Speech Transcript:

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

Notwithstanding the early day which had been fixed for your session
of the present year, I was induced to call you together still sooner,
as well that any inadequacy in the existing provisions for the wants
of the Treasury might be supplied as that no delay might happen in
providing for the result of the negotiations on foot with Great
Britain, whether it should require arrangements adapted to a return
of peace or further and more effective provisions for prosecuting the
war.

That result is not yet known. If, on the one hand, the repeal of the
orders in council and the general pacification in Europe, which
withdrew the occasion on which impressments from American vessels
were practiced, suggest expectations that peace and amity may be
reestablished, we are compelled, on the other hand, by the refusal of
the British Government to accept the offered mediation of the Emperor
of Russia, by the delays in giving effect to its own proposal of a
direct negotiation, and, above all, by the principles and manner in
which the war is now avowedly carried on to infer that a spirit of
hostility is indulged more violent than ever against the rights and
prosperity of this country.

This increased violence is best explained by the two important
circumstances that the great contest in Europe for an equilibrium
guaranteeing all its States against the ambition of any has been
closed without any check on the over-bearing power of Great Britain
on the ocean, and it has left in her hands disposable armaments, with
which, forgetting the difficulties of a remote war with a free people,
and yielding to the intoxication of success, with the example of a
great victim to it before her eyes, she cherishes hopes of still
further aggrandizing a power already formidable in its abuses to the
tranquillity of the civilized and commercial world.

But whatever may have inspired the enemy with these more violent
purposes, the public councils of a nation more able to maintain than
it was to require its independence, and with a devotion to it
rendered more ardently by the experience of its blessings, can never
deliberate but on the means most effectual for defeating the
extravagant views or unwarrantable passions with which alone the war
can now be pursued against us.

In the events of the present campaign the enemy, with all his
augmented means and wanton use of them, has little ground for
exultation, unless he can feel it in the success of his recent
enterprises against this metropolis and the neighboring town of
Alexandria, from both of which his retreats were as precipitate as
his attempts were bold and fortunate. In his other incursions on our
Atlantic frontier his progress, often checked and chastised by the
martial spirit of the neighboring citizens, has had more effect in
distressing individuals and in dishonoring his arms than in promoting
any object of legitimate warfare; and in the two instances mentioned,
however deeply to be regretted on our part, he will find in his
transient success, which interrupted for a moment only the ordinary
business at the seat of Government, no compensation for the loss of
character with the world by his violations of private property and by
his destruction of public edifices protected as monuments of the arts
by the laws of civilized warfare.

On our side we can appeal to a series of achievements which have
given new luster to the American arms. Besides the brilliant
incidents in the minor operations of the campaign, the splendid
victories gained on the Canadian side of the Niagara by the American
forces under Major-General Brown and Brigadiers Scott and Gaines have
gained for these heroes and their emulating companions the most
unfading laurels, and, having triumphantly tested the progressive
discipline of the American soldiery, have taught the enemy that the
longer he protracts his hostile efforts the more certain and decisive
will be his final discomfiture.

On our southern border victory has continued also to follow the
American standard. The bold and skillful operations of Major-General
Jackson, conducting troops drawn from the militia of the States least
distant, particularly Tennessee, have subdued the principal tribes of
hostile savages, and, by establishing a peace with them, preceded by
recent and exemplary chastisement, has best guarded against the
mischief of their cooperations with the British enterprises which may
be planned against that quarter of our country. Important tribes of
Indians on our northwestern frontier have also acceded to
stipulations which bind them to the interests of the United States
and to consider our enemy as theirs also.

In the recent attempt of the enemy on the city of Baltimore, defended
by militia and volunteers, aided by a small body of regulars and sea
men, he was received with a spirit which produced a rapid retreat to
his ships, whilst concurrent attack by a large fleet was successfully
resisted by the steady and well-directed fire of the fort and
batteries opposed to it.

In another recent attack by a powerful force on our troops at
Plattsburg, of which regulars made a part only, the enemy, after a
perseverance for many hours, was finally compelled to seek safety in
a hasty retreat, with our gallant bands pressing upon them.

On the Lakes, so much contested throughout the war, the great
exertions for the command made on our part have been well repaid. On
Lake Ontario our squadron is now and has been for some time in a
condition to confine that of the enemy to his own port, and to favor
the operations of our land forces on that frontier.

A part of the squadron on Lake Erie has been extended into Lake
Huron, and has produced the advantage of displaying our command on
that lake also. One object of the expedition was the reduction of
Mackinaw, which filed with the loss of a few brave men, among whom
was an officer justly distinguished for his gallant exploits. The
expedition, ably conducted by both the land and the naval commanders,
was otherwise highly valuable in its effects.

On Lake Champlain, where our superiority had for some time been
undisputed, the British squadron lately came into action with the
American, commanded by Captain Macdonough. It issued in the capture
of the whole of the enemy's ships. The best praise for this officer
and his intrepid comrades is in the likeness of his triumph to the
illustrious victory which immortalized another officer and
established at a critical moment our command of another lake.

On the ocean the pride of our naval arms had been amply supported. A
second frigate has indeed fallen into the hands of the enemy, but the
loss is hidden in the blaze of heroism with which she was defended.
Captain Porter, who commanded her, and whose previous career had been
distinguished by daring enterprise and by fertility of genius,
maintained a sanguinary contest against two ships, one of them
superior to his own, and under other severe disadvantages, 'til
humanity tore down the colors which valor had nailed to the mast.
This officer and his brave comrades have added much to the rising
glory of the American flag, and have merited all the effusions of
gratitude which their country is ever ready to bestow on the
champions of its rights and of its safety.

Two smaller vessels of war have also become prizes to the enemy, but
by a superiority of force which sufficiently vindicates the
reputation of their commanders, whilst two others, one commanded by
Captain Warrington, the other by Captain Blakely, have captured
British ships of the same class with a gallantry and good conduct
which entitle them and their companions to a just share in the praise
of their country.

In spite of the naval force of the enemy accumulated on our coasts,
our private cruisers also have not ceased to annoy his commerce and
to bring their rich prizes into our ports, contributing thus, with
other proofs, to demonstrate the incompetency and illegality of a
blockade the proclamation of which is made the pretext for vexing and
discouraging the commerce of neutral powers with the United States.

To meet the extended and diversified warfare adopted by the enemy,
great bodies of militia have been taken into service for the public
defense, and great expenses incurred. That the defense everywhere may
be both more convenient and more economical, Congress will see the
necessity of immediate measures for filling the ranks of the Regular
Army and of enlarging the provision for special corps, mounted and
unmounted, to be engaged for longer periods of service than are due
from the militia. I earnestly renew, at the same time, a
recommendation of such changes in the system of the militia as, by
classing and disciplining for the most prompt and active service the
portions most capable of it, will give to that great resource for the
public safety all the requisite energy and efficiency.

The moneys received into the Treasury during the nine months ending
on the 30th day of June last amounted to $32M, of which near $11M
were the proceeds of the public revenue and the remainder derived
from loans. The disbursements for public expenditures during the same
period exceeded $34M, and left in the Treasury on the first day of
July near $5M. The demands during the remainder of the present year
already authorized by Congress and the expenses incident to an
extension of the operations of the war will render it necessary that
large sums should be provided to meet them.

From this view of the national affairs Congress will be urged to take
up without delay as well the subject of pecuniary supplies as that of
military force, and on a scale commensurate with the extent and the
character which the war has assumed. It is not to be disguised that
the situation of our country calls for its greatest efforts.

Our enemy is powerful in men and in money, on the land and on the
water. Availing himself of fortuitous advantages, he is aiming with
his undivided force a deadly blow at our growing prosperity, perhaps
at our national existence. He has avowed his purpose of trampling on
the usages of civilized warfare, and given earnests of it in the
plunder and wanton destruction of private property. In his pride of
maritime dominion and in his thirst of commercial monopoly he strikes
with peculiar animosity at the progress of our navigation and of our
manufactures. His barbarous policy has not even spared those
monuments of the arts and models of taste with which our country had
enriched and embellished its infant metropolis. From such an
adversary hostility in its greatest force and in its worst forms may
be looked for.

The American people will face it with the undaunted spirit which in
their revolutionary struggle defeated his unrighteous projects. His
threats and his barbarities, instead of dismay, will kindle in every
bosom an indignation not be extinguished but in the disaster and
expulsion of such cruel invaders.

In providing the means necessary the National Legislature will not
distrust the heroic and enlightened patriotism of its constituents.
They will cheerfully and proudly bear every burden of every kind
which the safety and honor of the nation demand. We have seen them
everywhere paying their taxes, direct and indirect, with the greatest
promptness and alacrity. We see them rushing with enthusiasm to the
scenes where danger and duty call. In offering their blood they give
the surest pledge that no other tribute will be withheld.

Having forborne to declare war until to other aggressions had been
added the capture of near 1000 American vessels and the impressment
of thousands of American sea faring citizens, and until a final
declaration had been made by the Government of Great Britain that her
hostile orders against our commerce would not be revoked but on
conditions as impossible as unjust, whilst it was known that these
orders would not otherwise cease but with a war which had lasted
nearly twenty years, and which, according to appearances at that
time, might last as many more; having manifested on every occasion
and in every proper mode a sincere desire to arrest the effusion of
blood and meet our enemy on the ground of justice and reconciliation,
our beloved country, in still opposing to his persevering hostility
all its energies, with an undiminished disposition toward peace and
friendship on honorable terms, must carry with it the good wishes of
the impartial world and the best hopes of support from an omnipotent
and kind Providence.