The National Register. — London, England, 1808-12-25 00:00:00

DEC. 25. spread the ocean with danger, it will rest with the w to decide on the course best adapted to such a state of thing s; and bringing with them, as they do, from every part of the Union, the sentiments of our constituents, my confidence i s streugt holed that in forming this decision, they will, with an unerring retard to the• essential rights.and interests of the nation, t►cigh and compare the painful alternatives out of which a choice is to be made. Nor should Ido justice to the virtues wt,ich on other occasions have marked the character of our f c llo►v-citizens, if I did not cherish au equal confidence that the alternative chosen, whatever it may he, will he maintained with all the fort;twie and patriotism which the crisis ought to inspire. " The (linments coataining the correspondences on the sub ject of the foreign edicts against our commerce, with the in structions p,i►on to our Ministers at London and Paris, are now laid beliu•e you. The communication made to Congress at their last Session evplaiued the posture in which the t lose of the discussions re lltiog to the attack by a British •hip of war on the frig:►te Chesapeake, left a subject o❑ which the nation had manifested sn honourable a sensibility. Every view of what hml passed authorised a belief that i►nmediate steps would he taken by the ltritish Government for redressing a wrong, which, the inure it was investigated, appeared the more clearly to require what had not been prof ides! fo► in the special mission. It is found that no step: have been taken for the purpose. On the contrary, it will br zeeo in the documents laid before von, that the inadmi:sibie preliminary which ob4ructs the adjustment is still adhered to ; and, moreover, that it is now bronght into connexion with time distinct and irrelative case of the Orders in Council. The in structions which I►ail been given to our Mini•te'r's at. L►►ndon, with a view to facilitate, if necessary, the reparation claimed by the United States, are included in the _documents communi cated. " Our relations will' the other Pouvrs of Europe have un dergone no material changes since your last Session. The im portmt nezociations with Spain, which had been alternately su , pended and resutned, necessarily experience a 'intuit., muter tht• extraordiunry and interesting crisis which distinguishes .her iuternal situation. " With the Barbary Powers we continue in harmony, with the exception of an unjustifiable proceeding of the Dey of Al giers towards our Consul to that Regency. Its character and circumstances are now laid before von, and will enable you to decide how far it may, either now or hereafter, call for any measures not within the limits of the Executive Authority. `• lti ith our 'lndian neighbours the public peace has been steadily maintained. Some instances of individual wrong have, as at other times, taken place, hut in no wise implicating the will of the nation. Beyond the Mississippi, the foivays, the Sacs, and the Alihamas, have deliveeed up, for trial and punish :ll•m, individuals front among themselves, accused of murdering Citizens of the United States, on this side the Mississippi ; the (reeks are everting themselves to arrest offenders of the same kind ; and the Choctaws have manifested their readiness and tie sive for amicable and just arrangements, respecting depredations rnminitted by disorderly persons of their tribe. And generally from a cans ict ion that we consider them as a part of ourselves. and cherish with sincerity their rights and interests, the attach ment of the Indian tribes is gaining strength daily, is extending frnea the nearer to the more remote, and will amply reptite us tor the justice and friendship practised towards them ; hes bitmlry and houshold mitaufleture are tidy/wink among them more rapidly it ith the sauthern than the northern fillies, from eirrumstanees of -oil and climate : and one of the two great divi stuns of 141. Cherokee n ati o n have now under consideration, to ' 4111 ('It the Citizenship at' the United States, and to be identified with us in laws and governm,mt, in such progressive tummer• as we shall think hest. consoquenee of the appropriations of the last Session of Congress for the security of our sea-port to:vas amid harbours, s f it u r r :i by w uc „ik,s dei'euce have been er"" as seemed to he "led situ:aim, of the several pla c es, th e i r relative iiii!iar,t • the stale of evpi n e indicaied by the. amount of the Appropriation. nese works will chie:lv he finished in the course of the present season, except at NeW York and New Or li:a 'ls, , where most %vas to he done ; and although a great prepor -114,m ui the last app ro p r i at i on h as b een ex pen J ed oa the former Ites i ts security further vi ews w ill b e su b m it te d t o Congress for I . and Ting sec ur ity ent i rely adequate against naval enterprize. ''!x of what has been clone at several places, and of what is ProPuctil la he dune, shall be communicated as soon as the seve ral reporic are received. U: tbe giro-bunts authorised by the Act of December lust, .~- THE NATIONAL REGISTER.. ,a ,aim t; •it ha: been thniKht neeessary to build only LOS in present rear; these, with those before possessed, are sufficient far the trtrhouts and waters most exposed, and the residue will reTtire tittle time fur their construction, when it shall be deemed neces sary. " Under the Act of the last Session, for raisinz an additional military force, so ninny Officers n ere immediately appointed as were necessary for carrvinK eat the business of rerruitin,r,; and in proportion as it advaoceds, ottwrs have,been '% e• have reason to tWil"ve, their snore.; has been satisfactor-, although such returns have not been received. as enable me to present you a statement of the numbers engaged. • " I have not thought it necessary. in the conrse of the last season, to call fur any general detachments of Militia, or or vo . - lunteers. under lilt' he ws passed for I bit purpose ; ('or the ensuing season, how ever. they will be required to he in readiness, should their service be wanted. Some small and special detachments have been necessary to maintain the lacy •of embargo, on that portion of our Northern frontier which of t•re.l peculi;:r facili ties for evasion; but these were replace:l as soon as it could be none, by bodies of new recruits. Lty The aid of the-c, and of the armed vessels called in other quarters, the spiri: of disobe dience and abuse, which manifested itself early, and w ith seosi !tle effect, while we were unprepared to meet it, has been con itlerably repressed. " Con,idering the extraordinary character of the times in which ac live, our attention shoold unremittinely be fi wed on the safety of our country. Far a l e•tipie who are free. anti who mean to remain see, a well oreanize I anti atoned Militia is their best security.. It is therefore incumbent tio us at et cry meeting., to revise the condition of Militia, and to ask ourselves if it is pre oared to repel a powerful enemy at every point of our tories exposed to iovasion. Stone of the States have wild a laud eble attention to this object, but -every deer( e of neglect it: to !)e found among others. Congress alone having the power to produce an uniform state of preparation in this great organ of defence, the interests a hich they so deenly feel in their own and their country's security, will present this as among the most im portant objects of their deliberation; " Under the Arts of March 11, and _April 9'3, respecting arms, tile difficulty of procuring them fru:r abroad, during tha present situation nod dispositions of Europe, induced us to direct our whole efforts to the nwans of internal supply ; the publte ractories have, therefore, been enlarged, addittonai machitteries erected, and, in proportion as toll:leers can be . found or formed, their effect, :!reads more than doubled, may he itieredo••l 4 .. el , to keep pace with the Yearly loi - ease of t the Mil;tet. The annual sums appropriated by the latter Act. have !wen directed to the encouracement of private factories of areis ; and c,ntracts have been entered into with individoa utnlertaters, to nearly the amount of the first Year's'ap propriut " The stispensitto of our foreign commerce, p riOnced by the injustice of the Belligerent Powers, and INe consee tient lose~ and sacrifices of our citizens, are subjects of jtet concern. The situation into which we have thus been forced, has impelled us t 4 apply a 'portion of our industry- and capital tee internal ma nufactures and improvements. The extent of this conversion is daily inereasing, and little doubt remains tt at the establishments formed and forming, will, under the auspices of cheaper ma terials and subsistence, the &pinion; of I•thour -front taxation with its, and of protecting duties and prohibitions, become per mauent. The counaerce with the. Indians ton, within nor uwu boundaries, is likely to receive abontlaut aliment from the same internal source, and w ill secure to them peace anti the pro , gross of civilizAtion, undisturlicti by practiees hostile to both. " The accounts of the receipts and expenditures during the year ending on the 30:h day of September last, being not yet made, a correct sedement will hereafter 1w transmit red from the Treasury. In the mean time, it is ascertained, that the re cApts have amounted to near eighteen millions of dollars, which ith the eight millions and a half in the Treasury at the begin riag of the year, have enabled us, after meeting the current if:en:l , los aed interest incurred, to pay I wo millions three hu n dred thousand ;LI lars of the prita ipal of our funded debt, and left tix in the treasury on that day, near fourteen millions of dollars ; of these, five millions three hundred and filly thousand dollars, w ill be necet:sary to pay a htet will he due on the tirtt day' of January next, a hieh ivAl complete the rehotittrsement of the eight per cent. stock. These payments, with those made in the x years and a halt' preceding, will have extinguished thirty three millions five hundred and eighty thousand dollars of the principal of the funded debt. being the whole which could be paid or pnrcha within the limits of the law and of our con tract ; and the amount of -priueipal thus discharged, a ill have ~!. y,. .$4 911 • ,S - 4...... :..".- i ♦ 1% - - - ~...~ r.ra. and 11;141 m tnt- its I its alai .an rea- I by in. the to de- tiler Iv a id a the to is Mist ver, the re- and !inn, by onu • OUC ord- Aires vOl (.05, ate(' lied (n)3l h. is %cr- N