Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-18
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

ne message SIateS thdl - with the
Barhary states and the Iadian tribes, our
pacific relations have been preserved. =
But since ii was delivered, our troops have
marched against the Semiuoles, and struck
blow a, their frontier town. These in
dian wars will lessen with time. The
tribes are melting away, The foot Of The
waite man is pressing upon the heel Of
the savage-But few years hence, the
indians OH this side the Mississippi will
be placed IN the bosom of civilized settle
mentS: and the strongest tribes among
them will be OF no more account than The
Plscataways of Virginia, or the OneidaS
Of n. York.
With the Barbary States we enjoy an
apparent calm; but it should not lull us
to sleep. Alsiers contains in her bosom
the elements Of confusion. Eager for
the plumber which they have been de
barred, and irriated by her losses, she
resembles The lion of her deserts The
first fair chance which presents itself, she
will pOunce upon her prey. Lord Ex-
mouths expedition was unavailng for "a
ny permanent purpose. The Barbary
States still exist TO the disgrace of civil
zaiion. Algiers is replacing her navy, re-
filling her depots, repairing her fortiii-
cations. Had her last Dey been permit
ted TO reign, his genius would have crown
ed herwlih greater power than she ever be
fore possessed. But he has been cut of
by those turbulent spirits, who attributed
TO him all the losses they had sustained,
the disgrace OF their treaty with Ameri-
ca, the expedition OF the English, the en-
suing desolations Other famine and fever
A new chiefiain is put up-a new order
of things is likely to prevail-and rapine
and rage, which have been SO long pent
up, may be expected TO veni themselves
upon our trade, unless every precautiou
| is used TO prevent it. The only means
of obtaining justice from Algiers, is 10
exact it. We must keep up the terror of
orr navy. five were TO call home our
means Of chastisement tomorrow, by
Withdrawing our fleet from the Mediter-
raneau, that moment we should see her
pirates assalling our commerce.
The President next calls our attention
:" 10 the internal concerns of our coun-
try. We have already glanced at tie
situation OF the treasury. 1t is so tlou-
FISHING, that the President g considers IL
his duty TO recommend the repeal of the
internal taxes" Congress have acted
upon this hint" and the bill for their
abolition has actually passed the House
OF Representatives. We do not breathe
suspicion against the motives of It's
friends-we Will not concur in the hint of
Mr.. Baldwin, as needless as it was unpar-
liamentary, that some of them were "run-
ming the race of popularity"-N0 do we
take upon ourselves TO say in pOsitire
terms, that the measure Is impolitic-But
we have our d3uGtS on it. Much, as Sir
Roger Coveriy says, may be said on both
sides" We distinctly recollect. that dur
ing the late war, many were Impress
cd ia Of ...,
| ganized system OF internal taxation, not
large in amount, but capable of being so
extended as 10 facilitate the loans and
| prop The credit OF our treasury--which
! might furnish revenue, steady and ccr-
tain, independent of importation, unaf-
| tected by war. We remember the empha-
tic prediction Of the Edinburgh Reviewer,
| that, let war come when if will upon ma
ton dependent alone upon lis imposts for
| money, lis treasury would be EN- harraSsed,
| and lis eXertions would langulsh. In a
| time of peace, we may dispense with in
terDal taXeS-but il is when the blast of
war blows IN Ger ears, when our safety
and honor are at stake, and The country
may receive more injury in day for the
want OF means than 1t can repair in Il year
OF peace, then these are most wanting
The first t0GrmeaS7tTe hereafter will be, to
| revive these taxes. But WW the represent
tatives of tie people DO it, as soon as it is
| necessary What says the experience OF
the last war Have We forgotten tire trem-
bling scnsibilIiy of Che l2lh and 18th Con-
gresS on this very subject-how they fall
tered and finched from the imposition of
faxes, until shame was flashing them be-
hind, and ruin was almost staring them in
the face Ne well rccollect tie unpopu-
lar ground, which, ere the war began, fhis
paper felt itself called upon 10 take-lt
almost stood alone-A. Gailatin was de-
nOuuccd ion even the suggestion of The
measure. Ii is the recollection of these
circumstances that casts any doubt over
our minds on this matter. But we have
the solemn pledge of the President that he
will " be dtteHtiUe TO events, and, should
any future emergency occnT, be not less
prompt to suggest such measures, and
| burthens as may then be requisite and
proper" We add further, that if Con-
| gress does finch again on such an ener-
| gency as we witnessed III 1912 that if
| those, who now vote for the abolition of
! tie internal duties, be not the first 10 vote
| their revival on The prospect of mari
! time war, they will deserve 10 be struck
| from the rolls Of statesmen.
The President mex; turns to the militia
! force-and most justly recommends AN
improvement in its organization aAd dis
cipline" as one of the great objects
which claims the unremitted attention Of
Congress" One OF the most essential
improvements is. TO give the national 1ciit
the command of the national urn, within
fine limits prescribed by the constitution
to dispense, IN extreme cases, with con
| iiDgent acquisitions on tie State Exccu-
tlvcs; but TO 80 directly TO tile officer
and the man. Witness the warnings