Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-11-26

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mo- s-Th day az twelve O'Clock, the Prcldent Of The
United States, delivered the following Melage to both
Houics OF Congress
To the Senate and Houjf Of Rebyefntatives
If the United STATES.
TO people, fellow citizens, who fincercly
defre the Happiness and PROPERTY of other ma
:ons to thofe who jatly calculate that their
own well being is advanced by that Of the nations
with which they have tcrcourfe, it will be a
fasisfaaion to obfcrve that the war, which was
lighted up in Eurore little before our latt
meeting, has NOT yet extended its flames to other
nations, nor been marked by the calamities
which fome,imcs ftain the foo,lieps Of war
The irregularities teo on the ocean, which ge-
reraly barrafs the commerce of neutral nations,
have, in diitaut parts, dlturbed ours lefs than
on former locations. But, in the american
feas, they have been greater from peculiar cauf-
cs and even within our harbours and jurifdic-
ton, infringements on the authority Of the laws
have been committed which have called for fe-
rious attention. The frienaiy conduit of the gov
ernments whole officersSs 'uhjeas rhcfe acts have
proceeded, in other reipetts, and in places more
under their obiervation and control, gives us
confidence that our approximations OH this fub-
ject will have been properly regarded.
While noticing the irregularities committed
on the ocean by others, thofe OF our own part
ihould not be omitted, nor left unprovded for.
complaints have been received that perfons re-
Gding within ths United States, havestaken on
themfeves to arm merchant vellels, and to force
in defiance of The laws of :hofc countries,
commerce into certain ports and countries
That individuals fhou!d undertake to wage pri-
vate war, independently of the authority of their
country, cannot be permitted in a we'll ordered
fociety. Its tendency to produce aggrcilion OH
The laws and rights OF other nations, and to en-
danger the peace of our own, is 70 obvious, that
ing it effe6fually in future.
Soon after the pafage of the aa of the laft
teilion, authorizing the efabliil.ment of diff
triet and port OF entry on the waters Of the
Mobile, we learnt that its Object was mifunder.
tod on the part of Spain. Candid expiana
tons were Immediately given, and afiuranccs.
that, referving our claims in TIA. quarter as a
a fubje6t OF difcullion and arrangement with
Spain, no act was medrated in the mean time
inconGftent with the peace and friendihip exit
ing between the two nations : and that con-
formally TO thele intentions would be the exc
cution of the law. That government had how
ever thought proper to fufpend the ratification
of the convention of 1907. But the explana-
tions which would reach them foon after, and
till more the confirmation of them by the tc.
nor of the inftrument eitabliihing the por. and
diarid, may reafonably be expected to replace
them in the diipoGtions and views Of the whole
tubjcct winch originally dictated the conven.
ton.
| have the fatisfa6tion to inform you that the
objections which have been urged by that 60
'ernment sgainit the validity of our title TO the
country of LouiGana have been withdrawn
its exact limits however remaining Fill to BE-