The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-01-04 00:00:00

AMERICAN PAPERS.

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THE PRESIDENT'S 1111¢11111011; •
FELLOW CITILINS 01 THE SENATE AND Muss OP RI.
PIItsENTATIVIII.—Mady causes unite to make your pre-
sent meeting peculiarly interesting to nor constituents.
The operatten of with he on the various subjects to
—mitt& they apply, with the amendments which they oc-
cardetwilly require, imposes annually an important duty
on the representatives of a free people. Our system has
' happily advanced to such maturity, that lam not aware
'that your cares in that respect will be augmented. Other
canoes exist, which are highly interesting to the whole
civilised world, and to no portion of it more so, in cer•
fain views, than to the United States. Of these causes,
and of their bearing on the interests of oar Union, 1
shall communicate the sentiments which I have formed
With that freedom which a sense of duty dictates. It is
proper, however, to invite your attention, in the firm
• itsstauce, to those concerns respecting which heslatiie
provision is thought to be particularly urgent.
On the 24th of June last, a convention of navigation
and efinsuierce was concluded in this city, between fuss
• United States and France, by Ministers duly authorized
for the purpose. The sanction ofthe executive having
been given to this convention under a conviction that,
• taking alias stipulations into view, it rested essentially
ono basis of reciprocal and equal advantage, I deemed
it my duty, in compliance with the authority vested in
• the executive by the second section of the Act of the
' last Selehre, of the 6th of May, concerning navigation,
' to suepeod,by proclamation, until the end of the next
' tesekta of Congress, the operation of the Act entitled
- ".An Act to impose a new tonnage duty on French
ships and vessels, and for other purposes," and to sus-
• •reol, likewise, all other duties on French vessels, or the
•* goods imported in them, which exceeded the duties on
' American vessels, and on similar goods imported in
them. I shall submit this convention forthwith to the
• Senate for its advice and consent as to the ratification.
' Since your last session, the prohibition which had
been imposed on the commerce between the United
' States and the British Colonies in the West I ndies,'and
on this continent, has likewise been removed. Satis-
factory evidence having been adduced that the ports of
those colonies had been opened to the vessels of the
United States by an act of the British Parliament, bear.
inc date on the 24th ofJune last, on the conditions see-
c:ded therein, I deemed it proper, in compliance with the
prevision of the first section of the act of the last session
Above recited, to declare, by proclamation, bearing date
''on the Dlth of August last, that the ports of the United
Stales 'should thenceforward, and until the end of the
.iiseirt session of Congress, be open to the vessels of Great
z• Britain employed in that trade, under the limitation spe-
cified in that proclamation.
• A doubt was entertained whether the ar' of Congress
' applied to the British colonies on this continent, as well
as to those in the West Indies ; but as the act of Pasha-
' mein 'Opened the intercourse equally with both, and it
' watills‘ manifest intention of Congress, as well as the
obvious policy of the United States, that the provisions,
: •of the set of Parliament should be met, in equal extent,
On the pert of the United States, and as also the act of
• Cottlirem that was supposed to vest in the President souse
' distretino -in the execution of it, I thought it advisable
to give it a corresponding construction.
Should the constitutional sanction of the Senate be
riven to the ratification of the convention with France,
. legislative provision will be necessary to carry it fully
inrd Offeet,'as It likewise will be to continue in force, on
such conditions is int& be deemed just and proper, the,
inter:onise which has been opened between the United
Stat.ea sod the British colonies. Every light in the pea-
• sessfen of the Executive will, in due time, be commuoi-
cated on both subjects.
• Resting essentially on a basis of reciprocal and equal
' advents'', it hat been the object of the Executive, is
transactions with other Powers, to meet the propositions
• of each With a liberal apart, believing that thereby the
' Interest of our country would lie most effectually pro-
' tested. Ibis course has been systematically pursued in
• the tate occurrences with France and Great:Britain, and
'in sirleloccord with the views of the legishitare. A
confi.tent hope is entertained, that, by the arraptement
thus commenced with each, all differences respecting na-
vigation and commerce with the dominions in question,
will be -adjusted, add a solid foundation be laid for an
active and permanent intercourse, which will prove
equally advantageous to both parties.
• The theislos of his Imperial iil..jesty the Emperor of
Rosen. on the, question submitted to him by the United
• Staret 'aisd Great Britain, concerning the construction of
the Silt article of the treaty of Ghent, has been received.
• A 'eoliedlion has since been concluded between the par-
ties,. cedar the, wediation of his Imperial Majesty, to
.p 'lteiibe Os; mode by which that article shall he car-
t
Inferifect; in conformity with that decision. I
• a Illsubmit this, convention to the Senate for its advice
' a 'eenselnt, as to the ratification, and, if obtained, shall
' • lAutiAllately bring the subject before Congress, for such
• rivelaisns as may require the interposition of the legis-
. e . lature. .
--4 In cornpliatiee'With an act of the last aession, a terti•
..,t..jatorial Government has been established in Florida on
740•Irthe principles of orir system. By this act, the inhabit-
ants are secured in the fall enjoyment of their rights
• and liberties, and to admission Into the Union, with equal
partlcipitiou in the Government with the original States,
on the condition heretofore prescribed to other territo-
• ries. By a clause in the ninth article of the treaty with
' Spiin; by 'Which that territory was ceded to the United
Stales, it 4 stipulated that satisfaction shall be made for
tliti• inku'ir'4l;ir 417; *M.A, by protest of law, shall be
established to beech..liftoff :red by the Spanish 'Mier',
• and individgal Spanish inhabitants, by. the late opera-
tions of our troops in Florida. No provision having yet
been made to carry that stipulation into effect, it is sub-
mitted to the consideration of the Congress, whether It
• • will not be proper to vest the competent power in the
• district court at Pensacola, or in some tribunal to be
sperially organized for the purpose.
The fiscal opera intut of the year have been more successful
• than had been anticipated at the commencement of the last
session of Congress.
• The receipts Into the Treasury, during the three first
• 'quarters of the year, have exceeded the sum of 14,745,006
dollars. The payments made at the Treasury daring the
sense period have exceeded 12,279,000 dollars ; leaving in
the Treawary, on the 30th day of September last, (including
1.168.592. dollars and 24 cents, which were in the Treasury
on the Ist day df January last) a sum exceeding 4,1.23,000
dollars.
Besides dischartiag all demands for the current service
of the year, including the interest and reinibursemeot of the
public debt, the six per cent. stuck of 1796, amounting to
110,000 dollars, has been redeemed. It is estimated that,
after defraying the current expenses of the present quarter,
and redeeming the two millions of six percent. stock of 1820,
there will remain in the Treasury, on the Ist day of January
next, nearly 3,000,000 of dollars. It is estimated that the
gross amount of duties which have been secured, from the
Ist of January to the 30th of September last, has exceeded
19.400,000 &hes, and the amount for-the whole year will
probably not fall allot of 23,040,000 of dollars.
Of the actual force is service under the present military
establishment, the pelts at which it is stationed, and the
condition of'each post, a teport from the Secretary of War,
Nillich is now communicated, will give a distinct idea. By
like reports the state of the Academy at West Point will be
seen, as well as the progress which has been made in the
fortifications along the coast, and at the national armories and
arwools.
The position on the Red River, and that at the Sault of
St. Mane, are the only new posts that have been taken.
These posts, with those already occupied iu the interior,
are thought to be well adapted to the protection of our
frontiers. All the force not placed in the garrisons along

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