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

of applicarioh to the finther &charge of debt and '
current demands. Expes ience, too, so far authorises
us to believe, if no extraordinary event supervenes,
and the expences r.hich will be actually incurred
shall not be greater than were contemplated by Con-
gress at their last ses-ion, that we shall not be dis-
appointed in the. expeflations then formed. But,
nevertheless, as the effect of peace on the amount of
duties is not yet fully ascertained, it is the more ne-
cess.n-y to practise every useful (economy, and to
incur no expence, which may be avoided without
prejudice.
" The collection of the internal taxes having been
completed in some of the States, the officers em-
ployed in it are of course out of commission. In
others they will be so shortly. But in a few, where
the arrangements for the direct tax had been re-
tarded, it will still be some time before the system
is closed. It has not yet been thought necessary to
employ the agent authorised by an Act of the last
Session: for transacting business in Europe relative
to debts and loans. Nor have we used the power,
confided by the same Act, of prolonging the fo-
reign debt by re-loans, and of redeeming instead
thereof, an equal sum of the domestic debt.—
Should however the difficulties of remittance on so
large a scale, render it necessary at any time, the
power shall be executed, and the money thus unem-
ployed abroad shall, jn conformity with that law,
be faithfully employed here in an equivalent ex-
tinEtion of domestic debt. When effects so salutary
result from the plans you have already sanctioned,
when merely by avoiding false objects of expence,
we are able, without a direct tax, without internal
taxes, and without borrowing, to make large and
effectual payments towards the discharge of our
public debt, and the emancipation of our pos-
terity from that mortal canker, it is an encou rage-
mem, Fellow Citizens, of the highest order, to
proceed as we have begun in substituting ceco norny
for taxation, and in pursuing what is useful for a
Nation, placed as we are, rather than what is prac-
tised by others under different circumstances. And
whensoever we are destined to meet events which
shall call forth all the energies of our countrymen,
we have the firmest reliance on those energies, and
the comfort of leaving for calls like these, the ex-
traordinary resources of loans and internal taxes.
In the mean time, by payments of the principal of
our debt, we are liberating, annually, portions of
the external taxes, and forming from them a grow-
ing fund, still further to lessen the necessity of re-
cruiting the extraordinary resources.
46 The usual account of receipts and expenditures
for the last year, with an estimate of the expences of
the ensuing one, will be laid befoie you by the Se-
cretary of the Treasury.
" No change being deemed necessary in our mi-
litary establishment, an estimate cf its expences for
the ensuing year, on its present footing, as also of
the sums to be employed in fortifications, and other
objects within that department, has been prepa-
red by the Secretary at War. and will make a part
of the general estimates which will be presented to
you.
44 Considering that our regular troops are em-
ployed for local purposes, and that the militia is
our general reliance for great and sudden emergen-
cies, you will doubtless think this instiution worthy
of a review, and give it those improvements of
which you find it susceptible.
" Estimates for the naval department, prepared
by Ike Secretary of the Navy for another year,
will in like manner be communicated with the ge-
neral estimates. A small force in the Mediterra-
nean will still be necessary to restrain the Tripoline
cruisers : and the uncertain tenure of peace with
some other of the Barbary Power's, may eventu-
ally require that force to beented.—The ne-
cessity of procuring some smaller vessels for that
service, will raise the estimate : but the difference
in their maintenance will soon make it a measure of
economy.

" Presuming it will he deemed expedient to ex-
pend annually a convenient sum towards providing
the naval defence which our situation may require,
I cannot but recommend that the first appropria-
tions for that purpose, may go to the saving what
we already possess. No cares, no attentions, can
preserve vessels from rapid decay, which lie in
water, and exposed to the sun. These decays re-
quire beat and constant repairs, and will consume,
if continued, a great portion of the monies destin-
ed to naval purposes. To avoid this waste of our
resources, it is proposed to add to our navy-yard
here a dock, within which our present vessels may
be laid up dry, and under cover from the sun.—
Under these circumstances experience proves that
works of wood will remain scarcely at all affected by
time. The great abundance of running water which
this situation possesses, at heights far above the le-
vel of the tide, if employed as is practised for lock
navigation, furnishes the means for raising and lay-
ing up our vessels, on a dry and sheltered bed.—
And should the measure be found useful here, si-
milar depositories for laying up, as well as for build-
ing and repairing vessels, may hereafter be under-
taken at other navy yards, offering the same means.
The plans and estimates of the work prepared by a
person of skill and experience, will be presented to
you, without delay ; and froth these it will be seen
that scarcely more than has been the cost of one
vessel is necessary to save the whole, and that the
annual sum to be employed towards its completion
may be adapted to the views of the Legislature as to
naval expenditure.
" To cultivate peace and maintain commerce and
navigation in all their lawful enterprises : to foster
our fisheries as nurseries of navigation, and for the
nurture of man, and protect the manufactures adapt-
ed to our circumstances; to preserve the faith of
the nation by an exact discharge of its debts and
contracts, expend the public money with the same
care and ccconomy we would practise with our own;
and impose on our citizens no unnecessary burthens;
to keep in all things within the pale of our consti-
tutional powers, and cherish the federal union, as the
only rock of safety ; these, fellow citizens, are the
land marks by which we are to guide ourselves in
all our proceedings. By continuing to make these
our rule of action, we shall endear to our country-
men the true principles of their constitution, and
promote an union of sentiment and of action, equally
auspicious to their happiness and safety. On my
part you may count on a cordial concurrence in
every measure for the public good ; and on all the
information I possess which may enable you to dis-
charge to advantage the high functions with which
per are invited by your country.
(Signed) Tnoatas JharlltiOti."