Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

should be free from that objection, and more effectual for the object, by making it piratical. In that mode, the enormity of the crime would place the Offenders out of the protection of their Government, and involve no question of search, or other question between the Parties, touching their respective rights. It was believed, also, that it would completely suppress the Trade in the Vessels of both Parties, and by their respective citizens and subjects, in those of other Powers, with whom, it was hoped, that the odium which would thereby be attached to it, would produce a corresponding arrangement, and, by means thereof, its entire extirpation for ever. A Convention to this effect was concluded and signed in London, on the 13th day of March, 1824, by Plenipotentiaries duly authorized by both Governments, to the Ratification of which certain obstacles have arisen, which are not yet entirely removed. The difference between the Parties still remaining, has been reduced to a point not of sufficient magnitude, as is presumed, to be permitted to defeat an object so near to the heart of both Nations, and so desirable to the friends of humanity throughout the world. As objections, however, to the principle recommended by the House of Representatives, or at least to the consequences inseparable from it, and which are understood to apply to the law, have been raised, which may deserve a re-consideration of the whole subject, I have thought it proper to suspend the conclusion of a new Convention until› the definitive sentiments of Congress may be ascertained. The Documents relating to the Negotiation are, with that intent, submitted to your consideration.

Our Commerce with Sweden has been placed on a footing of petfect reciprocity by Treaty, and with Russia, The Netherlands, Prussia,! the Free Hanseatic Cities, the Dukedom of Oldenburg, and Sardinia, by internal regulations on each side, founded on mutual agreement between the respective Governments.

The principles upon which the Commercial policy of The United States is founded, are to be traced to an early period. They are essentially connected with those upon which their Independence was declared, and owe their origin to the enlightened men who took the lead in our affairs at that important epoch. They are developed in their first Treaty of Commerce with France, of 6th February 1778, and by a formal Commission, which was instituted immediately after the conclusion of their revolutionary struggle, for the purpose of negotiating Treaties of Commerce with every European Power. The *** first Treaty of The United States with Prussia, which was negotiated by that Commission, affords a signal illustration of those principles. The Act of Congress of the 3d March 1815, adopted immediately after the return of a general peace, was a new overture to Foreign Nations to establish our Commercial relations with them, on the basis

I

of free and equal reciprocity. That principle has pervaded all the Acts of Congress, and all the negotiations of the Executive on the subject since.

A Convention for the settlement of important questions in relation to the Northwest Coast of this Continent, and its adjoining Seas, was concluded and signed at St. Petersburg, on the 5th day of April last, by the Minister Plenipotentiary of The United States, and Plenipotentiaries of the Imperial Government of Russia. It will imme diately be laid before the Senate, for the exercise of the Constitutional Authority of that body, with reference to its ratification. It is proper to add, that the manner in which this negotiation was invited and conducted on the part of the Emperor, has been very satisfactory.

The great and extraordinary changes which have happened in the Governments of Spain and Portugal within the last two years, without seriously affecting the friendly relations which, under all of them, have been maintained with those Powers by The United States, have been obstacles to the adjustment of the particular subjects of discussion which have arisen with each. A resolution of the Senate, adopted at their last Session, called for information as to the effect produced upon our relations with Spain, by the recognition, on the part of The United States, of the Independent South American Governments. The Papers containing that information are now communicated to Congress.

A Chargé d'Affaires has been received from the Independent Go- i, vernment of Brazil. That Country, heretofore a Colonial Possession .. of Portugal, had, some years since, been proclaimed, by the Sovereign of Portugal himself, an Independent Kingdom. Since his return to Lisbon, a Revolution in Brazil has established a new Government there, with an Imperial title, at the head of which is placed the Prince,: in whom the Regency had been vested by the King at the time of His. ! departure. There is reason to expect that, by amicable negotiation,s the Independence of Brazil will, ere long, be recognized by Portugal herself.

With the remaining Powers of Europe, with those on the Coast of Barbary, and with all the new South American States, our relations are of a friendly character. We have Ministers Plenipotentiary residing with the Republics of Colombia and Chili, and have received: Ministers of the same rank from Colombia, Guatimala, Buenos Ayres, and e Mexico. Our Commercial relations with all those States are mutually beneficial and increasing. With the Republic of Colombia a Treaty of Commerce has been formed, of which a Copy is received, and the Original daily expected. A negotiation for a like Treaty would have been commenced with Buenos Ayres, had it not been prevented by the indisposition and lamented decease of Mr. Rodney, our Minister there; and to whose memory the most respectful attention has been shown by the Government of that Republic. An advantageous alteration in our

Treaty with Tunis has been obtained by our Consular Agent residing there; the Official Document of which, when received, will be laid before the Senate.

The attention of the Government has been drawn, with great solicitude, to other subjects, and particularly to that relating to a state of Maritime War, involving the relative Rights of Neutral and Belligerent in such wars. Most of the difficulties which we have experienced, and of the losses which we have sustained, since the establishment of our Independence, have proceeded from the unsettled state of those rights, and the extent to which the belligerent claim has been carried against the neutral Party. It is impossible to look back on the occurrences of the late wars in Europe, and to behold the disregard which was paid to our rights as a neutral Power, and the waste which was made of our Commerce by the Parties to those wars, by various Acts of their respective Governments, and under the pretext, by each, that the other had set the example, without great mortification, and a fixed purpose never to submit to the like in future. An attempt to remove those causes of possible variance, by friendly negotiation, and on just principles which should be applicable to all Parties, could, it was presumed, be viewed by none, other than as a proof of an earnest desire to preserve those relations with every Power. In the late War between France and Spain, a crisis occurred in which it seemed probable that all the controvertible principles involved in such wars might be brought into discussion, and settled to the satisfaction of all Parties. Propositions, having this object in view, have been made to the Governments of Great Britain, France, Russia, and of other Powers, which have been received in a friendly manner by all, but as yet no Treaty has been formed with either for its accomplishment. The policy will, it is presumed, be persevered in, and in the hope that it may be successful.

war.

It will always be recollected that with One of the Parties to those wars, and from whom we received those injuries, we sought redress by From the Other, by whose then reigning Government our Vessels were seized in Port as well as at Sea, and their Cargoes confiscated, indemnity has been expected, but has not yet been rendered. It was under the influence of the latter that our Vessels were likewise seized by the Governments of Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Naples, and from whom indemnity has been claimed and is still expected, with the exception of Spain, by whom it has been rendered. With both Parties we had abundant cause of War; but we had no alternative but to resist that which was most powerful at Sea, and pressed us nearest at home. With this, all differences were settled by a Treaty founded on Conditions fair and honourable to both, and which bhas been, so far, executed with perfect good faith. It has been earnestly hoped, that the Other would, of its own accord, and from a sen

timent of justice and conciliation, make to our Citizens the indemnity to which they are entitled, and thereby remove from our relations any just cause of discontent on our side.

It is estimated that the Receipts into the Treasury during the current Year, exclusive of Loans, will exceed 18,500,000 Dollars, which, with the sum remaining in the Treasury at the end of the last Year, amounting to 9,463,922 Dollars, and 81 Cents, will, after discharging the current disbursements of the Year, the Interest on the Public Debt, and upwards of 11,633,000 Dollars of the principal, leave a balance of more than 3,000,000 Dollars in the Treasury on the 1st day of January next.

A larger amount of the debt contracted during the late war, bearing an interest of 6 per cent. becoming redeemable in the course of the ensuing year, than could be discharged by the ordinary Revenue, the Act of the 26th of May, authorized a loan of 5,000,000 of Dollars at 44 per cent. to meet the same. By this arrangement an annual saving will accrue to the public of 75,000 Dollars.

Under the Act of the 24th of May last, a loan of 5,000,000 Dollars was authorized, in order to meet the awards, under the Florida Treaty, which was negotiated at par, with the Bank of The United States at 4 per cent. the limit of interest fixed by the Act. By this provision the claims of our citizens, who had sustained so great a loss by spoliations, and from whom indemnity had been so long withheld, were promptly paid. For these advances the public will be amply repaid, at no distant day, by the sale of the lands in Florida. Of the great advantages resulting from the acquisition of the Territory in other respects, too high an estimate cannot be formed.

It is estimated that the receipts into the Treasury, during the year 1825 will be sufficient to meet the disbursements of the year, including the sum of 10,000,000 of Dollars, which is annually appropriated by the Act, constituting the Sinking Fund, to the payment of the principal and interest of the public debt.

The whole amount of the Public Debt, on the 1st of January next, may be estimated at 86,000,000 of Dollars, inclusive of 2,500,000 Dollars of the loan authorized by the Act of the 26th of May last. In this estimate is included a stock of 7,000,000 Dollars issued for the purchase of that amount of the capital stock of the Bank of The United States, and which, as the stock of the Bank, still held by the Government, will at least be fully equal to its reimbursement, ought not to be considered as constituting a part of the Public Debt. Estimating then, the whole amount of the Public Debt at 79,000,000 Dollars, and regarding the annual receipts and expenditures of the Government, a well-founded hope may be entertained; that, should no unexpected event occur, the whole Public Debt may be discharged in the course of 10 years, and the Government be left at liberty thereafter, to apply such portion of the revenue as may not be necessary for current expences, to such other

objects as may be most conducive to the public security and welfare: That the sum applicable to these objects, will be very considerable may be fairly concluded, when it is recollected, that a large amount of the public revenue has been applied since the late war, to the construction of the public buildings in this City; to the erection of forti. fications along the coast, and of arsenals in different parts of the' Union; to the augmentation of the Navy; to the extinguishment of the Indian title to large tracts of fertile territory; to the acquisition of Florida; to pensions to revolutionary officers and soldiers, and to invalids of the late war. On many of these objects the expence will annually be diminished, and cease at no distant period on most of them. On the 1st of January, 1817, the Public Debt amounted to 123,491,965 Dollars and 16 Cents; and notwithstanding the largesums which have been applied to these objects, it has been reduced! since that period, 37,446,961 Dollars and 78 Cents. The last portion“ · of the public debt will be redeemable on the 1st of January, 1835; and while there is the best reason to believe that the resources of the Government will be continually adequate to such portions of it as}` may become due in the interval, it is recommended to Congress to seize every opportunity which may present itself, to reduce the rate of s interest on every part thereof. The high state of the public credit,” and the great abundance of money, are at this time very favourable to such a result. It must be very gratifying to our fellow-citizens, tó 5 witness this flourishing state of the Public Finances, when it disto recollected, that no burthen whatever has been imposed upon them. Per

[ocr errors]

The Military Establishment, in all its branches, in the performed ance of the various duties assigned to each, justifies the favourable dt view which was presented of the efficiency of its organization, at the last Session. All the appropriations have been regularly applied tow the objects intended by Congress; and, so far as the disbursements:5 have been made, the accounts have been rendered and settled, without loss to the public. The condition of the Army itself, as relates to thems officers and men, in science and discipline, is highly respectable. The q Military Academy, on which the Army essentially rests, and to which ys it is much indebted for this state of improvement, has attained, ing! comparison with any other institution of a like kind, a high degree of perfection. Experience, however, has shewn that the dispersed condition of the corps of Artillery, is unfavourable to the discipline of that important branch of the Military Establishment. To remedy this inconvenience, eleven Companies have been assembled at the Fortifi-w tion erected at Old Point Comfort, as a School for Artillery Instruction, with intention, as they shall be perfected in the various duties of that service, to order them to other posts; and to supply their places -with other Companies, for Instruction, in like manner. In this mode,⠀ a complete knowledge of the science and duties of this arm, will be

D

« EdellinenJatka »