Speech Transcript:

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

The embarrassments which have prevailed in our foreign relations, and
so much employed the deliberations of Congress, make it a primary duty
in meeting you to communicate whatever may have occurred in that
branch of our national affairs.

The act of the last session of Congress concerning the commercial
intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France
and their dependencies having invited in a new form a termination of
their edicts against our neutral commerce, copies of the act were
immediately forwarded to our ministers at London and Paris, with a
view that its object might be within the early attention of the
French and British Governments.

By the communication received through our minister at Paris it
appeared that knowledge of the act by the French Government was
followed by a declaration that the Berlin and Milan decrees were
revoked, and would cease to have effect on the first day of November
ensuing. These being the only known edicts of France within the
description of the act, and the revocation of them being such that
they ceased at that date to violate our neutral commerce, the fact,
as prescribed by law, was announced by a proclamation bearing date
the 2nd of November.

It would have well accorded with the conciliatory views indicated by
this proceeding on the part of France to have extended them to all
the grounds of just complaint which now remain unadjusted with the
United States. It was particularly anticipated that, as a further
evidence of just dispositions toward them, restoration would have
been immediately made of the property of our citizens under a
misapplication of the principle of reprisals combined with a
misconstruction of a law of the United States. This expectation has
not been fulfilled.

From the British Government no communication on the subject of the
act has been received. To a communication from our minister at London
of a revocation by the French Government of its Berlin and Milan
decrees it was answered that the British system would be relinquished
as soon as the repeal of the French decrees should have actually taken
effect and the commerce of neutral nations have been restored to the
condition in which it stood previously to the promulgation of those
decrees. This pledge, although it does not necessarily import, does
not exclude the intention of relinquishing, along with the others in
council, the practice of those novel blockades which have a like
effect of interrupting our neutral commerce, and this further justice
to the United States is the rather to be looked for, in as much as the
blockades in question, being not more contrary to the established law
of nations than inconsistent with the rules of blockade formally
recognized by Great Britain herself, could have no alleged basis
other than the plea of retaliation alleged as the basis of the orders
in council.

Under the modification of the original orders of 1807 November, into
the orders of 1809 April, there is, indeed, scarcely a nominal
distinction between the orders and the blockades. One of those
illegitimate blockades, bearing date in 1806 May, having been
expressly avowed to be still unrescinded, and to be in effect
comprehended in the orders in council, was too distinctly brought
within the purview of the act of Congress not to be comprehended in
the explanation of the requisites to a compliance with it. The
British Government was accordingly apprised by our minister near it
that such was the light in which the subject was to be regarded.

On the other important subjects depending between the United States
and the Government no progress has been made from which an early and
satisfactory result can be relied on.

In this new posture of our relations with those powers the
consideration of Congress will be properly turned to a removal of
doubts which may occur in the exposition and of difficulties in the
execution of the act above cited.

The commerce of the United States with the north of Europe,
heretofore much vexed by licentious cruisers, particularly under the
Danish flag, has latterly been visited with fresh and extensive
depredations. The measures pursued in behalf of our injured citizens
not having obtained justice for them, a further and more formal
interposition with the Danish Government is contemplated. The
principles which have been maintained by that Government in relation
to neutral commerce, and the friendly professions of His Danish
Majesty toward the United States, are valuable pledges in favor of a
successful issue.

Among the events growing out of the state of the Spanish Monarchy,
our attention was imperiously attracted to the change developing
itself in that portion of West Florida which, though of right
appertaining to the United States, had remained in the possession of
Spain awaiting the result of negotiations for its actual delivery to
them. The Spanish authority was subverted and a situation produced
exposing the country to ulterior events which might essentially
affect the rights and welfare of the Union. In such a conjuncture I
did not delay the interposition required for the occupancy of the
territory west of the river Perdido, to which the title of the United
States extends, and to which the laws provided for the Territory of
Orleans are applicable. With this view, the proclamation of which a
copy is laid before you was confided to the governor of that
Territory to be carried into effect. The legality and necessity of
the course pursued assure me of the favorable light in which it will
present itself to the Legislature, and of the promptitude with which
they will supply whatever provisions may be due to the essential
rights and equitable interests of the people thus brought into the
bosom of the American family.

Our amity with the powers of Barbary, with the exception of a recent
occurrence at Tunis, of which an explanation is just received,
appears to have been uninterrupted and to have become more firmly
established.

With the Indian tribes also the peace and friendship of the United
States are found to be so eligible that the general disposition to
preserve both continues to gain strength.

I feel particular satisfaction in remarking that an interior view of
our country presents us with grateful proofs of its substantial and
increasing prosperity. To a thriving agriculture and the improvements
related to it is added a highly interesting extension of useful
manufactures, the combined product of professional occupations and of
household industry. Such indeed is the experience of economy as well
as of policy in these substitutes for supplies heretofore obtained by
foreign commerce that in a national view the change is justly regarded
as of itself more than a recompense for those privations and losses
resulting from foreign injustice which furnished the general impulse
required for its accomplishment. How far it may be expedient to guard
the infancy of this improvement in the distribution of labor by
regulations of the commercial tariff is a subject which can not fail
to suggest itself to your patriotic reflections.

It will rest with the consideration of Congress also whether a
provident as well as fair encouragement would not be given to our
navigation by such regulations as would place it on a level of
competition with foreign vessels, particularly in transporting the
important and bulky productions of our own soil. The failure of
equality and reciprocity in the existing regulations on this subject
operates in our ports as a premium to foreign competitors, and the
inconvenience must increase as these may be multiplied under more
favorable circumstances by the more than countervailing
encouragements now given them by the laws of their respective
countries.

Whilst it is universally admitted that a well-instructed people alone
can be permanently a free people, and whilst it is evident that the
means of diffusing and improving useful knowledge form so small a
proportion of the expenditures for national purposes, I can not
presume it to be unseasonable to invite your attention to the
advantages of superadding to the means of education provided by the
several States a seminary of learning instituted by the National
Legislature within the limits of their exclusive jurisdiction, the
expense of which might be defrayed or reimbursed out of the vacant
grounds which have accrued to the nation within those limits.

Such an institution, though local in its legal character, would be
universal in its beneficial effects. By enlightening the opinions, by
expanding the patriotism, and by assimilating the principles, the
sentiments, and the manners of those who might resort to this temple
of science, to be redistributed in due time through every part of the
community, sources of jealousy and prejudice would be diminished, the
features of national character would be multiplied, and greater
extent given to social harmony. But, above all, a well- constituted
seminary in the center of the nation is recommended by the
consideration that the additional instruction emanating from it would
contribute not less to strengthen the foundations than to adorn the
structure of our free and happy system of government.

Among the commercial abuses still committed under the American flag,
and leaving in force my former reference to that subject, it appears
that American citizens are instrumental in carrying on a traffic in
enslaved Africans, equally in violation of the laws of humanity and
in defiance of those of their own country. The same just and
benevolent motives which produced interdiction in force against this
criminal conduct will doubtless be felt by Congress in devising
further means of suppressing the evil.

In the midst of uncertainties necessarily connected with the great
interests of the United States, prudence requires a continuance of
our defensive and precautionary arrangement. The Secretary of War and
Secretary of the Navy will submit the statements and estimates which
may aid Congress in their ensuing provisions for the land and naval
forces. The statements of the latter will include a view of the
transfers of appropriations in the naval expenditures and in the
grounds on which they were made.

The fortifications for the defense of our maritime frontier have been
prosecuted according to the plan laid down in 1808. The works, with
some exceptions, are completed and furnished with ordnance. Those for
the security of the city of New York, though far advanced toward
completion, will require a further time and appropriation. This is
the case with a few others, either not completed or in need of
repairs.

The improvements in quality and quantity made in the manufacture of
cannon and small arms, both at the public armories and private
factories, warrant additional confidence in the competency of these
resources for supplying the public exigencies.

These preparations for arming the militia having thus far provided
for 1 of the objects contemplated by the power vested in Congress
with respect to that great bulwark of the public safety, it is for
their consideration whether further provisions are not requisite for
the other contemplated objects of organization and discipline. To
give to this great mass of physical and moral force the efficiency
which it merits, and is capable of receiving, it is indispensable
that they should be instructed and practiced in the rules by which
they are to be governed. Toward an accomplishment of this important
work I recommend for the consideration of Congress the expediency of
instituting a system which shall in the first instance call into the
field at the public expense and for a given time certain portions of
the commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The instruction and
discipline thus acquired would gradually diffuse through the entire
body of the militia that practical knowledge and promptitude for
active service which are the great ends to be pursued. Experience has
left no doubt either of the necessity or of the efficacy of competent
military skill in those portions of an army in fitting it for the
final duties which it may have to perform.

The Corps of Engineers, with the Military Academy, are entitled to
the early attention of Congress. The buildings at the seat fixed by
law for the present Academy are so far in decay as not to afford the
necessary accommodation. But a revision of the law is recommended,
principally with a view to a more enlarged cultivation and diffusion
of the advantages of such institutions, by providing professorships
for all the necessary branches of military instruction, and by the
establishment of an additional academy at the seat of Government or
elsewhere. The means by which war, as well for defense as for
offense, are now carried on render these schools of the more
scientific operations an indispensable part of every adequate
system.

Even among nations whose large standing armies and frequent wars
afford every other opportunity of instruction these establishments
are found to be indispensable for the due attainment of the branches
of military science which require a regular course of study and
experiment. In a government happily without the other opportunities
seminaries where the elementary principles of the art of war can be
taught without actual war, and without the expense of extensive and
standing armies, have the precious advantage of uniting an essential
preparation against external danger with a scrupulous regard to
internal safety. In no other way, probably, can a provision of equal
efficacy for the public defense be made at so little expense or more
consistently with the public liberty.

The receipts into the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th of
September last (and amounting to more than $8.5M) have exceeded the
current expenses of the Government, including the interest on the
public debt. For the purpose of reimbursing at the end of the year
$3.75 of the principal, a loan, as authorized by law, had been
negotiated to that amount, but has since been reduced to $2.75M, the
reduction being permitted by the state of the Treasury, in which
there will be a balance remaining at the end of the year estimated at
$2M. For the probably receipts of the next year and other details I
refer to statements which will be transmitted from the Treasury, and
which will enable you to judge what further provisions may be
necessary for the ensuing years.

Reserving for future occasions in the course of the session whatever
other communications may claim your attention, I close the present by
expressing my reliance, under the blessing of Divine Providence, on
the judgement and patriotism which will guide your measures at a
period particularly calling for united councils and flexible
exertions for the welfare of our country, and by assuring you of the
fidelity and alacrity with which my cooperation will be afforded.