Star. — London, England, 1821-04-03 00:00:00

AMERICA. WASHINGTON, MARCH 41. INAUGURAL SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT. Yestirday, at twelve o'clock, on taking the oath to supra the Constitution of the United States, the following Speech was delivered by Itzium MoNaos, President of the United States : 41 Fatt.ow-Ctris Xs3-4 shall net attempt to de scribe the grateful emotions which the new and very distinguished proof of the confidence of my fellow citizens, evinced by my re-election to this high trust, has excited in my bosom. The approbation which it announces of my conduct, in the preceding term, af fords me a consolation which I shall profoundly feel through life. The general accord with which it has been expressed, adds to the great and never-ceasing obligations which it imposes, to merit the continu ance of this good opinion,. and to carry it with me into my retirement, as the solace of advancing years, will be the object of my zealous and unceasing efforts. " Having no pretensions to the high and command ing claims of my predecessors, whose names are so much more conspicuously identified with our Revo lution, and who contributed so pre-eminently to pro. Mote its success, I consider myself rather as the in strument than the cause of the union which has pre vailed in the late election. In surmounting, in fa vour of my humble pretensions, the difficulties which so often 'produce division in like occurrences, it is obvious that other powerful causes, indicating the great strength and stability of our Union, have es sentially contributed to draw you together. That these powerful causes exist, and that they are perma nent, is my fixed opinion ; that they may produce a like accord in all questions, touching, however re motely, the liberty, prosperity, and happiness of our country, will always be the object of my most fervent prayers to the SUPREME AUTHOR of all GOOD. " In a Government which is founded by the People, who possess exclusively the sovereignty, it seems proper that the person who may be placed by their suffrages in this high trust, should declare, on com mencing its duties, the principles on which he intends so conduct the Administration. If the person thus elected has served the preceding term, an opportu nity is afforded him to review its principal occur rences, and to give such further explanation respect. ing them, as in his judgment may be useful to his constituents. The events of one year have influence on those of another; and in like manner of a pre ceding on the succeeding Administration. The move ments of a great Nation are connected in all their parts. If errors have been committed, they ought to be corrected; if the policy is sound, it ought to be supported. It is,by a thorough knowledge of the whole subject that our fellow-citizens are enabled to judge correctly of the past, and to give a proper di rection to the future. " Just before the commencement of the last term, the United States had concluded a war with a very powerful Nation, on conditions equal and honourable to both parties. The events of that war are too re cent, and too deeply impressed on the memory of all, to require a devclopement from me. Our com merce had been, in a great measure, driven from the sea; our Atlantic and inland frontiers were invaded in almost every part ; the waste of lite along our coast, and on some parts of our inland frontiers, to the defence of which our gallant and patriotic citi zens were called, was immense; in addition to which, not less than 120 millions of dollars were added at its end to the Public Debt. "As soon as the war had terminated, the Nation, admonished by its events, resolved to place itself in a situation which should be better calculated to pre vent the recurrence of a like evil, and in case it should recur, to mitigate its calamities. With this view,. af ter reducing our land force to the basis of a peace establishment, which has been further modified since, provision was made for the construction of fortifica tions at proper points, through the whole extent of our coast, and such an augmentation of our naval force, as should be well adapted to both purposes. The laws, making this provision, were passed in 1915 and 1816, and it has been, since, the constant effort of the Executive to carry them into effect. The a?vantage of these fortificatidns, and of an augmented naval force, in the extent contemplated, in point of economy, has been fully illustrated by a Report of the Board of Engineers and Naval Com missioners, lately communicated to Congress, by which it appears, that in an invasions by 20,000 men, with a corresponding naval force, in a campaign of six months only, the whole expense of the construc tion of the works would be defrayed by the differ ence in the sum necessary to maintain the force which would be adequate to our defence with the aid of those works, and that which would be incurred with out them. The reason of this difference is obvious. If fortifications are judiciously placed on our great inlets, as distant from our cities as circumstances will permit, they wiH form the only points of attack, and the enemy will be detained there by a small regular force; a sufficient time to enable our Militia to col lect, and repair to that on which the attack is made. A force adequate to the enemy, collected at that sin gle point, with suitable preparation for such others, as might be menaced, is all that would be requisite. But, if there were no fortifications, then the enemy might go where he pleased, and, changing his posi tion, and sailing from place to place, our force must be called out and spread in vast numbers along the whole coast, and on both sides of every bay and river, as high up in each as it might be navigable for ships of war. By these fortifications, supported by our Navy, to which they would afford like support, we should present to other Powers an armed front from St. Croix to the Sabine, which would protect, in the event of war, our whole coast and interior . from invasion ; and even in the wars of other Powers, ih ithich we were neutral, they would be foundemi. neatly useful, as, by keeping their public ships at a distance from our cities, peace. and order in them would be preserved, and the Government be pro tected from insult need scarcely be remarked, that these area-, sures have not been resorted to in a spirit of hostility to other Powers. Such a disposition does not exist wit-lids any Power. Peace and good-will have been, and will hereafter be t cultivated with all, and by the most faithful regard to justice. They have been dictated by a loveof peace, of economy, mid an earliest desire to save the lives of our fellow-citizen' from that destruction, and our country from that 'devastation, which are inseparable from war, when' it finds us unprepared for it. It is believed, and ex perience his shewn, that such a preparation is the best expedient that can be resorted to, to prevent war. I add, with Much pleasure, that considerable progress has already been airge in these measures of defence, and that they completed in a few years, considering the great extent and importance of the object, if the plan be zealously and steadily persevered in. " The conduct of the Government in what relates to foreign Powers, is always an object of the highest importance to the nation. Its agriculture, commerce, manufactures, fisheries, revenue ; an short, its peace, may all be affected by it. Attention is, therefore, due to this subject. " At the period adverted to, the Powers of Europe, after having been engaged in long and destructive wars with each other, had concluded a peace, which happily still exists. Our peace with the Power with whom we had been engaged, has also been con cluded. The war between Spain and the Colonies in South America, which had commenced many years before, was then the only conflict that remained unset tled. This being a contest between different parts of the same community, in which other Powers had not interfered, was not affected by their accommodations. " This contest was considered, at an early stage, by my predecessor, a civil war, in which the parties were entitled to equal rights in our ports. This de cision, the first made by any Power, being formed on great consideration of the comparative strength and resources of the parties, the length of time, and successful opposition made by the taalonies, and of all other circumstances on which it ought to depend, was in strict accord with the law of nations. Con gress has invariably acted on this principle, having made no change in our relations with either party. Our attitude has, therefore, been that of neutrality between them, Ale!, has been maintained by the Go vernment with the strictest impartiality. No aid has been afforded to either, nor has any privilege been enjoyed by the one, which has not been equally open to the other party, and every exertion has been made in its power, to enforce the execution of the laws prohibiting illegal equipments, with equal rigour against both. " By this equality between the parties, their pub lic vessels have been received in our ports on the same footing ; they have enjoyed an equal right to purchase and export arms, munitions of war, and every other supply—the exportation of all articles whatever being permitted under laws which were passed long before the commencement of the contest ; our citizens have traded equally with both, and their commerce with each has been alike protected by the Government. " Respecting the attitude which it may be proper for the United States to maintain hereafter between the parties, I have no hesitation in stating it as my opinion, that the neutrality heretofore observed, should still be adhered to. Flom the change in the Government of Spain, and the negotiation now de pending, invited by the Cortes, and accepted by the Colonies, it may be presumed that their differences will be settled on the terms proposed by the Colonies. Should the war be continued, the United States, re garding its occurrences, will always have it in their power to adopt such measures resiecting it, as their honour and interest may require. " Shortly after the general peace, a band of ad venturers took advantage of this conflict, and of the facility which it afforded, to establish a system of buccaneering in the neighbouring seas, to the great annoyance of the commerce of the United States, and, as was represented, of that of other Powers. Of this spirit, and of its injurious bearing on the United States, strong proofs were afforded by the establish ment at Amelia Island, and the purposes to which it was made instrumental, by this band, in 1817, and by the occurrences which took place in other parts of Florida, in 1818, the details of which, in both instances, are too well known to require to be now recited. lam satisfied, had a less decisive course been adopted, that the worst consequences would have resulted from it. We have seen that these checks, decisive as they were, were not sufficient to crush that piratical spirit. Many culprits, brought within our limits, have been condemned to suffer death, the punishment due to that atrocious crime. The decisions of upright and enlightened Tribunals fall equally on all, whose crimes subject them, by a fair interpretation of the law, to i.s censure. It be longs to the Executive not to suffer the executions, under these decisions, to transcend the great purpose for which punishment is necessary. The full benefit of example being secured, policy as well as huma nity, equally forbids that they should be carried fur ther. 1 have acted on this principle, pardoning those who appear to have been led astray by igno rance of the criminality of the acts they had com mitted, and suffering the lnw to take effect on those only, in whose favour no extenuating circumstances could be urged. " Great confidence is entertained, that the late Treaty with Spain, which has been ratified by both the parties, and the ratifications whereof have been exchanged, has placed the relations of the two cowl- , tries on a basis of permanent friendship. The provi sion made by it for such of our citizens as have claims on Spain, of the character described, will, it is pre sumed, be satisfactory to them ; and the boundary which is established between the territories of the par ties, westward of Mississippi, heretofore in dispute, has, it is thought, been settled on conditions just and advantageous to both. " But to the acquisition of Florida too much im ,portance cannot be attached. It secures to the Uni ted' States a territory important in itself, and whose .importance is much increased by its bearing en many of the highest interests of the Union. It opens to se veral of the neighbouring States a free passageto the Ocean, through the province ceded, by several riven, having their sources high up withia their. limits. It secures us against all future annoyance from power. ,ful Indian tribes. It gives us several excellent har bours in the Gulf of Mexico for ships of war of the largest size. It covers, by its position in the Gulf, 'the Mississippi and other great waters within our ex. - tended limits, and thereby enables the United States to afford complete protection to the vast and very valuable productions of our whole Western Country, which find market through these streams. • 44 By a Treaty with the British Government, bap. Ins date pp the '2oth day of October, 1818, the Come.f vention regulating the commerce between thg 'States and Great Britain, concluded on the 3d of July, 1815 , which was a bout expiring; was revived, and continued for the term bE ten years frem the time of its expiration. By that Treaty, also, the dif ferences which had arisen under the Treaty of Ghent, respecting the right claimed by the United States, for their citizens to take and cure fish on the coast of his Britannic Majesty's dominions in America, with other differences on important interests, were ad justed to the satisfaction of both pirties. No agree ment has yet been entered into respecting the com merce between•the United States and the British do- minions in the West Indies and on this Continent.— The restraints imposed on that commerce by Great Britain, and reciprocated by the United States on a principle of defence, continues still in force. " The negotiation with France for the regulation of the commercial relations between the two coun tries, which, in the course of the last summer, had been commenced at Paris, has since been transferred to this city, and will be pursued, on the part of the United States, in the spirit of conciliation, and with an earnest detire that it may terminate in an arrange- . ment Satisfactory to both parties. . 4 Our relations with the Barbary Powers are pre served in the same state, and by the same means, that were employed when I came into this office. As early as 1801, it was found necessary to send a squa droll into the Mediterranean for the protection of our commerce; and no period has intervened, a short term etcepted, when it was thought advisable to withdriw it. " The great interest which the United States have in the Pacific, in commerce and in the fisheries, have also made it necessary to maintain a naval force there. In. disposing of this force, in both instances, the most effectual, measures in our power have been taken, without interfering 'with its other duties, for the suppression of the Slave Trade and of piracy, in the neighbouring seas. " The situation of the United States, in regard to resources, the extent of their revenue, and the faci lity with which it is raised, affords a most &ratifying spectacle. The payment of nearly sixty-seven mil lions of dollars of the public debt, with the great progress made in measures of defence, and in other improvements of various kinds, since the late war, ale conclusive proofs of this extraordinary prospe rity; especially when it is iecollected that these ex penditures have been defrayed without a burthen on the people, the direct Tax and Excise having been repealed soon after the conclusion of the late war, and the revenue applied to these great objects having been raised in a manner not to be felt. Our great resources, therefore, remain untouched, for any pur pose which may affect the vital interests of the na tion. Tor all such purposes they are inexhaustible. They are more especially to be found in the virtue, patriotism, and intelligence of our fellow-citizens, aria in the devotion with which they would yield up, by any just measures of taxation, all their property, in support of the rights and honour of their country. " Under the present depression of prices, affecting all the productions of the country, and every branch of industry, proceeding from causes explained on a former occasion, the revenue has considerably dimi nished ; the effect of which has been to compel Con gress either to abandon these great measures of de: fence, or to resort to loans or internal taxes, to sup ply the deficiency. On the presumption that this depression, and the deficiency in the revenue arising from it, would be temporary, loans were authorised for the demands of the last and present year. Anxious to relieve my fellow-citizens, in 1817, from every btu then which could be dispensed with, and the state of the Treasury permitting it, I recommended the repeal of . the internal taxes, knowing that such relief was then peculiarly necessary, in consequence of the great exertions made in the late war. I made that recommendation under a pledge that, should the public exigencies require a recurrence to them at any time while I remained in this trust, I would with equal promptitude, peiform the duty which would then be alike incumbent on me. By the experiment now making it will be seen, by the next Session of Congress, whether the revenue shall have been so augmented as to be adequate to all these necessary purposes. Should the deficiency still continue, and especially should it be probable th a t it wou ld be per manent, the course to tie pursued appears to me to be obvious. I am satisfied that, under certain cir cumstances, loans may be resorted to with great ad vantage. I am equally well satisfied, as a general rule, that the demands of the current year, especially in time of peace, should be provided for by the re venue of that year. I have never dreaded, nor have I ever shunned, in any situation in which I have been placed, making appeals to the virtue and pa triotism of my fellow-citizens, well knowing that they could never be made in vain; especially in times of great emergency, or for purposes of high national importance. Independently of the exigency of the case, many considerations of great weight urge a policy having in view a provision of revenue to meet, to a certain extent, the demands of the nation, with out relying altogether on the precarious resource of foreign commerce. I am satisfied that internal Du ties and Excises, with corresponding imposts on I'o -reign articles of the same kind, would, without im posing any serious burthens on the people,. enhance the price of produce, promote our manufactures, and augment the revenue ; at the same time that they made it more secure and permanent. " The care of the Indian Tribes within our limits has long been An essential part of our system, but, unfortunately, it has not been executed in a manner to accomplish all the objects intended by it. We have treated them as independent nations, without their ,having any substantial prete ns i on to that rank. The distinction has flattered their pride, retarded their im provement, and, in many instances, paved the way to their destruction. The progress of our Settlements westward, supported, as they are, by a dense popu lation, has constantly drive n then; back, with almost the total sacrifice of the lands which they have been compelled. to abandon.—They have claims on the magnanimity, and, I may add, on the justice of this nation, which we must all f ee l. We shoul d their real benefactors, we should perform the office of their Great Father, the endearing title which thez emphatically give to the Chief blagistrate of our Union. Their sovereignty'over vast territories should cease, in lieu of which the right of soil should be se cured to each individpal, and his posterity, in com petent portions; 'and, for the territory thus ceded by each tribes some reasoaable equivalent should be granted, to be vested in peftbartent funds foriu e port of civil Government over theib, and for th e elk , cation of their children, for their instruction i n t h e arts of husbandry, and to provide sustenance Re th em until they could provide it for themselves. My earnest hope is, that Congress will digest some pla n , founded on these principles, with such improvemesits as their wisdom may suggest, and carry it tate effe c t as soon as it may be practicable. « Eu ro pe is again unsettled, and the prospect of war increasing. Should the flame light up in a ny quarter, how far it may extend i t is impossible to foresee. It is our peculiar felicity to be altoge t h er. unconnected with the causes which proddce this me. racing aspect elsewhere. With every Power we are in perfect amity, and it is our interest to remain so, if it be practicable on just conditions. I see no rev sobable cause to apprehend variance with any Poweri unless it proceed from a violation of our **kin* rights. In these contests, should they occur, saw ea whatever extent they may be carried, we shall bn neutral ; but, as a neutral Power, we have rights which it is oar duty to maintain. For light injuries it will be incumbent on us to seek redress in a spiri t of amity, in full confidence that, injuring none, no, i e would knowingly injure us. For more imminent dangers we should be prepared, and ifshould always be recollected that such preparation, adapted to t h e circumstances, and sanctioned by the judgment and wishes of our constituents, cannot fail to have a good effect in averting dangers of every kind. Weshould recollect, also, that the season of peace is best adapted to these preparations. " If we turn our attention, fellow-citizens, 'more immediately to the internal concerns of our country, and more especially to those on which its future w e t. fare depends, we have every reason to anticipate the happiest results. It is now rather mere than forty. four years since we declared our Independence, en d thirty-seven since it was acknowledged. The talent ' and virtues which were displayed in that greastrug gle were a sure presage of all that has since followed. A people who were able to surmount, in their infant state, such great perils, would be more comreteur y as they rose into manhood, to repel any which they might meet in their progress. Their physical sttenql would be more adequate to foreign danger, and tie practice of self-government, aided by the light of experience, could not fail to produce an effect equally salutary in all those questions connected with the in. ternal organization. These favourable anticiptions have been realized. In our whole system, National and State, we have shunned all the defects which en . ceasingly preyed on the vitals and destroyed the an cient Republics. In them there were distinct order, a Nobility and a People, or the People.governed is 'one assembly. Oar population has augmented in an astonishing degree, and extended in every direction. We now, fellow-citizens, comprise within our knits. the dimensions and faculties of a great Power, under a Government possessing all the energies of any Go vernment ever known to the Old World, with as utter incapacity to oppress the people. " Entering, with these views, the ace which I liave just solemnly sworn to execute with fidelity, and to the utmost of my ability, I derive great utisfac don from a knowledge that I shall be assisted in the several departments by the very enlightened and up. right citizens from' whom I have received so much aid in the pieceding term. With full confidence In the continuance of that candour, and generous indul gence from my fellow-citizens at large, which I have heretofore experienced, and with a aim reliance oa the protection of ALMIGHTY GOD, I shall forthwith commence the duties of the high trust to which yes have called me." Daniel Hamilton, ten years of age, and Daniel Sinclair, Atm :die, were the boys mentioned in Friday's Sloss, as Wing beta found in a field near Glasgow, the latter dead from the affects of fatigue, hunger, damp, and cold. The boys bad ersdlabis parents in that city. Having staid away from the schools de afternoon of Monday sennight, they were afraid so p loon— ' Sinclair, who had been in the Highlands before asalliqrsime. proposed that they should go there again. They snob* mg off, on the Greenock road, and had reached Inchlinin, 010.• they were stopt for the pontage. The toillogsw sisiod tldr return; and about night-f a ll they reached ths miglaisodissisl Govan, nearly worn out with fatigue and hunger. OM OAT asked at a house for a drink of water, which was Ow door - A little farther on they were nearly sinking, what they samully exhorted each other to try another house ; but tit* eselbeet and their hopes bad led ; and, unable to move forward, thsf of down under a hedge, where they were found the oat mars* Hamilton had no hat, but he opened his OW, sod pined kora his head. Sinclair wept bitterly, and on llinsissas aegis(' from a sleep or faint, he wept and complained sf Maim He soon relapsed into a state of insensibility, from tabieli be me never to awake. The survivor is doing 1141110111 d Mors wakist to the very active humanity of the surgeons ant the of several other individuals. He had neither shoes , ear cap ; says that the deceased, who was well provisiad in as ilia respects, generously agreed to lie above him t o . tort hie warns may in some measure account for Maintain a sa crifice to the inclemency of the weather. DIED. Last night, Mr. Samuel Highley, Bookseller, Fleet4ttets aged 60 years—a conscientious honourable man, greatlY esteem by all who knew him. On the 21 ult. at Florence, William Robert Broughton. Post Captain in the Royal Navy, and Colonel of Marines. 'zealous and meritorious Officer served his country most WWI for more than 40 years. He commanded the Clutha* knilr which attended Captain Vancouver on his voyage round du world, and explored all the interior of California; and IMO accompanied by the present Captain Thomas of the Navy, he discovered and explored the greaoftiver Columbia, an the north-west coast of America. SUDDEN MUTH Or Mu. ELLISTIOL—Mrs. Instal, she WI I of Mr. Ellistoo, the lessee of Drury-Lane Theatre, died alma suddenly on Saturday, at her residence iu Stratford-place. ' l b amiable woman was in the gallery at the Freemasons' Tavern on Friday last, in good health, and was taken ill after kw ea tarn tome from the annual dinner gives in aid ofthe Mani' cal Fund. She continued indisposed daring Saturday, lost did not retire to rest until her usual hour at had not been in bed long, when she was Attacked by a On'' lent hysteric affection, to which, during the last two rim she had been subject, and in about ten minutes she was se more. Mr.. Billiton was formerly one of the celebrated *l e Flemming, of Bath, and was well known in the most resell: able circles in London Bath, Leamington ' and elsewhere; Ina known only to be admired and beloved. She was not more re. markable for her personal accomplishments, than for the rare and exemplary excellence of her private charades: Her Ile was 46: she had been married to Mr. Elliston four and twee/ years, and had borne him ten children, of whom nine are tiviaF Mr. Elliston, after officiating at the Drury-Lane Theatrkal Dinner, at Freemasons' 11.11, on Friday evening last, Mon" to Mrs. Elliston, in Stratford-place, and set off on Sawa% morning, at live o'clock, for Leamington, to attend a nisi the Warwick Assizes. He had not the consolation, &rag s "' of being with Mrs. Elliston in her last moments. He we ifor express, and reached home with his eldest son, Inlirrat diction, at an early hour yesterday morning. _ LONDON Printed and published by Tarn Kitxr, PO* Place, Tempk-lisr.