Speech Transcript:

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

At the period of our last meeting I had the satisfaction of
communicating an adjustment with one of the principal belligerent
nations, highly important in itself, and still more so as presaging a
more extended accommodation. It is with deep concern I am now to
inform you that the favorable prospect has been over-clouded by a
refusal of the British Government to abide by the act of its minister
plenipotentiary, and by its ensuing policy toward the United States as
seen through the communications of the minister sent to replace him.

Whatever pleas may be urged for a disavowal of engagements formed by
diplomatic functionaries in cases where by the terms of the
engagements a mutual ratification is reserved, or where notice at the
time may have been given of a departure from instructions, or in
extraordinary cases essentially violating the principles of equity, a
disavowal could not have been apprehended in a case where no such
notice or violation existed, where no such ratification was reserved,
and more especially where, as is now in proof, an engagement to be
executed without any such ratification was contemplated by the
instructions given, and where it had with good faith been carried
into immediate execution on the part of the United States.

These considerations not having restrained the British Government
from disavowing the arrangement by virtue of which its orders in
council were to be revoked, and the event authorizing the renewal of
commercial intercourse having thus not taken place, it necessarily
became a question of equal urgency and importance whether the act
prohibiting that intercourse was not to be considered as remaining in
legal force. This question being, after due deliberation, determined
in the affirmative, a proclamation to that effect was issued. It
could not but happen, however, that a return to this state of things
from that which had followed an execution of the arrangement by the
United States would involve difficulties. With a view to diminish
these as much as possible, the instructions from the Secretary of the
Treasury now laid before you were transmitted to the collectors of the
several ports. If in permitting British vessels to depart without
giving bonds not to proceed to their own ports it should appear that
the tenor of legal authority has not been strictly pursued, it is to
be ascribed to the anxious desire which was felt that no individuals
should be injured by so unforeseen an occurrence; and I rely on the
regard of Congress for the equitable interests of our own citizens to
adopt whatever further provisions may be found requisite for a general
remission of penalties involuntarily incurred.

The recall of the disavowed minister having been followed by the
appointment of a successor, hopes were indulged that the new mission
would contribute to alleviate the disappointment which had been
produced, and to remove the causes which had so long embarrassed the
good understanding of the two nations. It could not be doubted that
it would at least be charged with conciliatory explanations of the
step which had been taken and with proposals to be substituted for
the rejected arrangement.

Reasonable and universal as this expectation was, it also has not
been fulfilled. From the first official disclosures of the new
minister it was found that he had received no authority to enter into
explanations relative to either branch of the arrangement disavowed
nor any authority to substitute proposals as to that branch which
concerned the British orders in council, and, finally, that his
proposals WRT the other branch, the attack on the frigate Chesapeake,
were founded on a presumption repeatedly declared to be inadmissible
by the United States, that the first step toward adjustment was due
from them, the proposals at the same time omitting even a reference
to the officer answerable for the murderous aggression, and asserting
a claim not less contrary to the British laws and British practice
than to the principles and obligations of the United States.

The correspondence between the Department of State and this minister
will show how unessentially the features presented in its
commencement have been varied in its progress. It will sow also that,
forgetting the respect due to all governments, he did not refrain from
imputations on this, which required that no further communications
should be received from him. The necessity of this step will be made
known to His Britannic Majesty through the minister plenipotentiary
of the United States in London; and it would indicate a want of the
confidence due to a Government which so well understands and exacts
what becomes foreign ministers near it not to infer that the
misconduct of its own representative will be viewed in the same light
in which it has been regarded here. The British Government will learn
at the same time that a ready attention will be given to
communications through any channel which may be substituted. It will
be happy if the change in this respect should be accompanied by a
favorable revision of the unfriendly policy which has been so long
pursued toward the United States.

With France, the other belligerent, whose trespasses on our
commercial rights have long been the subject of our just
remonstrances, the posture of our relations does not correspond with
the measures taken on the part of the United States to effect a
favorable change. The result of the several communications made to
her Government, in pursuance of the authorities vested by Congress in
the Executive, is contained in the correspondence of our minister at
Paris now laid before you.

By some of the other belligerents, although professing just and
amicable dispositions, injuries materially affecting our commerce
have not been duly controlled or repressed. In these cases the
interpositions deemed proper on our part have not been omitted. But
it well deserves the consideration of the Legislature how far both
the safety and the honor of the American flag may be consulted, by
adequate provisions against that collusive prostitution of it by
individuals unworthy of the American name which has so much flavored
the real or pretended suspicions under which the honest commerce of
their fellow citizens has suffered.

In relation to the powers on the coast of Barbary, nothing has
occurred which is not of a nature rather to inspire confidence than
distrust as to the continuance of the existing amity. With our Indian
neighbors, the just and benevolent system continued toward them has
also preserved peace, and is more and more advancing habits favorable
to their civilization and happiness.

From a statement which will be made by the Secretary of War it will
be seen that the fortifications on our maritime frontier are in many
of the ports completed, affording the defense which was contemplated,
and that a further time will be required to render complete the works
in the harbor of New York and in some other places. By the
enlargement of the works and the employment of a greater number of
hands at the public armories the supply of small arms of an improving
quality appears to be annually increasing at a rate that, with those
made on private contract, may be expected to go far toward providing
for the public exigency.

The act of Congress providing for the equipment of our vessels of war
having been fully carried into execution, I refer to the statement of
the Secretary of the Navy for the information which may be proper on
that subject. To that statement is added a view of the transfers of
appropriations authorized by the act of the session preceding the
last and of the grounds on which the transfers were made.

Whatever may be the course of your deliberations on the subject of
our military establishments, I should fail in my duty in not
recommending to your serious attention the importance of giving to
our militia, the great bulwark of our security and resource of our
power, an organization best adapted to eventual situations for which
the United States ought to be prepared.

The sums which had been previously accumulated in the Treasury,
together with the receipts during the year ending on the 30th of
September last (and amounting to more than $9M), have enabled us to
fulfill all our engagements and to defray the current expenses of
Government without recurring to any loan. But the insecurity of our
commerce and the consequent diminution of the public revenue will
probably produce a deficiency in the receipts of the ensuing year,
for which and for other details I refer to the statements which will
be transmitted from the Treasury.

In the state which has been presented of our affairs with the great
parties to a disastrous and protracted war, carried on in a mode
equally injurious and unjust to the United States as a neutral
nation, the wisdom of the National Legislature will be again summoned
to the important decision on the alternatives before them. That these
will be met in a spirit worthy the councils of a nation conscious
both of its rectitude and of its rights, and careful as well of its
honor as of its peace, I have an entire confidence; and that the
result will be stamped by a unanimity becoming the occasion, and be
supported by every portion of our citizens with a patriotism
enlightened and invigorated by experience, ought as little to be
doubted.

In the midst of the wrongs and vexations experienced from external
causes there is much room for congratulation on the prosperity and
happiness flowing from our situation at home. The blessing of health
has never been more universal. The fruits of the seasons, though in
particular articles and districts short of their usual redundancy,
are more than sufficient for our wants and our comforts. The face of
our country every presents evidence of laudable enterprise, of
extensive capital, and of durable improvement. In a cultivation of
the materials and the extension of useful manufactures, more
especially in the general application to household fabrics, we behold
a rapid diminution of our dependence on foreign supplies. Nor is it
unworthy of reflection that this revolution in our pursuits and
habits is in no slight degree a consequence of those impolitic and
arbitrary edicts by which the contending nations, in endeavoring each
of them to obstruct our trade with the other, have so far abridged our
means of procuring the productions and manufactures of which our own
are now taking the place.

Recollecting always that for every advantage which may contribute to
distinguish our lot from that to which others are doomed by the
unhappy spirit of the times we are indebted to that Divine Providence
whose goodness has been so remarkably extended to this rising nation,
it becomes us to cherish a devout gratitude, and to implore from the
same omnipotent source a blessing on the consultations and measures
about to be undertaken for the welfare of our beloved country.