صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

A further knowledge of the ground, in the north-eastern and north-western angles of the United States, has evinced that the boundaries, established by the treaty of Paris, between the British territories and ours in those parts, were too imperfectly described to be susceptible of execution. It has therefore been thought worthy of attention, for preserving and cherishing the harmony and useful intercourse, subsisting between the two nations, to remove, by timely arrangements, what unfavourable incidents might otherwise render a ground of future misunderstanding. A convention has therefore been entered into, which provides for a practicable demarcation of those limits, to the satisfaction of both parties.

An account of the receipts and expenditures of the year ending 30th September last, with the estimates for the service of the ensuing year, will be laid before you by the Secretary of the Treasury, so soon as the receipts of the last quarter shall be returned from the more distant states. It is already ascertained that the amount paid into the treasury, for that year, has been between eleven and twelve millions of dollars, and that the revenue accrued during the same term, exceeds the sum counted on as sufficient for our current expenses, and to extinguish the publick debt within the period heretofore proposed.

The amount of debt paid, for the same year, is about 3,100,000 dollars, exclusive of interest, and making, with the payment of the preceding year, a discharge of more than eight millions and a half of dollars, of the principal of that debt, besides the accruing interest: and there remain in the treasury nearly six millions of dollars. Of these, 880,000 have been reserved for payment of the first instalment due under the British convention of January 8th, 1802, and two millions are what have been before mentioned as placed by Congress under the power and accountability of the President, towards the price of New Orleans and other territories acquired, which, remaining untouched, are still applicable to that object, and go in diminution of the sum to be funded for it.

Should the acquisition of Louisiana be constitutionally confirmed and carried into effect, a sum of nearly thirteen millions of dollars will then be added to our publick debt, most of which is payable after fifteen years; before which term the present existing debts will all be discharged by

the established operation of the sinking fund. When we contemplate the ordinary annual augmentation of impost, from increasing population and wealth, the augmentation of the same revenue, by its extension to the new acquisition, and the economies which may still be introduced into our publick expenditures, I cannot but hope that Congress, in reviewing their resources, will find means to meet the intermediate interest of this additional debt without recurring to new taxes: and applying to this object only the ordinary progression of our revenue, its extraordinary increase, in times of foreign war, will be the proper and sufficient fund for any measures of safety or precaution, which that state of things may render necessary, in our neutral position.

Remittances for the instalments of our foreign debt having been found practicable without loss, it has not been thought expedient to use the power, given by a former act of Congress, of continuing them by reloans, and of redeeming, instead thereof, equal sums of domestick debt, although no difficulty was found in obtaining that accommodation.

The sum of fifty thousand dollars, appropriated by Congress for providing gun boats, remains unexpended. The favourable and peaceable turn of affairs, on the Mississippi, rendered an immediate execution of that law unnecessary; and time was desirable, in order that the institution of that branch of our force might begin on models the most approved by experience. The same issue of events dispensed with a resort to the appropriation of a million and a half of dollars, contemplated for purposes which were effected by happier means.

We have seen with sincere concern the flames of war lighted up again in Europe, and nations, with which we have the most friendly and useful relations, engaged in mutual destruction. While we regret the miseries in which we see others involved, let us bow with gratitude to that kind Providence, which, inspiring with wisdom and moderation our late legislative councils, while placed under the urgency of the greatest wrongs, guarded us from hastily entering into the sanguinary contest, and left us only to look on, and to pity its ravages. These will be heaviest on those immediately engaged. Yet the nations pursuing peace, will not be exempt from all evil. In the course of this conflict, let it be our endeavour, as it is our interest

[blocks in formation]

and desire, to cultivate the friendship of the belligerent nations by every act of justice, and of innocent kindness; to receive their armed vessels with hospitality from the distresses of the sea, but to administer the means of annoyance to none; to establish in our harbours such a police as may maintain law and order; to restrain our citizens from embarking individually in a war, in which their country takes no part; to punish severely those persons, citizen or alien, who shall usurp the cover of our flag for vessels not entitled to it, infecting thereby with suspicion those of real Americans, and committing us into controversies for the redress of wrongs not our own; to exact from every nation the observance towards our vessels and citizens of those principles and practices which all civilized people acknowledge; to merit the character of a just nation, and maintain that of an independent one, preferring every consequence to insult and habitual wrong. Congress will consider whether the existing laws enable us, efficaciously, to maintain this course, with our citizens in all places, and with others, while within the limits of our jurisdiction; and will give them the new modifications necessary for these objects. Some contraventions of right have already taken place, both within our jurisdictional limits, and on the high seas. The friendly disposition of the governments from whose agents they have proceeded, as well as their wisdom and regard for justice, leave us in reasonable expectation, that they will be rectified and prevented in future; and that no act will be countenanced by them which threatens to disturb our friendly intercourse. Separated by a wide ocean from the nations of Europe, and from the political interests which entangle them together, with productions and wants which render our commerce and friendship useful to them, and theirs to us, it cannot be the interest of any to assail us, nor ours to disturb them. We should be most unwise indeed, were we to cast away the singular blessings of the position in which nature has placed us, the opportunity she has endowed us with, of pursu ing, at a distance from foreign contentions, the paths of industry, peace and happiness; of cultivating general friendship, and of bringing collisions of interest to the umpire of reason rather than of force. How desirable then must it be, in a government like ours, to see its citizens adopt individually the views, the interests and the conduct

which their country should pursue, divesting themselves of those passions and partialities which tend to lessen useful friendships, and to embarrass and embroil us in the calamitous scenes of Europe. Confident, fellow citizens, that you will duly estimate the importance of neutral dispositions towards the observance of neutral conduct, that you will be sensible how much it is our duty to look on the bloody arena spread before us with commiseration, indeed, but with no other wish than to see it closed, I am persuaded you will cordially cherish these dispositions, in all discussions among yourselves, and in all communications with your constituents; and I anticipate with satisfaction the measures of wisdom which the great interests, now committed to you, will give you an opportunity of providing, and myself that of approving and of carrying into execution with the fidelity I owe to my country.

TH: JEFFERSON.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CON

IN

GRESS. ост. 21, 1803.

my communications to you, of the 17th instant, 1 informed you that conventions had been entered into with the government of France for the cession of Louisiana to the United States. These with the advice and consent of the Senate, having now been ratified, and my ratification exchanged for that of the first consul of France in due form, they are communicated to you for consideration in your legislative capacity. You will observe that some important conditions cannot be carried into execution, but with the aid of the legislature; and that time presses a decision on them without delay.

The ulterior provisions, also suggested in the same communication, for the occupation and government of the country, will call for early attention. Such information, relative to its government, as time and distance have permitted me to obtain, will be ready to be laid before you within a few days. But as permanent arrangements for

this object may require time and deliberation, it is for your consideration whether you will not forthwith make such temporary provisions for the preservation, in the mean while, of order and tranquillity in the country, as the case may require.

TH: JEFFERSON.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO CONVENTION WITH GREAT BRITAIN RESPECTING BOUN

[blocks in formation]
« السابقةمتابعة »