The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-12-10

WASHINGTON DECEMBER 3, 1922.
This dsy the PRESIDENT OF TIE UNITED
STATES transmitted 10 both houses of Congress
the following
MESSAGE.
Tellolr-ciii-ons ofHe Senate
Gad House 81 Representatives
many causes unite - make your present meet
ing peculiarly Interesting to our constituents
The operation of our laws, on the various subjects
TO which they apply, with the amendments which
they occasionally require, imposes, annually, an
important duty on the representatives Of a free
people Our system has happily advanced to
such maturity, that / am not aware that your
cares IL that respect, will be augmented. Other
causes exist which are highly interesting TO the
whole civilized world. and to no portion ofitlnore
SO, in certain views than to the United States.
ofthese causes, and ofther bearing on the inter-
ests OF our Union, / shall communicate the senti-
ments which have formed, with that freedom
winch sense OF duty dictates. II i proper,
however, 20 invite your attention, 10 tie first IL
stance, 10 those concerns respecting which legis-
iotlye provision IS thought to be particularly
gent.
On the oath Of June last a convention az nayi-
CATION and commerce was concluded. in this city.
between the United States and France. by minis
tiers duly authorized for the purpose. The sane
lion Of the executive having been given TO this
convention under a conviction that, taking all its
stipuations into view, ii rested essentially on ba
SIS OF reciprocal and equal advantage, DENIED it
my duty, in compliance with the authority vested
in the executive, by the second section of the act
OF the last session, OF the 9Th May concerning ma
vigation, to suspend, BY proclamation, until the
enc OF the next session of congress- the operation
OF the act entitled " An act to impose new ton
:" mage duty on French ships and vessels and f.
Trdr 5tSses, anu 10 suspend, likewise, all
other duties on French vessels. or the Goods i'm
ported in them, which exceed the duties on
American vessels, and on similar goods imported
II them- shall submit this convention forthwith
10 Inc 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 Indies and on this continent, has likewise
been removed. Satisfactory evidence HAVING
been adduced that the ports Of those colonies had
been opened to the vessels of the United States
BY an &C. Of tic British Parliament, bearing date
on the 24th of June last, on the conditions speci
ned therein, deemed it proper, in compliance
win the provision of the first section of the act
q the last session above recited, 10 declare. by
proclamation, bearing date on the oath of August
last, that the ports of the United States should
thenceforward, and until the end Of the next ses-
SION OF congress, be open to the vessels of Great
Britain employed in that trade, under the limita-
ton specified in that proclamation.
A doubt was entertained whether the act of
congress applied to the British colonies on til
continent, as well as to those in the West Indies
but, as the act Of parliament opened the inter-
course equally with both, and il was the manifest
intention Of congress, as well as the obvious no
icy OF the United States, that the provisions Of
the act OF parliament should be met, in equal ex
tent, on the part Of the United States and as also
the act Of congress was supposed TO vest in the
President some discretion in the execution Of II
thought IT advisable TO give il corresponding
construction.
Should the constitutional sanction ofthe senate
be given to the ratification Of the convention with
france, legislative provision will be necessary To
carry 1t fully into effect il likewise will be 70
continue IN force, on such conditions as NAV he
deemed Just and proper, the intercourse which
has been opened between the United States and
the British colonies. Every light in the possess
sion Of the Executive, viii ia due time, be com
municated on both subjects.
Resting essentially on basis Of reciprocal and
equal advantage, il has been the object of the
executive, in transactions with other powers. 70
meet the propositions Of each with liberal spirit
believing that thereby the interest Of our coun-
try would be most efectually promoted This
course has been Systematically pursued in the late
occurrences with France and Great Britain. and
in strict accord with the views OF the legislature.
confident hope is entertained, that, by the ar
rangement thus commenced with each, all diff
fcrences respecting navigation and commerce
with the dominions in question. viii be adjusted,
and solid foundation be laid for an active and
permanent intercourse, which will prove equally
advantageous TO both parties.
The iecision OF His Imperial Majesty the En-
peror of Russia, the question Submitted to him
by the United States and Great Britain, concern
inc II construction Of the first article Of the
Treaty of Client, has been received. A ConYen-
ton hes since been concluded, between the par
ties, under the mediation Of Ills Imperial Ma
jesty- 10 prescribe the mode L. which that arti-
Gle shal! be carried into effect, in conformity with
that decision. | shall submit tbs Convention 10
the senate for IFS advice and consent. as 10 tic
ratification, and, it obtained, shall Immediately