Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-03
ALEXANDRIA:
R-ED.NESDAY, DECEMBER 8 1917.
IYnShinrton. December Q


This day, at IL O'Clock, the President
of the United States transmitted. to both
houses of congress, the following Mes
sage, BY NJ. Joseph Jones Monte, his
Secretary:
F.llo,c Citiz;ns of the Senate.
and Of the House Of Representatives,
At no period of our political existence
had we so much cause to felicitate our
selves at the prosperous and happy con-
dition of cur country. The abundant
fruits Of the earth have filed it with pIen-
ty. An extensive and profitable com.
merce has greatly augmented our reve-
nue. The public credit has attained an
extraordinary elevation. Our prepara-
lions for defence, in case Of future wars.
from which, by the experience of all ma
tons, we ought not to expect to be ex
empted, are advancing, under well d.
gested system, with all tie dispatch which
SO important work will ADMIT. Our free
government, founded on the interest and
affections Of the people, ha, gained, and
is daily gaining, strength. Local jeal-
ousies are rapidly yielding to more ge.
nervous, enlarged, aud enlightened views
of national policy. For advantages SO
numerous and highly important it is our
duty to unite in. grateful acknowleds.
ments to that omnipoient Being, from
whom they are derived, and in unceasing
PRAYER that he will endow us with virtue
and strength to maintain and band them
down, in their utmest purity, to cur latest
pOsterity.
have the satisfaction to inform you,
that an arrangement, which had been
commenced by my predecessor, with the
British government for the reduction Of
the naval force, by Great Britain and the
United States, on the lakes, has been con.
GUIDED: by which it is provided, that
neither party shall keep in service on
Lake Champlain more than oGe vesse! /;
on Lake Ontario more than one and on
Lake Erie, and the upper lakes, more
than two; to be armed, each, with one
cannon only; and that all the other arm
ed vessels, Of both parties, of which an
exact list is interchanged, SHALL be dis.
mantled. 1t is also agreed, that the force
retained shall be restricted, in its duty,
to the internal purposes Of each party;-
and that the arrangement shall remain in
force until six months shall have expired
after notice given by one OF the parties to
the other of its desire that it should ter
inmate. By this arrangement, useless
expense, on both sides, and, what is Of
still! greater Importance, the danger of
collision, between armed vessels, in those
inland waters, which was great, is pre-
voated.
have the satisfaction also to state,
that the commissioners. under the fourth
article OF The treaty of Client to whom it
was referred to decide to which party the
several islands in the Bay OF Passama-
quoddy belonged under the treaty of one
thousand seven hundred and eighty three,
have agreed in report, by which all the
islands in the possession Of each party be-
fore the late war have been dccreed to
it. The commissioners acting under the
other articles Of the treaty of Client, for
the settlement of boundaries, have also
been engaged in the discharge of their re.
spective duties, but have not yet CON-
pleted them. The difference which arose
between the two governments under that
treaty, respecting The right of the United
States to take and cure fish on the coast
Of the British provinces, north Of our lin
its, which had been secured by the treaty
Of one thousand seven hundred and eish-
ty-three, is still in negotiation. The pro-
position made by this government, TO ex-
tend to the colonies Of Great Britain the
principle Of the convention Of London, by
which the commerce between the ports
Of the United States and British ports in
Europe had been placed on footing of
equality, has been declined by the British
government. This subject having been
thus amicably discussed between the two
governments, aid it appearing that the
British government is unwilling TO depart
from its present regulations, It remains
for congress to decide whether they will
make any other regulations, in consc-
quence thereof, for the protection and
Improvement Of our navigation.
The negotiation with Spain, tor spo!ia-
tons on our commerce anti the settle
ment Of boundaries, remains, essentially,
in the state it held, by the cCmmunico-
tons that were made to congress by my
prede cessOr. II has been evidently the
policy of the Spanish government to keep
the negotiation suspended, and in this
the United States have acquie.ced. from
an amicable disposition towards Spain,
and IN the exneciatinn that her 1nunrn.