members will become their interest and their voluntary Instead, therefore, of an augmentation of military force, proportioned to our extension of frontier, I propose a moderate enlargement of the capital employed in that commerce, as a more effectual, economical, and humane instrument for preserving peace and good neighbourhood with them.

On this side the Mississippi an important relinquishment of native title has been received from the Delawares. That tribe, desiring to extinguish in their people the spirit of hunting, and to convert superfluous lands into the means of improving what they retain, have ceded to us all the country between the Wabash and Ohio, south of, and including the road from the Rapids towards Vincennes; for which they are to receive annuities in animals and implements for agriculture, and in other necessaries. This acquisition is important, not only for its extent and fertility, but as, fronting three hundred miles on the Ohio, and near half that on the Wabash, the produce of the settled country descending those rivers, will no longer pass in review of the Indian frontier, but in a small portion; and, with the cession heretofore made by the Kaskaskias, nearly consolidates our possessions north of the Ohio, in a very respectable breadth from Lake Erie to the Mississippi. The Piankishaws, having some claim to the country ceded by the Delawares, it has been thought best to quiet that by fair purchase also. So soon as the treaties on this subject shall have received their constitutional sanctions, they shall be laid before both houses.

The act of Congress of February 28, 1803, for building and employing a number of gun-boats is now in a course of execution, to the extent there provided for. The obsta cle to naval enterprise which vessels of this construction offer for our seaport towns; their utility towards supporting, within our waters, the authority of the laws; the promptness with which they will be manned by the seamen and militia of the place, in the moment they are wanting the facility of their assembling from different parts of the

coast, to any point where they are required in greater force than ordinary; the economy of their maintenance and preservation from decay, when not in actual service; and the competence of our finances to this defensive provision, without any new burden, are considerations which will have due weight with Congress in deciding on the expediency of adding to their number, from year to year, as experience shall test their utility, until all our important harbours, by these and auxiliary means, shall be secured against insult and opposition to the laws.

No circumstance has arisen since your last session which calls for any augmentation of our regular military force. Should any improvement occur in the militia system, that will be always seasonable.

Accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the last year, with estimates for the ensuing one, will, as usual, be laid before you.

The state of our finances continues to fulfil our expectations. Eleven millions and an half, received in the course of the last year, ending on the 30th of September last, have enabled us, after meeting all the ordinary expenses of the year, to pay 3,600,000 dollars of the principal of the publick debt. This payment, with those of the two preceding years, has extinguished upwards of twelve millions of the principal, and a greater sum of interest,within that period; and, by a proportionate diminution of interest, renders already sensible the effect of the growing sum yearly appli eable to the discharge of the principal.

It is also ascertained that the revenue, accrued during the last year, exceeds that of the preceding; and the probable receipts of the ensuing year may safely be relied on as sufficient, with the sum in the treasury, to meet all the current demands of the year, to discharge upwards of three millions and an half of the engagements incurred under the British and French conventions, and to advance, in the further redemption of the funded debt, as rapidly as had been contemplated. These, fellow citizens, are the principal matters which I have thought it necessary, at this time,

to communicate for your consideration and attention. Some others will be laid before you in the course of the session; but, in the discharge of the great duties confided to you by our country, you will take a broader view of the field of legislation. Whether the great interests of agriculture, manufactures, commerce, or navigation, can, within the pale of your constitutional powers, be aided in any of their relations? whether laws are provided in all eases where they are wanting? whether those provided, are exactly what they should be? whether any abuses take place in their administration, or in that of the publick revenues? whether the organization of the publick agents, or of the publick force, is perfect in all its parts? in fine, whether any thing can be done to advance the general good, are questions within the limits of your functions, which will necessarily occupy your attention. In these and all other matters, which you in your wisdom may propose for the good of our country, you may count with assurance on my hearty co-operation, and faithful execution. TH: JEFFERSON.

* Nov. 8, 1804.

DOCUMENT No. I.

ACCOMPANYING A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, RECEIVED NOV. 8, 1804.

Extract of a Letter from Don Pedro Cevallos, Minister

*

of State of his Catholic Majesty, to Charles Pinckney,

Esq. dated at the Prado, Feb. 10, 180.

"Al mismo tpo que el ministro de S. M. en los Estados Unidos esta encargado de informer al govierno Americano sobre la falsedad del rumor indicado; tiene tambi en la orden pa manifestarle que S. M. ha tenido á bien renunciar a sus reclamaciones contra la enagenacion de la Lui* VOL. I.

30

siana hecha pro Francia, son embargo de los solidos motivos en que se fundaban ; dando con esto una nueva prueba de su benevolencia y amistad a los Estados Unidos."

TRANSLATION.

"AT the same time that the minister of his majesty in the United States is charged to inform the American government respecting the falsity of the rumor referred to, he has likewise orders to declare to it that his majesty has thought fit to renounce his opposition to the alienation of Louisiana made by France, notwithstanding the solid rea sons on which it is founded: thereby giving a new proof of his benevolence and friendship towards the United States."

Copy of a Letter from the Marquis of Casa Irujo to the Secretary of State.

MUY Senor mio: Las explicaciones que el Govierno de Francia hadado a S. M. Catea acerca de la venta de la Luisiana alos Estados Unidos, y las disposiciones amistosas de parte del Rey mi Ame acra estos Estados, le han determinador a abandonar la oposicion, que en una epoca ⚫anterior, y con motibos mui fundados, habia manifestado ala citada transaccion. En consequencia, y por orden especial de S. M. tengo el gusto de comunicar a V. S. sus reales intencions sobre un asunto tan importante, bien persuadido de que el govierno Americano vera en esta conducta del Rey mi Amo una nueva prueba de su consideraeion acia los Estados Unidos, y que estos corresponderan con una verdadera reciprocidad a la amistad sincera del Rey de que lestiene dadas tantas pruebas..

Dios que a V. S. ms. as. Philadelphia 15 de May de 1801. &c. &c.

(Signed) EL MARQUIS DE CASA YRUJO. Sor don Jayme Madison.

SIR,

TRANSLATION.

THE explanations which the government of France has given to his Catholic Majesty, concerning the sale of Louisiana to the United States, and the amicable dispositions on the part of the king my master towards these states, have determined him to abandon the opposition, which at a prior period, and with the most substantial motives, he had manifested against that transaction. In consequence and by special order of his majesty, I have the pleasure to communicate to you his royal intentions on an affair so important; well persuaded that the American government will see, in this conduct of the king my master, a new proof of his consideration for the United States, and that they will correspond with a true reciprocity, with the sincere friendship of the king, of which he has given so many proofs.

God preserve you many years. Philadelphia 15th May,

1804.

4

James Madison, Esq.

DOCUMENT No. II.

ACCOMPANYING A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, NOVEMBER 8, 1804

To all to whom these presents shall come:

WHEREAS by an act of Congress authority has been given to the President of the United States, whenever he shall deem it, expedient, to erect the shores, waters, and inlets of the bay and river of Mobile, and of the other rivers, creeks, inlets, and bays, emptying into the gulf of Mexico, east of the said river Mobile, and west thereof to the Pascaguola, inclusive, into a separate district for the collection of duties on imposts and tonnage, and to establish such place within the same as he shall deem expedient to be the port of entry and delivery for such dis