THE

HE public papers which we present to our readers in this volume, though few in number, are of great interest and importance. They consist,

1. Of the speech of the president of the United States at the opening of congress. This speech is distinguished by profound and comprehensive, as well as just and liberal, views of the policy of the United States-by good sense and moderation; and the picture which it draws of the rising prosperity of the United States, is uncommonly flattering, and, we have no doubt, ac

curate.

2. The finance accounts of Great Britain and of Ireland for the year ending 5th January 1817. These accounts have never before appeared in our volumes; though no papers have a stronger claim to insertion in an Annual Register. We hoped to have been able to have given also the finance accounts for the year ending 5th January 1818; but, in consequence of the consolidation of the British and Irish finances, they have not yet been prepared.

3. The report on the poor-laws. The state of the poor, the consequences of the poor-laws, and the amount of the poor-rates, constitute the besetting evil of England. No apology, therefore, seems necessary

We for giving this report entire. have also added that part of the appendix which gives an account of the state of the poor, and the mode of supporting them, in Scotland. What a contrast to the report respecting the English poor, and poorlaws and rates!

Washington, Dec. 2.

This day the president of the United States transmitted to both

houses of congress the following message:

Fellow citizens of the senate, and

of the house of representatives, At no period of our political existence had we so much cause to fe licitate ourselves at the prosperous and happy condition of our counttry. The abundant fruits of the earth have filled it with plenty. An extensive and profitable commerce has greatly augmented our reve

nue.

The public credit has attained an extraordinary elevation. Our preparations for defence in case of future wars, from which, by the experience of all nations, we ought not to expect to be exempted, are advancing under a well-digested system, with all the dispatch which so important a work will admit. Our free government, founded on the interest and affections of the people, has gained and is daily gaining strength. Local jealousies are rapidly yielding to more gene.

rous,

rous, enlarged, and enlightened views of national policy. For advantages so numerous and highly important, it is our duty to unite in grateful acknowledgements to that Omnipotent Being from whom they are derived, and in unceasing prayer that he will endow us with virtue and strength to maintain and hand them down, in their utmost purity, to our latest posterity.

I have the satisfaction to inform you, that an arrangement, which had been commenced by my predecessor with the British govern ment, for the reduction of the naval force by Great Britain and the United States on the Lakes, has been concluded; by which it is provided, that neither party shall keep in service on Lake Champlain more than one vessel; on Lake Ontario more than one; and on Lake Erie and the Upper Lakes more than two; to be armed each with one cannon only;-and that all the other armed vessels of both parties, of which an exact list is interchanged, shall be dismantled. It is also agreed, that the force retained shall be restricted in its duty to the internal purposes of each party; and that the arrangement shall remain in force until six months shall have expired, after notice given by one of the parties to the other of its desire that it should terminate. By this arrangement, useless expense on both sides, and, what is still of greater importance, the danger of collision between armed vessels in those inland waters, which was great, is prevented.

I have the satisfaction also to state, that the commissioners under the fourth article of the treaty of Ghent, to whom it was referred to decide to which party the several islands in the bay of Passamaquody belonged, under the treaty of 1783,

have agreed in a report, by which all the islands in the possession of each party before the late war have been decreed to it. The commissioners acting under the other article of the treaty of Ghent, for the settlement of the boundaries, have also been engaged in the discharge of their respective duties, but have not yet completed them. The difference which arose between the two governments under that treaty, respecting the right of the United States to take and cure fish on the coast of the British provinces north of our limits, which had been secured by the treaty of 1783, is still in negotiation. The proposition made by this government, to extend to the colonies of Great Britain the principle of the convention of London, by which the commerce be tween the ports of the United States and British ports in Europe had been placed on a foot of equality, has been declined by the British government. This subject having been thus amicably discussed be tween the two governments, and it appearing that the British govern ment is unwilling to depart from its present regulations, it remains for congress to decide whether they will make any other regulations, in consequence thereof, for the protection and improvement of our navigation.

The negotiation with Spain, for spoliations on our commerce, and the settlement of boundaries, remains, essentially, in the state it held, by the communications that were made to congress by my predecessor. It has been evidently the policy of the Spanish government to keep the negotiation suspended; and in this the United States have acquiesced, from an amicable disposition towards Spain, and in the expectation that her government

would,

would, from a sense of justice, finally accede to such an arrange. ment as would be equal between the parties. A disposition has been lately shown by the Spanish government to move in the negotiation, which has been met by this government; and, should the conciliatory and friendly policy which has invariably guided our councils be reciprocated, a just and satisfactory arrangement may be expected. It is proper, however, to remark, that no proposition has yet been made, from which such a result can be presumed.

It was anticipated, at an early stage, that the contest between Spain and her colonies would be come highly interesting to the United States. It was natural that our citizens should sympathize in events which affected their neighbours. It seemed probable, also, that the prosecution of the conflict along our coast, and in contiguous countries, would occasionally interrupt our commerce, and otherwise affect the persons and property of our citizens. These anticipations have been realized. Such injuries have been received from persons acting under the authority of both the parties, and for which redress has in most instances been with, held. Through every stage of the conflict, the United States have maintained an impartial neutrality, giving aid to neither of the parties in men, money, ships or munitions of war. They have regarded the contest, not in the light of an ordinary insurrection or rebellion, but as a civil war between parties nearly equal, having, as to neutral powers, equal rights. Our ports have been open to both, and every article, the fruit of our soil or of the industry of our citizens, which either was permitted to take, has

been equally free to the other. Should the colonies establish their independence, it is proper now to state, that this government neither seeks nor would accept from them any advantage, in commerce or otherwise, which would not be equally open to all other nations. The colonies will, in that event, become independent states, free from any obligation to or connection with us, which it may not then be their interest to form on the basis of a fair reciprocity.

In the summer of the present year an expedition was set on foot against East Florida, by persons claiming to act under the authority of some of the colonies, who took possession of Amelia Island, at the mouth of St. Mary's river, near the boundary of the state of Georgia. As this province lies east of the Mississippi, and is bounded by the United States and the ocean on every side, and has been a subject of negotiation with the government of Spain as an indemnity for losses by spoliation or in exchange for territory of equal value westward of the Mississippi, a fact well known to the world, it excited surprise that any countenance should be given to this measure by any of the colonies. As it would be difficult to reconcile it with the friendly relations existing between the United States and the colonies, a doubt was entertained whether it had been authorized by them or any of them. This doubt has gained strength by the circumstances which have unfolded themselves in the prosecution of the enterprise, which have marked it as a mere private unauthorized adventure. Projected and commenced with an incompetent force, reliance seems to have been placed on what might be drawn, in defiance of our laws, from within

our

our limits; and of late, as their resources have failed, it has assumed a more marked character of unfriendliness to us,-the island being made a channel for the illicit introduction of slaves from Africa into the United States, an asylum for fugitive slaves from the neighbouring states, and a port for smuggling of every kind.

A similar establishment was made, at an earlier period, by persons of the same description, in the gulph of Mexico, at a place called Galvestown, within the limits of the United States, as we contend, under the cession of Louisiana. This enterprise has been marked, in a more signal manner, by all the objection able circumstances which characterized the other; and more particularly by the equipment of privateers, which have annoyed our commerce, and by smuggling. These establishments, if ever sanctioned by any authority whatever, which is not believed, have abused their trust, and forfeited all claim to consideration. A just regard for the rights and interests of the United States required that they should be suppressed; and orders have accordingly issued to that effect. The imperious considerations which produced this measure will be explained to the parties whom it may, in any degree, concern.

To obtain correct information on every subject in which the United States are interested; to inspire just sentiments in all persons in authority, on either side, of our friendly disposition, so far as it may comport with an impartial neutrality; and to secure proper respect to our commerce in every port, and from every flag, it has been thought proper to send a ship of war, with three distinguished citizens, along the southern coast, with instruction to

touch at such ports as they may find most expedient for these purposes. With the existing authori ties, with those in the possession of and exercising the sovereignty, must the comunication be held: from them alone can redress for past injuries, committed by persons acting under them, be obtained; by them alone can the commission of the like in future be prevented.

Our relations with the other powers of Europe have experienced no material change since the last session. In our intercourse with each, due attention continues to be paid to the protection of our commerce, and to every other object in which the United States are interested. A strong hope is entertained, that by adhering to the maxims of a just,a candid, and friendly policy, we may long preserve amicable relations with all the powers of Europe, on conditions advantageous and honourable to our country.

With the Barbary states and Indian tribes our pacific relations have been preserved.

In calling your attention to the internal concerns of our country, the view which they exhibit is peculiarly gratifying. The payments which have been made into the treasury show the very productive state of the public revenue. After satisfying the appropriations made by law for the support of the civil government and of the military and naval establishments, embracing suitable provision for fortifications and for the gradual increase of the navy, paying the interest of the public debt, and extinguishing more than eighteen millions of the principal within the present year, it is estimated that a balance of more than six millions of dollars will remain in the treasury on the first

day

day of January, applicable to the current service of the ensuing year. The payments into the treasury during the year 1818, on account of imposts and tonnage, resulting principally from duties which have accrued in the present year, may be fairly estimated at twenty millions of dollars; internal revenues, at 2,500,000; public lands, at 1,500,000; bank dividends and incidental receipts, at 500,000: making in the whole, 24,500,000 dollars.

The annual permanent expenditure for the support of the civil government, and of the army and navy, as now established by law, amounts to 11,800,000 dollars; and for the sinking fund, to 10,000,000: making in the whole, 21,800,000 dollars; leaving an annual excess of revenue beyond the expenditure of 2,700,000 dollars, exclusive of the balance estimated to be in the treasury on the first day of January 1818.

In the present state of the treasury, the whole of the Louisiana debt may be redeemed in the year 1819; after which, if the public debt continues as it now is, above par, there will be annually about five millions of the sinking fund unexpended until the year 1825, when the loan of 1812, and the stock created by funding treasury notes, will be redeemable.

It is also estimated that the Mississippi stock will be discharged, during the year 1819, from the proceeds of the public lands assigned to that object; after which, the receipts from those lands will annually add to the public revenue the sum of 1,500,000 dollars, making the permanent annual revenue amount to twenty-six millions of dollars, and leaving an annual excess of revenue, after the year 1819,

beyond the permanent authorized expenditure, of more than four millions of dollars.

By the last returns from the department of war, the militia force of the several states may be esti mated at 800,000 men, infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Great part of this force is armed, and measures are taken to arm the whole. An improvement in the organization and discipline of the militia is one of the great objects which claims the unremitted attention of congress.

The regular force amounts nearly to the number required by law, and is stationed along the Atlantic and inland frontiers.

Of the naval force, it has been necessary to maintain strong squadrons in the Mediterranean and in the Gulf of Mexico.

From several of the Indian tribes inhabiting the country bordering on Lake Erie, purchases have been made of lands, on conditions very favourable to the United States, and, as it is presumed, not less so to the tribes themselves. By these purchases, the Indian title, with moderate reservation, has been extinguished in the whole of the land within the limits of the state of Ohio, and to a great part of that in the Michigan territory, and of the state of Indiana. From the Cherokee tribe a tract has been purchased in the state of Georgia, and an arrangement made, by which, in exchange for lands beyond the Mississippi, a great part, if not the whole of the land belonging to that tribe, eastward of that river, in the states of North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, and in the Albama territory, will soon be acquired. By these acquisitions, and others that may reasonably be expected soon to follow, we shall be enabled to

extend