The National Register.
London, England, 1822-01-06 00:00:00

AMERICAN PAPERS.

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 5.
At twelve o'clock this day, the President of the
United States transmitted to both Houses of Con-
gress, by Mr. S. L. Gouverneur, the following mes-
raige :-
" RI/ow Citizens of the Senate, and of the house
of Reptesentalines,—T lie proArcss of our allairs since
Ilse Lst session has been such as may justly be
claimed and expected, under a government deriving all
its powers Irons an enlightened people, and under laws
trained by their It presentatives, on great coissicleroion,
bur the sole purpose of piontoting the welfare awl hap-
pities* of their constituents. In the exectitiou of those
laws, and of the powers vested by the constitution in the
executive, miremitted attention has been paid to the
great objects to which they extend. In the concerns
which are exclusively internal, there is good cause to he
satisfied with the result. The laws have tireir due ope-
ration and effect. lis those telating to foreign Powers,
1 am happy to state that peace and amity are preserved
with all, with a strict observance on both sides of the
rights. n matters touching our commercial intercourse,
where a difference of mitoion has existed its :thy case, as
to the cviiditions on which it should be placed, each
party has pursued its own policy, without giving just
cause of acme to the other. In this annual continuo'.
cation, especially when it is addressed to a new Con-
gress, the whole scope of our political concerns mama lly
comes into view; that errors, if such have beets coin-
nutted, way be corrected ; that detects, wine.' have be-
Collie ntalutest, may he reinedird ; and out the oilier hand,
that measures whicis were adopted on due deliberation,
which experience bias siIOWII 119 are just its themselves,
and casesstial to the public welfare, blond,' be preserved
in and supported. lo present ing this necessary and very
important duty, I shall endeavour to place before you,
on its merits, every subject that is thought to he entitled
to your particular attention in is distinct and clear a light
as I may be able.
" By act of the 3.1 of .Nlarch, 1815, so snitch of the
several acts as imposed higher duties on the tonnage of
of foreigis vessels, and on the manufactures and produc-
tions of foreign nations, wh, u imported into the United
States in foreign vessels, than when imported in vessels
of the United States were repealed, so far as iespected the
manufacturer and productions oh the tenons to whicis such
vessel belonged, on the condition that the repeal should
take effect uuly its favour of any foreign nation, when
the Executive should be satisfied that such iliscrisninaiiiig
duties, to the disadvantage of the United Stales, had
likewise been repealed by such nation. By this act, a
proposition was made to all natimis to place our coils-
'twice with each on a basis, which it was plestinied,
would be acceptable to all. Etery nation was allowed
to bring its manufactures and productions Soto our ports,
and take the manufactures :soil productions ul me United
States back ho their ports, its their own vessels, on the
same condition that they might be transported in vessels
of the United States; alit, in return, it was required that
a like accommodation should be granted to the vessels
of the United States in the ports Of oilier Powers. The
articles to be admitted or prohibited cni either side
formed no part of the proposed arrana,einent. Each party
would retain the right to admit or prohibit such articles
from the other as it thought proper, and on its own
conditions.
• In placing thus the navigation perfectly on the same
ground in the transportation of imports and exports
between the United States and other countries, it was
presumed that all was offered that could be desired.—
Alany considerations of great weight gave us a right to
expect that this commerce should be extended to the
colonies as well as to the European dominions of other
powers. With the latter, especially with toe countries
exclusively manufacturing, tile advantages was
uuui-
festly on the other side. When no article is admitted
which is required to supply the wants of thc party ad-
mitting it, and admitted then, not in favour of any par-
ticular country to the disadvantage of others, but on
conditions equally applicable to all, it seems just that
the articles thus admitted should be carried ioniser in
the vessels of the country ationlinj, such supply, and
that the reciprocity should be found in a corresjxnuliog
accommodation on the other side.
" Such was the intent of our system as established by
the Act of 1815. In the year in which this act was
passed, a treaty was coticluded with Great Britain, in
direct confortimy with its principles in regard to tier
Etiropeati dominions. T. her colonies, however, in
use %Vest ladies; and on MIS continent, it was not ex-
tended, the British Got-eminent claiming the exclusive
supply of those colonies, amid from our port,; and of
tue peidoetions of the colonies in return, in lor own
vessels. To this claim the United States could not as.
fem. The ,ante COIIIIIIIOII9 W 1.11: offered to France, but
wa accepted. Her goverisment detssailill: I COIIIIIIIOII9
imire favourable to tier Isdsl,2lllllll, and to this it was
ill. roper to accede. It is 11111Cil to be regretted.
11111 itilllUtl:411 a isegociation has been lung penning, such
is lite eiversity rat views entertai:ied, that mere does nut
appear to be any ft:30011.1111t prospect of its early conchs.
Won. it IS my duly to state, that very serious dilferrucea
have occurred in this isegociation respecting the con-
struction of tile eight article of the treaty of 18113,
whereby L 0111,141111 was ceded to l'ac United States; alto
haetvise respecting the St IZllte 01 the Apollo, in 18'iO,
till a siol ullt 111 Uinta revenue laws. By we rig article
ni the treaty reit.ll,l to, IL is SlynlinCtl, that after the
• vx;aratani of itveky years, the ships of Fiance should
for ever alter b^ prayed tin the footing of ttie most ta-
vonred nation. By we mit iinis coneltision it was in-
waded t no favour snook! me granted to any power It)
iIIIICII I:rauce 1101 ac BA, 11
mitts
sminti,l be so cinis.roed as mat Fiatice should enjoy of
flew, and witimat p Tie.; ine ego:tau:tit, all use ad-
t..tirtages of Doc!) as might lie allowed to other powers,
in actual fur co:icvssions made u) went, site WOLI!d nil