Speech Transcript:

Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives:

While with reverence and resignation we contemplate the dispensations
of Divine Providence in the alarming and destructive pestilence with
which several of our cities and towns have been visited, there is
cause for gratitude and mutual congratulations that the malady has
disappeared and that we are again permitted to assemble in safety at
the seat of Government for the discharge of our important duties. But
when we reflect that this fatal disorder has within a few years made
repeated ravages in some of our principal sea ports, and with
increased malignancy, and when we consider the magnitude of the evils
arising from the interruption of public and private business, whereby
the national interests are deeply affected, I think it my duty to
invite the Legislature of the Union to examine the expediency of
establishing suitable regulations in aid of the health laws of the
respective States; for these being formed on the idea that contagious
sickness may be communicated through the channels of commerce, there
seems to be a necessity that Congress, who alone can regulate trade,
should frame a system which, while it may tend to preserve the
general health, may be compatible with the interests of commerce and
the safety of the revenue.

While we think on this calamity and sympathize with the immediate
sufferers, we have abundant reason to present to the Supreme Being
our annual oblations of gratitude for a liberal participation in the
ordinary blessings of His providence. To the usual subjects of
gratitude I can not omit to add one of the 1st importance to our well
being and safety; I mean that spirit which has arisen in our country
against the menaces and aggression of a foreign nation. A manly sense
of national honor, dignity, and independence has appeared which, if
encouraged and invigorated by every branch of the Government, will
enable us to view undismayed the enterprises of any foreign power and
become the sure foundation of national prosperity and glory.

The course of the transactions in relation to the United States and
France which have come to my knowledge during your recess will be
made the subject of a future communication. That communication will
confirm the ultimate failure of the measures which have been taken by
the Government of the United States toward an amicable adjustment of
differences with that power. You will at the same time perceive that
the French Government appears solicitous to impress the opinion that
it is averse to a rupture with this country, and that it has in a
qualified manner declared itself willing to receive a minister from
the United States for the purpose of restoring a good understanding.
It is unfortunate for professions of this kind that they should be
expressed in terms which may countenance the inadmissible pretension
of a right to prescribe the qualifications which a minister from the
United States should possess, and that while France is asserting the
existence of a disposition on her part to conciliate with sincerity
the differences which have arisen, the sincerity of a like
disposition on the part of the United States, of which so many
demonstrative proofs have been given, should even be indirectly
questioned.

It is also worthy of observation that the decree of the Directory
alleged to be intended to restrain the depredations of French
cruisers on our commerce has not given, and can not give, any relief.
It enjoins them to conform to all the laws of France relative to
cruising and prizes, while these laws are themselves the sources of
the depredations of which we have so long, so justly, and so
fruitlessly complained.

The law of France enacted in January last, which subjects to capture
and condemnation neutral vessels and their cargoes if any portion of
the latter are of British fabric or produce, although the entire
property belong to neutrals, instead of being rescinded has lately
received a confirmation by the failure of a proposition for its
repeal. While this law, which is an unequivocal act of war on the
commerce of the nations it attacks, continues in force those nations
can see in the French Government only a power regardless of their
essential rights, of their independence and sovereignty; and if they
possess the means they can reconcile nothing with their interest and
honor but a firm resistance.

Hitherto, therefore, nothing is discoverable in the conduct of France
which ought to change or relax our measures of defense. On the
contrary, to extend and invigorate them is our true policy. We have
no reason to regret that these measures have been thus far adopted
and pursued, and in proportion as we enlarge our view of the
portentous and incalculable situation of Europe we shall discover new
and cogent motives for the full development of our energies and
resources.

But in demonstrating by our conduct that we do not fear war in the
necessary protection of our rights and honor we shall give no room to
infer that we abandon the desire of peace. An efficient preparation
for war can alone insure peace. It is peace that we have uniformly
and perseveringly cultivated, and harmony between us and France may
be restored at her option. But to send another minister without more
determinate assurances that he would be received would be an act of
humiliation to which the United States ought not to submit. It must
therefore be left with France (if she is indeed desirous of
accommodation) to take the requisite steps.

The United States will steadily observe the maxims by which they have
hitherto been governed. They will respect the sacred rights of
embassy; and with a sincere disposition on the part of France to
desist from hostility, to make reparation for the injuries heretofore
inflicted on our commerce, and to do justice in future, there will be
no obstacle to the restoration of a friendly intercourse.

In making to you this declaration I give a pledge to France and the
world that the Executive authority of this country still adheres to
the humane and pacific policy which has invariably governed its
proceedings, in conformity with the wishes of the other branches of
the Government and of the people of the United States. But
considering the late manifestations of her policy toward foreign
nations, I deem it a duty deliberately and solemnly to declare my
opinion that whether we negotiate with her or not, vigorous
preparations for war will be alike indispensable. These alone will
give to us an equal treaty and insure its observance.

Among the measures of preparation which appear expedient, I take the
liberty to recall your attention to the naval establishment. The
beneficial effects of the small naval armament provided under the
acts of the last session are known and acknowledged. Perhaps no
country ever experienced more sudden and remarkable advantages from
any measure of policy than we have derived from the arming for our
maritime protection and defense.

We ought without loss of time to lay the foundation for an increase
of our Navy to a size sufficient to guard our coast and protect our
trade. Such a naval force as it is doubtless in the power of the
United States to create and maintain would also afford to them the
best means of general defense by facilitating the safe transportation
of troops and stores to every part of our extensive coast. To
accomplish this important object, a prudent foresight requires that
systematic measures be adopted for procuring at all times the
requisite timber and other supplies. In what manner this shall be
done I leave to your consideration.

I will now advert, gentlemen, to some matters of less moment, but
proper to be communicated to the National Legislature.

After the Spanish garrisons had evacuated the posts they occupied at
the Natchez and Walnut Hills the commissioner of the United States
commences his observations to ascertain the point near the
Mississippi which terminated the northernmost part of the 31st degree
of north latitude. From thence he proceeded to run the boundary line
between the United States and Spain. He was afterwards joined by the
Spanish commissioner, when the work of the former was confirmed, and
they proceeded together to the demarcation of the line.

Recent information renders it probably that the Southern Indians,
either instigated to oppose the demarcation or jealous of the
consequences of suffering white people to run a line over lands to
which the Indian title had not been extinguished, have ere this time
stopped the progress of the commissioners; and considering the
mischiefs which may result from continuing the demarcation in
opposition to the will of the Indian tribes, the great expense
attending it, and that the boundaries which the commissioners have
actually established probably extend at least as far as the Indian
title has been extinguished, it will perhaps become expedient and
necessary to suspend further proceedings by recalling our
commissioner.

The commissioners appointed in pursuance of the 5th article of the
treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation between the United States
and His Britannic Majesty to determine what river was truly intended
under the name of the river St. Croix mentioned in the treaty of
peace, and forming a part of the boundary therein described, have
finally decided that question. On the 25th of October they made their
declaration that a river called Scoodiac, which falls into
Passamaquoddy Bay at its northwestern quarter, was the true St. Croix
intended in the treaty of peace, as far as its great fork, where one
of its streams comes from the westward and the other from the
northward, and that the latter stream is the continuation of the St.
Croix to its source.

This decision, it is understood, will preclude all contention among
the individual claimants, as it seems that the Scoodiac and its
northern branch bound the grants of land which have been made by the
respective adjoining Governments.

A subordinate question, however, it has been suggested, still remains
to be determined. Between the mouth of the St. Croix as now settled
and what is usually called the Bay of Fundy lie a number of valuable
islands. The commissioners have not continued the boundary line
through any channel of these islands, and unless the bay of
Passamaquoddy be a part of the Bay of Fundy this further adjustment
of boundary will be necessary, but it is apprehended that this will
not be a matter of any difficulty.

Such progress has been made in the examination and decision of cases
of captures and condemnations of American vessels which were the
subject of the 7th article of the treaty of amity, commerce, and
navigation between the United States and Great Britain that it is
supposed the commissioners will be able to bring their business to a
conclusion in August of the ensuing year.

The commissioners acting under the 25th article of the treaty between
the United States and Spain have adjusted most of the claims of our
citizens for losses sustained in consequence of their vessels and
cargoes having been taken by the subjects of His Catholic Majesty
during the late war between France and Spain.

Various circumstances have concurred to delay the execution of the
law for augmenting the military establishment, among these the desire
of obtaining the fullest information to direct the best selection of
officers. As this object will now be speedily accomplished, it is
expected that the raising and organizing of the troops will proceed
without obstacle and with effect.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
I have directed an estimate of the appropriations which will be
necessary for the service of the ensuing year to be laid before you,
accompanied with a view of the public receipts and expenditures to a
recent period.

It will afford you satisfaction to infer the great extent and
solidity of the public resources from the prosperous state of the
finances, notwithstanding the unexampled embarrassments which have
attended commerce. When you reflect on the conspicuous examples of
patriotism and liberality which have been exhibited by our mercantile
fellow citizens, and how great a proportion of the public resources
depends on their enterprise, you will naturally consider whether
their convenience can not be promoted and reconciled with the
security of the revenue by a revision of the system by which the
collection is at present regulated.

During your recess measures have been steadily pursued for effecting
the valuations and returns directed by the act of the last session,
preliminary to the assessment and collection of a direct tax. No
other delays or obstacles have been experienced except such as were
expected to arise from the great extent of our country and the
magnitude and novelty of the operation, and enough has been
accomplished to assure a fulfillment of the views of the
Legislature.

Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives:
I can not close this address without once more adverting to our
political situation and inculcating the essential importance of
uniting in the maintenance of our dearest interests; and I trust that
by the temper and wisdom of your proceedings and by a harmony of
measures we shall secure to our country that weight and respect to
which it is so justly entitled.