The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-26 00:00:00

MESSAGE.

Ft
LLOW CITIZENS Or TIIE SEN'ATE, AND HOUSE OT

REPRESENTATIVES—
There never was a period, since the establishment of our Re-
volution, when, regarding the condition of the civilized world,
and its bearing on us, there was greater necessity for devotion
in the public servants to their respective duties, or for virtue,
patriotism, an union, in our constituents.
I deem it proper to present this view of public affairs in
greater detail than might otherwise be necessary. I do it,
however, with peculiar satisfaction, from a knowledge that, in
this respect, I shall comply more fully with the sound prin.
elides of our government. The people being with us exclu-
sively the sovereign, it is indispensable that full information
be laid before them on all important subjects, to enable them to
exercise that high power with complete effect.
The Commissioners under the fifth article of the treaty of
Ghent, having disagreed in their opinions respecting that por-
tion of the boundary between the territories of the United
States and of Great Britain, the establishment of which had
been submited to them, have made their respective reports,
in compliance with that article, that the same might be re-
fereed to the decision of a friendly power. It being manifest,
however, that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for any
Power to perform that office, without great delay and much
Inconvenience to itself, a proposal has been made by this Go.
vernment, and acceded to by that of Great Britain, to ender'.
your to establish that boundary by amicable negociation. It
appearing, from long experience, that no satisfactory ar-
rangement could be formed of the commercial intercourse be-
tween the United States and the British Colonies in this he.
misphete, by Legislative Acts, while each party pursued its
own course, without agreement or concert with the other, a
proposal has been made to the British Government to regulate
las commerce by treaty, .as it has been to arrange, in like
mariner, the just claims 'tit ate eitrzerrs-of the• United States
Inhabiting the states and territories bottling on the lakes and
rivers which empty into the St. Lawrence, to the navigation
of that river the ocean. For these and other objects of high
importance to the interests of both parties, a negociation has
been opened with the British Government, which, it is hoped,
will have a satisfactory result.
The Commissioners under the sixth and seventh articles of
the Treaty of Ghent, having successively closed their labours in
?elation to the sixth, have proceeded to the discharge of those
relating to the seventh. Their progress in the extensive sur-
vey required for the performance of their duties, justifies the
• ?resumption that it will be completed in the ensuing year.
The negociation which had been long depending with the
French Government on several important subjects, and parti.
cularly for a just indemnity for losses sustained in the late wars
by the citizens of the United States, under unjustifiable seizures
and confiscations of their property, has not, as yet, had the de-
aired red eireet• As this claim rests upon the same principle with
others, which have been admitted by the French Government,
it s
I not perceived on what just grounds it can be rejected. A
Minister will be appointed to France and resume the negocia-
tion on this and other subjects which may arise between the
two nations.

At the proposal of the Russian Imperial Government, made
through the Minister of the Emperor residing here, full power
and instructions have been transmitted to the Minister of the
United States at St. Petersburgb, to arrange, by amicable
eegociation, the respective rights and interests of the two
nations of the north-west coast of this continent. A similar
Proposal had been made by his Imperial Majesty, to the Go-
vernment of Great Britain, which has likewise been acceeded
re. The Government of the United States has been desirous,
h 7 this friendly proceeding, of manifesting the great value
which they have invariably attached to the friendship of
the Emperor, and their solicitude to cultivate the best un-
derstanding with his Government.
The completion of the fortifications renders it necessary that
there should be a suitable appropriation for the purpose of
Fabricating the cannon and carriages necessary for those works.
The report of the Secretary of 'War, which is herewith
trimilinitted, will exhibit, in greater detail, the condition of the
il
ePertThent in its various branches, and the progress whichhas
eeerl made in its Administration, during the three first quer-
tete of the year.
Th. report of the Secretary of the Navy, which is now corn-
Thtinicatedi furnishes an'account of the administration of that
, "ePartment, for the three first quarters of the present year,
with the progress made in augmenting the navy, and the man-
It" in which the vessels in commission have been employed.

_ • _
The usual farce has been maintained in the Mediterranean
Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and along the Atlantic Coast, and has
ailbrded the necessary protection to our commerce in those
sea..

In the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico our naval force
has been augmented, by the addition of several small vessels.
-That armament has been eminently successful in the accom-
plishment of its object. The piracies by which our commerce
In the neighbourhood of the island of Cubahad been afflicted,
have been repressed, anti the confidence of our merchants, in a
peat measure restored.
e patriotic zeal and enterprise of Commodore Porter, to
4`172 the command officers he expedition was confided, hss been
~,econded by the and men under his command. c
mnilluirogll our expedition, co-operating with an irgorate
~14ration of lhe Government of the Island of Cuba, and

with the corresponding active exertions of a Britiss naval
force in the same seas, have almost entirely destioYed the
unlicensed piracies from that island, the success of our ex-
ertions has not been equally effectual to suppress the same
crime, under other pretences and colour in the neighbouring
Island of Porto Rico. They have been committed there un-
der the abusive issue of Spanish commissions. At an early
period of the present year, remonsttances were made to the
Governor of that Island, by an agent who was sent for the
purpose, against those outrages on the peaceful commerce of
the United States, of which many had occurred. That offi-
cer professing his own want of authority to make satisfaction
for our just complaints, answered only by a reference of
them to the Government of Spain. The Minister of the United
States to that Court was specially instructed to urge the
necessity of the immediate and effectual interposition of that
Government, directing restitution and indemnity for wrongs
already committed, and interdicting the repetition of them.—
The Minister, has been seen, was debarred access to the
Spanish Government, and, in the mean time, several new
cases of flagrant outrage have occurred, and citizens of the
United States in the Island of Porto Rico have suffered, and '
others been threatened with assassination, for asserting their
unquestionable rights, even before the lawful tribunals of the
country.

The usual orders have been given to all our public ships to
seize American vessels engaged in the Slave Trade, and bring
them in for adjudication, and I have the gratification to state,
that not one so employed has been discovered, and there is good
reason to believe that our flag is now seldom, if at all, dis-
graced by that traffic.
It is a source of great satisfaction, that we are always
enabled to recur to the conduct of our navy with pride and
commendation. As a means of national defence, it enjoys the
public confidence, and is steadily assuming additional inipor.
tancc. It is submitted whether a more efficient and equally
economical organization of it might not, in several respects, be
effected. It is supposed that higher grades, than now exist
by law, would be useful.
In compliance with a Resolution of the House of Represen-
tatives, adopted at their last session, instructions have been
given to all the Ministers of the United States accredited to the
powers of Europe and America, to propose the proscription of
the African slave•trade, by classing it under the denomination,
and inflicting on its perpetrators the punishment of piracy.
At the commencement of the recent war between I ranee
and Spain, it was declared by the French government that it
would grant no commissions to privateers, and that neither the
commerce of Spain herself, nor of neutral nations, should be
molested by the naval force of France, except in the bre ch of
a lawful blockade. This declaration, which appears to have
been faithfully carried into effect, concurring with principles
cherished by the United State., from the first establishment of
their independence, suggested the hope that the time had
arrived when the proposal for adopting it as a permanent
and invariable rule in all future maritime wars, might meet
the favourable consideration of the great European powers.
Instructions have accordingly been given to our 'Ministers with
France, Russia, and Great Britain, to make those proposals to
their respective Governments.
The Ministers who were appointed to the Republics of Co.
lombia and Buenos Ayres, during the last Session of Con-
gress, proceeded, shortly afterwards, to their destinations'.
Of their arrival there, official intelligence has not yet been
received. The Minister appointed to the Republic of Chili
will sail in a few days. An early appointment will also be made
to Mexico. A Minister has been received from Colombia,
and the other governments have been informed that ministers,
or diplomatic agents of inferior grace, would be received from
each according as they might prefer the one or the other.
The Minister appointed to Spain proceeded, soon after his '
appointment, for Cadiz, the residence of the Sovereign to
whom he was accredited. In approaching that port the fri-
gate which conveyed him was warned off by the Commander
of the French squadron by which it was blockaded, and not
permitted to enter, although apprised by the Captain of the •
frigate, of the public character of the persons whom he had on
board, the landing of whom was the sole object of his pro-
posed entry. This act, being considered an Infringement of
the rights of ambassadors and of nations, will form a joint
cause of complaint to the' Government of France; tgainst the
officer by whom it was committed.
The actual condition of the public finances more than rea-
lizes the favourable anticipations that were entertained of it at
the opening of the last session of Congress,

The only intelligence of any importance con-
tained in the Paris Journals of Tuesday morn-
ing, which arrived last night, was communicated
in our Paper of yesterday, from the Male, pub.
lished last Monday morning.

German Papers to the 19th instant arrived also
last night. They announce that by a Cabinet
order the King of PRUSSIA has decreed that, in
future, not. only all military works and journals,
but also all passages relative to military affairs
occurring in other works, shall be subjected to
a particular censorship, which is confided to the
general Staff, under th• direction of its Chief,
Baron MUMING.