The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-01-29 00:00:00

AMER/C.f.

CONGIMSS, WEDNESDAY, Du.. 13.

Te following Message was &livered to each
House by Mr. I.r.wts, Secretary to the Presidcnt:

"Ito the Sert.tte and House et Reetzseutatives attic United
States

"When we assemble together, Fellow Citizens,
to consider the state of our beloved country, our
jasst attentions are first drawn to those pleasing ell--
camstances which mark the goodness of that Being
from whom: favour they flow; and the large mea-
sure of thankfulness we owe for his bounty. Ano-
ther year haecome around, and finds us still blessed
\with pr:•: and friendship abroad; law, order, and
.eligien at home; good affection and harmony with
ow Indian neighbours, our burthens lightened, yet
our income sufficient for the public wants, and the
produce of the year great beyond example. 'these,
Fellow Citizens, arc the circumstances under which
we meet;, and we remark, with special satisfaaion,
'hose which, under the smiles of PROVIDENCE, 're-
sult from the skill, industry, and order of our Citi-
zens, managing their own affairs in their own way,
And for their own use, unembarrassed by too much
-regulation, unoppressed by fiscal exactions.
" On the restoration of peace in Europe, that por-
tico of the carrying trade which had fallen to our
share during the war, was abridged by the velure-
jag con/ectafon of the Belligerent Powers. This
was to be espected, and was just. But, in addition,
we find, in ?ame parts of Europe, monopolizing dis-
crimir.ations, which, in the form of duties, tend ef-
fectually to prohibit the carrying thither our own
produce in our own vessels. From existing amities,
and a spirit of justice, it is hoped that friendly dis-
cussion will produce a fair and adequate reciprocity.
But should false calculations of interest defeat our
hope, it rests with the Legislature to decide whether
they will meet inequalities abroad with countervail-
ing inequalities at home, or provide for the evil in
any other usay.
"It is with eatisfaction I lay before you an Act
of the British Parliament, anticipating this subject,
• so far as to authorise a mutual abolition of the du-
ties, and countervailing duties, permitted under the
treaty of 1794. It shews, on their part, a spirit of
justice and friendly accommodation, which it is our
duty and our interest to cultivate with all nations.
Whether this would produce a due equality in the
navigation between the two countries, is a subject
for your consideration.
" Another circumstance which claims attention,
nc directly affecting the very source of our naviga-
•ion, is the defect of the erasion of the law provid-
i'g for the return of seamen, and particularly of
those belonging to vessels sold abroad. Numbers of
t!sem, discharged in foreign ports, have been thrown
en the har.ds of our Consuls, who, to rescue them
from the dangers ir.to which their distresses might
plunge them, and save them to their country; have
found it necessary, in seine cases, to return them at
the public charge.
The cession of the Spanish province of Inui-
s;ana to France, which took place in the course of
!he late war, will, if carried into effect, make a
hange in the aspect ef our foreign relations, which
-oil' doubtless have just weight in any deliberations
of es Legislature connected with that subject.
M There was reascn, not long since, to apprehend
that the warfare-in which we were engaged with
Tripoli, might be taken up by some other of the
Barbary powers. A reinforcement, therefore, was
immediately ordered to the vessels already ;here.
Subsequent information, however, has removed
these apprehensions for the present. To secure our
commerce in that sea, with the smallest force com-
petent, we have supposed it hest to watch strictly
the harbour of Tripoli. Still, however, the shallow-
:less of their coast, and the want of smaller vessels
on our part, his permitted some cruizers to escape
unobserved; and to one of these an American vessel
unfortunately fell a prey. The captain, one Ame-
rican seaman, and two others of colour, remain pri-
soners with them ; unless exchanged under an
agreement formerly made with the Bashaw, to
whom, on the faith of that, some of hie captive sub-
j..ets had been restored.
" The Convention with the State of Georgia has
been ratified by their Legislature, and a re-purchase
tom the Creeks his been consequently made of a
part of the Tallasscee county. In this purchase
has been also comprehended a part of the lands
within the fork of Oconee and Oakmulgee rivers.
The particulars of the contract will be laid before
Congress so soon as they shall be in a state for corn-
snunicatron:
" In order to remove evert, ground of difference
possible with our Indian neighbours, I has e pro-
ceeded in the work of settling with them, gild
.narking the bouadaries between us. 'That with the
Choctaws nation is fired in one part, and will be
through the whole within a short time. The Coun-
try, to which their title had been extinguished before
the revolution, is sufficient to receive a very respect-
able porlannn, which Congress will probably see
tie expediency of encouraging, so soon as the limits
:all be declared. N e are to view this position as
uu comport of the United States, surrounded by
s :tong neighbours, and distant from its support.
Arid how far that monopoly, which prevents rm-
, itien, should here be trended against, and actual
abitation made a condition of the continuance of
title, will be for your consideration. A prompt set-
tlement too, of all eristing rights and claims within
this tatitory, presents itself as a preliminary opera-
i ion.
" In that part of the Indiana territory which in-
stades Vincennes, the lines settled with the neigh-
bouring tribes fix the extinction of their title at a
breadth of twenty-four leagues from East to West,
and about the same length parallel with and includ-
sng the Wabash. '1 hey have also ceded a track of
tone miles square, including the Salt Springs near
the mouth of that river.
" In the department of finance it is with pleasure
I inform son, that the receipts of external duties,
for the ink tvielve months, have exceeded those of
any former year, and that the ratio of increase has
been also se 'ter than usual. This has enabled us
to answer 11 the regular exigencies of Government,
to pay from the Treasury, within one year, upwards
et:eight inßhons of dollars, principal and interest, of
the public debt, exvlusive of upwards of one million
paid by the sale of bank stock, and making in the
v hole a redaction of nearly five stallions and a half
.
i_mscoPels lad to have sow in the Treasury four
ma Tims and ahalf of ilobays. avillth sae in • wane