US Presidency
1823

In the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico our naval force has been augmented by the addition of several small vessels provided for by the act authorizing an additional naval force for the suppression of piracy , passed by Congress at their last session. That armament has been eminently successful in the accomplishment of its object. The piracies by which our commerce in the neighborhood of the island of Cuba had been afflicted have been repressed and the confidence of our merchants in a great measure restored. The patriotic zeal and enterprise of Commodore Porter, to whom the command of the expedition was confided, has been fully seconded by the officers and men under his command.