In calling you together sooner than a separation from your homes would otherwise have been required I yielded to considerations drawn from the posture of our foreign affairs, and in fixing the present for the time of your meeting regard was had to the probability of further developments of the policy of the belligerent powers toward this country which might the more unite the national councils in the measures to be pursued. At the close of the last session of Congress it was hoped that the successive confirmations of the extinction of the French decrees, so far as they violated our neutral commerce, would have induced the Government of Great Britain to repeal its orders in council, and thereby authorize a removal of the existing obstructions to her commerce with the United States. Instead of this reasonable step toward satisfaction and friendship between the two nations, the orders were, at a moment when least to have been expected, put into more rigorous execution; and it was communicated through the British envoy just arrived that whilst the revocation of the edicts of France, as officially made known to the British Government, was denied to have taken place, it was an indispensable condition of the repeal of the British orders that commerce should restored to a footing that would admit the productions and manufactures of Great Britain, when owned by neutrals, into markets shut against them by her enemy, the United States being given to understand that in the mean time a continuance of their nonimportation act would lead to measures of retaliation. At a later date it has indeed appeared that a communication to the British Government of fresh evidence of the repeal of the French decrees against our neutral trade was followed by an intimation that it had been transmitted to the British plenipotentiary here in order that it might receive full consideration in the depending discussions. This communication appears not to have been received; but the transmission of it hither, instead of founding on it an actual repeal of the orders or assurances that the repeal would ensue, will not permit us to rely on any effective change in the British cabinet. To be ready to meet with cordiality satisfactory proofs of such a change, and to proceed in the mean time in adapting our measures to the views which have been disclosed through that minister will best consult our whole duty. In the unfriendly spirit of those disclosures indemnity and redress for other wrongs have continued to be withheld, and our coasts and the mouths of our harbors have again witnessed scenes not less derogatory to the dearest of our national rights than vexation to the regular course of our trade. Among the occurrences produced by the conduct of British ships of war hovering on our coasts was an encounter between 1 of them and the American frigate commanded by Captain Rodgers, rendered unavoidable on the part of the latter by a fire commenced without cause by the former, whose commander is therefore alone chargeable with the blood unfortunately shed in maintaining the honor of the American flag. The proceedings of a court of inquiry requested by Captain Rodgers are communicated, together with the correspondence relating to the occurrence, between the Secretary of State and His Britannic Majesty's envoy. To these are added the several correspondences which have passed on the subject of the British orders in council, and to both the correspondence relating to the Floridas, in which Congress will be made acquainted with the interposition which the Government of Great Britain has thought proper to make against the proceeding of the United States. The justice and fairness which have been evinced on the part of the United States toward France, both before and since the revocation of her decrees, authorized an expectation that her Government would have followed up that measure by all such others as were due to our reasonable claims, as well s dictated by its amicable professions. No proof, however, is yet given of an intention to repair the other wrongs done to the United States, and particularly to restore the great amount of American property seized and condemned under edicts which, though not affecting our neutral relations, and therefore not entering into questions between the United States and other belligerents, were nevertheless founded in such unjust principles that the reparation ought to have been prompt and ample. In addition to this and other demands of strict right on that nation, the United States have much reason to be dissatisfied with the rigorous and unexpected restrictions to which their trade with the French dominions has been subjected, and which, if not discontinued, will require at least corresponding restrictions on importations from France into the United States. On all those subjects our minister plenipotentiary lately sent to Paris has carried with him the necessary instructions, the result of which will be communicated to you, by ascertaining the ulterior policy of the French Government toward the United States, will enable you to adapt to it that of the United States toward France. Our other foreign relations remain without unfavorable changes. With Russia they are on the best footing of friendship. The ports of Sweden have afforded proofs of friendly dispositions toward our commerce in the councils of that nation also, and the information from our special minister to Denmark shews that the mission had been attended with valuable effects to our citizens, whose property had been so extensively violated and endangered by cruisers under the Danish flag. Under the ominous indications which commanded attention it became a duty to exert the means committed to the executive department in providing for the general security. The works of defense on our maritime frontier have accordingly been prosecuted with an activity leaving little to be added for the completion of the most important ones, and, as particularly suited for cooperation in emergencies, a portion of the gun boats have in particular harbors been ordered into use. The ships of war before in commission, with the addition of a frigate, have been chiefly employed as a cruising guard to the rights of our coast, and such a disposition has been made of our land forces as was thought to promise the services most appropriate and important. In this disposition is included a force consisting of regulars and militia, embodied in the Indiana Territory and marched toward our northwestern frontier. This measure was made requisite by several murders and depredations committed by Indians, but more especially by the menacing preparations and aspect of a combination of them on the Wabash, under the influence and direction of a fanatic of the Shawanese tribe. With these exceptions the Indian tribes retain their peaceable dispositions toward us, and their usual pursuits. I must now add that the period is arrived which claims from the legislative guardians of the national rights a system of more ample provisions for maintaining them. Notwithstanding the scrupulous justice, the protracted moderation, and the multiplied efforts on the part of the United States to substitute for the accumulating dangers to the peace of the 2 countries all the mutual advantages of reestablished friendship and confidence, we have seen that the British cabinet perseveres not only in withholding a remedy for other wrongs, so long and so loudly calling for it, but in the execution, brought home to the threshold of our territory, of measures which under existing circumstances have the character as well as the effect of war on our lawful commerce. With this evidence of hostile inflexibility in trampling on rights which no independent nation can relinquish, Congress will feel the duty of putting the United States into an armor and an attitude demanded by the crisis, and corresponding with the national spirit and expectations. I recommend, accordingly, that adequate provisions be made for filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops; for an auxiliary force to be engaged for a more limited term; for the acceptance of volunteer corps, whose patriotic ardor may court a participation in urgent services; for detachments as they may be wanted of other portions of the militia, and for such a preparation of the great body as will proportion its usefulness to its intrinsic capacities. Nor can the occasion fail to remind you of the importance of those military seminaries which in every event will form a valuable and frugal part of our military establishment. The manufacture of cannon and small arms has proceeded with due success, and the stock and resources of all the necessary munitions are adequate to emergencies. It will not be inexpedient, however, for Congress to authorize an enlargement of them. Your attention will of course be drawn to such provisions on the subject of our naval force as may be required for the services to which it may be best adapted. I submit to Congress the seasonableness also of an authority to augment the stock of such materials as are imperishable in their nature, or may not at once be attainable. In contemplating the scenes which distinguish this momentous epoch, and estimating their claims to our attention, it is impossible to overlook those developing themselves among the great communities which occupy the southern portion of our own hemisphere and extend into our neighborhood. An enlarged philanthropy and an enlightened forecast concur in imposing on the national councils an obligation to take a deep interest in their destinies, to cherish reciprocal sentiments of good will, to regard the progress of events, and not to be unprepared for whatever order of things may be ultimately established. Under another aspect of our situation the early attention of Congress will be due to the expediency of further guards against evasions and infractions of our commercial laws. The practice of smuggling, which is odious everywhere, and particularly criminal in free governments, where, the laws being made by all for the good of all, a fraud is committed on every individual as well as on the state, attains its utmost guilt when it blends with a pursuit of ignominious gain a treacherous subserviency, in the transgressors, to a foreign policy adverse to that of their own country. It is them that the virtuous indignation of the public should be enabled to manifest itself through the regular animadversions of the most competent laws. To secure greater respect to our mercantile flag, and to the honest interests which it covers, it is expedient also that it be made punishable in our citizens to accepts licenses from foreign governments for a trade unlawfully interdicted by them to other American citizens, or to trade under false colors or papers of any sort. A prohibition is equally called for against the acceptance by our citizens of special licenses to be used in a trade with the United States, and against the admission into particular ports of the United States of vessels from foreign countries authorized to trade with particular ports only. Although other subjects will press more immediately on your deliberations, a portion of them can not but be well bestowed on the just and sound policy of securing to our manufactures the success they have attained, and are still attaining, in some degree, under the impulse of causes not permanent, and to our navigation, the fair extent of which is at present abridged by the unequal regulations of foreign governments. Besides the reasonableness of saving our manufactures from sacrifices which a change of circumstances might bring on them, the national interest requires that, WRT such articles at least as belong to our defense and our primary wants, we should not be left in unnecessary dependence on external supplies. And whilst foreign governments adhere to the existing discriminations in their ports against our navigation, and an equality or lesser discrimination is enjoyed by their navigation in our ports, the effect can not be mistaken, because it has been seriously felt by our shipping interests; and in proportion as this takes place the advantages of an independent conveyance of our products to foreign markets and of a growing body of mariners trained by their occupations for the service of their country in times of danger must be diminished. The receipts into the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of September last have exceeded $13.5M, and have enabled us to defray the current expenses, including the interest on the public debt, and to reimburse more than $5M of the principal without recurring to the loan authorized by the act of the last session. The temporary loan obtained in the latter end of the year 1810 has also been reimbursed, and is not included in that amount. The decrease of revenue arising from the situation of our commerce, and the extraordinary expenses which have and may become necessary, must be taken into view in making commensurate provisions for the ensuing year; and I recommend to your consideration the propriety of insuring a sufficiency of annual revenue at least to defray the ordinary expenses of Government, and to pay the interest on the public debt, including that on new loans which may be authorized. I can not close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled, my confidence in a wise and honorable result to your deliberations, and assurances of the faithful zeal with which my cooperating duties will be discharged, invoking at the same time the blessing of Heaven on our beloved country and on all the means that may be employed in vindicating its rights and advancing its welfare.
In calling you together sooner than a separation from your homes would otherwise have been required I yielded to considerations drawn from the posture of our foreign affairs, and in fixing the present for the time of your meeting regard was had to the probability of further developments of the policy of the belligerent powers toward this country which might the more unite the national councils in the measures to be pursued. At the close of the last session of Congress it was hoped that the successive confirmations of the extinction of the French decrees, so far as they violated our neutral commerce, would have induced the Government of Great Britain to repeal its orders in council, and thereby authorize a removal of the existing obstructions to her commerce with the United States. Instead of this reasonable step toward satisfaction and friendship between the two nations, the orders were, at a moment when least to have been expected, put into more rigorous execution; and it was communicated through the British envoy just arrived that whilst the revocation of the edicts of France, as officially made known to the British Government, was denied to have taken place, it was an indispensable condition of the repeal of the British orders that commerce should restored to a footing that would admit the productions and manufactures of Great Britain, when owned by neutrals, into markets shut against them by her enemy, the United States being given to understand that in the mean time a continuance of their nonimportation act would lead to measures of retaliation. At a later date it has indeed appeared that a communication to the British Government of fresh evidence of the repeal of the French decrees against our neutral trade was followed by an intimation that it had been transmitted to the British plenipotentiary here in order that it might receive full consideration in the depending discussions. This communication appears not to have been received; but the transmission of it hither, instead of founding on it an actual repeal of the orders or assurances that the repeal would ensue, will not permit us to rely on any effective change in the British cabinet. To be ready to meet with cordiality satisfactory proofs of such a change, and to proceed in the mean time in adapting our measures to the views which have been disclosed through that minister will best consult our whole duty. In the unfriendly spirit of those disclosures indemnity and redress for other wrongs have continued to be withheld, and our coasts and the mouths of our harbors have again witnessed scenes not less derogatory to the dearest of our national rights than vexation to the regular course of our trade. Among the occurrences produced by the conduct of British ships of war hovering on our coasts was an encounter between 1 of them and the American frigate commanded by Captain Rodgers, rendered unavoidable on the part of the latter by a fire commenced without because by the former, whose commander is therefore alone chargeable with the blood unfortunately she would in maintaining the honor of the American flag. The proceedings of a court of inquiry requested by Captain Rodgers are communicated, together with the correspondence relating to the occurrence, between the Secretary of State and His Britannic Majesty's envoy. To these are added the several correspondences which have passed on the subject of the British orders in council, and to both the correspondence relating to the Floridas, in which Congress will be made acquainted with the interposition which the Government of Great Britain has thought proper to make against the proceeding of the United States. The justice and fairness which have been evinced on the part of the United States toward France, both before and since the revocation of her decrees, authorized an expectation that her Government would have followed up that measure by all such others as were due to our reasonable claims, as well s dictated by its amicable professions. No proof, however, is yet given of an intention to repair the other wrongs done to the United States, and particularly to restore the great amount of American property seized and condemned under edicts which, though not affecting our neutral relations, and therefore not entering into questions between the United States and other belligerents, were nevertheless founded in such unjust principles that the reparation ought to have been prompt and ample. In addition to this and other demands of strict right on that nation, the United States have much reason to be dissatisfied with the rigorous and unexpected restrictions to which their trade with the French dominions has been subjected, and which, if not discontinued, will require at least corresponding restrictions on importations from France into the United States. On all those subjects our minister plenipotentiary lately sent to Paris has carried with him the necessary instructions, the result of which will be communicated to you, by ascertaining the ulterior policy of the French Government toward the United States, will enable you to adapt to it that of the United States toward France. Our other foreign relations remain without unfavorable changes. With Russia they are on the best footing of friendship. The ports of Sweden have afforded proofs of friendly dispositions toward our commerce in the councils of that nation also, and the information from our special minister to Denmark shews that the mission had been attended with valuable effects to our citizens, whose property had been so extensively violated and endangered by cruisers under the Danish flag. Under the ominous indications which commanded attention it became a duty to exert the means committed to the executive department in providing for the general security. The works of defense on our maritime frontier have accordingly been prosecuted with an activity leaving little to be added for the completion of the most important ones, and, as particularly suited for cooperation in emergencies, a portion of the gun boats have in particular harbors been ordered into use. The ships of war before in commission, with the addition of a frigate, have been chiefly employed as a cruising guard to the rights of our coast, and such a disposition has been made of our land forces as was thought to promise the services most appropriate and important. In this disposition is included a force consisting of regulars and militia, embodied in the Indiana Territory and marched toward our northwestern frontier. This measure was made requisite by several murders and depredations committed by Indians, but more especially by the menacing preparations and aspect of a combination of them on the Wabash, under the influence and direction of a fanatic of the Shawanese tribe. With these exceptions the Indian tribes retain their peaceable dispositions toward us, and their usual pursuits. I must now add that the period is arrived which claims from the legislative guardians of the national rights a system of more ample provisions for maintaining them. Notwithstanding the scrupulous justice, the protracted moderation, and the multiplied efforts on the part of the United States to substitute for the accumulating dangers to the peace of the 2 countries all the mutual advantages of reestablished friendship and confidence, we have seen that the British cabinet perseveres not only in withholding a remedy for other wrongs, so long and so loudly calling for it, but in the execution, brought home to the threshold of our territory, of measures which under existing circumstances have the character as well as the effect of war on our lawful commerce. With this evidence of hostile inflexibility in trampling on rights which no independent nation can relinquish, Congress will feel the duty of putting the United States into an armor and an attitude demanded by the crisis, and corresponding with the national spirit and expectations. I recommend, accordingly, that adequate provisions be made for filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops; for an auxiliary force to be engaged for a more limited term; for the acceptance of volunteer corps, whose patriotic ardor may court a participation in urgent services; for detachments as they may be wanted of other portions of the militia, and for such a preparation of the great body as will proportion its usefulness to its intrinsic capacities. Nor can the occasion fail to remind you of the importance of those military seminaries which in every event will form a valuable and frugal part of our military establishment. The manufacture of cannon and small arms has proceeded with due success, and the stock and resources of all the necessary munitions are adequate to emergencies. It will not be inexpedient, however, for Congress to authorize an enlargement of them. Your attention will of course be drawn to such provisions on the subject of our naval force as may be required for the services to which it may be best adapted. I submit to Congress the seasonableness also of an authority to augment the stock of such materials as are imperishable in their nature, or may not at once be attainable. In contemplating the scenes which distinguish this momentous epoch, and estimating their claims to our attention, it is impossible to overlook those developing themselves among the great communities which occupy the southern portion of our own hemisphere and extend into our neighborhood. An enlarged philanthropy and an enlightened forecast concur in imposing on the national councils an obligation to take a deep interest in their destinies, to cherish reciprocal sentiments of good will, to regard the progress of events, and not to be unprepared for whatever order of things may be ultimately established. Under another aspect of our situation the early attention of Congress will be due to the expediency of further guards against evasions and infractions of our commercial laws. The practice of smuggling, which is odious everywhere, and particularly criminal in free governments, where, the laws being made by all for the good of all, a fraud is committed on every individual as well as on the state, attains its utmost guilt when it blends with a pursuit of ignominious gain a treacherous subserviency, in the transgressors, to a foreign policy adverse to that of their own country. It is them that the virtuous indignation of the public should be enabled to manifest itself through the regular animadversions of the most competent laws. To secure greater respect to our mercantile flag, and to the honest interests which it covers, it is expedient also that it be made punishable in our citizens to accepts licenses from foreign governments for a trade unlawfully interdicted by them to other American citizens, or to trade under false colors or papers of any sort. A prohibition is equally called for against the acceptance by our citizens of special licenses to be used in a trade with the United States, and against the admission into particular ports of the United States of vessels from foreign countries authorized to trade with particular ports only. Although other subjects will press more immediately on your deliberations, a portion of them can not but be well bestowed on the just and sound policy of securing to our manufactures the success they have attained, and are still attaining, in some degree, under the impulse of causes not permanent, and to our navigation, the fair extent of which is at present abridged by the unequal regulations of foreign governments. Besides the reasonableness of saving our manufactures from sacrifices which a change of circumstances might bring on them, the national interest requires that, WRT such articles at least as belong to our defense and our primary wants, we should not be left in unnecessary dependence on external supplies. And whilst foreign governments adhere to the existing discriminations in their ports against our navigation, and an equality or lesser discrimination is enjoyed by their navigation in our ports, the effect can not be mistaken, because it has been seriously felt by our shipping interests; and in proportion as this takes place the advantages of an independent conveyance of our products to foreign markets and of a growing body of mariners trained by their occupations for the service of their country in times of danger must be diminished. The receipts into the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of September last have exceeded $13.5M, and have enabled us to defray the current expenses, including the interest on the public debt, and to reimburse more than $5M of the principal without recurring to the loan authorized by the act of the last session. The temporary loan obtained in the latter end of the year 1810 has also been reimbursed, and is not included in that amount. The decrease of revenue arising from the situation of our commerce, and the extraordinary expenses which have and may become necessary, must be taken into view in making commensurate provisions for the ensuing year; and I recommend to your consideration the propriety of insuring a sufficiency of annual revenue at least to defray the ordinary expenses of Government, and to pay the interest on the public debt, including that on new loans which may be authorized. I can not close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled, my confidence in a wise and honorable result to your deliberations, and assurances of the faithful zeal with which my cooperating duties will be discharged, invoking at the same time the blessing of Heaven on our beloved country and on all the means that may be employed in vindicating its rights and advancing its welfare.
in calling you together sooner than a separation from your homes would otherwise have been required i yielded to considerations drawn from the posture of our foreign affairs and in fixing the present for the time of your meeting regard was had to the probability of further developments of the policy of the belligerent powers toward this country which might the more unite the national councils in the measures to be pursued at the close of the last session of congress it was hoped that the successive confirmations of the extinction of the french decrees so far as they violated our neutral commerce would have induced the government of great britain to repeal its orders in council and thereby authorize a removal of the existing obstructions to her commerce with the united states instead of this reasonable step toward satisfaction and friendship between the two nations the orders were at a moment when least to have been expected put into more rigorous execution and it was communicated through the british envoy just arrived that whilst the revocation of the edicts of france as officially made known to the british government was denied to have taken place it was an indispensable condition of the repeal of the british orders that commerce should restored to a footing that would admit the productions and manufactures of great britain when owned by neutrals into markets shut against them by her enemy the united states being given to understand that in the mean time a continuance of their nonimportation act would lead to measures of retaliation at a later date it has indeed appeared that a communication to the british government of fresh evidence of the repeal of the french decrees against our neutral trade was followed by an intimation that it had been transmitted to the british plenipotentiary here in order that it might receive full consideration in the depending discussions this communication appears not to have been received but the transmission of it hither instead of founding on it an actual repeal of the orders or assurances that the repeal would ensue will not permit us to rely on any effective change in the british cabinet to be ready to meet with cordiality satisfactory proofs of such a change and to proceed in the mean time in adapting our measures to the views which have been disclosed through that minister will best consult our whole duty in the unfriendly spirit of those disclosures indemnity and redress for other wrongs have continued to be withheld and our coasts and the mouths of our harbors have again witnessed scenes not less derogatory to the dearest of our national rights than vexation to the regular course of our trade among the occurrences produced by the conduct of british ships of war hovering on our coasts was an encounter between 1 of them and the american frigate commanded by captain rodgers rendered unavoidable on the part of the latter by a fire commenced without because by the former whose commander is therefore alone chargeable with the blood unfortunately she would in maintaining the honor of the american flag the proceedings of a court of inquiry requested by captain rodgers are communicated together with the correspondence relating to the occurrence between the secretary of state and his britannic majesty envoy to these are added the several correspondences which have passed on the subject of the british orders in council and to both the correspondence relating to the floridas in which congress will be made acquainted with the interposition which the government of great britain has thought proper to make against the proceeding of the united states the justice and fairness which have been evinced on the part of the united states toward france both before and since the revocation of her decrees authorized an expectation that her government would have followed up that measure by all such others as were due to our reasonable claims as well s dictated by its amicable professions no proof however is yet given of an intention to repair the other wrongs done to the united states and particularly to restore the great amount of american property seized and condemned under edicts which though not affecting our neutral relations and therefore not entering into questions between the united states and other belligerents were nevertheless founded in such unjust principles that the reparation ought to have been prompt and ample in addition to this and other demands of strict right on that nation the united states have much reason to be dissatisfied with the rigorous and unexpected restrictions to which their trade with the french dominions has been subjected and which if not discontinued will require at least corresponding restrictions on importations from france into the united states on all those subjects our minister plenipotentiary lately sent to paris has carried with him the necessary instructions the result of which will be communicated to you by ascertaining the ulterior policy of the french government toward the united states will enable you to adapt to it that of the united states toward france our other foreign relations remain without unfavorable changes with russia they are on the best footing of friendship the ports of sweden have afforded proofs of friendly dispositions toward our commerce in the councils of that nation also and the information from our special minister to denmark shews that the mission had been attended with valuable effects to our citizens whose property had been so extensively violated and endangered by cruisers under the danish flag under the ominous indications which commanded attention it became a duty to exert the means committed to the executive department in providing for the general security the works of defense on our maritime frontier have accordingly been prosecuted with an activity leaving little to be added for the completion of the most important ones and as particularly suited for cooperation in emergencies a portion of the gun boats have in particular harbors been ordered into use the ships of war before in commission with the addition of a frigate have been chiefly employed as a cruising guard to the rights of our coast and such a disposition has been made of our land forces as was thought to promise the services most appropriate and important in this disposition is included a force consisting of regulars and militia embodied in the indiana territory and marched toward our northwestern frontier this measure was made requisite by several murders and depredations committed by indians but more especially by the menacing preparations and aspect of a combination of them on the wabash under the influence and direction of a fanatic of the shawanese tribe with these exceptions the indian tribes retain their peaceable dispositions toward us and their usual pursuits i must now add that the period is arrived which claims from the legislative guardians of the national rights a system of more ample provisions for maintaining them notwithstanding the scrupulous justice the protracted moderation and the multiplied efforts on the part of the united states to substitute for the accumulating dangers to the peace of the 2 countries all the mutual advantages of reestablished friendship and confidence we have seen that the british cabinet perseveres not only in withholding a remedy for other wrongs so long and so loudly calling for it but in the execution brought home to the threshold of our territory of measures which under existing circumstances have the character as well as the effect of war on our lawful commerce with this evidence of hostile inflexibility in trampling on rights which no independent nation can relinquish congress will feel the duty of putting the united states into an armor and an attitude demanded by the crisis and corresponding with the national spirit and expectations i recommend accordingly that adequate provisions be made for filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops for an auxiliary force to be engaged for a more limited term for the acceptance of volunteer corps whose patriotic ardor may court a participation in urgent services for detachments as they may be wanted of other portions of the militia and for such a preparation of the great body as will proportion its usefulness to its intrinsic capacities nor can the occasion fail to remind you of the importance of those military seminaries which in every event will form a valuable and frugal part of our military establishment the manufacture of cannon and small arms has proceeded with due success and the stock and resources of all the necessary munitions are adequate to emergencies it will not be inexpedient however for congress to authorize an enlargement of them your attention will of course be drawn to such provisions on the subject of our naval force as may be required for the services to which it may be best adapted i submit to congress the seasonableness also of an authority to augment the stock of such materials as are imperishable in their nature or may not at once be attainable in contemplating the scenes which distinguish this momentous epoch and estimating their claims to our attention it is impossible to overlook those developing themselves among the great communities which occupy the southern portion of our own hemisphere and extend into our neighborhood an enlarged philanthropy and an enlightened forecast concur in imposing on the national councils an obligation to take a deep interest in their destinies to cherish reciprocal sentiments of good will to regard the progress of events and not to be unprepared for whatever order of things may be ultimately established under another aspect of our situation the early attention of congress will be due to the expediency of further guards against evasions and infractions of our commercial laws the practice of smuggling which is odious everywhere and particularly criminal in free governments where the laws being made by all for the good of all a fraud is committed on every individual as well as on the state attains its utmost guilt when it blends with a pursuit of ignominious gain a treacherous subserviency in the transgressors to a foreign policy adverse to that of their own country it is them that the virtuous indignation of the public should be enabled to manifest itself through the regular animadversions of the most competent laws to secure greater respect to our mercantile flag and to the honest interests which it covers it is expedient also that it be made punishable in our citizens to accepts licenses from foreign governments for a trade unlawfully interdicted by them to other american citizens or to trade under false colors or papers of any sort a prohibition is equally called for against the acceptance by our citizens of special licenses to be used in a trade with the united states and against the admission into particular ports of the united states of vessels from foreign countries authorized to trade with particular ports only although other subjects will press more immediately on your deliberations a portion of them can not but be well bestowed on the just and sound policy of securing to our manufactures the success they have attained and are still attaining in some degree under the impulse of causes not permanent and to our navigation the fair extent of which is at present abridged by the unequal regulations of foreign governments besides the reasonableness of saving our manufactures from sacrifices which a change of circumstances might bring on them the national interest requires that wrt such articles at least as belong to our defense and our primary wants we should not be left in unnecessary dependence on external supplies and whilst foreign governments adhere to the existing discriminations in their ports against our navigation and an equality or lesser discrimination is enjoyed by their navigation in our ports the effect can not be mistaken because it has been seriously felt by our shipping interests and in proportion as this takes place the advantages of an independent conveyance of our products to foreign markets and of a growing body of mariners trained by their occupations for the service of their country in times of danger must be diminished the receipts into the treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of september last have exceeded and have enabled us to defray the current expenses including the interest on the public debt and to reimburse more than 5m of the principal without recurring to the loan authorized by the act of the last session the temporary loan obtained in the latter end of the year 1810 has also been reimbursed and is not included in that amount the decrease of revenue arising from the situation of our commerce and the extraordinary expenses which have and may become necessary must be taken into view in making commensurate provisions for the ensuing year and i recommend to your consideration the propriety of insuring a sufficiency of annual revenue at least to defray the ordinary expenses of government and to pay the interest on the public debt including that on new loans which may be authorized i can not close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled my confidence in a wise and honorable result to your deliberations and assurances of the faithful zeal with which my cooperating duties will be discharged invoking at the same time the blessing of heaven on our beloved country and on all the means that may be employed in vindicating its rights and advancing its welfare
calling together sooner separation homes would otherwise required yielded considerations drawn posture foreign affairs fixing present time meeting regard probability developments policy belligerent powers toward country might unite national councils measures pursued close last session congress hoped successive confirmations extinction french decrees far violated neutral commerce would induced government great britain repeal orders council thereby authorize removal existing obstructions commerce united states instead reasonable step toward satisfaction friendship two nations orders moment least expected put rigorous execution communicated british envoy arrived whilst revocation edicts france officially made known british government denied taken place indispensable condition repeal british orders commerce restored footing would admit productions manufactures great britain owned neutrals markets shut enemy united states given understand mean time continuance nonimportation act would lead measures retaliation later date indeed appeared communication british government fresh evidence repeal french decrees neutral trade followed intimation transmitted british plenipotentiary order might receive full consideration depending discussions communication appears received transmission hither instead founding actual repeal orders assurances repeal would ensue permit us rely effective change british cabinet ready meet cordiality satisfactory proofs change proceed mean time adapting measures views disclosed minister best consult whole duty unfriendly spirit disclosures indemnity redress wrongs continued withheld coasts mouths harbors witnessed scenes less derogatory dearest national rights vexation regular course trade among occurrences produced conduct british ships war hovering coasts encounter 1 american frigate commanded captain rodgers rendered unavoidable part latter fire commenced without former whose commander therefore alone chargeable blood unfortunately would maintaining honor american flag proceedings court inquiry requested captain rodgers communicated together correspondence relating occurrence secretary state britannic majesty envoy added several correspondences passed subject british orders council correspondence relating floridas congress made acquainted interposition government great britain thought proper make proceeding united states justice fairness evinced part united states toward france since revocation decrees authorized expectation government would followed measure others due reasonable claims well dictated amicable professions proof however yet given intention repair wrongs done united states particularly restore great amount american property seized condemned edicts though affecting neutral relations therefore entering questions united states belligerents nevertheless founded unjust principles reparation ought prompt ample addition demands strict right nation united states much reason dissatisfied rigorous unexpected restrictions trade french dominions subjected discontinued require least corresponding restrictions importations france united states subjects minister plenipotentiary lately sent paris carried necessary instructions result communicated ascertaining ulterior policy french government toward united states enable adapt united states toward france foreign relations remain without unfavorable changes russia best footing friendship ports sweden afforded proofs friendly dispositions toward commerce councils nation also information special minister denmark shews mission attended valuable effects citizens whose property extensively violated endangered cruisers danish flag ominous indications commanded attention became duty exert means committed executive department providing general security works defense maritime frontier accordingly prosecuted activity leaving little added completion important ones particularly suited cooperation emergencies portion gun boats particular harbors ordered use ships war commission addition frigate chiefly employed cruising guard rights coast disposition made land forces thought promise services appropriate important disposition included force consisting regulars militia embodied indiana territory marched toward northwestern frontier measure made requisite several murders depredations committed indians especially menacing preparations aspect combination wabash influence direction fanatic shawanese tribe exceptions indian tribes retain peaceable dispositions toward us usual pursuits must add period arrived claims legislative guardians national rights system ample provisions maintaining notwithstanding scrupulous justice protracted moderation multiplied efforts part united states substitute accumulating dangers peace 2 countries mutual advantages reestablished friendship confidence seen british cabinet perseveres withholding remedy wrongs long loudly calling execution brought home threshold territory measures existing circumstances character well effect war lawful commerce evidence hostile inflexibility trampling rights independent nation relinquish congress feel duty putting united states armor attitude demanded crisis corresponding national spirit expectations recommend accordingly adequate provisions made filling ranks prolonging enlistments regular troops auxiliary force engaged limited term acceptance volunteer corps whose patriotic ardor may court participation urgent services detachments may wanted portions militia preparation great body proportion usefulness intrinsic capacities occasion fail remind importance military seminaries every event form valuable frugal part military establishment manufacture cannon small arms proceeded due success stock resources necessary munitions adequate emergencies inexpedient however congress authorize enlargement attention course drawn provisions subject naval force may required services may best adapted submit congress seasonableness also authority augment stock materials imperishable nature may attainable contemplating scenes distinguish momentous epoch estimating claims attention impossible overlook developing among great communities occupy southern portion hemisphere extend neighborhood enlarged philanthropy enlightened forecast concur imposing national councils obligation take deep interest destinies cherish reciprocal sentiments good regard progress events unprepared whatever order things may ultimately established another aspect situation early attention congress due expediency guards evasions infractions commercial laws practice smuggling odious everywhere particularly criminal free governments laws made good fraud committed every individual well state attains utmost guilt blends pursuit ignominious gain treacherous subserviency transgressors foreign policy adverse country virtuous indignation public enabled manifest regular animadversions competent laws secure greater respect mercantile flag honest interests covers expedient also made punishable citizens accepts licenses foreign governments trade unlawfully interdicted american citizens trade false colors papers sort prohibition equally called acceptance citizens special licenses used trade united states admission particular ports united states vessels foreign countries authorized trade particular ports although subjects press immediately deliberations portion well bestowed sound policy securing manufactures success attained still attaining degree impulse causes permanent navigation fair extent present abridged unequal regulations foreign governments besides reasonableness saving manufactures sacrifices change circumstances might bring national interest requires wrt articles least belong defense primary wants left unnecessary dependence external supplies whilst foreign governments adhere existing discriminations ports navigation equality lesser discrimination enjoyed navigation ports effect mistaken seriously felt shipping interests proportion takes place advantages independent conveyance products foreign markets growing body mariners trained occupations service country times danger must diminished receipts treasury year ending 30th day september last exceeded enabled us defray current expenses including interest public debt reimburse 5m principal without recurring loan authorized act last session temporary loan obtained latter end year 1810 also reimbursed included amount decrease revenue arising situation commerce extraordinary expenses may become necessary must taken view making commensurate provisions ensuing year recommend consideration propriety insuring sufficiency annual revenue least defray ordinary expenses government pay interest public debt including new loans may authorized close communication without expressing deep sense crisis assembled confidence wise honorable result deliberations assurances faithful zeal cooperating duties discharged invoking time blessing heaven beloved country means may employed vindicating rights advancing welfare
call together sooner separation home would otherwise require yielded consideration draw posture foreign affair fix present time meet regard probability development policy belligerent power toward country might unite national council measure pursue close last session congress hop successive confirmation extinction french decree far violated neutral commerce would induce government great britain repeal order council thereby authorize removal exist obstruction commerce united state instead reasonable step toward satisfaction friendship two nation order moment least expect put rigorous execution communicate british envoy arrive whilst revocation edict france officially make know british government deny take place indispensable condition repeal british order commerce restored footing would admit production manufacture great britain own neutral market shut enemy united state give understand mean time continuance nonimportation act would lead measure retaliation later date indeed appear communication british government fresh evidence repeal french decree neutral trade follow intimation transmit british plenipotentiary order might receive full consideration depend discussion communication appear receive transmission hither instead found actual repeal order assurance repeal would ensue permit u rely effective change british cabinet ready meet cordiality satisfactory proof change proceed mean time adapt measure view disclose minister best consult whole duty unfriendly spirit disclosure indemnity redress wrong continue withheld coast mouth harbor witness scene less derogatory dear national right vexation regular course trade among occurrence produce conduct british ship war hover coast encounter 1 american frigate command captain rodgers render unavoidable part latter fire commence without former whose commander therefore alone chargeable blood unfortunately would maintain honor american flag proceeding court inquiry request captain rodgers communicate together correspondence relate occurrence secretary state britannic majesty envoy add several correspondence pass subject british order council correspondence relate floridas congress make acquaint interposition government great britain think proper make proceeding united state justice fairness evince part united state toward france since revocation decree authorize expectation government would follow measure others due reasonable claim well dictate amicable profession proof however yet give intention repair wrong do united state particularly restore great amount american property seize condemned edict though affect neutral relation therefore enter question united state belligerent nevertheless found unjust principle reparation ought prompt ample addition demand strict right nation unite state much reason dissatisfy rigorous unexpected restriction trade french dominion subject discontinued require least corresponding restriction importation france united state subject minister plenipotentiary lately send paris carry necessary instruction result communicate ascertain ulterior policy french government toward united state enable adapt united state toward france foreign relation remain without unfavorable change russia best foot friendship port sweden afford proof friendly disposition toward commerce council nation also information special minister denmark shew mission attend valuable effect citizen whose property extensively violate endangered cruiser danish flag ominous indication command attention become duty exert mean commit executive department provide general security work defense maritime frontier accordingly prosecute activity leave little added completion important one particularly suit cooperation emergency portion gun boat particular harbor order use ship war commission addition frigate chiefly employ cruise guard right coast disposition make land force think promise service appropriate important disposition include force consist regular militia embody indiana territory march toward northwestern frontier measure make requisite several murder depredation commit indian especially menace preparation aspect combination wabash influence direction fanatic shawanese tribe exception indian tribe retain peaceable disposition toward u usual pursuit must add period arrive claim legislative guardian national right system ample provision maintain notwithstanding scrupulous justice protract moderation multiply effort part united state substitute accumulate danger peace 2 country mutual advantage reestablish friendship confidence see british cabinet perseveres withhold remedy wrong long loudly call execution bring home threshold territory measure exist circumstance character well effect war lawful commerce evidence hostile inflexibility trample right independent nation relinquish congress feel duty put united state armor attitude demand crisis correspond national spirit expectation recommend accordingly adequate provision make fill rank prolong enlistment regular troop auxiliary force engage limited term acceptance volunteer corp whose patriotic ardor may court participation urgent service detachment may want portion militia preparation great body proportion usefulness intrinsic capacity occasion fail remind importance military seminary every event form valuable frugal part military establishment manufacture cannon small arm proceed due success stock resource necessary munition adequate emergency inexpedient however congress authorize enlargement attention course drawn provision subject naval force may require service may best adapt submit congress seasonableness also authority augment stock material imperishable nature may attainable contemplate scene distinguish momentous epoch estimate claim attention impossible overlook develop among great community occupy southern portion hemisphere extend neighborhood enlarge philanthropy enlighten forecast concur impose national council obligation take deep interest destiny cherish reciprocal sentiment good regard progress event unprepared whatever order thing may ultimately establish another aspect situation early attention congress due expediency guard evasion infraction commercial law practice smuggle odious everywhere particularly criminal free government law make good fraud commit every individual well state attains utmost guilt blend pursuit ignominious gain treacherous subserviency transgressor foreign policy adverse country virtuous indignation public enable manifest regular animadversion competent law secure great respect mercantile flag honest interest cover expedient also make punishable citizen accept license foreign government trade unlawfully interdicted american citizen trade false color paper sort prohibition equally call acceptance citizen special license use trade united state admission particular port unite state vessel foreign country authorize trade particular port although subject press immediately deliberation portion well bestow sound policy secure manufacture success attain still attain degree impulse cause permanent navigation fair extent present abridge unequal regulation foreign government besides reasonableness save manufacture sacrifice change circumstance might bring national interest require wrt article least belong defense primary want leave unnecessary dependence external supply whilst foreign government adhere exist discrimination port navigation equality less discrimination enjoy navigation port effect mistake seriously felt shipping interest proportion take place advantage independent conveyance product foreign market grow body mariner train occupation service country time danger must diminish receipt treasury year end 30th day september last exceeded enable u defray current expense include interest public debt reimburse 5m principal without recur loan authorize act last session temporary loan obtain latter end year 1810 also reimburse included amount decrease revenue arise situation commerce extraordinary expense may become necessary must take view make commensurate provision ensue year recommend consideration propriety insure sufficiency annual revenue least defray ordinary expense government pay interest public debt include new loan may authorize close communication without express deep sense crisis assemble confidence wise honorable result deliberation assurance faithful zeal cooperate duty discharge invoking time bless heaven beloved country mean may employ vindicate right advance welfare