Star. — London, England, 1817-01-02 00:00:00

r~ P I • UNItED STATES OF AMERICA. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. s. WASHING CON. DF 'EMIR 4. • This day, at twelve o'clo th e President of the the United States transmitted ,. to oth Houses of Con owe., the ((Moving Message, by Mr. Todd, his Secretary : "Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives,—ln reviewing the present state of our country, our attention cannot be withheld from the effect produced by peculiar seasons, which have sferrgentrally imp tired the annual gifts of the earth, and threatened scarcity in particular districs. Such, however, is the variety of soils, of climates, and of products, within our extensive limits, th.d the ag gregate resources fur subsistence are more than suds tient fais!ie,igaregate wants. And, as tar as an eco- nonsyof coosnmpiOn, more than ustt!, m.,y be neces sary, our thankfulness is due to Peptone:4m for what is far morithan a compensation, in the remarkable' health whithhas dietingnished the present year. ~ Amidst the advantages which have the peace of Fnrupe, and that of the United States l with Great Britain; in a general invigoration of in• dustryamong us, and in the extension of our com merce, the value of which is mt:re and more disclos- 1 1 ing itseil to commercial nations, it is to be regretted that a.depression is experienced by particular branches of our manufactures, and by a portion of our navi-1 gatiotr. As the first proceeds, in an essential degree ham an excess of imported werchandize, which car ties a check, in its own tendency, the cause, in its present extent, canna be of very loag duration. The evil will not, however, be viewed by Congress, without a recollection, that manufacturing establish ments, if suffered to sink too low, or languish too lung, may riot revive, after the causes shall have ceased ; and that. in the. vicissitudes of human af fairs, situations may recur, in which a dependance on foreign sources, for indispensable supplies, may be among the most serious embarrassments. " The depressed state of our navigation is to he ascribed, in a material degree, to its exclusion from the colonial ports of the nation most extensively con nected with us in commerce, and from the indirect operation of that exclusion. 44 Picvititis to the late Convention at London, be tween the United States and Great Britain, the rela tive state of the navigation laws of the two countries, growing out of the Treaty of 1794., had given to the British navigation a material advantage over the American, in the intercourse between the Ameyican ports and the British ports in Europe. The Conven tion of London equalized the laws ut the two coun tries relating to those ports; leaving the intercourse between uur ports and the ports of the British,colo nies, subject, as before, to the.respective regulations of the parties. The British Government enforcing now, regulations which prohibit a trade between its colonies and the United States, in American vessels, whilst they permit a trade • in British vessels, the American navigation loses accordingly ; and the loss iraugniented by the advantage which is given to the Biitish competition over the American, in the navi gation between our ports and British ports in Europe, by the circuitous voyages enjoyed by the one, and not enjoyed by the other. 44 The reasonableness of the rule of reciprocity, applied to one branch of the commercial intercourse, has been pressed on our part, as equally applicable . to both branches; bUt it is ascertained, that the Bri tish Cabinet declines all negotiation en thetubject, . with a disavowal, however, of any disposition to view, in an unfriendly light. whatever countervail ing regulations the United States may 'oppose to the regulations of which they complain. The wisdom of the Legislature will decide on the course, which, under these circumstances, is prescribed by a joint regard to the amicable relations between the two na. Bons, and to the just interests of the United States. a I have the satislaction to state, generally, that we remain in amity with foreign Powers. •' An occurrence has indeed taken place in the Gulf of Mexico, which, if sanctioned by the Spanish Gu nny make an exception as to that Power. to the report of our naval commander on one of our public armed vessels was at an overpowering force under a Spanish lender, and the American Hag, with the officers insulted, in a manner calling for prompt This has been demanded. In the mean gate and a inland vessel of war have been that Gulf, for the protection of our corn would be improper to omit, that the Re of his Catholic Majesty, in the United . no time in giving the strongest assurances hostile order• could have emanated from his it, and that it will be as ready to do, as whatever the nature of the case, and the tlatiuns of the two countries, shall be found require. . The posture of our affairs with Algiers, at the present moment, is not known. The Dry, drawing pretests from civeumztances, for. which the United States were not answerable, addressed a litter to this Government, declaring the treaty last concluded with him, to have been annullid by our violation of it ; and presenting, as the alternative. war, or a le. newal of the former treaty, which stipulated, among tether things, an annual tribute. The answer, with an explicit declaration that the United States pre terred.war to tribute, required his recognition► and observance of the treaty lest made, which abolishes tribute, and the slavery of our captured citizens.— The result of the answer has not been received. 'Should lie renew his warfare on our commerce, we rely on the protection it wilt find in our naval force, actually in the Mediterranean. With the other Barbary States, our affairs have undergone no change. 'S The Indian Tnbes within our limits appear also disposed to remain.at peace. From several of them purchases of lands have been made, particularly fa vourable to the wishes and security of our frontier settlements, as well as to the general interests of the nation. In some instances , the titles, though not supported by due proof, and dabbing those of one tribe with the claims of another, have been extin guished by double purchase, ; the benevolent policy of the United States preferring the augmented ex penses to the hazard of doing injustice; or to the entorcemeur of justice against a feeble and untutored people. by means of involving or threatening an ef fusion of blood. 1 am happy to ado, that tht: trim quality which has been restored among the tribes themselves, as well as between them and our own po. pulatien, will favour the resumption of the work of civilization, which had made an encouraging pro gress among some tribes; and that the facility is in creasing for extending that divided and individual ownership, which exists now in moveable property only, to the soil itself; and of thus establishing in the culture and improvement of it, the true foundation for a transit from the habits of the savage, to the arts and comforts of social life. " As a subject of the highest importance to the national welfare, I must again earnestly recommend to the considerati o n of Congress, a reorganization of the militia, on a plan which will form it into classes, according to the periods of life more or less adapted to military services. An efficient militia is authorised and contemplated by the Constitution, and required by the spirit and safety of free Govern. meat. The present organization of our militia is universally regarded as less efficient than it ought to •be made ; and no organization can be better calcu lated to give to it its due force, than a classification which will assign the foremost place in the defence of the country to that portion. of its citizens, whose activity and animation best enable them to rally to it. standard. Besides the consideration that a time of peace is the time when a change can be made with most convenience and equity, it will now be aided by the experience of a recent si ar, in which the mi titia "bore so interesting a part. 4 ' Congress will call to mind, that no adequate pro iision has yet been made for Vie uniformity of weights and measures, also contempl ited by the Constitu tion. The great utility of a standard, fixed in its nature and founded on the easy rule of decimal pro portion, is su ffi ciently obvious. It led the Govern. ment, at an early stage, to preparatory steps for in troducing it ; and a completion of the work will be a just title to the public gratitude. " The importance which I have attached to the establishment of a University within this district, on a scale, and for objects worthy of the American na tion. induces me to renew my recommendation of it to the favourable consideration of Congress : and I particularly invite again their attention to the cape., diency of exercising their existing powers, and where necessary, of resorting to the prescribed mode of en larging them, in order to effectuate a comprehensive system of roads and canals, such as a ill have the effect of drawing more closely together every part of our country, by promoting intercourse and improve. - ments, and by increasinf the share of every pert of the common stock of national prosperity. • 4 , Occurrences having taken place which chew that the statutory provisions for the dispensation of crimi. nal justice, are deficient in relation, both to places and to persons under the exclusive cognizance of the national authority : an amendment of the law, em bracing such cases, will merit the earliest attention of the Legislature. It will be a seasonable occasion, also, for inquiring how far Legislative interposition may be further requisite in providing penalties for offences designated in the Consitution or in the Sta tutes, and to which either no penalties are annexed, or none with sufficient certainty. And I submit to the wisdom of Congress, whether a more enlarged revisal of the criminal code be not expedient, for the purpose of mitigating, in certain cases, penalties which were adopted into it antecedent to experiments and examples which justify and recommend a more lenient policy. The United States having been the first to abo lish, within the extent of their authority, the trans sportation of the natives of Africa into slavery, by prohibiting the introduction of slaves, and by punish ing their citizens participating in the traffic, cannot but be gratified at the progress made by coucurrent 'efforts of other nations, towards a general suppres sion of so great an evil. They must feel, at the same time, the greatest solicitude to give the fullest effi cacy to their own regulations. With that view, the interposition of Congresi appears to be required, by the violations anckvasions, which, it is suggested, are chargeable on unworthy citizens who mingle in the Slave Trade under foreign flags, and with foreign ports ; and by collusive importations of slaves in the United States, through adjoining ports and territo ries. I present the subject to Congress, with a lull assurance of their disposition to apply all the remedy which can be afforded by an amendment of the law. The regulations which were intended to guard against abuses of a kindred character, in the trade between the several States, ought also to be rendered more effectual fur their humane object. 14 To these recommendations, I add, for the con. sideration of Congress, the expediency of a re-modi. fication of the judiciary establishment, and of an additional department in the Executive branch of the Government. The first is called fir by the accruing business which necessarily swells the duties of the Federal Courts, and by the great and widening space, within which justice is to be dispensed by them. The time seems to have arrived, which claims for members of the Su'preme Court a relief from itinerary fatigues, incompatible, as well with the age which a portion of them will always have attained, as with the researches and preparations which are due to their stations, and to the juridical reputation of their country. And considerations equally cogent require a more conve nient organization of the subordinate tribunals, which may be accomplished without an objectionable in crease df the.number or•expense of the Judos. "'The extent and variety of executive business, also accumulating with the progress of our country, and its growing population, call for an additional depart ment, to be charged with duties now overburdening other departments, and with such as have not been annexed to any department. The course of experience recommends, as another improvement in the Executive establishment, that the provision for the station of Attorney-General, whose residence at the seat of Government, official connec tions with it, and management of the public business before the Judiciary, preclude an extensive participa tion in professional emoluments, be made more ade quate to his services and relinquishments : and that, with a view to his eettionable accommodation, and to a proper depository of his official opinions and pro ceedings, there be included in the provision the usual appurtenanoes to a public office. 4' In directing the Legislative attention to the state of the finances, it is a subject of great gratification to find. that, even within the shoat period which has elaised since the Mew of peace, the revenue has far exceeded all the current demands upon the Treastity, and that, under any probable diminution of its future annual product, which the vicissitudes of coMmerce may occasion, it will afford an ample fund for the effectual and early extinguishment of the public debt. It has been estimated, that during the year 1816, the actual receipts of revenue at the Treasury, including the balance at the commencement of the year, and excluding the proceeds of loans and Treasury notes, will amount to abut the sum of forty-seven millions of dollars ; that during the same year, the actual payments at the Treasure, including the payment of the arrearages of the War Department, as well as the payment or a considerable excess, beyond the an nual appropriation, will amount to about the sum of 38 millions of dollars; and that, consequently, at the close of the year, there will he a surplus in the Treasury of about the sum of 9 millions of dollars. re The operations of the Treasury continue to be obstructed by difficulties arising from the condition of the National currency; but they have, nevertheh•ss, been effectual, to a beneficial extent, in the reduction of the public debt, and the establishment of the pub lic credit. 'lite floating debt of Treasury notes, and temporary loans, will soon be entirely discharged.— The aggregate of the Funded debt, composed of the debts incurred during the wars of 1776 and 1812, has been estimated with reference to the Ist of Ja nuary next, at a sum not exceeding 110 millions of dollars. The ordinary annual expenses of the Go vernment, for the maintenance of all its institutions, civil, military, and naval, have been estimated at a sum less than 20 millions of dollars. And the per manent revenue, to be derived from all the existing sources, has been estimated at a sum of about 25 millions of dollars. Upon this general view of the subject, it is obvious that there is only wanting, to the fiscal prosperity of the Government, the restora tion of an uniform medium of exchange. The re sources and the faith of the Maier), displayed in the system which Congress has established, ensure re spect and confidence botleut home and abroad. The local accumulations of the revenue have already enabled the Treasury to meet the public engage ments in the local currency of most of the States; and it is expected that the same cause will produce the same effect throughout the Union. " But, fcr the interests of the community at large, as well as for the purposes of the Treasury, it is es sential that the nation should possess a currency of equal value, credit, and use, wherever it may circu late. The Constitution has entrusted Congress ex clusively, with the power 61 creating and regulating a currency of that description ; and the measures which were taken during the last Session; in execu tion of the power, give every promise of success. The Bank of the United States has been organized under auspices the most favourable, and cannot tail to be an important auxiliary to those measures. " For a more enlarged view of the public finances, with a view of the measures pursued by the Trea sury Department, previous to the resignation of the late Secretary, I transmit an extract from the last re port of that officer. Congress will perceive in it am ple proofs of the solid foundation on which the finan cial prosperity of the nation rests, and it will do justice to the distinguished ability and successful ex ertions with which the duties of the department were executed during a period remarkable for its difficulties and its peculiar - perplexities. " The period of my retiring from the public ser vice being at a little distance, I shall find no occa sion more proper than the present fur expressing to my fellow-citizens the deep sense of the continued confidence and kind support which I have received from them. My grateful recollection of these dis. anguished marks of their favourable regard can never cease; and with the consciousness, that if I have not served my country with greater ability, I have served it with a sir.cere devotion, will accompany me as a source of unfailing gratification. Happily, I shall carry with me from the public theatre, other sources, which those who love their country most will best appreciate. I shall behold it blessed with tranquillity and prosperity at home, and with peace and respect abroad. I can indulge the proud reflection, that the American People have reached in safety and success their fortieth year as an independent nation; and for nearly an entire genera tion, they have had experience of their present Con stitution) the offsprieg of their undisturbed delibera tions, and of their free choice ; that they have found it to bear the trials of adves se as well as prosperous circumstances, to contain, in its combination of the federate and elective principles, a reconcilement of public strength with individual liberty, of national power for the defence of national rights, with a secu rity against wars of injustice, of ambition, or of vet' -. glory, in the fundamental provision which subjects all questions of war to the will of the nation itself, which is to pay its costs and feel its calamities. Nor is it I less a peculiar felicity of this Constitution so dear to i us all, that it is found to be capable, without losing its vital energies, of expanding itself peer a spacious territory, with the increase and expansion of the cum munity for whose benefit it was established. " And may I not be allowed to add to this gratify ing spectacle, that I shall read in the character of the American people, in their devotion to tee liberty, and to the Constitution which is its palladium, sure pre sages, that the destined career of my country will exhibit a government pursuing the public good as its sole object; and regulating its means by the great principles consecrated in its chlrter, and by those mo ral principles to which they are so well allied: a go vernment which watches over the purity of elections, ' the freedem of speech, and of the press, the trial by jury, and the equal interdict against encroachelLllLb and compacts between religion and the state, %Lich maintains inviolably the maxims of the public faith, the security of persons and property, and encour ages. in every authorised mode, that general diffusicii of knowledge which guarantees to public liberty its po manency, and to those who possess the blessing, the true enjoyment of it ; a government which avoids in trusions on the internal repose of other nations, and repels them from its own ; which dos justice to all nations with a readiness equal to the firmness with which it requires justice from them ;—and tshich, whilst it refines its domestic code from every ingie ' dient not congenial with the precepts of an enlight ened age, and the sentiments of a virtuous people, seeks by appeals to reason, and by its liberal ex amples, to infuse into the laws which govern the ci vilized world, a spirit which may diminish the fre quency, or CllCUM‘Cribe the calamities of war, and meliorate the trcial and beneficent ielations'of peace ; a Government, in a wotd, whose conduct, within and without, m4y bespeak the most noble of all ambitions, that of promoting peace on earth an.l good will to man. These emit , mplations, sseettenim; the rem nant of my days, will animate my playet:i for tie happit.ess of my belosfrd country, and a perpe:uity of the institutions under which it is enjnyed. JAMES NIADIsqX." THE E . f . ENING . sTAR. LONDON. • : • THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, IPI7. PRICE i)CK' Tiii DAY AT TWELVI O'CLOCK: Reduced 621 63 —Cd). mu. s!..t—Cone. for opt. 640 4 per ernt. 783 79-5 per CrEt. Navy shut Eze)equtr 13111 s, 55.7.. Bolide les 15r. pre. The PRFSIDENT'S Speech on opening the Cringress, given in our columns this day, is, as we stated two days ago, quite pacific. In fact the Extracts which we then gave, contained the substance of the topi:s which it embraces. Previous to the late Convent* at London, the Navigation Laws, growing out of the Treaty of 1791, were thought unlavoniable to the United States. The Convention allts,ted to, removed all coati .aint tat this head. But the new regulations prohibit a direct intercourse beawcen rur Colonies and the trotted States, except hi I;:itish bottoms. On this the British Cabinet would tot treat, but left to the Americans the right to adopt what county:- vailing regulations they may think necessary. These are the only important points relative to this coun try.—With respect to v A t eco nni rdin t i th 4t station, tacked by an Commander, and crew, in reparation. • time, a ftiga ordered into coerce. It . presentative States, lost • that oo host Goveroment to expert, w • . friendly rela m require. The no; t r e . 5 ,f C I. I C t; • is r• r• .? s; SOUTH AMERICA. It appears that TOLEDO, one of the Patriot Leaders, has proved a traitor. The facts which prove this have been discovered by the intercepted coiresport dence to which we yesterday alluded. The k S Governor of the Havanna!), in a letter to Din 1.1.3 ut ONIS. the Ambassador to the United States, speaks of the fact, as does also a letter from TOLEDO'S father to his son, the person in question.—Or, have these letters been wtken with the design that they uid Lill into the hands of the Patriots? Time must ex plain this. That the Royalists could descend to suds a maasegovre, we hesitate not to believe. It appea:s by one of these letters, that the Royalists Fad con trived to push a spy into the camp of the Patriot. MINA, in order to send to the Spanish Anibassadrs information of all Moues movements. The name GE this person is Correa. In the mean time, the Independents unremittinEly pursue the object for which they have taken up arms The following document (one day later than Mix. ource:lt's Order of the Day) [See the STAR of yes terday] gives some farther information respecting their movements : " FM: RT II BULLETIN Or THE CENTRAL ARMY. " The junction of the two divisions of Generals Monagas and Zirasa being accomplished, conform able to the orders of the Commander in Chief, the Army commenced its march from the head-quarters at St. Diego Cabratica, the '2sth of August, in the morning, in the direction of Aragua. The object of the Commander in Chief was to take possession of that importar.t position, before the forces that the enemy was collecting in the plains of Caraccas could occupy it. It was necessary to make most rapid marches ; but such was the rigour of the season, that any other Army less animated than mars with the enthusiasm of liberty, tumid have been detained. Copious and continued rains, impetuous torrents, im mense rivers, and inundated plains, obstacles of every description, that could only he vanquished by rerc'4- lican coastaucy, were encountered at (Tay step ia our march. Notwithstanding, we arrived the Sa io• stain at Guatacaro, inhere, obtaining information the movements of the Army of the enemy, under command of Morales, the Commander in Chief termined to match back Icontramatch) on the 41, upon those forces, to prevent their junction with theis , of Aragua, whose Commander thought proper ta accelerate our plan, precipitately, under u.e delusion that we were flying. 4 " Our army was encamped on the hill of the Ala• cran on the morning of the fish, when the outposts announced they had discovered the enemy on the heights of the Roble. Our army was Mimed to order of battle in their position, the cavalry of GeT ral Monagas occupying the right, the infantry ;tie centre, under the command of Lieuteuant.C.tors' Pedro Leon Torres, with two piquets of Lodi us no . - • men, commanded by their chiefs, Manaure and pepe ; and on the left the cavalry cf General Z :rasa the reset ve, commanded by Brevet Colonel liacao2u Meza, folioed in column the teat-guard. " At ileven a. m. the enemy began to make ins appearance on the Ilia in our front, with columns e his caval: y, which were reconnoi:ted . on our right cy General 111• and on our lett by Colonel Infant " A patty of the enemy's light troops took pi.* session of a wo,id in front of oio right, and the tc : the columns followed, forming his line suppo:, on the same wood, with another in hi& rear; his fantry, occupying the centre, covered by Indian , h chers, and the wings with large bodies of cavalry; the centre they had a four-pounder. 14 A party of the enemy's light troops attempts- to take possession of an intermediate small wood I c tween his left. and our right, and ours opposing 11;m : the action commenced. The Commander-in-Cbt then ordered the whole line to move forward, was effected in the best order, the enemy reinforce; his light troops in the woods, and the same was di under-a smart fire on both sides, whilst our line t:it• scended from the hill with the greatest coolness, t!. , enemy occupying his advantageous position. 4, On our arrival at the wood,• the enemy mide general discharge. which was returned by our lint, continuing it. match rapidly. l'ltc valiant squad.:-