Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-12-09
1,IESSAGE
Feilou- cifiscas Of Tie Sencfc,

WOW go fbot.SC ~ isGpTtSeNtHLfCeS
IL taking general survey of the concerns Of
our beloved country, with reference to subjects
Interesting to the common welfare, tic first SEN
+ tinent which impresSes itself upon the mind is
|. OF gratitude 10 the Omnipotcnt Dispenser of all
Good, for the continuance OF the signal blcs
sings OF his Providence, and especially for ;hat
health which, to unusual extent has prevail
cd within our borders; and for that abundance.
which, in the vicissitudes of the Seasons, has
been scattered with profnson over our land.
Nor ought we less 20 ascribc to Him the glory.
that we are permitted TO enjoy the bourties of
| His hand in peace and tranquilty--n peace
with all the other nations ofthc earth in tranuuli-
+ ty among ourselves. There has, indeed, rarely
been period in the history OF civilized man in
which the general coalition of the Christian
Nations has been marked so extensively by Peace
and prosperity.
Europe, with few partial and unhappy ex-
ceptioHs, has enjoyed ten years of peace, dur
ing which all her Governments, Whatever the
theory OF their constitutions may have been
are successfully taught to feel that the end OF.
their institution IS the happiness of t.le peo-
pie; and that the exercise Of power among
men can be justified only by the blessings il
confers upon those over whom it is extended.
During the same period, our intercourse with
all those nations has been pacific and friendly
1t so continues. Since the close of your last
session, material variation has occurred i'm
our relations with any one of them. In the
commercial and navigation system OF Great B;i-
tain, important changes of municjplc regulation
have recently been sanctioned BY acts of Paw
lament, Tic effect Of which, upon the interests
III other nations, and particularly upon ours has
not yet been fully developed. inlhc recent re-
newal OF the diplomatic missions on both sides
between the two governments, assurances have
been given and received of tie continuance ANA
increase Of that mutual confidence and cordial
ty by which the al lnstmcnt of i0any points OF
difference had already been effected, and which
affords the sarest pledge for the ultimate salts
factory adjustment OF those which still remain
open, or may hereafter arise.
The policy OF the United states in their com
mercial intercourse with other nnliOns has al
ways been OF the mos, liberal Character IN the
mutual exchange ofiheir respective pro-! actions
they have abstainetl altogether from proh;b;-
tons; they have iutcrIlctcd themselves the
power OF laying taxes anon exports and when
ever they have ftvourel thciroWn shipping, by
special preferences, exclusive privileges in
thsir oHn ports, it has been only with view to
countervai! similar TavOurs and exclusions grant
cd by the nations with whom we have been en-
gagged in traffic, to their own people or shipping,
I and to the disadvantage of ours. lmalc diatcly
after tn. close of the last war, Il proposal was
fairly made by the act of Congress of the ,3i of
: March, 1915, 10 ali the maritime nations, to lay
aside the system of retaatng restrictions and
exclusions, and to place the shipping OF both
parties to the common trade, a footing Of
equality in respect to the duties OF tonnage and
Impost This 0Hcr was partially and success
siVely accepted by Giett Britain, Sweden, the
Netherlands, the lIan5eatic cities, Prussia, Sar-
dina, the Duke OF O!demburg, and Russia. II
was also adopted, under certain notifications,
in our late commercial convention with France
And, by the act of Congress Of 9th January
1924, it has received confirmation, with
all the nations who had acccded to it, and has
been offered again to all those who are, or may
hereafter be. willing to abide in reciprocity by
IT. Bnt ail these regulations, whether est;b.
-{I9hcd by L. nv nlunicigtl On
, still subject TO one important restriction.
The removal OF discriminating duties OF tonnage
and OF imp0st, is limited TO articles of the
growth, produce, or manufacture, of the cOun-
try to which the vessel belongs, or 10 such art-
Giles as are most usurly first shipped from her
ports. 1t viii deserve the serious consideration
of Congress, whether even this remnant OF re
striction rnay not be safely abandoned, and whc-
Their the general tender OF equal Co;npetit0.
= made in the act OF Stii January, 1929 may not
be extended 10 include all articles Of merchant
disc not prohibited, Of what country socycr
they may be the produce manufacture. Pro-
positions TO this effect have already been made
to us by more than one European government,
and II IS probable, that, If once established Uy
legislation CT compact with AIRY distinguished
maritime State, it would recommend Itself by
the experience Of its advantages, TO The general
accession of ALL
4 The Convention of Commerce and Naviga.
ton between the United States and France
COUCitltiCI OU t!lS -ttN JUNG, 49,, vas, ~ Inc
understanding aud intent of both parties, as
appears upon its .Acc, only q temporary arrange
ment of the TOiHts Of difference between tncrI,
OF the most immediate and pressing urgency.
IT was limited, in TIC first instance, to tive years
from the Isl October, 1922, but with q rroyisn
: that it should further continue in fore, till the
conclusion OF a general ard dcfnitjye treaty of
commerce, Unless terminated BY noticc sN
months IN advance, of either Of the parties to
the other. IT'S operations, SO fur rs it extended.
has been mutually advantageous and it still
continues ia force, by common consent. i}ut Il
left unadiusted several Objects Of greet interest
10 the citizens and subjects Of both countries
and particularly mass OF claims, To consider
able arnOInt, Of citizens Of the Uuitcd Stats
upon the Government Of France, OF Indemnity
for property taken Of destroyed undcr circun-
stances of tie most aggravated and outrageous
character In inc long period during wdich
continual and earnest appeals have been made
TO the equity and u,agnaunity Of France, in
behalf uf these claims, their justice has not
been as IL cvuld not be, denied. 1t was Hoped
that the accession Of a new Sovereign TO the
throne v.ould have afforded favourable Oppor-
funity for presenting them 10 the consideration
Of his Government. Tl!ey have been presented
and urged, hitherto, without effect. The re-
peated aud earnest representations Of our lin
lister at tlil. Court Of france, remain a. yet oven
without an answer. We're the demands OF na-
lions t1Don the Justice Of each other stisceutiJle
Of Identification by the sentence Of AN impartial
tribunal those to which now refer would long
since have been settled, aad adequate indemnify
would have been o5tal>ed There arc large
amounts of similar claims upon he Netherlands,
Naples, and Denmark. For those upon Spain,