In the terms stipulated the rights and honor
of the United States were particularly consulted by a perpetual
relinquishment on the part of the Dey of all pretensions to tribute
from them. The impressions which have thus been made, strengthened
as they will have been by subsequent transactions with the Regencies
of Tunis and of Tripoli by the appearance of the larger force
which followed under Commodore Bainbridge, the chief in command
of the expedition, and by the judicious precautionary arrangements
left by him in that quarter, afford a reasonable prospect of future
security for the valuable portion of our commerce which passes
within reach of the Barbary cruisers.
It is another source of satisfaction that the
treaty of peace with Great Britain has been succeeded by a convention
on the subject of commerce concluded by the plenipotentiaries
of the two countries. In this result a disposition is manifested
on the part of that nation corresponding with the disposition
of the United States, which it may be hoped will be improved into
liberal arrangements on other subjects on which the parties have
mutual interests, or which might endanger their future harmony.
Congress will decide on the expediency of promoting such a sequel
by giving effect to the measure of confining the American navigation
to American seamen - a measure which, at the same time that it
might have that conciliatory tendency, would have the further
advantage of increasing the independence of our navigation and
the resources for our maritime defense.
In conformity with the articles in the treaty
of Ghent relating to the Indians, as well as with a view to the
tranquillity of our western and northwestern frontiers, measures
were taken to establish an immediate peace with the several tribes
who had been engaged in hostilities against the United States.
Such of them as were invited to Detroit acceded readily to a renewal
of the former treaties of friendship. Of the other tribes who
were invited to a station on the Mississippi the greater number
have also accepted the peace offered to them. The residue, consisting
of the more distant tribes or parts of tribes, remain to be brought
over by further explanations, or by such other means as may be
adapted to the dispositions they may finally disclose.
The Indian tribes within and bordering on the
southern frontier, whom a cruel war on their part had compelled
us to chastise into peace, have latterly shown a restlessness
which has called for preparatory measures for repressing it, and
for protecting the commissioners engaged in carrying the terms
of the peace into execution.
The execution of the act for fixing the military
peace establishment has been attended with difficulties which
even now can only be overcome by legislative aid. The selection
of officers, the payment and discharge of the troops enlisted
for the war, the payment of the retained troops and their reunion
from detached and distant stations, the collection and security
of the public property in the Quartermaster, Commissary, and Ordnance
departments, and the constant medical assistance required in hospitals
and garrisons rendered a complete execution of the act impracticable
on the 1st of May, the period more immediately contemplated. As
soon, however, as circumstances would permit, and as far as it
has been practicable consistently with the public interests, the
reduction of the Army has been accomplished; but the appropriations
for its pay and for other branches of the military service having
proved inadequate, the earliest attention to that subject will
be necessary; and the expediency of continuing upon the peace
establishment the staff officers who have hitherto been provisionally
retained is also recommended to the consideration of Congress.
In the performance of the Executive duty upon
this occasion there has not been wanting a just sensibility to
the merits of the American Army during the late war; but the obvious
policy and design in fixing an efficient military peace establishment
did not afford an opportunity to distinguish the aged and infirm
on account of their past services nor the wounded and disabled
on account of their present sufferings.
The extent of the reduction, indeed, unavoidably
involved the exclusion of many meritorious officers of every rank
from the service of their country; and so equal as well as so
numerous were the claims to attention that a decision by the standard
of comparative merit could seldom be attained. Judged, however,
in candor by a general standard of positive merit, the Army Register
will, it is believed, do honor to the establishment, while the
case of those officers whose names are not included in it devolves
with the strongest interest upon the legislative authority for
such provisions as shall be deemed the best calculated to give
support and solace to the veteran and the invalid, to display
the beneficence as well as the justice of the Government, and
to inspire a martial zeal for the public service upon every future
emergency.
Although the embarrassments arising from the
want of an uniform national currency have not been diminished
since the adjournment of Congress, great satisfaction has been
derived in contemplating the revival of the public credit and
the efficiency of the public resources. The receipts into the
Treasury from the various branches of revenue during the nine
months ending on the 30th of September last have been estimated
at $12,500,000; the issues of Treasury notes of every denomination
during the same period amounted to the sum of $14,000,000, and
there was also obtained upon loan during the same period a sum
of $9,000,000, of which the sum of $6,000,000 was subscribed in
cash and the sum of $3,000,000 in Treasury notes.
With these means, added to the sum of $1,500,000,
being the balance of money in the Treasury on the 1st day of January,
there has been paid between the 1st of January and the 1st of
October on account of the appropriations of the preceding and
of the present year (exclusively of the amount of the Treasury
notes subscribed to the loan and of the amount redeemed in the
payment of duties and taxes) the aggregate sum of $33,500,000,
leaving a balance then in the Treasury estimated at the sum of
$3,000,000. Independent, however of the arrearages due for military
services and supplies, it is presumed that a further sum of $5,000,000,
including the interest on the public debt payable on the 1st of
January next, will be demanded at the Treasury to complete the
expenditures of the present year, and for which the existing ways
and means will sufficiently provide.
The national debt, as it was ascertained on the
first of October last, amounted in the whole to the sum of $120,000,000,
consisting of the unredeemed balance of the debt contracted before
the late war ($39,000,000), the amount of the funded debt contracted
in consequence of the war ($64,000,000), and the amount of the
unfunded and floating debt, including the various issues of Treasury
notes, $17,000,000, which is in gradual course of payment. There
will probably be some addition to the public debt upon the liquidation
of various claims which are depending, and a conciliatory disposition
on the part of Congress may lead honorably and advantageously
to an equitable arrangement of the militia expenses incurred by
the several States without the previous sanction or authority
of the Government of the United States; but when it is considered
that the new as well as the old portion of the debt has been contracted
in the assertion of the national rights and independence, and
when it is recollected that the public expenditures, not being
exclusively bestowed upon subjects of a transient nature, will
long be visible in the number and equipments of the American Navy,
in the military works for the defense of our harbors and our frontiers,
and in the supplies of our arsenals and magazines the amount will
bear a gratifying comparison with the objects which have been
attained, as well as with the resources of the country.
The arrangements of the finances with a view
to the receipts and expenditures of a permanent peace establishment
will necessarily enter into the deliberations of Congress during
the present session. It is true that the improved condition of
the public revenue will not only afford the means of maintaining
the faith of the Government with its creditors inviolate, and
of prosecuting successfully the measures of the most liberal policy,
but will also justify an immediate alleviation of the burdens
imposed by the necessities of the war. It is, however, essential
to every modification of the finances that the benefits of an
uniform national currency should be restored to the community.
The absence of the precious metals will, it is believed, be a
temporary evil, but until they can again be rendered the general
medium of exchange it devolves on the wisdom of Congress to provide
a substitute which shall equally engage the confidence and accommodate
the wants of the citizens throughout the Union. If the operation
of the State banks can not produce this result, the probable operation
of a national bank will merit consideration; and if neither of
these expedients be deemed effectual it may become necessary to
ascertain the terms upon which the notes of the Government (no
longer required as an instrument of credit) shall be issued upon
motives of general policy as a common medium of circulation.
Notwithstanding the security for future repose
which the United States ought to find in their love of peace and
their constant respect for the rights of other nations, the character
of the times particularly inculcates the lesson that, whether
to prevent or repel danger, we ought not to be unprepared for
it. This consideration will sufficiently recommend to Congress
a liberal provision for the immediate extension and gradual completion
of the works of defense, both fixed and floating, on our maritime
frontier, and an adequate provision for guarding our inland frontier
against dangers to which certain portions of it may continue to
be exposed.
As an improvement in our military establishment,
it will deserve the consideration of Congress whether a corps
of invalids might not be so organized and employed as at once
to aid in the support of meritorious individuals excluded by age
or infirmities from the existing establishment, and to procure
to the public the benefit of their stationary services and of
their exemplary discipline. I recommend also an enlargement of
the Military Academy already established, and the establishment
of others in other sections of the Union; and I can not press
too much on the attention of Congress such a classification and
organization of the militia as will most effectually render it
the safeguard of a free state. If experience has shewn in the
recent splendid achievements of militia the value of this resource
for the public defense, it has shewn also the importance of that
skill in the use of arms and that familiarity with the essential
rules of discipline which can not be expected from the regulations
now in force. With this subject is intimately connected the necessity
of accommodating the laws in every respect to the great object
of enabling the political authority of the Union to employ promptly
and effectually the physical power of the Union in the cases designated
by the Constitution.
The signal services which have been rendered
by our Navy and the capacities it has developed for successful
cooperation in the national defense will give to that portion
of the public force its full value in the eyes of Congress, at
an epoch which calls for the constant vigilance of all governments.
To preserve the ships now in a sound state, to complete those
already contemplated, to provide amply the imperishable materials
for prompt augmentations, and to improve the existing arrangements
into more advantageous establishments for the construction, the
repairs, and the security of vessels of war is dictated by the
soundest policy.
In adjusting the duties on imports to the object
of revenue the influence of the tariff on manufactures will necessarily
present itself for consideration. However wise the theory may
be which leaves to the sagacity and interest of individuals the
application of their industry and resources, there are in this
as in other cases exceptions to the general rule. Besides the
condition which the theory itself implies of reciprocal adoption
by other nations, experience teaches that so many circumstances
must concur in introducing and maturing manufacturing establishments,
especially of the more complicated kinds, that a country may remain
long without them, although sufficiently advanced and in some
respects even peculiarly fitted for carrying them on with success.
Under circumstances giving a powerful impulse to manufacturing
industry it has made among us a progress and exhibited an efficiency
which justify the belief that with a protection not more than
is due to the enterprising citizens whose interests are now at
stake it will become at an early day not only safe against occasional
competitions from abroad, but a source of domestic wealth and
even of external commerce. In selecting the branches more especially
entitled to the public patronage a preference is obviously claimed
by such as will relieve the United States from a dependence on
foreign supplies, ever subject to casual failures, for articles
necessary for the public defense or connected with the primary
wants of individuals. It will be an additional recommendation
of particular manufactures where the materials for them are extensively
drawn from our agriculture, and consequently impart and insure
to that great fund of national prosperity and independence an
encouragement which can not fail to be rewarded.
Among the means of advancing the public interest
the occasion is a proper one for recalling the attention of Congress
to the great importance of establishing throughout our country
the roads and canals which can best be executed under the national
authority. No objects within the circle of political economy so
richly repay the expense bestowed on them; there are none the
utility of which is more universally ascertained and acknowledged;
none that do more honor to the governments whose wise and enlarged
patriotism duly appreciates them. Nor is there any country which
presents a field where nature invites more the art of man to complete
her own work for his accommodation and benefit. These considerations
are strengthened, moreover, by the political effect of these facilities
for intercommunication in bringing and binding more closely together
the various parts of our extended confederacy. Whilst the States
individually, with a laudable enterprise and emulation, avail
themselves of their local advantages by new roads, by navigable
canals, and by improving the streams susceptible of navigation,
the General Government is the more urged to similar undertakings,
requiring a national jurisdiction and national means, by the prospect
of thus systematically completing so inestimable a work; and it
is a happy reflection that any defect of constitutional authority
which may be encountered can be supplied in a mode which the Constitution
itself has providently pointed out.
The present is a favorable season also for bringing
again into view the establishment of a national seminary of learning
within the District of Columbia, and with means drawn from the
property therein, subject to the authority of the General Government.
Such an institution claims the patronage of Congress as a monument
of their solicitude for the advancement of knowledge, without
which the blessings of liberty can not be fully enjoyed or long
preserved; as a model instructive in the formation of other seminaries;
as a nursery of enlightened preceptors, and as a central resort
of youth and genius from every part of their country, diffusing
on their return examples of those national feelings, those liberal
sentiments, and those congenial manners which contribute cement
to our Union and strength to the great political fabric of which
that is the foundation.
In closing this communication I ought not to
repress a sensibility, in which you will unite, to the happy lot
of our country and to the goodness of a superintending Providence,
to which we are indebted for it. Whilst other portions of mankind
are laboring under the distresses of war or struggling with adversity
in other forms, the United States are in the tranquil enjoyment
of prosperous and honorable peace. In reviewing the scenes through
which it has been attained we can rejoice in the proofs given
that our political institutions, founded in human rights and framed
for their preservation, are equal to the severest trials of war,
as well adapted to the ordinary periods of repose.
As fruits of this experience and of the reputation
acquired by the American arms on the land and on the water, the
nation finds itself possessed of a growing respect abroad and
of a just confidence in itself, which are among the best pledges
for its peaceful career. Under other aspects of our country the
strongest features of its flourishing condition are seen in a
population rapidly increasing on a territory as productive as
it is extensive; in a general industry and fertile ingenuity which
find their ample rewards, and in an affluent revenue which admits
a reduction of the public burdens without withdrawing the means
of sustaining the public credit, of gradually discharging the
public debt, of providing for the necessary defensive and precautionary
establishments, and of patronizing in every authorized mode undertakings
conducive to the aggregate wealth and individual comfort of our
citizens.
It remains for the guardians of the public welfare
to persevere in that justice and good will toward other nations
which invite a return of these sentiments toward the United States;
to cherish institutions which guarantee their safety and their
liberties, civil and religious; and to combine with a liberal
system of foreign commerce an improvement of the national advantages
and a protection and extension of the independent resources of
our highly favored and happy country.
In all measures having such objects my faithful
cooperation will be afforded.
