Speech Transcript:

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

It is some abatement of the satisfaction with which I meet you on the
present occasion that, in felicitating you on a continuance of the
national prosperity generally, I am not able to add to it information
that the Indian hostilities which have for some time past distressed
our Northwestern frontier have terminated.

You will, I am persuaded, learn with no less concern than I
communicate it that reiterated endeavors toward effecting a
pacification have hitherto issued only in new and outrageous proofs
of persevering hostility on the part of the tribes with whom we are
in contest. An earnest desire to procure tranquillity to the
frontier, to stop the further effusion of blood, to arrest the
progress of expense, to forward the prevalent wish of the nation for
peace has led to strenuous efforts through various channels to
accomplish these desirable purposes; in making which efforts I
consulted less my own anticipations of the event, or the scruples
which some considerations were calculated to inspire, than the wish
to find the object attainable, or if not attainable, to ascertain
unequivocally that such is the case.

A detail of the measures which have been pursued and of their
consequences, which will be laid before you, while it will confirm to
you the want of success thus far, will, I trust, evince that means as
proper and as efficacious as could have been devised have been
employed. The issue of some of them, indeed, is still depending, but
a favorable one, though not to be despaired of, is not promised by
anything that has yet happened.

In the course of the attempts which have been made some valuable
citizens have fallen victims to their zeal for the public service. A
sanction commonly respected even among savages has been found in this
instance insufficient to protect from massacre the emissaries of
peace. It will, I presume, be duly considered whether the occasion
does not call for an exercise of liberality toward the families of
the deceased.

It must add to your concern to be informed that, besides the
continuation of hostile appearances among the tribes north of the
Ohio, some threatening symptoms have of late been revived among some
of those south of it.

A part of the Cherokees, known by the name of Chickamaugas,
inhabiting five villages on the Tennessee River, have long been in
the practice of committing depredations on the neighboring
settlements.

It was hoped that the treaty of Holston, made with the Cherokee
Nation in July, 1791, would have prevented a repetition of such
depredations; but the event has not answered this hope. The
Chickamaugas, aided by some banditti of another tribe in their
vicinity, have recently perpetrated wanton and unprovoked hostilities
upon the citizens of the United States in that quarter. The
information which has been received on this subject will be laid
before you. Hitherto defensive precautions only have been strictly
enjoined and observed.

It is not understood that any breach of treaty or aggression
whatsoever on the part of the United States or their citizens is even
alleged as a pretext for the spirit of hostility in this quarter.

I have reason to believe that every practicable exertion has been
made (pursuant to the provision by law for that purpose) to be
prepared for the alternative of a prosecution of the war in the event
of a failure of pacific overtures. A large proportion of the troops
authorized to be raised have been recruited, though the number is
still incomplete, and pains have been taken to discipline and put
them in condition for the particular kind of service to be performed.
A delay of operations (besides being dictated by the measures which
were pursuing toward a pacific termination of the war) has been in
itself deemed preferable to immature efforts. A statement from the
proper department with regard to the number of troops raised, and
some other points which have been suggested, will afford more precise
information as a guide to the legislative consultations, and among
other things will enable Congress to judge whether some additional
stimulus to the recruiting service may not be advisable.

In looking forward to the future expense of the operations which may
be found inevitable I derive consolation from the information I
receive that the product of the revenues for the present year is
likely to supersede the necessity of additional burthens on the
community for the service of the ensuing year. This, however, will be
better ascertained in the course of the session, and it is proper to
add that the information alluded to proceeds upon the supposition of
no material extension of the spirit of hostility.

I can not dismiss the subject of Indian affairs without again
recommending to your consideration the expediency of more adequate
provision for giving energy to the laws throughout our interior
frontier and for restraining the commission of outrages upon the
Indians, without which all pacific plans must prove nugatory. To
enable, by competent rewards, the employment of qualified and trusty
persons to reside among them as agents would also contribute to the
preservation of peace and good neighborhood. If in addition to these
expedients an eligible plan could be devised for promoting
civilization among the friendly tribes and for carrying on trade with
them upon a scale equal to their wants and under regulations
calculated to protect them from imposition and extortion, its
influence in cementing their interest with ours could not but be
considerable.

The prosperous state of our revenue has been intimated. This would be
still more the case were it not for the impediments which in some
places continue to embarrass the collection of the duties on spirits
distilled within the United States. These impediments have lessened
and are lessening in local extent, and, as applied to the community
at large, the contentment with the law appears to be progressive.

But symptoms of increased opposition having lately manifested
themselves in certain quarters, I judged a special interposition on
my part proper and advisable, and under this impression have issued a
proclamation warning against all unlawful combinations and proceedings
having for their object or tending to obstruct the operation of the
law in question, and announcing that all lawful ways and means would
be strictly put in execution for bringing to justice the infractors
thereof and securing obedience thereto.

Measures have also been taken for the prosecution of offenders, and
Congress may be assured that nothing within constitutional and legal
limits which may depend upon me shall be wanting to assert and
maintain the just authority of the laws. In fulfilling this trust I
shall count entirely upon the full cooperation of the other
departments of the Government and upon the zealous support of all
good citizens.

I can not forbear to bring again into the view of the Legislature the
subject of a revision of the judiciary system. A representation from
the judges of the Supreme Court, which will be laid before you,
points out some of the inconveniences that are experienced. In the
course of the execution of the laws considerations arise out of the
structure of the system which in some cases tend to relax their
efficacy. As connected with this subject, provisions to facilitate
the taking of bail upon processes out of the courts of the United
States and a supplementary definition of offenses against the
Constitution and laws of the Union and of the punishment for such
offenses will, it is presumed, be found worthy of particular
attention.

Observations on the value of peace with other nations are
unnecessary. It would be wise, however, by timely provisions to guard
against those acts of our own citizens which might tend to disturb it,
and to put ourselves in a condition to give that satisfaction to
foreign nations which we may sometimes have occasion to require from
them. I particularly recommend to your consideration the means of
preventing those aggressions by our citizens on the territory of
other nations, and other infractions of the law of nations, which,
furnishing just subject of complaint, might endanger our peace with
them; and, in general, the maintenance of a friendly intercourse with
foreign powers will be presented to your attention by the expiration
of the law for that purpose, which takes place, if not renewed, at
the close of the present session.

In execution of the authority given by the Legislature measures have
been taken for engaging some artists from abroad to aid in the
establishment of our mint. Others have been employed at home.
Provision has been made of the requisite buildings, and these are now
putting into proper condition for the purposes of the establishment.
There has also been a small beginning in the coinage of half dimes,
the want of small coins in circulation calling the first attention to
them.

The regulation of foreign coins in correspondency with the principles
of our national coinage, as being essential to their due operation and
to order in our money concerns, will, I doubt not, be resumed and
completed.

It is represented that some provisions in the law which establishes
the post office operate, in experiment, against the transmission of
news papers to distant parts of the country. Should this, upon due
inquiry, be found to be the fact, a full conviction of the importance
of facilitating the circulation of political intelligence and
information will, I doubt not, lead to the application of a remedy.

The adoption of a constitution for the State of Kentucky has been
notified to me. The Legislature will share with me in the
satisfaction which arises from an event interesting to the happiness
of the part of the nation to which it relates and conducive to the
general order.

It is proper likewise to inform you that since my last communication
on the subject, and in further execution of the acts severally making
provision for the public debt and for the reduction thereof, three new
loans have been effected, each for 3,000,000 florins - one at Antwerp,
at the annual interest of 4.5%, with an allowance of 4% in lieu of all
charges, in the other 2 at Amsterdam, at the annual interest of 4%,
with an allowance of 5.5% in one case and of 5% in the other in lieu
of all charges. The rates of these loans and the circumstances under
which they have been made are confirmations of the high state of our
credit abroad.

Among the objects to which these funds have been directed to be
applied, the payment of the debts due to certain foreign officers,
according to the provision made during the last session, has been
embraced.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

I entertain a strong hope that the state of the national finances is
now sufficiently matured to enable you to enter upon a systematic and
effectual arrangement for the regular redemption and discharge of the
public debt, according to the right which has been reserved to the
Government. No measure can be more desirable, whether viewed with an
eye to its intrinsic importance or to the general sentiment and wish
of the nation.

Provision is likewise requisite for the reimbursement of the loan
which has been made of the Bank of the United States, pursuant to the
eleventh section of the act by which it is incorporated. In fulfilling
the public stipulations in this particular it is expected a valuable
saving will be made.

Appropriations for the current service of the ensuing year and for
such extraordinaries as may require provision will demand, and I
doubt not will engage, your early attention.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

I content myself with recalling your attention generally to such
objects, not particularized in my present, as have been suggested in
my former communications to you.

Various temporary laws will expire during the present session. Among
these, that which regulates trade and intercourse with the Indian
tribes will merit particular notice.

The results of your common deliberations hitherto will, I trust, be
productive of solid and durable advantages to our constituents, such
as, by conciliating more and more their ultimate suffrage, will tend
to strengthen and confirm their attachment to that Constitution of
Government upon which, under Divine Providence, materially depend
their union, their safety, and their happiness.

Still further to promote and secure these inestimable ends there is
nothing which can have a more powerful tendency than the careful
cultivation of harmony, combined with a due regard to stability, in
the public councils.