At a moment when the nations of Europe are in commotion and arming against each other, and when those with whom we have principal intercourse are engaged in the general contest, and when the countenance of some of them toward our peaceable country threatens that even that may not be unaffected by what is passing on the general theater, a meeting of the representatives of the nation in both Houses of Congress has become more than usually desirable. Coming from every section of our country, they bring with them the sentiments and the information of the whole, and will be enabled to give a direction to the public affairs which the will and the wisdom of the whole will approve and support. In taking a view of the state of our country we in the first place notice the late affliction of two of our cities under the fatal fever which in latter times has occasionally visited our shores. Providence in His goodness gave it an early termination on this occasion and lessened the number of victims which have usually fallen before it. In the course of the several visitations by this disease it has appeared that it is strictly local, incident to cities and on the tide waters only, incommunicable in the country either by persons under the disease or by goods carried from diseased places; that its access is with the autumn and it disappears with the early frosts. These restrictions within narrow limits of time and space give security even to our maritime cities during three quarter of the year, and to the country always. Although from these facts it appears unnecessary, yet to satisfy the fears of foreign nations and cautions on their part not to be complained of in a danger whose limits are yet unknown to them I have strictly enjoined on the officers at the head of the customs to certify with exact truth for every vessel sailing for a foreign port the state of health respecting this fever which prevails at the place from which she sails. Under every motive from character and duty to certify the truth, I have no doubt they have faithfully executed this injunction. Much real injury has, however, been sustained from a propensity to identify with this endemic and to call by the same name fevers of very different kinds, which have been known at all times and in all countries, and never have been placed among those deemed contagious. As we advance in our knowledge of this disease, as facts develop the source from which individuals receive it, the State authorities charged with the care of the public health, and Congress with that of the general commerce, will become able to regulate with effect their respective functions in these departments. The burthen of quarantines is felt at home as well as abroad; their efficacy merits examination. Although the health laws of the States should be found to need no present revisal by Congress, yet commerce claims that their attention be ever awake to them. Since our last meeting the aspect of our foreign relations has considerably changed. Our coasts have been infested and our harbors watched by private armed vessels, some of them without commissions, some with illegal commissions, others with those of legal form, but committing practical acts beyond the authority of their commissions. They have captured in the very entrance of our harbors, as well as on the high seas, not only the vessels of our friends coming to trade with us, but our own also. They have carried them off under pretense of legal adjudication, but not daring to approach a court of justice, they have plundered and sunk them by the way or in obscure places where no evidence could arise against them, maltreated the crews, and abandoned them in boats in the open sea or on desert shores without food or clothing. These enormities appearing to be unreached by any control of their sovereigns, I found it necessary to equip a force to cruise within our own seas, to arrest all vessels of these descriptions found hovering on our coasts within the limits of the Gulf Stream and to bring the offenders in for trial as pirates. The same system of hovering on our coasts and harbors under color of seeking enemies has been also carried on by public armed ships to the great annoyance and oppression of our commerce. New principles, too, have been interpolated into the law of nations, founded neither in justice nor in the usage or acknowledgment of nations. According to these a belligerent takes to itself a commerce with its own enemy which it denies to a neutral on the ground of its aiding that enemy in the war; but reason revolts at such inconsistency, and the neutral having equal right with the belligerent to decide the question, the interests of our constituents and the duty of maintaining the authority of reason, the only umpire between just nations, impose on us the obligation of providing an effectual and determined opposition to a doctrine so injurious to the rights of peaceable nations. Indeed, the confidence we ought to have in the justice of others still countenances the hope that a sounder view of those rights will of itself induce from every belligerent a more correct observance of them. With Spain our negotiations for a settlement of differences have not had a satisfactory issue. Spoliations during a former war, for which she had acknowledged herself responsible, have been refused to be compensated but on conditions affecting other claims in no wise connected with them. Yet the same practices are renewed in the present war and are already of great amount. On the Mobile, our commerce passing through that river continues to be obstructed by arbitrary duties and vexatious searches. Propositions for adjusting amicably the boundaries of Louisiana have not been acceded to. While, however, the right is unsettled, we have avoided changing the state of things by taking new posts or strengthening ourselves in the disputed territories, in the hope that the other power would not by a contrary conduct oblige us to meet their example and endanger conflicts of authority, the issue of which may not be easily controlled. But in this hope we have now reason to lessen our confidence. Inroads have been recently made into the Territories of Orleans and the Mississippi, our citizens have been seized and their property plundered in the very parts of the former which had been actually delivered up by Spain, and this by the regular officers and soldiers of that Government. I have therefore found it necessary at length to give orders to our troops on that frontier to be in readiness to protect our citizens, and to repel by arms any similar aggressions in future. Other details necessary for your full information of the state of things between this country and that shall be the subject of another communication. In reviewing these injuries from some of the belligerent powers the moderation, the firmness, and the wisdom of the Legislature will be called into action. We ought still to hope that time and a more correct estimate of interest as well as of character will produce the justice we are bound to expect, but should any nation deceive itself by false calculations, and disappoint that expectation, we must join in the unprofitable contest of trying which party can do the other the most harm. Some of these injuries may perhaps admit a peaceable remedy. Where that is competent it is always the most desirable. But some of them are of a nature to be met by force only, and all of them may lead to it. I can not, therefore, but recommend such preparations as circumstances call for. The first object is to place our sea port towns out of the danger of insult. Measures have been already taken for furnishing them with heavy cannon for the service of such land batteries as may make a part of their defense against armed vessels approaching them. In aid of these it is desirable we should have a competent number of gun boats, and the number, to be competent, must be considerable. If immediately begun, they may be in readiness for service at the opening of the next season. Whether it will be necessary to augment our land forces will be decided by occurrences probably in the course of your session. In the mean time you will consider whether it would not be expedient for a state of peace as well as of war so to organize or class the militia as would enable us on any sudden emergency to call for the services of the younger portions, unencumbered with the old and those having families. Upward of 300,000 able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 26 years, which the last census shews we may now count within our limits, will furnish a competent # for offense or defense in any point where they may be wanted, and will give time for raising regular forces after the necessity of them shall become certain; and the reducing to the early period of life all its active service can not but be desirable to our younger citizens of the present as well as future times, in as much as it engages to them in more advanced age a quiet and undisturbed repose in the bosom of their families. I can not, then, but earnestly recommend to your early consideration the expediency of so modifying our militia system as, by a separation of the more active part from that which is less so, we may draw from it when necessary an efficient corps fit for real and active service, and to be called to it in regular rotation. Considerable provision has been made under former authorities from Congress of material for the construction of ships of war of 74 guns. These materials are on hand subject to the further will of the Legislature. An immediate prohibition of the exportation of arms and ammunition is also submitted to your determination. Turning from these unpleasant views of violence and wrong, I congratulate you on the liberation of our fellow citizens who were stranded on the coast of Tripoli and made prisoners of war. In a government bottomed on the will of all the life and liberty of every individual citizen become interesting to all. In the treaty, therefore, which has concluded our warfare with that State an article for the ransom of our citizens has been agreed to. An operation by land by a small band of our country-men and others, engaged for the occasion in conjunction with the troops of the ex-Bashaw of that country, gallantly conducted by our late consul, Eaton, and their successful enterprise on the city of Derne, contributed doubtless to the impression which produced peace, and the conclusion of this prevented opportunities of which the officers and men of our squadron destined for Tripoli would have availed themselves to emulate the acts of valor exhibited by their brethren in the attack of the last year. Reflecting with high satisfaction on the distinguished bravery displayed whenever occasions permitted it in the late Mediterranean service, I think it would be an useful encouragement as well as a just reward to make an opening for some present promotion by enlarging our peace establishment of captains and lieutenants. With Tunis some misunderstandings have arisen not yet sufficiently explained, but friendly discussions with their ambassador recently arrived and a mutual disposition to do whatever is just and reasonable can not fail of dissipating these, so that we may consider our peace on that coast, generally, to be on as sound a footing as it has been at any preceding time. Still, it will not be expedient to withdraw immediately the whole of our force from that sea. The law providing for a naval peace establishment fixes the number of frigates which shall be kept in constant service in time of peace, and prescribes that they shall be manned by not more than two-third of their complement of sea men and ordinary sea men. Whether a frigate may be trusted to two-third only of her proper complement of men must depend on the nature of the service on which she is ordered; that may sometimes, for her safety as well as to insure her object, require her fullest complement. In adverting to this subject Congress will perhaps consider whether the best limitation on the Executive discretion in this case would not be by the # of sea men which may be employed in the whole service rather than by the # of vessels. Occasions oftener arise for the employment of small than of large vessels, and it would lessen risk as well as expense to be authorized to employ them of preference. The limitation suggested by the # of sea men would admit a selection of vessels best adapted to the service. Our Indian neighbors are advancing, many of them with spirit, and others beginning to engage in the pursuits of agriculture and household manufacture. They are becoming sensible that the earth yields subsistence with less labor and more certainty than the forest, and find it their interest from time to time to dispose of parts of their surplus and waste lands for the means of improving those they occupy and of subsisting their families while they are preparing their farms. Since your last session the Northern tribes have sold to us the lands between the Connecticut Reserve and the former Indian boundary and those on the Ohio from the same boundary to the rapids and for a considerable depth inland. The Chickasaws and Cherokees have sold us the country between and adjacent to the two districts of Tennessee, and the Creeks the residue of their lands in the fork of the Ocmulgee up to the Ulcofauhatche. The three former purchases are important, in as much as they consolidate disjoined parts of our settled country and render their intercourse secure; and the second particularly so, as, with the small point on the river which we expect is by this time ceded by the Piankeshaws, it completes our possession of the whole of both banks of the Ohio from its source to near its mouth, and the navigation of that river is thereby rendered forever safe to our citizens settled and settling on its extensive waters. The purchase from the Creeks, too, has been for some time particularly interesting to the State of Georgia. The several treaties which have been mentioned will be submitted to both Houses of Congress for the exercise of their respective functions. Deputations now on their way to the seat of Government from various nations of Indians inhabiting the Missouri and other parts beyond the Mississippi come charged with assurances of their satisfaction with the new relations in which they are placed with us, of their dispositions to cultivate our peace and friendship, and their desire to enter into commercial intercourse with us. A state of our progress in exploring the principal rivers of that country, and of the information respecting them hitherto obtained, will be communicated as soon as we shall receive some further relations which we have reason shortly to expect. The receipts of the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of September last have exceeded the sum of $13M, which, with not quite $5M in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us after meeting other demands to pay nearly $2M of the debt contracted under the British treaty and convention, upward of $4M of principal of the public debt, and $4M of interest. These payments, with those which had been made in 3 years and a half preceding, have extinguished of the funded debt nearly $18M of principal. Congress by their act of 1803 November 10, authorized us to borrow $1.75M toward meeting the claims of our citizens assumed by the convention with France. We have not, however, made use of this authority, because the sum of $4.5M, which remained in the Treasury on the same 30th day of September last, with the receipts of which we may calculate on for the ensuing year, besides paying the annual sum of $8M appropriated to the funded debt and meeting all the current demands which may be expected, will enable us to pay the whole sum of $3.75M assumed by the French convention and still leave us a surplus of nearly $1M at our free disposal. Should you concur in the provisions of arms and armed vessels recommended by the circumstances of the times, this surplus will furnish the means of doing so. On this first occasion of addressing Congress since, by the choice of my constituents, I have entered on a second term of administration, I embrace the opportunity to give this public assurance that I will exert my best endeavors to administer faithfully the executive department, and will zealously cooperate with you in every measure which may tend to secure the liberty, property, and personal safety of our fellow citizens, and to consolidate the republican forms and principles of our Government. In the course of your session you shall receive all the aid which I can give for the dispatch of public business, and all the information necessary for your deliberations, of which the interests of our own country and the confidence reposed in us by others will admit a communication.
At a moment when the nations of Europe are in commotion and arming against each other, and when those with whom we have principal intercourse are engaged in the general contest, and when the countenance of some of them toward our peaceable country threatens that even that may not be unaffected by what is passing on the general theater, a meeting of the representatives of the nation in both Houses of Congress has become more than usually desirable. Coming from every section of our country, they bring with them the sentiments and the information of the whole, and will be enabled to give a direction to the public affairs which the will and the wisdom of the whole will approve and support. In taking a view of the state of our country we in the first place notice the late affliction of two of our cities under the fatal fever which in latter times has occasionally visited our shores. Providence in His goodness gave it an early termination on this occasion and lessened the number of victims which have usually fallen before it. In the course of the several visitations by this disease it has appeared that it is strictly local, incident to cities and on the tide waters only, incommunicable in the country either by persons under the disease or by goods carried from diseased places; that its access is with the autumn and it disappears with the early frosts. These restrictions within narrow limits of time and space give security even to our maritime cities during three quarter of the year, and to the country always. Although from these facts it appears unnecessary, yet to satisfy the fears of foreign nations and cautions on their part not to be complained of in a danger whose limits are yet unknown to them I have strictly enjoined on the officers at the head of the customs to certify with exact truth for every vessel sailing for a foreign port the state of health respecting this fever which prevails at the place from which she sails. Under every motive from character and duty to certify the truth, I have no doubt they have faithfully executed this injunction. Much real injury has, however, been sustained from a propensity to identify with this endemic and to call by the same name fevers of very different kinds, which have been known at all times and in all countries, and never have been placed among those deemed contagious. As we advance in our knowledge of this disease, as facts develop the source from which individuals receive it, the State authorities charged with the care of the public health, and Congress with that of the general commerce, will become able to regulate with effect their respective functions in these departments. The burthen of quarantines is felt at home as well as abroad; their efficacy merits examination. Although the health laws of the States should be found to need no present revisal by Congress, yet commerce claims that their attention be ever awake to them. Since our last meeting the aspect of our foreign relations has considerably changed. Our coasts have been infested and our harbors watched by private armed vessels, some of them without commissions, some with illegal commissions, others with those of legal form, but committing practical acts beyond the authority of their commissions. They have captured in the very entrance of our harbors, as well as on the high seas, not only the vessels of our friends coming to trade with us, but our own also. They have carried them off under pretense of legal adjudication, but not daring to approach a court of justice, they have plundered and sunk them by the way or in obscure places where no evidence could arise against them, maltreated the crews, and abandoned them in boats in the open sea or on desert shores without food or clothing. These enormities appearing to be unreached by any control of their sovereigns, I found it necessary to equip a force to cruise within our own seas, to arrest all vessels of these descriptions found hovering on our coasts within the limits of the Gulf Stream and to bring the offenders in for trial as pirates. The same system of hovering on our coasts and harbors under color of seeking enemies has been also carried on by public armed ships to the great annoyance and oppression of our commerce. New principles, too, have been interpolated into the law of nations, founded neither in justice nor in the usage or acknowledgment of nations. According to these a belligerent takes to itself a commerce with its own enemy which it denies to a neutral on the ground of its aiding that enemy in the war; but reason revolts at such inconsistency, and the neutral having equal right with the belligerent to decide the question, the interests of our constituents and the duty of maintaining the authority of reason, the only umpire between just nations, impose on us the obligation of providing an effectual and determined opposition to a doctrine so injurious to the rights of peaceable nations. Indeed, the confidence we ought to have in the justice of others still countenances the hope that a sounder view of those rights will of itself induce from every belligerent a more correct observance of them. With Spain our negotiations for a settlement of differences have not had a satisfactory issue. Spoliations during a former war, for which she had acknowledged herself responsible, have been refused to be compensated but on conditions affecting other claims in no wise connected with them. Yet the same practices are renewed in the present war and are already of great amount. On the Mobile, our commerce passing through that river continues to be obstructed by arbitrary duties and vexatious searches. Propositions for adjusting amicably the boundaries of Louisiana have not been acceded to. While, however, the right is unsettled, we have avoided changing the state of things by taking new posts or strengthening ourselves in the disputed territories, in the hope that the other power would not by a contrary conduct oblige us to meet their example and endanger conflicts of authority, the issue of which may not be easily controlled. But in this hope we have now reason to lessen our confidence. Inroads have been recently made into the Territories of Orleans and the Mississippi, our citizens have been seized and their property plundered in the very parts of the former which had been actually delivered up by Spain, and this by the regular officers and soldiers of that Government. I have therefore found it necessary at length to give orders to our troops on that frontier to be in readiness to protect our citizens, and to repel by arms any similar aggressions in future. Other details necessary for your full information of the state of things between this country and that shall be the subject of another communication. In reviewing these injuries from some of the belligerent powers the moderation, the firmness, and the wisdom of the Legislature will be called into action. We ought still to hope that time and a more correct estimate of interest as well as of character will produce the justice we are bound to expect, but should any nation deceive itself by false calculations, and disappoint that expectation, we must join in the unprofitable contest of trying which party can do the other the most harm. Some of these injuries may perhaps admit a peaceable remedy. Where that is competent it is always the most desirable. But some of them are of a nature to be met by force only, and all of them may lead to it. I can not, therefore, but recommend such preparations as circumstances call for. The first object is to place our sea port towns out of the danger of insult. Measures have been already taken for furnishing them with heavy cannon for the service of such land batteries as may make a part of their defense against armed vessels approaching them. In aid of these it is desirable we should have a competent number of gun boats, and the number, to be competent, must be considerable. If immediately begun, they may be in readiness for service at the opening of the next season. Whether it will be necessary to augment our land forces will be decided by occurrences probably in the course of your session. In the mean time you will consider whether it would not be expedient for a state of peace as well as of war so to organize or class the militia as would enable us on any sudden emergency to call for the services of the younger portions, unencumbered with the old and those having families. Upward of 300,000 able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 26 years, which the last census shews we may now count within our limits, will furnish a competent # for offense or defense in any point where they may be wanted, and will give time for raising regular forces after the necessity of them shall become certain; and the reducing to the early period of life all its active service can not but be desirable to our younger citizens of the present as well as future times, in as much as it engages to them in more advanced age a quiet and undisturbed repose in the bosom of their families. I can not, then, but earnestly recommend to your early consideration the expediency of so modifying our militia system as, by a separation of the more active part from that which is less so, we may draw from it when necessary an efficient corps fit for real and active service, and to be called to it in regular rotation. Considerable provision has been made under former authorities from Congress of material for the construction of ships of war of 74 guns. These materials are on hand subject to the further will of the Legislature. An immediate prohibition of the exportation of arms and ammunition is also submitted to your determination. Turning from these unpleasant views of violence and wrong, I congratulate you on the liberation of our fellow citizens who were stranded on the coast of Tripoli and made prisoners of war. In a government bottomed on the will of all the life and liberty of every individual citizen become interesting to all. In the treaty, therefore, which has concluded our warfare with that State an article for the ransom of our citizens has been agreed to. An operation by land by a small band of our country-men and others, engaged for the occasion in conjunction with the troops of the ex-Bashaw of that country, gallantly conducted by our late consul, Eaton, and their successful enterprise on the city of Derne, contributed doubtless to the impression which produced peace, and the conclusion of this prevented opportunities of which the officers and men of our squadron destined for Tripoli would have availed themselves to emulate the acts of valor exhibited by their brethren in the attack of the last year. Reflecting with high satisfaction on the distinguished bravery displayed whenever occasions permitted it in the late Mediterranean service, I think it would be an useful encouragement as well as a just reward to make an opening for some present promotion by enlarging our peace establishment of captains and lieutenants. With Tunis some misunderstandings have arisen not yet sufficiently explained, but friendly discussions with their ambassador recently arrived and a mutual disposition to do whatever is just and reasonable can not fail of dissipating these, so that we may consider our peace on that coast, generally, to be on as sound a footing as it has been at any preceding time. Still, it will not be expedient to withdraw immediately the whole of our force from that sea. The law providing for a naval peace establishment fixes the number of frigates which shall be kept in constant service in time of peace, and prescribes that they shall be manned by not more than two-third of their complement of sea men and ordinary sea men. Whether a frigate may be trusted to two-third only of her proper complement of men must depend on the nature of the service on which she is ordered; that may sometimes, for her safety as well as to insure her object, require her fullest complement. In adverting to this subject Congress will perhaps consider whether the best limitation on the Executive discretion in this case would not be by the # of sea men which may be employed in the whole service rather than by the # of vessels. Occasions oftener arise for the employment of small than of large vessels, and it would lessen risk as well as expense to be authorized to employ them of preference. The limitation suggested by the # of sea men would admit a selection of vessels best adapted to the service. Our Indian neighbors are advancing, many of them with spirit, and others beginning to engage in the pursuits of agriculture and household manufacture. They are becoming sensible that the earth yields subsistence with less labor and more certainty than the forest, and find it their interest from time to time to dispose of parts of their surplus and waste lands for the means of improving those they occupy and of subsisting their families while they are preparing their farms. Since your last session the Northern tribes have sold to us the lands between the Connecticut Reserve and the former Indian boundary and those on the Ohio from the same boundary to the rapids and for a considerable depth inland. The Chickasaws and Cherokees have sold us the country between and adjacent to the two districts of Tennessee, and the Creeks the residue of their lands in the fork of the Ocmulgee up to the Ulcofauhatche. The three former purchases are important, in as much as they consolidate disjoined parts of our settled country and render their intercourse secure; and the second particularly so, as, with the small point on the river which we expect is by this time ceded by the Piankeshaws, it completes our possession of the whole of both banks of the Ohio from its source to near its mouth, and the navigation of that river is thereby rendered forever safe to our citizens settled and settling on its extensive waters. The purchase from the Creeks, too, has been for some time particularly interesting to the State of Georgia. The several treaties which have been mentioned will be submitted to both Houses of Congress for the exercise of their respective functions. Deputations now on their way to the seat of Government from various nations of Indians inhabiting the Missouri and other parts beyond the Mississippi come charged with assurances of their satisfaction with the new relations in which they are placed with us, of their dispositions to cultivate our peace and friendship, and their desire to enter into commercial intercourse with us. A state of our progress in exploring the principal rivers of that country, and of the information respecting them hitherto obtained, will be communicated as soon as we shall receive some further relations which we have reason shortly to expect. The receipts of the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of September last have exceeded the sum of $13M, which, with not quite $5M in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us after meeting other demands to pay nearly $2M of the debt contracted under the British treaty and convention, upward of $4M of principal of the public debt, and $4M of interest. These payments, with those which had been made in 3 years and a half preceding, have extinguished of the funded debt nearly $18M of principal. Congress by their act of 1803 November 10, authorized us to borrow $1.75M toward meeting the claims of our citizens assumed by the convention with France. We have not, however, made use of this authority, because the sum of $4.5M, which remained in the Treasury on the same 30th day of September last, with the receipts of which we may calculate on for the ensuing year, besides paying the annual sum of $8M appropriated to the funded debt and meeting all the current demands which may be expected, will enable us to pay the whole sum of $3.75M assumed by the French convention and still leave us a surplus of nearly $1M at our free disposal. Should you concur in the provisions of arms and armed vessels recommended by the circumstances of the times, this surplus will furnish the means of doing so. On this first occasion of addressing Congress since, by the choice of my constituents, I have entered on a second term of administration, I embrace the opportunity to give this public assurance that I will exert my best endeavors to administer faithfully the executive department, and will zealously cooperate with you in every measure which may tend to secure the liberty, property, and personal safety of our fellow citizens, and to consolidate the republican forms and principles of our Government. In the course of your session you shall receive all the aid which I can give for the dispatch of public business, and all the information necessary for your deliberations, of which the interests of our own country and the confidence reposed in us by others will admit a communication.
at a moment when the nations of europe are in commotion and arming against each other and when those with whom we have principal intercourse are engaged in the general contest and when the countenance of some of them toward our peaceable country threatens that even that may not be unaffected by what is passing on the general theater a meeting of the representatives of the nation in both houses of congress has become more than usually desirable coming from every section of our country they bring with them the sentiments and the information of the whole and will be enabled to give a direction to the public affairs which the will and the wisdom of the whole will approve and support in taking a view of the state of our country we in the first place notice the late affliction of two of our cities under the fatal fever which in latter times has occasionally visited our shores providence in his goodness gave it an early termination on this occasion and lessened the number of victims which have usually fallen before it in the course of the several visitations by this disease it has appeared that it is strictly local incident to cities and on the tide waters only incommunicable in the country either by persons under the disease or by goods carried from diseased places that its access is with the autumn and it disappears with the early frosts these restrictions within narrow limits of time and space give security even to our maritime cities during three quarter of the year and to the country always although from these facts it appears unnecessary yet to satisfy the fears of foreign nations and cautions on their part not to be complained of in a danger whose limits are yet unknown to them i have strictly enjoined on the officers at the head of the customs to certify with exact truth for every vessel sailing for a foreign port the state of health respecting this fever which prevails at the place from which she sails under every motive from character and duty to certify the truth i have no doubt they have faithfully executed this injunction much real injury has however been sustained from a propensity to identify with this endemic and to call by the same name fevers of very different kinds which have been known at all times and in all countries and never have been placed among those deemed contagious as we advance in our knowledge of this disease as facts develop the source from which individuals receive it the state authorities charged with the care of the public health and congress with that of the general commerce will become able to regulate with effect their respective functions in these departments the burthen of quarantines is felt at home as well as abroad their efficacy merits examination although the health laws of the states should be found to need no present revisal by congress yet commerce claims that their attention be ever awake to them since our last meeting the aspect of our foreign relations has considerably changed our coasts have been infested and our harbors watched by private armed vessels some of them without commissions some with illegal commissions others with those of legal form but committing practical acts beyond the authority of their commissions they have captured in the very entrance of our harbors as well as on the high seas not only the vessels of our friends coming to trade with us but our own also they have carried them off under pretense of legal adjudication but not daring to approach a court of justice they have plundered and sunk them by the way or in obscure places where no evidence could arise against them maltreated the crews and abandoned them in boats in the open sea or on desert shores without food or clothing these enormities appearing to be unreached by any control of their sovereigns i found it necessary to equip a force to cruise within our own seas to arrest all vessels of these descriptions found hovering on our coasts within the limits of the gulf stream and to bring the offenders in for trial as pirates the same system of hovering on our coasts and harbors under color of seeking enemies has been also carried on by public armed ships to the great annoyance and oppression of our commerce new principles too have been interpolated into the law of nations founded neither in justice nor in the usage or acknowledgment of nations according to these a belligerent takes to itself a commerce with its own enemy which it denies to a neutral on the ground of its aiding that enemy in the war but reason revolts at such inconsistency and the neutral having equal right with the belligerent to decide the question the interests of our constituents and the duty of maintaining the authority of reason the only umpire between just nations impose on us the obligation of providing an effectual and determined opposition to a doctrine so injurious to the rights of peaceable nations indeed the confidence we ought to have in the justice of others still countenances the hope that a sounder view of those rights will of itself induce from every belligerent a more correct observance of them with spain our negotiations for a settlement of differences have not had a satisfactory issue spoliations during a former war for which she had acknowledged herself responsible have been refused to be compensated but on conditions affecting other claims in no wise connected with them yet the same practices are renewed in the present war and are already of great amount on the mobile our commerce passing through that river continues to be obstructed by arbitrary duties and vexatious searches propositions for adjusting amicably the boundaries of louisiana have not been acceded to while however the right is unsettled we have avoided changing the state of things by taking new posts or strengthening ourselves in the disputed territories in the hope that the other power would not by a contrary conduct oblige us to meet their example and endanger conflicts of authority the issue of which may not be easily controlled but in this hope we have now reason to lessen our confidence inroads have been recently made into the territories of orleans and the mississippi our citizens have been seized and their property plundered in the very parts of the former which had been actually delivered up by spain and this by the regular officers and soldiers of that government i have therefore found it necessary at length to give orders to our troops on that frontier to be in readiness to protect our citizens and to repel by arms any similar aggressions in future other details necessary for your full information of the state of things between this country and that shall be the subject of another communication in reviewing these injuries from some of the belligerent powers the moderation the firmness and the wisdom of the legislature will be called into action we ought still to hope that time and a more correct estimate of interest as well as of character will produce the justice we are bound to expect but should any nation deceive itself by false calculations and disappoint that expectation we must join in the unprofitable contest of trying which party can do the other the most harm some of these injuries may perhaps admit a peaceable remedy where that is competent it is always the most desirable but some of them are of a nature to be met by force only and all of them may lead to it i can not therefore but recommend such preparations as circumstances call for the first object is to place our sea port towns out of the danger of insult measures have been already taken for furnishing them with heavy cannon for the service of such land batteries as may make a part of their defense against armed vessels approaching them in aid of these it is desirable we should have a competent number of gun boats and the number to be competent must be considerable if immediately begun they may be in readiness for service at the opening of the next season whether it will be necessary to augment our land forces will be decided by occurrences probably in the course of your session in the mean time you will consider whether it would not be expedient for a state of peace as well as of war so to organize or class the militia as would enable us on any sudden emergency to call for the services of the younger portions unencumbered with the old and those having families upward of men between the ages of 18 and 26 years which the last census shews we may now count within our limits will furnish a competent for offense or defense in any point where they may be wanted and will give time for raising regular forces after the necessity of them shall become certain and the reducing to the early period of life all its active service can not but be desirable to our younger citizens of the present as well as future times in as much as it engages to them in more advanced age a quiet and undisturbed repose in the bosom of their families i can not then but earnestly recommend to your early consideration the expediency of so modifying our militia system as by a separation of the more active part from that which is less so we may draw from it when necessary an efficient corps fit for real and active service and to be called to it in regular rotation considerable provision has been made under former authorities from congress of material for the construction of ships of war of 74 guns these materials are on hand subject to the further will of the legislature an immediate prohibition of the exportation of arms and ammunition is also submitted to your determination turning from these unpleasant views of violence and wrong i congratulate you on the liberation of our fellow citizens who were stranded on the coast of tripoli and made prisoners of war in a government bottomed on the will of all the life and liberty of every individual citizen become interesting to all in the treaty therefore which has concluded our warfare with that state an article for the ransom of our citizens has been agreed to an operation by land by a small band of our and others engaged for the occasion in conjunction with the troops of the of that country gallantly conducted by our late consul eaton and their successful enterprise on the city of derne contributed doubtless to the impression which produced peace and the conclusion of this prevented opportunities of which the officers and men of our squadron destined for tripoli would have availed themselves to emulate the acts of valor exhibited by their brethren in the attack of the last year reflecting with high satisfaction on the distinguished bravery displayed whenever occasions permitted it in the late mediterranean service i think it would be an useful encouragement as well as a just reward to make an opening for some present promotion by enlarging our peace establishment of captains and lieutenants with tunis some misunderstandings have arisen not yet sufficiently explained but friendly discussions with their ambassador recently arrived and a mutual disposition to do whatever is just and reasonable can not fail of dissipating these so that we may consider our peace on that coast generally to be on as sound a footing as it has been at any preceding time still it will not be expedient to withdraw immediately the whole of our force from that sea the law providing for a naval peace establishment fixes the number of frigates which shall be kept in constant service in time of peace and prescribes that they shall be manned by not more than of their complement of sea men and ordinary sea men whether a frigate may be trusted to only of her proper complement of men must depend on the nature of the service on which she is ordered that may sometimes for her safety as well as to insure her object require her fullest complement in adverting to this subject congress will perhaps consider whether the best limitation on the executive discretion in this case would not be by the of sea men which may be employed in the whole service rather than by the of vessels occasions oftener arise for the employment of small than of large vessels and it would lessen risk as well as expense to be authorized to employ them of preference the limitation suggested by the of sea men would admit a selection of vessels best adapted to the service our indian neighbors are advancing many of them with spirit and others beginning to engage in the pursuits of agriculture and household manufacture they are becoming sensible that the earth yields subsistence with less labor and more certainty than the forest and find it their interest from time to time to dispose of parts of their surplus and waste lands for the means of improving those they occupy and of subsisting their families while they are preparing their farms since your last session the northern tribes have sold to us the lands between the connecticut reserve and the former indian boundary and those on the ohio from the same boundary to the rapids and for a considerable depth inland the chickasaws and cherokees have sold us the country between and adjacent to the two districts of tennessee and the creeks the residue of their lands in the fork of the ocmulgee up to the ulcofauhatche the three former purchases are important in as much as they consolidate disjoined parts of our settled country and render their intercourse secure and the second particularly so as with the small point on the river which we expect is by this time ceded by the piankeshaws it completes our possession of the whole of both banks of the ohio from its source to near its mouth and the navigation of that river is thereby rendered forever safe to our citizens settled and settling on its extensive waters the purchase from the creeks too has been for some time particularly interesting to the state of georgia the several treaties which have been mentioned will be submitted to both houses of congress for the exercise of their respective functions deputations now on their way to the seat of government from various nations of indians inhabiting the missouri and other parts beyond the mississippi come charged with assurances of their satisfaction with the new relations in which they are placed with us of their dispositions to cultivate our peace and friendship and their desire to enter into commercial intercourse with us a state of our progress in exploring the principal rivers of that country and of the information respecting them hitherto obtained will be communicated as soon as we shall receive some further relations which we have reason shortly to expect the receipts of the treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of september last have exceeded the sum of 13m which with not quite 5m in the treasury at the beginning of the year have enabled us after meeting other demands to pay nearly 2m of the debt contracted under the british treaty and convention upward of 4m of principal of the public debt and 4m of interest these payments with those which had been made in 3 years and a half preceding have extinguished of the funded debt nearly 18m of principal congress by their act of 1803 november 10 authorized us to borrow toward meeting the claims of our citizens assumed by the convention with france we have not however made use of this authority because the sum of which remained in the treasury on the same 30th day of september last with the receipts of which we may calculate on for the ensuing year besides paying the annual sum of 8m appropriated to the funded debt and meeting all the current demands which may be expected will enable us to pay the whole sum of assumed by the french convention and still leave us a surplus of nearly 1m at our free disposal should you concur in the provisions of arms and armed vessels recommended by the circumstances of the times this surplus will furnish the means of doing so on this first occasion of addressing congress since by the choice of my constituents i have entered on a second term of administration i embrace the opportunity to give this public assurance that i will exert my best endeavors to administer faithfully the executive department and will zealously cooperate with you in every measure which may tend to secure the liberty property and personal safety of our fellow citizens and to consolidate the republican forms and principles of our government in the course of your session you shall receive all the aid which i can give for the dispatch of public business and all the information necessary for your deliberations of which the interests of our own country and the confidence reposed in us by others will admit a communication
moment nations europe commotion arming principal intercourse engaged general contest countenance toward peaceable country threatens even may unaffected passing general theater meeting representatives nation houses congress become usually desirable coming every section country bring sentiments information whole enabled give direction public affairs wisdom whole approve support taking view state country first place notice late affliction two cities fatal fever latter times occasionally visited shores providence goodness gave early termination occasion lessened number victims usually fallen course several visitations disease appeared strictly local incident cities tide waters incommunicable country either persons disease goods carried diseased places access autumn disappears early frosts restrictions within narrow limits time space give security even maritime cities three quarter year country always although facts appears unnecessary yet satisfy fears foreign nations cautions part complained danger whose limits yet unknown strictly enjoined officers head customs certify exact truth every vessel sailing foreign port state health respecting fever prevails place sails every motive character duty certify truth doubt faithfully executed injunction much real injury however sustained propensity identify endemic call name fevers different kinds known times countries never placed among deemed contagious advance knowledge disease facts develop source individuals receive state authorities charged care public health congress general commerce become able regulate effect respective functions departments burthen quarantines felt home well abroad efficacy merits examination although health laws states found need present revisal congress yet commerce claims attention ever awake since last meeting aspect foreign relations considerably changed coasts infested harbors watched private armed vessels without commissions illegal commissions others legal form committing practical acts beyond authority commissions captured entrance harbors well high seas vessels friends coming trade us also carried pretense legal adjudication daring approach court justice plundered sunk way obscure places evidence could arise maltreated crews abandoned boats open sea desert shores without food clothing enormities appearing unreached control sovereigns found necessary equip force cruise within seas arrest vessels descriptions found hovering coasts within limits gulf stream bring offenders trial pirates system hovering coasts harbors color seeking enemies also carried public armed ships great annoyance oppression commerce new principles interpolated law nations founded neither justice usage acknowledgment nations according belligerent takes commerce enemy denies neutral ground aiding enemy war reason revolts inconsistency neutral equal right belligerent decide question interests constituents duty maintaining authority reason umpire nations impose us obligation providing effectual determined opposition doctrine injurious rights peaceable nations indeed confidence ought justice others still countenances hope sounder view rights induce every belligerent correct observance spain negotiations settlement differences satisfactory issue spoliations former war acknowledged responsible refused compensated conditions affecting claims wise connected yet practices renewed present war already great amount mobile commerce passing river continues obstructed arbitrary duties vexatious searches propositions adjusting amicably boundaries louisiana acceded however right unsettled avoided changing state things taking new posts strengthening disputed territories hope power would contrary conduct oblige us meet example endanger conflicts authority issue may easily controlled hope reason lessen confidence inroads recently made territories orleans mississippi citizens seized property plundered parts former actually delivered spain regular officers soldiers government therefore found necessary length give orders troops frontier readiness protect citizens repel arms similar aggressions future details necessary full information state things country shall subject another communication reviewing injuries belligerent powers moderation firmness wisdom legislature called action ought still hope time correct estimate interest well character produce justice bound expect nation deceive false calculations disappoint expectation must join unprofitable contest trying party harm injuries may perhaps admit peaceable remedy competent always desirable nature met force may lead therefore recommend preparations circumstances call first object place sea port towns danger insult measures already taken furnishing heavy cannon service land batteries may make part defense armed vessels approaching aid desirable competent number gun boats number competent must considerable immediately begun may readiness service opening next season whether necessary augment land forces decided occurrences probably course session mean time consider whether would expedient state peace well war organize class militia would enable us sudden emergency call services younger portions unencumbered old families upward men ages 18 26 years last census shews may count within limits furnish competent offense defense point may wanted give time raising regular forces necessity shall become certain reducing early period life active service desirable younger citizens present well future times much engages advanced age quiet undisturbed repose bosom families earnestly recommend early consideration expediency modifying militia system separation active part less may draw necessary efficient corps fit real active service called regular rotation considerable provision made former authorities congress material construction ships war 74 guns materials hand subject legislature immediate prohibition exportation arms ammunition also submitted determination turning unpleasant views violence wrong congratulate liberation fellow citizens stranded coast tripoli made prisoners war government bottomed life liberty every individual citizen become interesting treaty therefore concluded warfare state article ransom citizens agreed operation land small band others engaged occasion conjunction troops country gallantly conducted late consul eaton successful enterprise city derne contributed doubtless impression produced peace conclusion prevented opportunities officers men squadron destined tripoli would availed emulate acts valor exhibited brethren attack last year reflecting high satisfaction distinguished bravery displayed whenever occasions permitted late mediterranean service think would useful encouragement well reward make opening present promotion enlarging peace establishment captains lieutenants tunis misunderstandings arisen yet sufficiently explained friendly discussions ambassador recently arrived mutual disposition whatever reasonable fail dissipating may consider peace coast generally sound footing preceding time still expedient withdraw immediately whole force sea law providing naval peace establishment fixes number frigates shall kept constant service time peace prescribes shall manned complement sea men ordinary sea men whether frigate may trusted proper complement men must depend nature service ordered may sometimes safety well insure object require fullest complement adverting subject congress perhaps consider whether best limitation executive discretion case would sea men may employed whole service rather vessels occasions oftener arise employment small large vessels would lessen risk well expense authorized employ preference limitation suggested sea men would admit selection vessels best adapted service indian neighbors advancing many spirit others beginning engage pursuits agriculture household manufacture becoming sensible earth yields subsistence less labor certainty forest find interest time time dispose parts surplus waste lands means improving occupy subsisting families preparing farms since last session northern tribes sold us lands connecticut reserve former indian boundary ohio boundary rapids considerable depth inland chickasaws cherokees sold us country adjacent two districts tennessee creeks residue lands fork ocmulgee ulcofauhatche three former purchases important much consolidate disjoined parts settled country render intercourse secure second particularly small point river expect time ceded piankeshaws completes possession whole banks ohio source near mouth navigation river thereby rendered forever safe citizens settled settling extensive waters purchase creeks time particularly interesting state georgia several treaties mentioned submitted houses congress exercise respective functions deputations way seat government various nations indians inhabiting missouri parts beyond mississippi come charged assurances satisfaction new relations placed us dispositions cultivate peace friendship desire enter commercial intercourse us state progress exploring principal rivers country information respecting hitherto obtained communicated soon shall receive relations reason shortly expect receipts treasury year ending 30th day september last exceeded sum 13m quite 5m treasury beginning year enabled us meeting demands pay nearly 2m debt contracted british treaty convention upward 4m principal public debt 4m interest payments made 3 years half preceding extinguished funded debt nearly 18m principal congress act 1803 november 10 authorized us borrow toward meeting claims citizens assumed convention france however made use authority sum remained treasury 30th day september last receipts may calculate ensuing year besides paying annual sum 8m appropriated funded debt meeting current demands may expected enable us pay whole sum assumed french convention still leave us surplus nearly 1m free disposal concur provisions arms armed vessels recommended circumstances times surplus furnish means first occasion addressing congress since choice constituents entered second term administration embrace opportunity give public assurance exert best endeavors administer faithfully executive department zealously cooperate every measure may tend secure liberty property personal safety fellow citizens consolidate republican forms principles government course session shall receive aid give dispatch public business information necessary deliberations interests country confidence reposed us others admit communication
moment nation europe commotion arm principal intercourse engage general contest countenance toward peaceable country threatens even may unaffected pass general theater meeting representative nation house congress become usually desirable come every section country bring sentiment information whole enable give direction public affair wisdom whole approve support take view state country first place notice late affliction two city fatal fever latter time occasionally visit shore providence goodness give early termination occasion lessen number victim usually fall course several visitation disease appear strictly local incident city tide water incommunicable country either person disease good carry diseased place access autumn disappear early frost restriction within narrow limit time space give security even maritime city three quarter year country always although fact appear unnecessary yet satisfy fear foreign nation caution part complain danger whose limit yet unknown strictly enjoin officer head custom certify exact truth every vessel sail foreign port state health respect fever prevail place sail every motive character duty certify truth doubt faithfully execute injunction much real injury however sustain propensity identify endemic call name fever different kind know time country never place among deem contagious advance knowledge disease facts develop source individual receive state authority charge care public health congress general commerce become able regulate effect respective function department burthen quarantine felt home well abroad efficacy merit examination although health law state find need present revisal congress yet commerce claim attention ever awake since last meeting aspect foreign relation considerably change coast infested harbor watch private arm vessel without commission illegal commission others legal form commit practical act beyond authority commission capture entrance harbor well high sea vessel friend come trade u also carry pretense legal adjudication dare approach court justice plunder sunk way obscure place evidence could arise maltreat crew abandon boat open sea desert shore without food clothing enormity appear unreached control sovereigns find necessary equip force cruise within seas arrest vessel description find hover coast within limit gulf stream bring offender trial pirate system hover coast harbor color seek enemy also carry public arm ship great annoyance oppression commerce new principle interpolate law nation found neither justice usage acknowledgment nation accord belligerent take commerce enemy deny neutral ground aid enemy war reason revolt inconsistency neutral equal right belligerent decide question interest constituent duty maintain authority reason umpire nation impose u obligation provide effectual determined opposition doctrine injurious right peaceable nation indeed confidence ought justice others still countenance hope sound view right induce every belligerent correct observance spain negotiation settlement difference satisfactory issue spoliation former war acknowledge responsible refused compensate condition affect claim wise connect yet practice renew present war already great amount mobile commerce pass river continue obstruct arbitrary duty vexatious search proposition adjust amicably boundary louisiana accede however right unsettled avoid change state thing take new post strengthen disputed territory hope power would contrary conduct oblige u meet example endanger conflict authority issue may easily control hope reason lessen confidence inroad recently make territory orleans mississippi citizen seize property plunder part former actually deliver spain regular officer soldier government therefore find necessary length give order troop frontier readiness protect citizen repel arm similar aggression future detail necessary full information state thing country shall subject another communication review injury belligerent power moderation firmness wisdom legislature call action ought still hope time correct estimate interest well character produce justice bound expect nation deceive false calculation disappoint expectation must join unprofitable contest try party harm injury may perhaps admit peaceable remedy competent always desirable nature meet force may lead therefore recommend preparation circumstance call first object place sea port town danger insult measure already take furnish heavy cannon service land battery may make part defense arm vessel approach aid desirable competent number gun boat number competent must considerable immediately begin may readiness service open next season whether necessary augment land force decide occurrence probably course session mean time consider whether would expedient state peace well war organize class militia would enable u sudden emergency call service young portion unencumbered old family upward men age 18 26 year last census shews may count within limit furnish competent offense defense point may want give time raise regular force necessity shall become certain reduce early period life active service desirable young citizen present well future time much engages advance age quiet undisturbed repose bosom family earnestly recommend early consideration expediency modify militia system separation active part less may draw necessary efficient corp fit real active service call regular rotation considerable provision make former authority congress material construction ship war 74 gun material hand subject legislature immediate prohibition exportation arm ammunition also submit determination turn unpleasant view violence wrong congratulate liberation fellow citizen strand coast tripoli make prisoner war government bottom life liberty every individual citizen become interesting treaty therefore conclude warfare state article ransom citizen agree operation land small band others engage occasion conjunction troop country gallantly conduct late consul eaton successful enterprise city derne contribute doubtless impression produce peace conclusion prevent opportunity officer men squadron destine tripoli would avail emulate act valor exhibit brother attack last year reflect high satisfaction distinguish bravery display whenever occasion permit late mediterranean service think would useful encouragement well reward make opening present promotion enlarge peace establishment captain lieutenant tunis misunderstanding arise yet sufficiently explain friendly discussion ambassador recently arrive mutual disposition whatever reasonable fail dissipating may consider peace coast generally sound foot preceding time still expedient withdraw immediately whole force sea law provide naval peace establishment fix number frigates shall keep constant service time peace prescribe shall man complement sea men ordinary sea men whether frigate may trust proper complement men must depend nature service order may sometimes safety well insure object require full complement advert subject congress perhaps consider whether best limitation executive discretion case would sea men may employ whole service rather vessels occasion oftener arise employment small large vessel would lessen risk well expense authorize employ preference limitation suggest sea men would admit selection vessel best adapt service indian neighbor advance many spirit others begin engage pursuits agriculture household manufacture become sensible earth yield subsistence less labor certainty forest find interest time time dispose part surplus waste land mean improve occupy subsist family prepare farm since last session northern tribe sell u land connecticut reserve former indian boundary ohio boundary rapid considerable depth inland chickasaw cherokee sell u country adjacent two district tennessee creek residue land fork ocmulgee ulcofauhatche three former purchase important much consolidate disjoin part settle country render intercourse secure second particularly small point river expect time cede piankeshaws complete possession whole bank ohio source near mouth navigation river thereby render forever safe citizen settle settle extensive water purchase creeks time particularly interesting state georgia several treaty mention submit house congress exercise respective function deputation way seat government various nation indian inhabit missouri part beyond mississippi come charge assurance satisfaction new relation place u disposition cultivate peace friendship desire enter commercial intercourse u state progress explore principal river country information respect hitherto obtain communicate soon shall receive relation reason shortly expect receipt treasury year end 30th day september last exceeded sum 13m quite 5m treasury begin year enable u meet demand pay nearly 2m debt contract british treaty convention upward 4m principal public debt 4m interest payment make 3 year half precede extinguish funded debt nearly 18m principal congress act 1803 november 10 authorize u borrow toward meet claim citizen assume convention france however make use authority sum remain treasury 30th day september last receipt may calculate ensue year besides pay annual sum 8m appropriate funded debt meeting current demand may expect enable u pay whole sum assume french convention still leave u surplus nearly 1m free disposal concur provision arm arm vessel recommend circumstance time surplus furnish mean first occasion address congress since choice constituent enter second term administration embrace opportunity give public assurance exert best endeavor administer faithfully executive department zealously cooperate every measure may tend secure liberty property personal safety fellow citizen consolidate republican form principle government course session shall receive aid give dispatch public business information necessary deliberation interest country confidence repose u others admit communication