nimated by the sense of his independence. Thus, you will fignalize those still more degraded beings, who, being fold to the enemies of the republic, drag from clime to clime a life overwhelmed with misery and contempt-wretches, whom hiftory will not call to remembrance, except to perpetuate their difgrace. The use of the French chanceries, the national protection will not be granted to any Frenchman but those who perfectly fenfible of the dignity attached to the title of citizen, shall take a pride in wearing conftantly the tri-coloured cockade. The executive directory of the French republic have pronounced thus. Being the organ of their defitions, I communicate them with pleasure to my fellowcitizens. As for those who, although Frenchmen born, have ceafed to be Frenchmen, I do not speak to them; the public voice will inform them of their exclufion. Done at Philadelphia, the 12th Brumaire, the fifth Year of the French republic, one and indivifiible. Citizen P. A. Adet informs his fellow-citizens, that, by order of the executive directory, he has today notified to the secretary of state, the fufpenfion of the functions of the minifter plenipotentiary of the republic, to the United States of America, and that, in consequence of such fufpenfion, they muft, from this day, address their demands or claims to the conful general of the republic At Philadelphia, the 25th Brumaire, the 5th year of the French republic, one an'd indivifible-the 15th of November, 1796. Address of the Prefident of the United States to Congress. December 7, 1796 Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Reprefentatives, IN recurring to the internal fituation of our country, fince I had the pleasure to address you, I find ample reason for a renewed expreffion of that gratitude to the Ruler of the Universe, which a continued series of profperity has fo often and so justly called forth. The acts of the last session, which required special arrangements, have been, as far as circumitances would admit, carried into operation. The meeting of the deputies from the Creek nation at Oolerain, in the ftate of Georgia, which had for a principal object the purchase of a parcel of their land by that state, broke up without its being accomplished: the nation having, previous to their departure, inftructed them against making any fale; the occafion, however, has been improved, to confirm, by a new treaty with the Creeks, their preexifting engagements with the United States, and to obtain their consent to the establishment of trading houses and military pofts within their boundary, by means of which their friendship, and the general peace, may be more effectually fecured. 1 As foon as the governor-general of Canada could be addressed with propriety on this subject, arrangements were cordially and promptly concluded for their evacuation, and the United States took poffeffion of the principal of them, comprehending Ofwego, Niagara, Detroit, Michaliminac, and Fort Miami, where such repairs and additions have been ordered to be made as appeared indispensable. The commiffioners appointed on the part of the United States, agreeably to the seventh article of the treaty with Great Britain, relative to captures and condemnation of vessels and other property, met the commiffioners of his Bri tannic Majesty in London, in August last, when John Trumball, Efq. was chofen by lot for the fifth commiffioner. In October following the board were to proceed to business. As yet there has been no communication of commiffioners on the part of Great Britain, to unite with those who have been appointed on the part of the United States, for carrying into effect the sixth article of the treaty. The treaty with Spain required that the commissioners for running the boundary line, between the territory of the United States and his Catholic Majefty's provinces of East and West Florida, should meet at the Natches, before the expiration of fix months after the exchange of the ratifications, which was effected at Aranjuez, on the 25th of April, and the troops of his Catholic majesty, occupying any posts within the limits of the United States, were within the same period to be withdrawn. The commiffioner of the United States, therefore, commenced his journey from the Natches in September, and troops were ordered to occupy the posts from which the Spanish garrifons should be withdrawn, Information has been recently received of the appointment of a commiffioner on the part of his Catholic majesty for running the boundary line, but none of any appointment for the adjustment of the claims of our citizens, whose vessels were captured by the armed vessels of Spain. In pursuance of the act of congress, passed in the laft feffion, for the protection and relief of American seamen, agents were appointed, one to refide in Great Britain, and the other in the West Indies. The effects of the agency in the West Indies are not yet fully afcertained; but those which have been communicated afford grounds to believe the measure will be beneficial. The agent destined to refide in Great Britain declining to accept the appointment, the bufiness has confequently devolved on the minister of the United States in London; and will command his attention, until a new agent shall be appointed. After many delays and disappointments, arifing out of the European war, the final arrangements for fulfilling the engagements made to the Dey and regency of Algiers will, in all present appearance, be crowned with success; but under great, though inevitable difadvantage, in the pecuniary tranfactions, occafioned by that war; which will render a further provifion neceffary. The actual liberation of all our citizens who were prisoners in Algiers, while it gratifies every feeling heart, is itself an earneft earnest of a fatisfactory termination of the whole negotiation. Meafures are in operation for effecting treaties with the regencies of Tunis and Tripoli. To an active external commerce the protection of a naval force is indispensable. This is manifeft with regard to wars in which a ftate is itself a party; but befides this, it is our own experience, that the most fincere neurality is not a fufficient guard against the depredations of nations at war. To fecure respect to a neutral flag requires a naval force, organized, and ready to vindicate it from infult or aggreffion. This may even prevent the neceffity of going to war, by difcouraging belligerent powers from committing fuch violations of the rights of the neutral party as may, first or last, receive no other option. From the best information I have been able to obtain, it would feem as if our trade to the Mediterranean, with out a protecting force, will always be infecure; and our citizens exposed to the calamities from which numbers of them have but just been relieved. These confiderations invite the United States to look to the means, and to fet about the gradual creation of a navy. The increasing progress of their navigation promises them, at no distant period, the requifite supply of feamen; and their means, in other respects, favour the undertaking. It is an encouragement, likewise, that their particular fituation will give weight and influence to a moderate naval force in their hands. Will it not then be advisable to begin, without delay, to provide, and lay up the materials for the building and equipping of ships of war; and to proceed in the work by degrees, in proportion as our refources shall render it practicable, without inconvenience; fo that a future war of Europe may not find our commerce in the fame unprotected state in which it was found by the present? Congrefs have repeatedly, and not without success, directed their attention to the encouragement of manufactures. The object is of too much confequence not to enfure a continuation of their efforts, in every way which will appear eligible. As a general rule, manufacturers on a public account are inexpedient; but where the state of things in a country leave little hope that certain branches of manufacture will, for a great length of time, obtain; when these are of a nature effential to the furnishing and equipping of the public force in the time of war, are not eftablishments for procuring them on public account, to the extent of the ordinary demand for the public fervice, recommended by strong confiderations of national policy, as an exception to the general rule? Ought our country to remain in fuch cafes dependant on foreign fupply, precarious, because liable to be interrupted? If the neceffary articles should in this mode coft more in time of peace, will not the security and independence thence arifing form an ample compen (ation? Establishments of this fort, commenfurate only with the calls of the public service in the time of peace, will, in time of war, eafily be extended in proportion to the exigencies of government, and even perhaps to be made to yield a furplus, for the fupply of our citizens at large; so as to mitigate the pri vateers vateers from the interruption of and reputation. True it is that their trade. If adopted the plan ought to exclude all those branches, which are already, or likely foon to be established in the country, in order that there may be no danger of interference with pursuits of individual industry. It will not be doubted that, with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population, and other circumftances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of the foil more and more an object of public patronage. Institutions for promoting it grow up, supported by the public purse; and to what object can it be dedicated with greater propriety? The means which have been employed to this end, none have been attended with greater fuccess than the establishment of boards, composed of proper characters, charged with collecting and diffufing information, and enabled by premiums, and fmall pecuniary aids, to encourage and affift a spirit of discovery and improvement. I have heretofore proposed to the confideration of Congress the expediency of establishing a national university, and also a military academy. The defirableness of both these inftitutions has so conftantly increased with every new view I have taken of the subject, that I cannot omit the opportunity of once for all recalling your attention to them. The affembly to which I address myself is too enlightened not to be fully fenfible how much a flourishing state of the arts and sciences contributes to national profperity our country, much to its honour, contains feminaries of learning, highly respectable and useful; but the funds upon which they rest, are too narrow to command the ablest profeffors in the different departments of liberal knowledge, for the institution contemplated, though they would be excellent auxiliaries. Amongst the motives to fuch an inftitution, the affimilation of the principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen, by the common education of a portion of our youth from every quarter, well deferves attention. The more homogeneous our citizens can be made, in these particulars, the greater will be our profpect of permanent union; and a primary object of such a national institution should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important; and what duty more preffing on its legislature than to patronize a plan for communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country? While in our external relations, fome ferious inconveniences and embarrassments have been overcome, and others leffened, it is with much pain and deep regret I mention, that circumftances of a very unwelcome nature have lately occurred. Our trade has fuffered, and is suffering, extensive injuries in the West Indies, from the cruizers and agents of the French republic; and communications have been received from its minifter here which indicate the danger of a further disturbance in our commerce by its authority, and which are, It has been my constant, fincere, and earnest with, in conformity with that of our nation, to maintain cordial harmony and a perfectly friendly understanding with that republic. This with remains unabated; and I shall persevere in the endeavour to fulfil it, to the utmoit extent of what shall be confiftent with a just and indispenfable regard to the rights and honour of our country; nor will I easily cease to cherith the expectation, that a fpirit of justice, candour, and friendship, on the part of the republic, will eventually enfure fuccefs. In purfuing this course, however, I cannot forget what is due to the character of our government and nation; or to a full and entire confidence in the good sense, patriotifm, self-respect, and fortitude of my countrymen.. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Answer to the above address presented by the Vice president. WE thank you, fir, for your faithful and detailed exposure of the exifting fituation of our country; and we fincerely join in sentiments of gratitude to an over-ruling providence for the diftinguithed share of publie profperity and private happiness, which the people of the United States so peculiarly enjoy. We obferve with pleasure, that the delivery of the military posts lately occupied by the British for ces within the territory of the United States, was made with cordiality and promptitude, as foon as circumstances would admit; and that the other provifions of our objects of eventual arrangernent are now about being carried into effect with entire harmony and good faith. We perfectly coincide with you in opinion, that the importance of our commerce demands a naval force for its protection against foreign infult and depredation, and our folicitude to attain that object will be always proportionate to its magnitude. The neceffity of accelerating the establishment of certain useful manufactures by the intervention of legislative aid and protection, and the encouragement due to agriculture by the creation of boards (composed of intelligent individuals) to patronize this primary pursuit of fociety, are subjects which will readily engage our moft ferious attention. A national university may be converted to the most useful purposes. The science of legiflation being so effentially dependent on the endowments of the mind, the public interest must receive effectual aid from the general diffufion of knowledge, and the United States will assume a more dignified station among the nations of the earth, by the fuccessful cultivation of the highest branches of literature. We fincerely lament, that while the conduct of the United States has been uniformly impreffed with the character of equity, moderation, and love of peace, in the maintenance of all their foreign relationships, our trade should be so haraffed by the cruisers and agents of the republic of France, throughout the extenfive departments of the West Indies. We |