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 is
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
fcllo►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 nation 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,
sfiturr:ibywuc „ik,s dei'euce have been er"" as
seemed to
he
"led
situ:aim, of the several places, their 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 appropriation has been ex pen Jed oa the former
Ites
its security further views will be submitted to Congress for
I.and Ting security entirely 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,