it was during
the last year. A persevering
effort has been made for the ac
complishment of that object,
and much protection has there
by been -afforded to our com
merce, but still the practice is
far from being suppressed.
From every view which has
been taken of the subject, it is
thought that it will be necessa
ry rather to augment than to
diminish our force in that quar
ter. There is reason to believe
that the piracies now complain-
ed of, are committed by bands
of robbers who inhabit that land,:
and who, by preserving, good
intelligence with the towns, and
seizing favourable opportunities,
rush forth and fall upon unpro
tected merchant vessels, oflsion, an invitation was given to
which they make an easy prey, j General Lafayette to revisit the
The nillage thus taken, thev I United States, with an assurance
carry to their lurking pla-
- . . - - . - "
nna orwl ennsn nf it nf lor.
LCJl UUU uuuvv a w -
wards at prices tending to se -
duce the neighboring popula
tion. This combination is un-
lerstood to be of great extent,
and is the more to be depreca
ted because the crime of piracy
is often attended with the mur
der of the crews, these .robbers
knowing, if any survived, their
lurking places would be expos
ed, and they caught and punish
ed. That this atrocious prac
tice should be carried to such
extent, is cause of equal surprise
and regret. It is presumed that
it must be attributed to the re
laxed and feeble state of the
local governments, since it is
not doubted, from the high char
acter of the Governor of Cuba,
who is well known and much
respected here, that if he had
the power, he would promptly
suppress it. Whether those
robbers should be pursued on
the land, or local authorities be
made responsible for these atro
cities, or any other measures be
resorted to, to suppress them, is
submitted to the consideration
of Congress.
In execution of the laws for
the Suppression of the Slave
Trade, a vessel has been occas
ionally sent from that squadron
to the coast of Africa, with or
ders to return thence by the u
sual track of the slave ships, arid
to seize any of our vessels which
might be engaged in that trade.
None have been found, and, it
is believed, that none are thus
employed. It is well known,
however, that the trade still ex
ists under other flags. !
The health of our squadron,
while at Thompson's Island,
has been much better during the
present than it was the last sea
son. Some improvements have
been made, and others arc con
templated there, which, it is be
lieved, will have a very saluta
ry effect.
On the Pacific our commerce
has much increased ; and on that
coast, as w ell as on thatsea, the
United States have many im-
portant interests, which require
attention and nroteciion. It is
thought that all the considera
tions which suggested the ex
pediency of placing a squadron
on that sea, "operate with incrca-
sed torce, tor maintaining it
there, at least, in equal extent.
For detailed information re
specting the state of our mari
time force on each sea, the im
provement necessary to be
made in either, in the organiza
tion of the Naval Establishment
generally, and of the laws for
its better government, 1 refer j
you to the Report of the Secre
tary of the Navy which is here
with communicated.
, The revenue of the Post-Office
Department has received a
i t i .
considerable augmentation in
the present year. The current
receipts will exceed the expen
ditures, although the transporta
tion of the mail within the year
has been much increased. Aiject, with a view, that, regard-
Report of the Postmaster Gene
ral, which is transmitted, will
'furnish, in detail, the necessary
information respecting the ad-
- ministration and present state of
this Department.
In conformity with a resolu
tion of Congress, of the last ses
! . .. r. , i
that a ship ot war should attend,
at nnv nart ot b ranee which he
I w l I
' might designate, to receive and!
convey him across the Atlantic,
whenever it might be conveni
ent for him to sail. Iledeclin-
cd the offer of the public ship, and between Spain and the new
from motives of delicacy, but j governments, our neighbors, in
assured me that he had long in-'this hemisphere. In both these
tended, and would certainly yi-1 wars, the cause of indepen
sit our-Union in the course of j dence, of liberty, and humanity
the present year. In August; continues to prevail. The sue
last he arrived at New-York,, cess of Greece, when the rela
where he was received with the tive population of the contend-
warmth cf gratitude and ahec -
tion to which his very import-j
ant and disinterested services
and sacrifices in our revolutiona
ry struggle, so eminently enti
tled him. A corresponding
sentiment has since been mani-
fested in his favor throughout1
every portion of our Union, and
affectionate invitations have
been given him to extend his
visits to them. To thesehe has
yieiuea ail me accumuiuuui;uu
in his power. At every desig
nated point of rendezvous, the
whole population of the neigh
boring country has been assem
bled to greet him; among whom
it has excited in a peculiar man
ner the sensibility of all, to be
hold the surviving members of
our revolutionary contest, civil
and military, who had shared
with him in the toils and dan
gers of the war, many of them
in a decrepid state. A more in
teresting spectacle, it is believ
ed, was never witnessed, be
cause none could be founded on
purer principles, none proceed
from higher or more disinterest-
ltruiiiia
of those who had
1 i i
fought and
oiea wun mm, in a common
cause, should have been much
excited, is natural. There are,
however, circumstances attend
ing these interviews, which per
vaded the whole community,
and touched the breasts of eve
ry age, even the youngest a
mong us. There was not an
individual present, who had not
some relative who had partaken
in those scenes, nor an infant
who had not heard the relation
cf them. But the circumstance
which was most sensibly felt,
and which his presence brought
forcibly to the recollection of
all, was the great cause in which
we were engaged, and the bles
sings which we have derived
from our success in it. The
struggle was for independence
and liberty, public and person
al, and in this we succeeded.
The meeting with one who had
borne so distinguished a part in
that great struggle, and from
such lofty and disinterested mo
tives, could not fail to affect
profoundly every individual,
and of every age. It is natural
that we should all take a deep
interest in his future welfare, as
we do. His high claims on our
Union are felt, and the senti
ment universal that they should
be met in a generous spirit.
Under these impressions, I in
vite vour attention to the sub-
ing his very important services,!
losses and sacrifices, a provision
may be made and tendered to
him, which shall correspond
with the sentiments, and be
worthy the character, of the A
merican people.
In turning our attention to
the condition ot the civilized
world, in which the United;
States have always taken a deep!
I - - a'C i
interest, it is grauiying to see
now large a portion oi it
OI it is
J
blessed with peace.
The only
wars wnicn now exist witnin
that limit, are those between
1 " I A ' 1 1
Turkey and Greece, in Europe,
i ing parties is consideredj com
mauds our admiration and ap -
plause, and that it has had a si -
miiar eueet wun
V . 1
the neighbor-
ing powers, is obvious.
The
feeling of iht whole
civilized
world is excited, in a high de-
gree, in their favor. May we
not hope that these sentiments,
winning on the hearts of their
respective governments, may
lead to a more decisive result,
that they may produce an ac
cord among them, to replace
Greece on the ground which
she formerly held, and to which
her heroic exertions, at this day,
so eminently entitle her?
With respect to the contest,
to which our neighbors are a
party,
it is evident that Spain,
as a power, is scarcely lelt in
it These new states, had com
pletely achieved their indepen
Hpiipp. before it was acknowl-
eded by the United States, and
they have since maintained it,
with little loreign pressure.
The disturbances which have
appeared in certain portions of
cd motives. That the
that vast territory; have pre
occutw uum internal pmisp
which had their origin in their
former .governments, and have
not yet been thoroughly remov
ed. It is manifest that these
causes are daily losing their ef
fect, and that these new states
are settling down under govern
ments elective and representa
tive in every branch, similar to
our owii. In this course we ar
dently wish them to persevere,
under a firm conviction that it
will promote their happiness.
In this their career, however,
we have not interfered, believ
ing that every people have a
right to institute for themselves
the government, which, in their
judgment, may suit them best.
Our example is before them, of
the good effect of which, being
our neighbors, they are compe
tent judges, and to their judg
ment we leave, it, in the expec
tation that other powers xvill .
pursue the same policy. The
deep interest which we take in
their independence, which we
have acknowledged, and in
their enjoyment of all the rights
incident thereto, especially in
the very important one of in
stituting their own governments,
has been declared, and is known
to the world. Separated, as
we are from Europe by the
great Atlantic ocean, we can
have no concern in the wars of
the European Governments,
nor in the causes which pro
duce them. The balance of
power between them, into
which ever scale it may turn
in its various vibrations, can
not affect us. It is the inter
est of the United States to pre
serve the most friendly rela
tions with every power, and on
conditions fair, equal, and an.
- pucaule to all. But, in regard
to our neighbors our situation is
different It is impossible for
the European Governments to
interfere in their concerns, es
pecially in those alluded to,
which are vital, without af
fecting us; indeed the motive
which might induce such inter
ference in the present state of
the war between the parties, if
a war it may be called, would
appear to be equally applicable
to us. It is gratifying to know
that some of the powers with
whom we enjoy a very friendly
intercourse, and to whom these
views have been communicated,
ihave appeared to acquiesce in
' them.
1 he augmentation of our po-
pulation, with the expansion of
our Union, and increased num
ber of States, have produced ef
fects in certain branches of our
system, which merit the atten
tion of Congress. Some of our
arrangements, were made with
a view to the original thirteen
states only. Since then the U
nited States have acquired a vast
extent of territory; eleven new
states have ''been admitted in-
to the Union, and territories
have been laid off for threo
others, which will, likewise, bo
admitted at no distant day. An
.organization of the Supreme
Court, which assigns to tho
Judges any portion of the du
ties which belong to the inferior,
j requiring meir parage over so
.vast a space, under any distri
t . I ik -.4 4. I
button oi uiv suiu;s mat may
now be made, if not impracti
cable in the execution, musf
render it impossible for them to
- j (cpntinuctl on the last pac)