_cotiiitiries.
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- _ _\V'.AsHi.\"c.'roi:-Ctirii’, Dé‘c."f‘," 1.819".
This day-, at 12 o’clock, -rhc:ff~‘President of the
-United States transmitted to‘both Houses of Con-
gross.‘ the following .\'lfE§SAGE-:‘ - - '
-A11,-u c.z':z1.z«-rzr,'o"+‘/i<= bf=zz¢.m._ , ,
if iniitil‘oft/i'eAfIol¢.§é Qfiflc/zrcscntativcs: .
"l'lie publicbuildings being advanced to a stage
to.~a:ll'oi d acconixn,0<l2,1llU!3..f0l‘ .C0.!1gl'€S9i.Ij‘9if3f.Y"“
my -sincere congrattilatioiis_on,the_re-commence-
rnimt of your duties in't_lie Capitol.’
" - In lirlltgingn to view the incidents most deserv-
ing attention, wliicli have occ'ui’rttl_' since your
last session, I regret to have tostate _t,bat'selver_al
of our principal cities liave.stiffe_rccl by sickness ;
that an ‘tinusualdi'oug_lit has prevailetlin the mid-
.7.dle atitl western states ;, and that ii 'derangenient
,has been felt_ir.' some of our 'm_onicd-institutioiis,
which has iproportionalily afft~ctctl their :__’c-(lit. A I
am t,,,,,‘,,y, however, to have it in my power to
assure you, tli-at the health of our cities is now
tgompletely r'estoret_l ;__ that the produce_ of the
year, though less abundant than usual, will not
A only be amply -sufficient for home c'oiistirnp-ion,
but a>l_l"_0i_d’._a lat-ge siirpliis fontlte ".~iipply'°of the
wants of o=.lit-i" nations; and that l.llC‘(lt:l‘allge.
mcm in the circulating paper medium, being left
to those i‘emedies~wliicli its obvious catises stig-
‘geSIC(l! and the good sense mi virtue of our fel-
A low ciiiz¢ns,stipp_li¢-ftl,has diminished.
Having»; inloi med Congress, on the _27th of
.F€l)fl.lit'f'y last, that a treaty of amity, settlement,
C and limits, li-ad Let-n concluded in this city, be-
tween the” United States and Spain, and i"arii'.it-d
by 1l)(:_cLLu1pclt:l‘-I itiitliotities of lilc.fGz'\ur.-I‘, fuil
c0nfidc.ncelu'a's ciitertaiiietl that it would have
been ratified by his'Catholic Majesty, with equal
.’proniptitiide,'antl a like _earnt~st desire to termin-
ate, on the conditions of that treaty, the clil'fet'en-
‘gas, which had so long existed between the two
l.*‘.v'e'ry view which the subject admit-
ted of was thought .to have justilietl this c0nclt.t-
sion. Great losses had been sustained by citizens
ofthe United States, from Spanish cruisers, more
than '.v.'-ciity years before, which had notb{e_:n re-
(l|‘6SSetl. Tln.-se losses lnid been acknowltitlgetl
antl-p2'0\"lClC(l'ft)l‘ by a treaty, as far back as the
'. year iSt'>‘_', which, ulilioiigli concluded at l\ladrid,
was not ratili=_.d by the g‘0V'tl‘llll'lClil. ‘0fSpii‘in, nor
sincc‘, untilthe last year, when it was suspepdctl
bv the late treaty, _ a more satisfactory’ pt'<)Hslt)ll
L_:i)0ll_l_}?1.lI’llCS, as was‘ presiiined, _li2_‘.\'IDf-'. l>C€11
-iniaat»: for them, __ Other dill'ercnccs' had arisen in
this long in" ~ , affecting their ‘highest inter-
"..,,-“ whi. likewise provided for by this last
,,.ea',,.r- 'ea‘.y itself was formed on great
cm-,3 . ii, ‘and a thorough knoivledge ofjall
cii'ctu‘ns.taiices, the subject matter of every article
liiivin-é_‘ bet-n"for' years untler tliscussioii, and re-
pe:-.t=.-il t‘cf:t‘cu‘ces"liavitig been niadé’ by the l\‘.lin-
i_.;1,;i-oi‘ Spain to his government, on the poirits
,-L-«_,,‘;ectii;§=; \\’lilt‘.ll the greatest tliftcreii.ce of optin-
ion prcvailrd. lt was tortured by a Minister duly
a'ut'nQri’z.'c:(l for the purpose, who had t'cpi‘eseme(l
his 'govci"iii‘C-e:‘.t in the United States, and been
employed in this protracte.d negociatipn sci‘-ei‘al
year-;, and who,fithis not denir:_d, lit-jit'srttrictlfy.vyiili;_
in the letter 0 is instructions. is an i 0
Spain was th:-iefure pictlgetl, under t:ii'c»iinsraii-
ces of peculim‘ force and solemnrty, for its ra'.il_i-
cation. On the part of the United States. this
"gig-caty' was evidently acceded to‘ in a spilit of con-
ciliation and concession. 'l‘he_i:'idemn1ty tor in-
j‘u,.',¢s and losses so long before" sustained, and
new again acknowledged and provided for, was to
be p'aid'-l)y' them, v.-iiliout becoming a clnirge on
the treasury of Spain. For territory coded by
.5,,,,.1,-,, other teri'itory, of gt‘eat'"V.'altie_,'to wliicli
our cIaiin._ was believed to be well foiindctl, was
rlt-"l bv the United States, and in a quarter morc_
'lli'.t:l"t:SflD‘g to her. -This cession was’ nc’-ver'.heless
received, as the means of indemnifying our citi-
zens in a considerable sum, the presumetl amount
of their losses. Other consitlemtions, of great
weiglit, tn-get-l_tlie cession of. this territory by
Spain. it was surrounded by the territories of
the United States on every side, except on that
of the ocean. Spain had lost her authority over
it, and, falling into the li-ands of adventurers con-
::sct:d- with the sziviiges, it was made the means
of unccasiiig annoyance and injury to our Union,
in many of itsmost es.~r.cn'ial interests. By {his
-cessiiin then, Spain ceded a territory, in reality.
of no value to her, and obtained conccssionsof '
‘the highest importance, by the settlement of long
standing tllii‘Cl‘Cl'lC€S with the United States, af-
fecting thcir respectiie claims and limits, and
likewise rt-lievrsd llCl‘SL’lf- from tlic-obligation ofa
tneaty relating to it, which she had failed to fulfil,
and also from ‘the responsibility inciclent to the
mo_st.llagrant and pernicious ab 5.='_es.of her rights
.where she could not support her auth0ri'ty..
i It being known that the treaty was formed un-
.d.ei‘ these circuuistances, not a doubt was enter-
-tainetl that his Catholic Majesty wolild have rati-
,fied .it,.wi'.hout delay... I regret to have to state,
that this reasonable expectation has been disap-
,pointed; that the. treaty was not ratified within
the time stipulated, and has not since been ratifi-
..cd. As it important that the nature and char-
acter of lliisrtinexpected occurrence should be
-disiiactly understood, I ‘think it my duty to coin-
‘.Tl1UI‘tlCi1lLi to you all the facts and ciircutnstances
in my possession relating to it. ,
Anxious to prevent all fut.ur.e disagrceincnt
with Spain, by giving the most prompt effect to
.-the treiity, which had been thus.concluded, and
particularly by the establishinen'.of,-a 5,-overiinient
‘ ..in ,’loi‘itla.,. which sbotild preserve order there,
the Minister of the United States,.who.had been
-A recently appointed to his Catholic Majesty, and
Ito vvlrotn‘ the ratifi‘cation,lby his governmen_t,'had
f been committed, to be exchanged for that‘ of
fspain, was instructed to transmit the latter to the
’D‘cpartment’of State as soon as obtained, bya
, public ‘shipysubjected to ‘his order for tliepui-pose.
‘ Unexpected delay 0cctirring'in the ratification by
Spain, he requested to be informed of the cause.
It,was stated in reply, that the great importance
"of the subject, and a desire to‘ obtain explanations
" on certain points, which were not specified, hail
produced the delay, and that an -Env.,oy'fv_voiild be
’<lispa‘tch‘ed‘to' the United Statcs,~io" obtain such
explanations of this government. The Minister
. of the United States offered to give-full explana-
, tion on any point, on which it ,piiglit1_be d,esired ;
-wliich proposal was declined, Having communi-
cated this result to;the lDep‘ar‘tn1_eiit of State in
‘ August last, he wasAinstructed,Jlotivitlistaiiding_
the disappointment and s'urpr_is_e whicli.it_ produ-
;ced,~ to inform the g,c_iv_ei'ii,riiént,‘qi‘;,Spali_i, that,,i£_
~
7.30
l
. the tt;ca_ty_ Sl1Qli.ldber'ati_lied,' "god t,i~:i‘ii'sti'i:iitc__d here l
at-‘any time beforc__ the‘-mejctillg bl’ ,C0ij_.gCl‘S."SS, it
;_wotild.be'_;rcceiyctl,.an(l have the same-efi'ect._as' if
‘irliad been ratified in dueiimc. ‘-This; order was
’iexe‘cutcd_i' the"auiliorizcd communication was
made, to the go.ve,ifiituent,of_ Spain, and by. its--qn-
swer, which lias-just. been-«iiccelived, we are ufi-
cially made a'cquainte‘rl for the fiist time, "with the
causes which have prcve_nted the lratificaiion of
the treaty by liis..C_at.l__iolic Majesty. It is alledg-
edby the-l\'linister'of Spain, that this ‘govei'nmen’tc
lnid attempted to alter one of the principal at-tic-'
lcs of the treaty, by aideclarationa which the min-
-ister of the -United States had been ordered to
present,~ when he shoiild deliver th'e‘rat'ific'.ili0n
by his«governmet_it in excliangefor that ofbpaiii;
and of WlllCll'll8‘gaV€' notice,‘ explanatory oflthe
-sense in which that article was understood. It is
furiher alledgcd, that this -government had recent-
ly‘ tolerated, or protected, an cxpcrliiion from the
United States, against the-‘province of Texas.--.
Thesc two imputed-act's‘-a'i'e stated as the reasons
which have induced his Catholic ‘Majesty to with-
hold his ratification from‘ the treaty, to obtain ex-
planations i'.espcctiiigwl;icli it is repeated that an
envoy would be forthwith dispatched to the Uni-
tctl States. Ho‘-v far these allegations will justify
thezconduct of the government ofSpain, will ap-
pt.-ar on a view of-the following facts, and the ev-
ltlcnce which supports them. '
It will be seen by the tlociirnents transmitted
lit:i'ewitli, that the declaration mentioned relates
to it clause in the eighth article, concerning. cer-
tain grants of land, recently made by- his Callio-
‘iic Majesty, in Florida, which it was understood
had conveyed allithe lands. ivhicb till then, had
been ungrauti-d.. It wzisihe intention of the par-
ties to anntil these latter grants, and that clause
w-.is—dr-awn for that express purpose, and for none
other. ."flic.dait: of these grants was unknown‘,
but it was understood to be posterior to that in-
sericd in the article‘: indeed ‘it must be obvious-
to all, that if -that provision in the treaty had not
the effect of annulling. these grants, it would bi:
altogether utigatory. Immediately after the treat‘-
ty was concluded and ratified by this government._
an intimation rats received that these grants vvei't';,-'
of an anterior date to that fixed on by the treatjfll
and that they vrould not, of course. be. aflhcted btl
it. The more possibility of such a case, so
consistent with the intention of the parties, and
the meaning of the article. induced tl'.is.,t;ovein"
ment to demand an explanation on the Sl.ll)jeCl.l
which was immediately granted, and which corl
responds with this statement. \Vi'.h respect t
the other act alledgcd, that this government hall
tolerated or protected an C.\’[)C(l‘l1lOll‘ag‘alnSt Te."
as, it it is utterly without foundation. Every di-
countenance has invariablyvbizcn given to (.*\'Cl'
such attempt uithin the limits of the Unite
States, as lmsgliglly-eviinccd by the acts of the goi-
el'llt‘n<:nt,‘_t ’ ‘-7e proceedings of. the courts-.-,-
'l‘bere'bcil ; jise, howevoi',.to apprehend, in tile
course of’t_~ , summer, that some adventurt-is
entei'taiiiedf',i‘$v_'vs of the kintl suggested, the --
teiition of'tlic;.constitiitcd authorities in thatqu -
tcr was immediately drawn to them, and it s
known thattlie project has utterly failed.
These facts will, it is presumed, satisfy evcy
impai'tial iiiind, thattlie gO\'c‘l‘ll_l:1_l_€ll[ of Spainhgd
nojustifiablc cause for decliningtp ratify -the trait-
ty. A treaty, concluded inconformity witli in-.
structions. is obligatory, in good faith, in allits
stipulations, according to the true intent and meti-
ningof the parties. Each party is bound to.rati.-
fy it. lfeither could set it aside, without the con-
sent of the other, there would be no longer any
rules applicable to such trausxictions, betwt-en tia-
tions. By this proceeding. the govt.-rnmcnt of
Spain has rendered to the United States a new
and very serious injury. It has been stated that
a Minister: would be suit, to ask certain explana-
tions of this government. But, if such were tie-
siijetl, why were they not 2‘lSliL'(l iviiliin the little
limited for the ratifictttion ? Is it contemplated
to open a new negcciatioii respecting any of the
articles or conditions of the treaty? If that were
done, to what consequences might it not lead?
At what time, and in what manner, would a new
negociation termiiiatc 3 By this proceeding, Spain
has formed a relation between the two countries‘
ivhich willjustify any measures_ on the. part of the
United States, which astrong sense of injury.
and a proper regard for the rights and interests (if.
the nation, may‘ dictate. In the_ "course to be.‘
pursued, these objects should be constantly held
in view, and l-rive their due weight; Our nation-
al honor must be maintained, anda new anda
tlistiiiguisliecl proof be aifortletl, of that regard for
jus;'icc.ar.tl moderation which has invariably gov-f-.
erned the councils of this free people. It must
be obvious’ to all, that, if the United Statcs.batl_
been desirous of making conquests_,.or had been
revcn willing to aggijandize themselves in that
way, they could have ‘had no inducement to form
this treaty. They would have much cause for
gratulation at the course which liasbeen pursued
by, Spain. ,An ample field for aiirbition is,opc.h
before them. But such a career is_no'. consist-l
em with the principles of their government, nor
the interests of the nation. I _
From a full vi_ew of all circumstances, it is sub-
mitted to the consideration of Congress wlictlier
it will notfbe proper for the United States to car-
ry the conditions of the treaty into efft-ct, in the
same manner as if it had been ratified by Spain,
claiming on their part all its advantages, and
yielding to Spain all those secured to her. By
pursuing this course, we sball_rcst on the sacred
ground of right, sanctioned in the most solemn
vmanner by Spain herself; by a treaty which she.
was bound to ratify; for refusing _-toildb which,
she m.ust incur the censure of other nations, even
those most friendly to her ;: while, I by confining
ourselves within that limit, we cannot fail to ob-
tain their. well rnerited approbation. _ VVe’must
have peace on a frontier where we have been so
long disturbed 5 our citizens must be indemnified.
for-losses’ so long ‘since sustained, aiitllfot' which
indemnity has been so unjustly ,witlil1'c_ld from
theim. ‘4ACC01‘r1|)llsl)l|ig‘lli'cs‘c great objects, we
"obtain all that is desirable." -' -V
.But’ his __C-atholic Majesty has twice declared
his fdeterniinatioin to send "a Minister to‘ the Uni-
ted States, to ask explanations on cei'tain'p0int~s,
and to "give them, respecting his delay to ratify
,the treaty. . Shall we act, by taking, the ccjdejcl
.territoij.y, and proceeding to execute t‘-he other‘.
conditions of the treaty, before,t_his minister ar-t’
rivesvand is heard ? This-is a ca_s'e.:w_bicli ‘forms 94
l
of war and privatccrs may be admitted.
C
..h9Y,l.°1‘ Of. this -§¢9Plc.- W-'Mucli i's..cli1e.to‘c0urtesy.‘-on the
bet'wl_écn'».,tiations.‘ By. a."sbort delay" we 'Sl)a".m()ée
nouiings‘ for;-r¢l5llng',:D\!l the ground-of immuta- '
bléfqtriuth,-aiitl _jtistic‘e, we -cannot be diverted from‘:
our ptirpbse. It ought to be"presumed,‘tha'lE the
=-¢XPl8Dali°11Ss Whifiltniay be givento the Ministei-_
of Sp_ain,_will be satisfaciory,_antl produce the de-
desired result. ' In any event, the delay for the pur-
'p'ose‘»mentioneds' '-being a further n"ianifestation‘of
thesiricere desii etc terminate, in the most friend-
ly manner, all differences with Spain, cannot_ fail
.to be'(ltily appreciaicdby his Catliolic Majesty, as
well as by other powers. I It is submitted, there-
fore, wl_ie_tlier it will not be proper to make the
law, proposed. for carrying the conditions of the
treaty into effect, should-it be adopted contingent;
to $tISpf.‘l'l(l,lJS"h[)€l‘illl0!l upon the responsibility
of the Ext-ctitiic, insuch manner as to _ali'ord an
opporttiniiy for such fricntlly explanations as may
be dcsired,du ring the prescnt~ses.sion of Congress.
I communicate to Congress a copy of the trea-‘
ty. and oftlie instructions to the Miiiister of the
United’ States at Madrid respecting it; of his
corresp'.:ntlenc'e_with the Minister of Spain, and
of such other tloctiments-as may be necessary to
give :1 ft ll view of the subject. ' '
In the course vvliiclrtlie Spanish government
liaye, op -tlii-3 occasion, thought proper to pursue,
it is salisfactor_v to know, that they have not been
countcnanced by any other liuropean power...
On the contraryttlieiopinion and wishes, both of
France and Great Bititain, have not been ~witli-
held either from the United States or fr.om Spain,
and have been unequivocalin favor of the ratifi-
Callmh There isralso reason to believe, that-the
sentiments oftlte Imperial Governine-nt of‘ Rus-
siahavc beentlie same. ‘and that they have also
been made known to the Cabinet of Matli-id.
In the civil war existing between Spain and
the Spanish provinces -in this lieinisplitlxrc, the
gI'eatest care has been taken to enforce the laws
intended to preset-ve an impartial neutrality. Out‘
ports have continued’ to be eguaily open to both
parties, and on the samefconoitions, and our cit-
~iz<.n_s have been equally restrained from interfer-
ing in favor of either to the prejut_lice of the oth-
er.’ The progress ofthe war, however, has oper-
ated manifestly in favor of the Colonies. Buenos
Ayres still maintains, unsliaken, the independ-
ence which it declared in 1816, and has enjoyed
since l8lO-.. Like success has also lately attend-
cd Chili, and the provinces north of La Plain, bor-
-dering on-it; and likewise Venezuela.
This ‘contest has, from its commencement,
been very interesting to other powers, and to
none more so than the United States. A virtu-
ous people may and will confine themselves with-
in the limits ofa strict neutrality ; butitis not in
their power to behold a conflict so vitally import-
.’ to their neighbours, without the sensibility
aid sympathy which naturally belong to such a
case. It has’ been the steady purpose of this
.government, to prevent that feeling leading to
excess; and it is very gratifying to have it-in my
power to state, that so strong has been the sense,
ihro’ct~it the vvliole community, of what was due
to the character and obligations of the nation, that
few examples of a contraty kind have occurred.
/The distance of thecolonies from the parent
country, and the great extent oftheir population
and i'c.soui'ces, gave them advaiitages wiiich, it
was aiiticipatecl, at a very early period, it would
lJ€.(llfllClllL for Spain to surmout. The steadiness
consistency and success, tiiih which they have
pursued their object, as evinced more particular-
by the u-ndisturbetl sovereignty which Buenos
.Ayres hasso long enjoyed, evidently give them
azstrong cltiim to the ftivorable consideration of
other nations. Tliese sentiments on the part of
the United States, have not been withheld from
other powers, with. whom it is desirable to act in
concert. Should it become lllatltlfesllo the world,
that the clforts of Spain to subdue those provin-
ces, will be fruitless. it may be presume-‘l that the
Spanish governincnt itself uiil give up the con-
test. In producing such adeterinination, it can-
not be doubiedithat the opinion of friendly pow-
crs, who have takeii no part in the ‘CL|l"ll.l'U\tl'S'jV,
will lm‘-C their iiieritcd itillueticc. . 7
it is oftlie highest importance to our national
cliaracter, --'c‘.ll(l indispensable to the morality of
our citizens, that all violations of our neutrality
should be prevented. N0 door should be left 0-
pen for ll‘lC.€VablOll of our laws ; no opportui.ity
all'orded to any who may .be disposed to. take ad-
vantage ofit, to compromit the interest or honor
of theinatiou. It is subniittcd, thcreforc,to the
consideration of Congress, Wllelllct‘ itinay not be
advisable to .revise the laws, with a view to this
desirable result. . . _ . -
It is «submitted, also.,vvlietliet' it may not be ad-
.v.isablc to designate, by law, the seveial ports or
places along thccozistat which, only, foreign ships
The
dilliculty of lstistaining the regulations of our com-
mcrce, and of other important interests. from a-
buse, witliout suclidcsignation, furnishes a strong
motive for this meastirc. '
At the time. of the-negociation for the re_ne\v‘al
of the commercial convemioir bet ween the United
‘States and;G. l_3rit-ain, a hope had been enter-
tained that an article might have been agircetl up-
on, mutually Siatlsfaclory to boili countries,regtila_-
ting, upon principles ofjustice 8: reciprocity, the
commercial intercourse between the U. S. and the
British possessions‘ as well’ in the “fest Indies as
upon the continent of N. America, The picni-
potcntiaries oftlie two governments, not having
been able to come to an agreement on this impor-
tant interest, those of the U; States reserved for
the consideration of this government the propo-
sals whichliad been presented to them. as. the ul-
timate offer onlthe part of the British govern-
ment and which their were not authorized to ac-
cept. On their transmission here, they were ex-
amined witb due deliberation, the result of which
was, a new cllbrt to meet the views ofthe British
government. The minister of the United States
was instructed to make a further proposal,
which has not been accepted.- It was, liowcver,
declined in an amicable manner. I recommend
.to the consitlcralion of,Coii_gress W.llClllE!l'(~fLlt‘l.llCl'
p_;-ohibitory‘ provisions, in the laws relating to _tbis
intercourse, -may not be expedient. It is seen
iyifltli interest, that altliough it; has not been prac-
ticable, as yet, to agree. in any arrangement of
this important branch of their commerce, such is
the disposition of the parties that each will view
‘any rcgtilations,.vvliicli the other may make res-
pecting it,. in tlie most friendly light.
,_strong appeal to the candor,_the lmagnianimity and:
\
By the sthariicle of the convention concluded
‘.5-iv
_ goth Oct.'l8l8,.it was siiputatez]-‘tti':tt the
-dlffelfinccs whicli chad arisen between the {two
govei'_nnr__ents,:jwii_h regard to the irueiiitent and
-_ tiieanin_g;of the fifth article ofthe treaty of_Ghent,
in relation to the carrying away, by'Briiish. om.
1‘-CF95 Ofslaves from tbé,UnitedStati:-s,;_~after the
.€XCl1a_nge of- the i'atifications of the ‘treaty. of
peace,.should be referred to ihe‘(le}cisio’ti ofsome
friendly-sovereign or st"ate.. to’be‘ na"m'cd=for that
purpose. *'l‘he‘minist'ero‘f the U'..Sta‘tes has been
instructed. to Il'aII]C’l0 the Btitisli’ government a
forelgn _sover-sign, the common friend to boil,
parties, ft_ir"the decision of this question. The
'aiis\i‘_'cr ol that gov-emniena to‘ the proposal, when
l‘CCtlV8'(l;.ivillindicate t-he further ‘measures to be
pursuedon the partofihc United States.‘ ‘
Alllm.’ the pe‘_cun_iai_y iembai-rassnients which
affected various pat-tsm-ftlie Union during the
latter part "of the preceding year, have, during the
prescnt, been consitlei~ably autztneiited, and still
continueto exist, the receipts into the Tré'asu‘ry,
to the 30th of S€plt’:I'.‘lllit‘l' last, have~amount.etl to
$19,000,000. Alter (lefrayitig the currcmv cx.
pences of the government, including tlieinterest
and reimbursement of the public. ,(lc,l)t, payable to
thatperiod, amoiintiiig to Sl8,‘2.00,0()O, tltcr¢_-.,.e_
maincd in the Treasury ontliat day, more: than
$2,500,000, which, _with the sums. I'_€CE'l$'al)_l'c-dn-
ring the remainder Oflllc year, will exceed . um
current demands upon the Tijeasury for thesamc
period. , i 4 ‘ '
The causes which liaictentlctl to diminish the
ptiblicrecrcipts, could not fail to‘ have a corres.
ponding effect upon the revenue which has ac-
crued upon imposts and tonnage, (ll.tl‘ll'l"‘tl]e[l'1[‘¢_-c
first quarters of the present year. jlt .i=},‘—lim,;ey.
er, ascertained that the duties which have been
secured duiing that period, exceed, $18 000,000,
and those of the whole year willprobably amount
to 23,000,000. _ . ' , .
For the probable receipts of the next year,I
refer you to the statements which will’ be trans-
niit_ted ft om the Treasu.ry, wliicli will enable you
to judge _w_lit-ther further provision be necessary.
The great reductionin the price'ofthc'ptinci-
pal articles of (.lOn)e5llC_gt'0\Vtll, which has occur.
red during the present year, and the .consequent
fall in the price. of labor, apparently‘ so favorable
to the success ofdomestic iiiaiiufactures, have not
shielded ‘them against other causes adverse to
their prosperity. The pecuniaryembarrassment:
which have so deeply affected the conimerciul in-
terests of the nation, have been no less adverse-to
our manuliicturingestablishments,in several sec-
tions ofthe Union. - . 1 ..
The great reduction of the currency which the
banl-is have been constrained to malce, in order to
continue specie payments,‘ and the vitiatcd char-
acter of it where such reductions have not been
attempted, instead of placing tmhin the leach of
these cstablisliments the pectmiaryaid necessa-
ry to avail themselves of the advantages‘ resulting
from the reduction of theipricés of the raw mate-
rials and of labor, have compelled the banks to
witlidraw from tbentit -portion of the capital bere-
tofore advaiicetl 10' them. “That aid which has
been refi.-sed by tlic—baiik.s, has not been obtained
— from other sources,‘ owing to the loss of individ-
ual confidence, ircm tire‘-f:tllut't'5 which have re-
cently occurred in some of our prineipa’l"com-
mercial cities. . . ' - . -
-An additionzil cause of the depression of rliese
establishments, may probably be found in :the
pecuniary emb‘arrassmcnts which have recently
affected thosecountrics with which ourcommcrce
has been principally pl‘O_St'Clll('(l. .
'l‘li‘cir manufactures, for the want of a ready
or proi'italilc market at home, li-ave been shipped
by the niaiittfactuu-.t's»to the U. States, and in ma-
ny iiistanct-s,_soltl atia price below their current
value at the place of inzinufacture. Although
this practice may, from its nature, be considered
temporary or coiitingi,-nt, it is not on that account
less ii-ijtiri'o-is in its effects. -Ur.iformit_v inrvhc
dcniaiitl and price of an article, is highly desira-
ble to the clumeslic-m:muf'1cturer. i '
It is tlecmed of great impoztance togive en-
<:otii'agciiic:iit to our domestic maniifactiircrs.- In
w!iat‘1'nziniier the evilsadverted to may be reme-
died. and how far it may be practicable, in other»
respects,-. to affortl to them further encourage-
ment, paying due regard to all Iii: other great in-
terests of the nation, is submitted to the wistlem
of Coiigw.-ss. , - ~ , W
The SUI“-'ey of the coast for tlic't-stzililisbnient
of fortifications is now nearly completed, and.con-
sitlerablc progress has been made in the collec-
tionof materials for the construction of fortifica-
iionsin the Gulpli of Mexico and in-the Chesa-
peake Bay. T.he works on the Potomac, below
Alexandria, and on the Peapatcb in the Delaware,
are much advanced ;. and it is»expected' that the
foitifications at_tlie Narrows, -in the harbor of
New-York, will be completed the present year.
To derive all the advantages contemplated-from
these fortilic_ation‘s, it was necessary that they
should be judiciously posted and constructed
with a view to permanence. The progress
hitherto has, therefore, betn slow; but.as.thc dif-
fictilties, in parts liei'etofore.tlie least explored
and known, are surmounted, it “ill. in future; be
more rapid. As soon as the survey of the coast
is completed, which it is expected, will.be done
early in the next spring, the engineers employed
in it wil/l proceed to examine, for like purposes,
the northern and north-western frontiers. ‘
. The troops »intended to occupy station at; the
mouth of St. Peters, on the Mississippi, have es-
tablished themselves there ; and tl:0St:~\V,ltlcl1
were ordered .to the mouth of the Yellow Stone,
on the Missouri, have ascended that riveruto the
Council Bluffs, Wi1(‘.'l‘54ll‘l€y will reniaintintil next’
spring, when they will «proceed to the place of
their destination.
that this measure liasbcen executed in amity wilh
the Indian tribes, and that it promises to produce,
in regardato them, all the advantages which were
contemplatetl by it. i . . - .« '
;l\tl.UCll, progress has likewise been made in the
construction of ships of war, and in.tlie collection
It is not. doubted that our navy will soon be aug-
mented to the number-, and placed, in all respects,
on the footing provided for by law. . . .
’ The Board, consisting. 0f'_t:nglncel‘—S and naval
sites for two na-val depots, as insti-uctcd accord-
ing to the resolutions of March 18th and April
20th, 1818, but they .bave—, examined .-the coast
the_rein_ designated, and theiflreport is expected
.,.
in the nextmonth. . . ~
1
A
I have the satisfaction to state "
ofiicers, have not yet made ibeirfinal report of A
\
(
7
O
of timber and othermaterials for ship liuildiug.—— Q
' .
gm
_' .
Norwalk Chronicler