Star.
London, England, 1823-12-27 00:00:00

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Me halm title most immediate political relations, and greatest com-
mercial intercourse, tends to confirm them. Under this impree-
slon, I recommend a review of the tariff, for the purpose of afford-
ing such addition 4 protection to those articles which we are pre-
pared to manufacture, or which are more immediately connected.
WM the defence and it dependence of the country.
The actual state of the public accounts, furnishes additional evi-
dence of the efficiency of the present system of accountability, in
• relation to the public eopenditure. Of the monies drawn fromethe
Treasury since the fourth of March, one thousand eight hundred
and seventeen, the sum remaining unaccounted for, on the thirtieth
of September last, is more than a million and a half of dollars less
than on the thirtieth of September preceding; and during the same
period • reduction of nearly a million of dollars has been made in
the amount of the unsettled accolintsfor monies advanced previously
to the fourth of March, one thousand eight hOndred and seven-
teen. It will he obvious that, in proportion as the mass of accounts
of the latter descripticn is diminished. by settlement, the difficulty
of settling the residue is increased from the consideration that in
rutty instances it can be obtained only by legal process. For more
precise details on this subject, I refer to a 'report from the First
Comptroller of the Treasury. .. .
The suns which was appropriated at the east Session, for the re-
pair of the Cumiaerland road, has beast applied with good effect to
that object. A find report has not yet been received from the
agent who was appointed to superintendiee::,Aielopn wit here"-
ceived it shall be communicated, to Congress e .0.,...•, ~.
Many patriotic and enlightened citizens, wheilatme Made the
subject an object of particular insestigation, have suggested an
improvement of still greater importance. They are of opleton that
the water. of the Chesapeake and Ohio maybe connected together,
by one continued canal, and at an expense far short of the value and
importance of the object to be obtained. If this could he accorn-
i !dished, it is impossible to calculate the beneficialconsequences which
would result from It. A great portion ofothe produce of the very
fertile country through which it would pass would hnd a market
through that channel. Troops might be moved with great facility
in war, with cannon, and every kind of ammunition, and in either
direction. Connecting the Atlantic with the western country, in
a line passing through the seat of the National Government, it
would contribute essentially to strengthen the bond of union itself.
Believing, as I do, that Congress possess the right to appropriate
money for such a national object (the jurisdiction remaining to the
States through which the canal would pass), I submit it to your
consideration, whether it may not he advisable to authotise, by an
adequate appropriation, the employment of a suitable number niche
Officers of the Corps of Engineers, to examine the unexplored
ground during the next Session, and to report their opinion thereon?
It will likewise be proper to extend their examination to the seve-
ral routes through which the waters of the Ohio may be connected,
by canals, with those of Lake Erie.
As,the Cumberland, road will require annual repairs, and Con-
greet have not thought it expedient to recommend to the States an
at to the Constitution for the purpose of vesting in the
United States a power to adopt and execute a system of internal
improvement, it is also submitted to your consideration whether it
sn;y not be expedient to authorise the Executive to enter into an
arrangement with the several States through which the road pease%
to establish tolleenach within its limits, for the purpose of defrayihg
1 ' the expense of future repairs, and of providing also, by suitable pee
naltieit, for the protection against future injuries.
• P The Act of Congress of the 7th of Itlay one thousand eight hun-
dred and twenty-two, appropriated the sups of twenty.two thousand
seven hundred dollars for the purpose of erecting two piers as a
- shelter for vessels from ice, near Cape tleulopee, Delaware Bay;
to effecethe object of'the Act, the Officers of the Board of Engineers,
with Commodore Banibridge, ware directed to prepare plans and
, estimates of piers sufficient to answer the purposes intended by the
Act. It appears by their report, which accompanies the documents
front the War Department, that the appropriation is not adequate
to the purpose intended—and, as the piers would be of great ser•
vice, both to the navigation of the Delaware Bay, and the protec-
tion of vessels on the adjacent parts of the coasts, I submit for the
consideration of the Congress, whether additional and sufficient ap-
propriations should not he made. -
ne Board of Engineers were also directed to examine and sur-
vey the entrance of the harbOur of the port of Presquisle, in Pensyl-
vania, in order to make an estimate of the expense of removing the
• obstructions to the entrance, with a pian of the best mode of effect•
ing the same, under the approprietioe for that purpose, by Act of
Congress passed 3d of
larch last. Tee report of the Board ac-
companied the paper.irons the War Depertment, and Is submitted
for the consider...' % eot Congress.
A strong hop: a .:teen long entertaleed, founded on the heroic
struggle of the GR.( le,, that they wog ln secced in their contest, and
resume their equal station among the nations of tare earth. It is
believed that the whole civilized woild takes a deep interest in theit
welfare.—Although no Power has declared in their favour, yet
none, according to our information, has taken part against them.—
Their cause and their name have protected them irons dangers,
which migho• ere this, have overwhelmed any other people. The .
ordinary calculation of interest, and of acquisition, with a view to'
aggrandizement, which mingle so much in the transactions of rta- I
tiuns, seem to have had no effect in regard to them. From the
facts which have come to our kuowledge, there is good cause to
believe that their enemy" has lost for ever all dominion over them;
that Greece will become again an independent nation. 'that she
may obtain that rank, is the object of our most ardent wishes.
It was stated at the commeecement of the lest Session, that the
~ . great effort was then making in Spain and Portugal to-improve the
coodition of eke people of those countries, and that it appeared to
be conducted with extraordinary moderation. It need scarcely be
remarked that the result has been, so far, very different from what
was then anticipated. Of events in that quarter of the globe, with
which we have so much intercourse, and from which we derive our
origin, we have always been anxious and interesting spectators.—
The citizens of the Unitd States cherish sentiments the most
friendly, in favour of the liberty and happiness of their fellow men
on that side of the Atlantic. In the wars of the European Powers,
in matters relating to themselves; we have never taken any part,
nor does it comport with our policy so to do. It is only when our
rights are invaded, or seriously menaced, that we resent injuries, or
make preparation for our defence. With the movements in this he-
misphere, we are, of necessity, more immediately connected, and
by causes which must be obvious to all enlightened and impartial
observers. The political system of the. Allied Powers is essentially
different in this respect from thatuf America. This difference pro-
ceeds from that which exist,. in their respective Govern:noon And
to the defence of our own, which had been achieved by the:toss of
so much blood and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of our
most enlightened citizens, and under which wy have enjoyed un-
exampled felicity, this whole nation is devoted. We owe it, there-
foie, to candour, and to the amicable relations existing between the
United Seams and those Powers, to declare that we should consider
any; atiempc 'on their part to extend their system to any portion of
this hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the
existing colonies or dependencies of any European Power we have
not interfered, and shall not interfere. But with the Governments
who have declared their independetice, and have maintained it, and
whew independence we have, on great consideration,, and en just
priijciples, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the
purpose of oppressing them, or controuling in any other manner their
destiny; by any European Power, in any other light than as the
mahifestation of an ueftiencliv disposition towards the United States.
In the 'war between those "New Governments and Spain, we de-
clared our neutrality at the time of their recognition, and to this we
have adhered, and shall continue to adhere, provided no change
shall GCCIUr, which, in the judgment of the competent authorities of
thik Government. shall make a corresponding change, on the part
of the United States, indispensable to their security.
The late events in Spain and Portugal chew that Europe is still
treicttled. Of this important fact, no stronger proof can be adduced,
than that the Allied Powers should have thought proper, on any
pri'rciple satisfactory to themselves, to have interposed, by force, in
the internal concerns of Spain. To what extent such imposition
tray be earzird, on the same principle, is a question in which all
ireependent Powers, whose Governments differ from theirs, are in-
terested; even those most remote, and Surely none more so than
the United States. Our policy, in regard to Europe, which was
addpted at an early stage of the wars which have so long agitated
that quarter of the globe, nevertheless remains the same, which is,.
re? to Interfere is the internal concerns of any of its Powers, to
co:',sider the Government defect* as the legitimate Government for
ts ; to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve those ce-
ll:if ns, by a frank, firm, and manly policy, meeting, in all instances,
the lust claims of every Power ; submitting to injuries frem none.
But, in regard to those Continents, circumstances are eminently and
conspicuously different. It is impossible that the Allied Powers
should extend their political system td any portion of either- Conti-
rent, without endangering our peace and happiness; nor can any'
ose believe that our Southern brethren if left to themselves, would
I • adopt it of their own accord. It Is equally impossible, there-
fore, that we should behold such interposition, in any form; with
i difference. If we look to the comparative strength and resources
of Spain; end those new Governments, and their distance from
each other, it must be obvious that she gait never subdue them. It is
still the true policy of the United States?. leave the parties to thaw
selith in the hope that other Powers will pursue the same emerges
If we compare the present condition of osr Union, with the's.,
tad state at the close of our Revolution, the history of the wed/
funiishes no example of a progress in improvement, in all the hen
pertain. entuaistaaces which convenient the happiness of a imam,