The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-11-21
MESSAGE
OF THE
President ofthe United States,

President ofMe United States,
Session ofths Sixteenth Congsess-transnittet
byJ. MONROE, jr.
Fsllsw Citissns Of III, Senate,
and Of the House Of Representatives
In communicating TO you just view o
public affairs, at the commencement OF youI
present labours, ] do il with great satsiac
lion because taking all circumstances inis
consideration which claim attention. l see
much cause TO rejoice in the felicity Of oul
situation. In making this remark, do mol
wish to &c understood to imply that an unva-
Iied prosperity is TO be seen in every inter
est OF this great community. In the progress,
oil o nation, inhabiting territory Of such vasI
extent and great variety of climate, every
portion Of which is engaged in foreign com
merce, and liable to be affected, in some de
gree, by the changes which occur in the con
dition and regulations Of foreign countries. it
would be strange, il the produce Of our soil
and the industry and enterprise Of our fsl
low citizens received at all times, and in eve
ry quarter, an uniform and equal encourage
me- This would be more than we have
a right TO expect, under circumstances the
most favorable. Pressures on certain inter.
es's. it is admitted, have been felt but, al.
lowing to these their greater extent they de
tract but little from the force of the remark
already made. 10 forming just estimate of
our present situation, il is proper to look at
the whole in the out line, as web as in the
detail "A free. sirtuous ana enlightened PEG.
pie know well the great principles aud caus
Is on which their happiness depends and
even those who suffer most, occasionally in
their transiory concerns. find great relief un-
der their sufferings, from the blessings which
they otherwise enjoy, and in the consolmg
and suimating hope which they administer
From whence do these pressures come? Not
from government which il founded by, adj
ministered for, and supported by the people.
We trace them TO the peculiar character NJ
the epoch in which we live. and to the ex-
traordinarv occurrences which have signal.
lied ii. The commissions with which several
Of the powers Of Europe have been shaken,
and the long and destructive wars in which
all were engaged, with their sudden transit
ton 10 state Of peace, presenting in the FIRST
instance unusual encouragement TO our com.
merce, and Withdrawing il in the SEE ond
even within its vented limit, could not fail te
be sensibly felt here. The station too, which
we had TO support through this long conflict
compelled, as we were finally Ia become a
party to il with principal power, and IL
make great exertions, suffer heavy losses, ant
10 contract considerable debts, disturbing thu
ordinary course Of affairs, by augmenting. IL
vast amount, the circulating medium, ans
thereby elevsiing, at one time, the price o
every article above a just STANDARD, and de
pressing il at another below it, had likewis,
ito due effect.
II is manifest that the prsssures Of which
we complain have proceeded, in grea, me Is
ure, from these causes.--When then, we
take into view the prosperous and happy con
dition of our country, in all the great cIrcum
stances which constitute the felicity OF ma
ton--every individual in the full enjoymer
Of all his rights the Union blessed will
plenty. and rapidly rising 10 greatness, unds
a national government, which operates with
complete effect 10 every part, without being
Eel. in any, except by the ample protection
which it affords, and under ,tale governments
which perform their equal share, according to
a wise distribution OF power Between item
in promoting the public happiness--l is Inn
possible 10 behold so gratifying, so glorious a
spectacle, without being peoelraied win he
most profound and grateful acknowledge
men,s to the Supreme Author Of all good, io'
such manifold and ineslimahle blessings
Deeply impressed with these sentiments,
cannot regard the Pleasures 10 which have
adyerted otherwise than IN the light of mild
and instructive admoniiions I; warning us Of
dangers to be Stunned in future /; teaching u:
lessons Of economy, corresponding with the
simplicity and purity Of our institutions, and
best adapted TO their support evincing he
connection and dependence which the yariou.
parts Of our happy Usiop have on each other
thereby augmentng daily her social iocorpo.
ration, and adding, by its strong ties, new
strength and vigor TO the political opening 4
wider range, and with new encouragement Il
the industry sd enterprise of our fellow. Cit
gems at home and abroad and more especial
" by the multiplied proofs which il has &C
cumulated Of the great perfection Of our mos
excellent system Of government, the powerful
instrument, in the hands Of an all-mercilu
Creator, in securing to us these blessings.
Happy as our situation is, il does not ex
emps us from solicitude aud care for the fu