صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

and necessary to suspend further proceedings, by recalling our commissioner.

The commissioners appointed in pursuance of the fifth article of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, between the United States and his Britannick majesty, to determine what river was truly intended under the name of the river St. Croix, mentioned in the treaty of peace, and forming a part of the boundary therein described, have finally decided that question. On the 25th of October, they made their declaration, that a river called Scoodiac, which falls into Passamaquoddy Bay, at its north-western quarter, was the true St. Croix intended in the treaty of peace, as far as its great fork, where one of its streams comes from the westward, and the other from the northward; and that the latter stream is the continuation of the St. Croix to its source. This decision, it is understood, will preclude all contention among individual claimants, as it seems that the Scoodiac and its northern branch, bound the grants of lands which have been made by the respective adjoining governments. A subordinate question, however, it has been suggested, still remains to be determined. Between the mouth of the St. Croix, as now settled, and what is usually called the Bay of Fundy, lie a number of valua ble islands. The commissioners have not continued the boundary line through any channel of these islands; and unless the Bay of Passamaquoddy be a part of the Bay of Fundy, this further adjustment of boundary will be necessary. But it is apprehended that this will not be a matter of any difficulty.

Such progress has been made in the examination and decision of cases of captures and condemnations of American vessels, which were the subject of the seventh article of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, between the United States and Great Britain, that it is supposed the commissioners will be able to bring their business to a conclusion in August of the ensuing year.

The commissioners acting under the twenty-first article of the treaty, between the United States and Spain, have adjusted most of the claims of our citizens for losses sustained in consequence of their vessels and cargoes having been taken by the subjects of his catholick majesty, during the late war between France and Spain.

Various circumstances have concurred to delay the execution of the law for augmenting the military establishment. Among these, the desire of obtaining the fullest information to direct the best selection of officers. As this object will now be speedily accomplished, it is expected that the raising and organizing of the troops will proceed without obstacle, and with effect.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—I have directed an estimate of the appropriations which will be necessary for the service of the ensuing year to be laid before you, accompanied with a view of the publick receipts and expenditures to a recent period. It will afford you satisfaction to infer the great extent and solidity of the publick resources, from the prosperous state of the finances, notwithstanding the unexampled embarrassments which have attended commerce. When you reflect on the conspicuous examples of patriotism and liberality which have been exhibited by our mercantile fellow citizens, and how great a proportion of the publick resources depends on their enterprise, you will naturally consider, whether their convenience cannot be promoted and reconciled with the security of the revenue, by a revision of the system, by which the collection is at present regulated.

During your recess, measures have been steadily pursued for effecting the valuations and returns directed by the act of the last session, preliminary to the assessment and collection of a direct tax. No other delays or obstacles have been experienced, except such as were expected to arise from the great extent of our country and the magnitude and novelty of the operation, and enough has been accomplished to assure a fulfilment of the views of the legislature.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,-I cannot close this address, without once more adverting to our political situation, and inculcating the essential importance of uniting in the maintenance of our dearest interests; and I trust, that by the temper and wisdom of your proceedings, and by a harmony of measures, we shall secure to our country that weight and respect to which it is so justly entitled. JOHN ADAMS.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDent of THE UNITED STATES TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. JAN. 8, 1799.

In compliance with your desire, expressed in your resolution of the 2d of this month, I lay before you an extract of a letter from George C. Morton, acting consul of the United States at the Havana, dated the 18thof November, 1798, to the Secretary of State, with a copy of a letter from him to L. Trezevant and William Timmons, esquires, with their answer. Although your request extends no farther than such information as has been received, yet it may be a satisfaction to you to know, that as soon as this intelligence was communicated to me, circular orders were given by my direction to all the commanders of our vessels of war, a copy of which is also here with transmitted. I also directed this intelligence and these orders to be communicated to his Britannick majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States, and to our minister plenipotentiary to the court of Great Britain, with instructions to him to make the proper representation to that government upon this subject.

It is but justice to say, that this is the first instance of misbehaviour of any of the British officers towards our vessels of war, that has come to my knowledge. According to all the representations that I have seen, the flag of the United States, and their officers and men, have been treated by the civil and military authority of the British nation, in Nova Scotia, the West India islands, and on the ocean, with uniform civility, politeness and friendship. I have no doubt that this first instance of misconduct will be readily corrected.

JOHN ADAMS.

Extract of a Letter from George C. Morton, acting Consul of the United States at the Havana, dated there the 18th of Nov. 1798, to the Secretary of State.

"By the delegation of Daniel Hawley, Esq. I am at present acting as consul of the United States in this dis

trict, with which he will most probably have acquainted you. It imposes upon me the mortifying task of informing you, sir, of the partial capture of an American fleet, under the convoy of the Baltimore sloop of war, Phil

lips, Esq. commander, by a British squadron, off this harbour, accompanied with circumstances rather grating to the feelings of Americans, and by no means analogous to that good harmony which seems to subsist between the two governments.

"The answer of Messrs. Trezevant and Timmons to my annexed note of the 17th instant, requesting an exact relation of the occurrence, will, I presume, be deemed as impartial a narration as can be given, of the whole transaction, they having been passengers on board one of the captured vessels, and removed to the Baltimore."

Mr. Morton adds, that commodore Loring ordered the 55 men out of the Baltimore, "on board of his ship, previous to any proposal of exchanging the natives of one nation for those of the other; and retained five of the hands as being British subjects, without giving an equal number of Americans, whom he acknowledged to have on board."

Mr. Morton to L. Trezevant, and W. Timmons, Esquires, Havana, Nov. 17, 1798.

GENTLEMEN,-As acting American consul for this city and district, and of course obliged to forward the most correct statement possible to the government of the United States, officially, I would beg the favour of you, gentlemen, to furnish me with an exact relation, under your sig natures, of the unpleasant occurrence which took place off the Moro Castle on the 16th instant, by which you will much oblige, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, GEO. C. MORTON.

N. B. It would be proper to premise, that you were passengers, and your distance from the Moro Castle at the time of capture. G. C. M.

Havana, November 18, 1798.

Sik, Agreeably to your request, we now commit to writing the best account we are able to give you, of the conduct of captain Loring, commodore of the British squadron, which was lately off the Moro, towards the United States ship the Baltimore. We must observe, however, that all we can say of it is from the information of captain Phillips, as we were not on board of the Baltimore. when she was visited by capt. Loring's officers.

In the morning of the 16th instant we discovered this squadron when we were in sight of the Moro, and afterwards found it was composed of captain Loring's ship the Carnatick of 74 guns; captain- 's ship the Thunderer, of the same force; captain Dobson's ship the Queen, of 98 guns; captain Donolly's frigate the Maidstone, 32 guns, and captain Hardy's frigate the Greyhound, of the same force. We were passengers in the brig Norfolk, captain Butler, which together with the ship Eliza, captain Baas, and the brig Friendship, captain Fuller, were cut off from their entrance into port, and were all made prizes within gunshot of the Moro. We obtained leave to go on board the Baltimore with our baggage, and did so. When captain Phillips discovered that they were English ships, which was before we were taken, he stood towards them, and spoke the commodore. After we got on board the Baltimore, the captain informed us, that he had been on board the Carnatick, and the commodore had told him that he should take out of the Baltimore all such men as had not American protections; that he had remonstrated with him against showing such an indignity to our flag; that to do so would leave his ship in a very defenceless state, and would deprive him of nearly all his men, as not even those who were really Americans, or at least very few of them, could show protections, because it was always thought that our flag on board of a government ship was a sufficient protection. All this, however, was urged in vain. Captain Phillips returned to his ship, and the commodore sent an officer on board the Baltimore, who carried away 55 of her men to the Carnatick. Captain Phillips remained in expectation that nearly all the rest would be taken from him; but whether the commodore,

« السابقةمتابعة »