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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Compilation of Messages and Letters of
+the Presidents, by Editor: James D. Richardson
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Compilation of Messages and Letters of the Presidents
+       2nd section (of 3) of Volume 2: John Quincy Adams
+
+Author: Editor: James D. Richardson
+
+Release Date: January 30, 2004 [EBook #10879]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Gundry and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
+
+
+John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, eldest son of
+John Adams, second President, was born at Braintree, Mass., July 11,
+1767. He enjoyed peculiar and rare advantages for education. In
+childhood he was instructed by his mother, a granddaughter of Colonel
+John Quincy, and a woman of superior talents. In 1778, when only 11
+years old, he accompanied his father to France; attended a school in
+Paris, and returned home in August, 1779. Having been taken again to
+Europe by his father in 1780, he pursued his studies at the University
+of Leyden, where he learned Latin and Greek. In July, 1781, at the age
+of 14, he was appointed private secretary to Francis Dana, minister to
+Russia. He remained at St. Petersburg until October, 1782, after which
+he resumed his studies at The Hague. Was present at the signing of the
+definitive treaty of peace in Paris, September 3, 1783. He passed some
+months with his father in London, and returned to the United States to
+complete his education, entering Harvard College in 1786 and graduating
+in 1788. He studied law with the celebrated Theophilus Parsons, of
+Newburyport; was admitted to the bar in 1791, and began to practice in
+Boston. In 1791 he published in the Boston Centinel, under the signature
+of "Publicola," a series of able essays, in which he exposed the
+fallacies and vagaries of the French political reformers. These papers
+attracted much attention in Europe and the United States. Under the
+signature of "Marcellus" he wrote, in 1793, several articles, in which
+he argued that the United States should observe strict neutrality in the
+war between the French and the British. These writings commended him to
+the favor of Washington, and he was appointed minister to Holland in
+May, 1794. In July, 1797, he married Louisa Catherine Johnson, a
+daughter of Joshua Johnson, of Maryland, who was then American consul at
+London. In a letter dated February 20, 1797, Washington commended him
+highly to the elder Adams, and advised the President elect not to
+withhold promotion from him because he was his son. He was accordingly
+appointed minister to Berlin in 1797. He negotiated a treaty of amity
+and commerce with the Prussian Government, and was recalled about
+February, 1801. He was elected a Senator of the United States by the
+Federalists of Massachusetts for the term beginning March, 1803. In 1805
+he was appointed professor of rhetoric and belles-lettres at Harvard
+College, and accepted on condition that he should be permitted to attend
+to his Senatorial duties. He offended the Federalists by supporting
+Jefferson's embargo act, which was passed in December, 1807, and thus
+became connected with the Democratic party. He resigned his seat in the
+Senate in March, 1808, declining to serve for the remainder of the term
+rather than obey the instructions of the Federalists. In March, 1809, he
+was appointed by President Madison minister to Russia. During his
+residence in that country he was nominated to be an associate justice of
+the Supreme Court of the United States, and confirmed February, 1811;
+but he declined the appointment. In 1813 Adams, Bayard, Clay, Russell,
+and Gallatin were appointed commissioners to negotiate a treaty of peace
+with Great Britain. They met the British diplomatists at Ghent, and
+after a protracted negotiation of six months signed a treaty of peace
+December 24, 1814. In the spring of 1815 he was appointed minister to
+the Court of St. James, remaining there until he was appointed by Mr.
+Monroe Secretary of State in 1817. In 1824 Adams, Jackson, Crawford, and
+Clay were candidates for the Presidency. Neither of the candidates
+having received a majority in the electoral colleges, the election
+devolved on the House of Representatives. Aided by the influence of
+Henry Clay, Mr. Adams received the votes of thirteen States, and was
+elected. He was defeated for reelection in 1828 by General Andrew
+Jackson. On the 4th of March, 1829, he retired to his estate at Quincy.
+In 1830 he was elected to Congress, and took his seat in December, 1831.
+He continued to represent his native district for seventeen years,
+during which time he was constantly at his post. On the 21st of
+February, 1848, while in his seat at the Capitol, he was stricken with
+paralysis, and died on the 23d of that month. He was buried at Quincy,
+Mass.
+
+
+
+
+NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION.
+
+
+Mr. Webster, from the committee appointed for that purpose yesterday,
+reported that the committee had waited on John Quincy Adams, of
+Massachusetts, and had notified him that in the recent election of a
+President of the United States, no person having received a majority of
+the votes of all the electors appointed, and the choice having
+consequently devolved upon the House of Representatives, that House,
+proceeding in the manner prescribed by the Constitution, did yesterday
+choose him to be President of the United States for four years,
+commencing on the 4th day of March next, and that the committee had
+received a written answer, which he presented to the House. Mr. Webster
+also reported that in further performance of its duty the committee had
+given the information of this election to the President.
+
+February 10, 1825.
+
+
+
+
+Reply of the President Elect.
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 10, 1825_.
+
+
+Gentlemen:
+
+In receiving this testimonial from the Representatives of the people and
+States of this Union I am deeply sensible to the circumstances under
+which it has been given. All my predecessors in the high station to
+which the favor of the House now calls me have been honored with
+majorities of the electoral voices in their primary colleges. It has
+been my fortune to be placed by the divisions of sentiment prevailing
+among our countrymen on this occasion in competition, friendly and
+honorable, with three of my fellow-citizens, all justly enjoying in
+eminent degrees the public favor, and of whose worth, talents, and
+services no one entertains a higher and more respectful sense than
+myself. The names of two of them were, in the fulfillment of the
+provisions of the Constitution, presented to the selection of the House
+in concurrence with my own--names closely associated with the glory of
+the nation, and one of them further recommended by a larger minority of
+the primary electoral suffrages than mine.
+
+In this state of things, could my refusal to accept the trust thus
+delegated to me give an immediate opportunity to the people to form and
+to express with a nearer approach to unanimity the object of their
+preference, I should not hesitate to decline the acceptance of this
+eminent charge and to submit the decision of this momentous question
+again to their determination. But the Constitution itself has not so
+disposed of the contingency which would arise in the event of my
+refusal. I shall therefore repair to the post assigned me by the call of
+my country, signified through her constitutional organs, oppressed with
+the magnitude of the task before me, but cheered with the hope of that
+generous support from my fellow-citizens which, in the vicissitudes of a
+life devoted to their service, has never failed to sustain me, confident
+in the trust that the wisdom of the legislative councils will guide and
+direct me in the path of my official duty, and relying above all upon
+the superintending providence of that Being in whose hands our breath is
+and whose are all our ways.
+
+Gentlemen, I pray you to make acceptable to the House the assurance of
+my profound gratitude for their confidence, and to accept yourselves my
+thanks for the friendly terms in which you have communicated to me their
+decision.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+Letter from the President Elect.
+
+
+City of Washington,
+_March 1, 1825_
+
+
+The President of the Senate of the United States.
+
+
+
+Sir:
+
+I ask the favor of you to inform the honorable Senate of the United
+States that I propose to take the oath prescribed by the Constitution to
+the President of the United States before he enters on the execution of
+his office, on Friday, the 4th instant, at 12 o'clock, in the Hall of
+the House of Representatives.
+
+I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir, your very humble
+and obedient servant,
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
+
+
+In compliance with an usage coeval with the existence of our Federal
+Constitution, and sanctioned by the example of my predecessors in the
+career upon which I am about to enter, I appear, my fellow-citizens, in
+your presence and in that of Heaven to bind myself by the solemnities of
+religious obligation to the faithful performance of the duties allotted
+to me in the station to which I have been called.
+
+In unfolding to my countrymen the principles by which I shall be
+governed in the fulfillment of those duties my first resort will be to
+that Constitution which I shall swear to the best of my ability to
+preserve, protect, and defend. That revered instrument enumerates the
+powers and prescribes the duties of the Executive Magistrate, and in its
+first words declares the purposes to which these and the whole action of
+the Government instituted by it should be invariably and sacredly
+devoted--to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure
+domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the
+general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to the people of
+this Union in their successive generations. Since the adoption of this
+social compact one of these generations has passed away. It is the work
+of our forefathers. Administered by some of the most eminent men who
+contributed to its formation, through a most eventful period in the
+annals of the world, and through all the vicissitudes of peace and war
+incidental to the condition of associated man, it has not disappointed
+the hopes and aspirations of those illustrious benefactors of their age
+and nation. It has promoted the lasting welfare of that country so dear
+to us all; it has to an extent far beyond the ordinary lot of humanity
+secured the freedom and happiness of this people. We now receive it as a
+precious inheritance from those to whom we are indebted for its
+establishment, doubly bound by the examples which they have left us and
+by the blessings which we have enjoyed as the fruits of their labors to
+transmit the same unimpaired to the succeeding generation.
+
+In the compass of thirty-six years since this great national covenant
+was instituted a body of laws enacted under its authority and in
+conformity with its provisions has unfolded its powers and carried into
+practical operation its effective energies. Subordinate departments have
+distributed the executive functions in their various relations to
+foreign affairs, to the revenue and expenditures, and to the military
+force of the Union by land and sea. A coordinate department of the
+judiciary has expounded the Constitution and the laws, settling in
+harmonious coincidence with the legislative will numerous weighty
+questions of construction which the imperfection of human language had
+rendered unavoidable. The year of jubilee since the first formation of
+our Union has just elapsed; that of the declaration of our independence
+is at hand. The consummation of both was effected by this Constitution.
+
+Since that period a population of four millions has multiplied to
+twelve. A territory bounded by the Mississippi has been extended from
+sea to sea. New States have been admitted to the Union in numbers nearly
+equal to those of the first Confederation. Treaties of peace, amity, and
+commerce have been concluded with the principal dominions of the earth.
+The people of other nations, inhabitants of regions acquired not by
+conquest, but by compact, have been united with us in the participation
+of our rights and duties, of our burdens and blessings. The forest has
+fallen by the ax of our woodsmen; the soil has been made to teem by the
+tillage of our farmers; our commerce has whitened every ocean. The
+dominion of man over physical nature has been extended by the invention
+of our artists. Liberty and law have marched hand in hand. All the
+purposes of human association have been accomplished as effectively as
+under any other government on the globe, and at a cost little exceeding
+in a whole generation the expenditure of other nations in a single year.
+
+Such is the unexaggerated picture of our condition under a Constitution
+founded upon the republican principle of equal rights. To admit that
+this picture has its shades is but to say that it is still the condition
+of men upon earth. From evil--physical, moral, and political--it is not
+our claim to be exempt. We have suffered sometimes by the visitation of
+Heaven through disease; often by the wrongs and injustice of other
+nations, even to the extremities of war; and, lastly, by dissensions
+among ourselves--dissensions perhaps inseparable from the enjoyment of
+freedom, but which have more than once appeared to threaten the
+dissolution of the Union, and with it the overthrow of all the
+enjoyments of our present lot and all our earthly hopes of the future.
+The causes of these dissensions have been various, founded upon
+differences of speculation in the theory of republican government; upon
+conflicting views of policy in our relations with foreign nations; upon
+jealousies of partial and sectional interests, aggravated by prejudices
+and prepossessions which strangers to each other are ever apt to
+entertain.
+
+It is a source of gratification and of encouragement to me to observe
+that the great result of this experiment upon the theory of human rights
+has at the close of that generation by which it was formed been crowned
+with success equal to the most sanguine expectations of its founders.
+Union, justice, tranquillity, the common defense, the general welfare,
+and the blessings of liberty--all have been promoted by the Government
+under which we have lived. Standing at this point of time, looking back
+to that generation which has gone by and forward to that which is
+advancing, we may at once indulge in grateful exultation and in cheering
+hope. From the experience of the past we derive instructive lessons for
+the future. Of the two great political parties which have divided the
+opinions and feelings of our country, the candid and the just will now
+admit that both have contributed splendid talents, spotless integrity,
+ardent patriotism, and disinterested sacrifices to the formation and
+administration of this Government, and that both have required a liberal
+indulgence for a portion of human infirmity and error. The revolutionary
+wars of Europe, commencing precisely at the moment when the Government
+of the United States first went into operation under this Constitution,
+excited a collision of sentiments and of sympathies which kindled all
+the passions and imbittered the conflict of parties till the nation was
+involved in war and the Union was shaken to its center. This time of
+trial embraced a period of five and twenty years, during which the
+policy of the Union in its relations with Europe constituted the
+principal basis of our political divisions and the most arduous part of
+the action of our Federal Government. With the catastrophe in which the
+wars of the French Revolution terminated, and our own subsequent peace
+with Great Britain, this baneful weed of party strife was uprooted. From
+that time no difference of principle, connected either with the theory
+of government or with our intercourse with foreign nations, has existed
+or been called forth in force sufficient to sustain a continued
+combination of parties or to give more than wholesome animation to
+public sentiment or legislative debate. Our political creed is, without
+a dissenting voice that can be heard, that the will of the people is the
+source and the happiness of the people the end of all legitimate
+government upon earth; that the best security for the beneficence and
+the best guaranty against the abuse of power consists in the freedom,
+the purity, and the frequency of popular elections; that the General
+Government of the Union and the separate governments of the States are
+all sovereignties of limited powers, fellow-servants of the same
+masters, uncontrolled within their respective spheres, uncontrollable by
+encroachments upon each other; that the firmest security of peace is the
+preparation during peace of the defenses of war; that a rigorous economy
+and accountability of public expenditures should guard against the
+aggravation and alleviate when possible the burden of taxation; that the
+military should be kept in strict subordination to the civil power; that
+the freedom of the press and of religious opinion should be inviolate;
+that the policy of our country is peace and the ark of our salvation
+union are articles of faith upon which we are all now agreed. If there
+have been those who doubted whether a confederated representative
+democracy were a government competent to the wise and orderly management
+of the common concerns of a mighty nation, those doubts have been
+dispelled; if there have been projects of partial confederacies to be
+erected upon the ruins of the Union, they have been scattered to the
+winds; if there have been dangerous attachments to one foreign nation
+and antipathies against another, they have been extinguished. Ten years
+of peace, at home and abroad, have assuaged the animosities of political
+contention and blended into harmony the most discordant elements of
+public opinion. There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one
+sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals
+throughout the nation who have heretofore followed the standards of
+political party. It is that of discarding every remnant of rancor
+against each other, of embracing as countrymen and friends, and of
+yielding to talents and virtue alone that confidence which in times of
+contention for principle was bestowed only upon those who bore the badge
+of party communion.
+
+The collisions of party spirit which originate in speculative opinions
+or in different views of administrative policy are in their nature
+transitory. Those which are founded on geographical divisions, adverse
+interests of soil, climate, and modes of domestic life are more
+permanent, and therefore, perhaps, more dangerous. It is this which
+gives inestimable value to the character of our Government, at once
+federal and national. It holds out to us a perpetual admonition to
+preserve alike and with equal anxiety the rights of each individual
+State in its own government and the rights of the whole nation in that
+of the Union. Whatsoever is of domestic concernment, unconnected with
+the other members of the Union or with foreign lands, belongs
+exclusively to the administration of the State governments. Whatsoever
+directly involves the rights and interests of the federative fraternity
+or of foreign powers is of the resort of this General Government. The
+duties of both are obvious in the general principle, though sometimes
+perplexed with difficulties in the detail. To respect the rights of the
+State governments is the inviolable duty of that of the Union; the
+government of every State will feel its own obligation to respect and
+preserve the rights of the whole. The prejudices everywhere too commonly
+entertained against distant strangers are worn away, and the jealousies
+of jarring interests are allayed by the composition and functions of the
+great national councils annually assembled from all quarters of the
+Union at this place. Here the distinguished men from every section of
+our country, while meeting to deliberate upon the great interests of
+those by whom they are deputed, learn to estimate the talents and do
+justice to the virtues of each other. The harmony of the nation is
+promoted and the whole Union is knit together by the sentiments of
+mutual respect, the habits of social intercourse, and the ties of
+personal friendship formed between the representatives of its several
+parts in the performance of their service at this metropolis.
+
+Passing from this general review of the purposes and injunctions of the
+Federal Constitution and their results as indicating the first traces of
+the path of duty in the discharge of my public trust, I turn to the
+administration of my immediate predecessor as the second. It has passed
+away in a period of profound peace, how much to the satisfaction of our
+country and to the honor of our country's name is known to you all. The
+great features of its policy, in general concurrence with the will of
+the Legislature, have been to cherish peace while preparing for
+defensive war; to yield exact justice to other nations and maintain the
+rights of our own; to cherish the principles of freedom and of equal
+rights wherever they were proclaimed; to discharge with all possible
+promptitude the national debt; to reduce within the narrowest limits of
+efficiency the military force; to improve the organization and
+discipline of the Army; to provide and sustain a school of military
+science; to extend equal protection to all the great interests of the
+nation; to promote the civilization of the Indian tribes, and to proceed
+in the great system of internal improvements within the limits of the
+constitutional power of the Union. Under the pledge of these promises,
+made by that eminent citizen at the time of his first induction to this
+office, in his career of eight years the internal taxes have been
+repealed; sixty millions of the public debt have been discharged;
+provision has been made for the comfort and relief of the aged and
+indigent among the surviving warriors of the Revolution; the regular
+armed force has been reduced and its constitution revised and perfected;
+the accountability for the expenditure of public moneys has been made
+more effective; the Floridas have been peaceably acquired, and our
+boundary has been extended to the Pacific Ocean; the independence of the
+southern nations of this hemisphere has been recognized, and recommended
+by example and by counsel to the potentates of Europe; progress has been
+made in the defense of the country by fortifications and the increase of
+the Navy, toward the effectual suppression of the African traffic in
+slaves, in alluring the aboriginal hunters of our land to the
+cultivation of the soil and of the mind, in exploring the interior
+regions of the Union, and in preparing by scientific researches and
+surveys for the further application of our national resources to the
+internal improvement of our country.
+
+In this brief outline of the promise and performance of my immediate
+predecessor the line of duty for his successor is clearly delineated. To
+pursue to their consummation those purposes of improvement in our common
+condition instituted or recommended by him will embrace the whole sphere
+of my obligations. To the topic of internal improvement, emphatically
+urged by him at his inauguration, I recur with peculiar satisfaction. It
+is that from which I am convinced that the unborn millions of our
+posterity who are in future ages to people this continent will derive
+their most fervent gratitude to the founders of the Union; that in which
+the beneficent action of its Government will be most deeply felt and
+acknowledged. The magnificence and splendor of their public works are
+among the imperishable glories of the ancient republics. The roads and
+aqueducts of Rome have been the admiration of all after ages, and have
+survived thousands of years after all her conquests have been swallowed
+up in despotism or become the spoil of barbarians. Some diversity of
+opinion has prevailed with regard to the powers of Congress for
+legislation upon objects of this nature. The most respectful deference
+is due to doubts originating in pure patriotism and sustained by
+venerated authority. But nearly twenty years have passed since the
+construction of the first national road was commenced. The authority for
+its construction was then unquestioned. To how many thousands of our
+countrymen has it proved a benefit? To what single individual has it
+ever proved an injury? Repeated, liberal, and candid discussions in the
+Legislature have conciliated the sentiments and approximated the
+opinions of enlightened minds upon the question of constitutional power.
+I can not but hope that by the same process of friendly, patient, and
+persevering deliberation all constitutional objections will ultimately
+be removed. The extent and limitation of the powers of the General
+Government in relation to this transcendently important interest will be
+settled and acknowledged to the common satisfaction of all, and every
+speculative scruple will be solved by a practical public blessing.
+
+Fellow-citizens, you are acquainted with the peculiar circumstances of
+the recent election, which have resulted in affording me the opportunity
+of addressing you at this time. You have heard the exposition of the
+principles which will direct me in the fulfillment of the high and
+solemn trust imposed upon me in this station. Less possessed of your
+confidence in advance than any of my predecessors, I am deeply conscious
+of the prospect that I shall stand more and oftener in heed of your
+indulgence. Intentions upright and pure, a heart devoted to the welfare
+of our country, and the unceasing application of all the faculties
+allotted to me to her service are all the pledges that I can give for
+the faithful performance of the arduous duties I am to undertake. To the
+guidance of the legislative councils, to the assistance of the executive
+and subordinate departments, to the friendly cooperation of the
+respective State governments, to the candid and liberal support of the
+people so far as it may be deserved by honest industry and zeal, I shall
+look for whatever success may attend my public service; and knowing that
+"except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain," with
+fervent supplications for His favor, to His overruling providence I
+commit with humble but fearless confidence my own fate and the future
+destinies of my country.
+
+March 4, 1825.
+
+
+
+
+FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE.
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 6, 1825_.
+
+
+_Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_:
+
+In taking a general survey of the concerns of our beloved country, with
+reference to subjects interesting to the common welfare, the first
+sentiment which impresses itself upon the mind is of gratitude to the
+Omnipotent Disposer of All Good for the continuance of the signal
+blessings of His providence, and especially for that health which to an
+unusual extent has prevailed within our borders, and for that abundance
+which in the vicissitudes of the seasons has been scattered with
+profusion over our land. Nor ought we less to ascribe to Him the glory
+that we are permitted to enjoy the bounties of His hand in peace and
+tranquillity--in peace with all the other nations of the earth, in
+tranquillity among ourselves. There has, indeed, rarely been a period in
+the history of civilized man in which the general condition of the
+Christian nations has been marked so extensively by peace and
+prosperity.
+
+Europe, with a few partial and unhappy exceptions, has enjoyed ten years
+of peace, during which all her Governments, whatever the theory of their
+constitutions may have been, are successively taught to feel that the
+end of their institution is the happiness of the people, and that the
+exercise of power among men can be justified only by the blessings it
+confers upon those over whom it is extended.
+
+During the same period our intercourse with all those nations has been
+pacific and friendly; it so continues. Since the close of your last
+session no material variation has occurred in our relations with any one
+of them. In the commercial and navigation system of Great Britain
+important changes of municipal regulation have recently been sanctioned
+by acts of Parliament, the effect of which upon the interests of other
+nations, and particularly upon ours, has not yet been fully developed.
+In the recent renewal of the diplomatic missions on both sides between
+the two Governments assurances have been given and received of the
+continuance and increase of the mutual confidence and cordiality by
+which the adjustment of many points of difference had already been
+effected, and which affords the surest pledge for the ultimate
+satisfactory adjustment of those which still remain open or may
+hereafter arise.
+
+The policy of the United States in their commercial intercourse with
+other nations has always been of the most liberal character. In the
+mutual exchange of their respective productions they have abstained
+altogether from prohibitions; they have interdicted themselves the power
+of laying taxes upon exports, and whenever they have favored their own
+shipping by special preferences or exclusive privileges in their own
+ports it has been only with a view to countervail similar favors and
+exclusions granted by the nations with whom we have been engaged in
+traffic to their own people or shipping, and to the disadvantage of
+ours. Immediately after the close of the last war a proposal was fairly
+made by the act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1815, to all the
+maritime nations to lay aside the system of retaliating restrictions and
+exclusions, and to place the shipping of both parties to the common
+trade on a footing of equality in respect to the duties of tonnage and
+impost. This offer was partially and successively accepted by Great
+Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Hanseatic cities, Prussia,
+Sardinia, the Duke of Oldenburg, and Russia. It was also adopted, under
+certain modifications, in our late commercial convention with France,
+and by the act of Congress of the 8th January, 1824, it has received a
+new confirmation with all the nations who had acceded to it, and has
+been offered again to all those who are or may hereafter be willing to
+abide in reciprocity by it. But all these regulations, whether
+established by treaty or by municipal enactments, are still subject to
+one important restriction.
+
+The removal of discriminating duties of tonnage and of impost is limited
+to articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the country to
+which the vessel belongs or to such articles as are most usually first
+shipped from her ports. It will deserve the serious consideration of
+Congress whether even this remnant of restriction may not be safely
+abandoned, and whether the general tender of equal competition made in
+the act of 8th January, 1824, may not be extended to include all
+articles of merchandise not prohibited, of what country soever they may
+be the produce or manufacture. Propositions to this effect have already
+been made to us by more than one European Government, and it is probable
+that if once established by legislation or compact with any
+distinguished maritime state it would recommend itself by the experience
+of its advantages to the general accession of all.
+
+The convention of commerce and navigation between the United States and
+France, concluded on the 24th of June, 1822, was, in the understanding
+and intent of both parties, as appears upon its face, only a temporary
+arrangement of the points of difference between them of the most
+immediate and pressing urgency. It was limited in the first instance to
+two years from the 1st of October, 1822, but with a proviso that it
+should further continue in force till the conclusion of a general and
+definitive treaty of commerce, unless terminated by a notice, six months
+in advance, of either of the parties to the other. Its operation so far
+as it extended has been mutually advantageous, and it still continues in
+force by common consent. But it left unadjusted several objects of great
+interest to the citizens and subjects of both countries, and
+particularly a mass of claims to considerable amount of citizens of the
+United States upon the Government of France of indemnity for property
+taken or destroyed under circumstances of the most aggravated and
+outrageous character. In the long period during which continual and
+earnest appeals have been made to the equity and magnanimity of France
+in behalf of these claims their justice has not been, as it could not
+be, denied. It was hoped that the accession of a new Sovereign to the
+throne would have afforded a favorable opportunity for presenting them
+to the consideration of his Government. They have been presented and
+urged hitherto without effect. The repeated and earnest representations
+of our minister at the Court of France remain as yet even without an
+answer. Were the demands of nations upon the justice of each other
+susceptible of adjudication by the sentence of an impartial tribunal,
+those to which I now refer would long since have been settled and
+adequate indemnity would have been obtained. There are large amounts of
+similar claims upon the Netherlands, Naples and Denmark. For those upon
+Spain prior to 1819 indemnity was, after many years of patient
+forbearance, obtained; and those upon Sweden have been lately
+compromised by a private settlement, in which the claimants themselves
+have acquiesced. The Governments of Denmark and of Naples have been
+recently reminded of those yet existing against them, nor will any of
+them be forgotten while a hope may be indulged of obtaining justice by
+the means within the constitutional power of the Executive, and without
+resorting to those means of self-redress which, as well as the time,
+circumstances, and occasion which may require them, are within the
+exclusive competency of the Legislature.
+
+It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to bear witness to the
+liberal spirit with which the Republic of Colombia has made satisfaction
+for well-established claims of a similar character, and among the
+documents now communicated to Congress will be distinguished a treaty of
+commerce and navigation with that Republic, the ratifications of which
+have been exchanged since the last recess of the Legislature. The
+negotiation of similar treaties with all the independent South American
+States has been contemplated and may yet be accomplished. The basis of
+them all, as proposed by the United States, has been laid in two
+principles--the one of entire and unqualified reciprocity, the other the
+mutual obligation of the parties to place each other permanently upon
+the footing of the most favored nation. These principles are, indeed,
+indispensable to the effectual emancipation of the American hemisphere
+from the thraldom of colonizing monopolies and exclusions, an event
+rapidly realizing in the progress of human affairs, and which the
+resistance still opposed in certain parts of Europe to the
+acknowledgment of the Southern American Republics as independent States
+will, it is believed, contribute more effectually to accomplish. The
+time has been, and that not remote, when some of those States might, in
+their anxious desire to obtain a nominal recognition, have accepted of a
+nominal independence, clogged with burdensome conditions, and exclusive
+commercial privileges granted to the nation from which they have
+separated to the disadvantage of all others. They are all now aware that
+such concessions to any European nation would be incompatible with that
+independence which they have declared and maintained.
+
+Among the measures which have been suggested to them by the new
+relations with one another, resulting from the recent changes in their
+condition, is that of assembling at the Isthmus of Panama a congress, at
+which each of them should be represented, to deliberate upon objects
+important to the welfare of all. The Republics of Colombia, of Mexico,
+and of Central America have already deputed plenipotentiaries to such a
+meeting, and they have invited the United States to be also represented
+there by their ministers. The invitation has been accepted, and
+ministers on the part of the United States will be commissioned to
+attend at those deliberations, and to take part in them so far as may be
+compatible with that neutrality from which it is neither our intention
+nor the desire of the other American States that we should depart.
+
+The commissioners under the seventh article of the treaty of Ghent have
+so nearly completed their arduous labors that, by the report recently
+received from the agent on the part of the United States, there is
+reason to expect that the commission will be closed at their next
+session, appointed for the 22d of May of the ensuing year.
+
+The other commission, appointed to ascertain the indemnities due for
+slaves carried away from the United States after the close of the late
+war, have met with some difficulty, which has delayed their progress in
+the inquiry. A reference has been made to the British Government on the
+subject, which, it may be hoped, will tend to hasten the decision of the
+commissioners, or serve as a substitute for it.
+
+Among the powers specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution
+are those of establishing uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies
+throughout the United States and of providing for organizing, arming,
+and disciplining the militia and for governing such part of them as may
+be employed in the service of the United States. The magnitude and
+complexity of the interests affected by legislation upon these subjects
+may account for the fact that, long and often as both of them have
+occupied the attention and animated the debates of Congress, no systems
+have yet been devised for fulfilling to the satisfaction of the
+community the duties prescribed by these grants of power. To conciliate
+the claim of the individual citizen to the enjoyment of personal
+liberty, with the effective obligation of private contracts, is the
+difficult problem to be solved by a law of bankruptcy. These are objects
+of the deepest interest to society, affecting all that is precious in
+the existence of multitudes of persons, many of them in the classes
+essentially dependent and helpless, of the age requiring nurture, and of
+the sex entitled to protection from the free agency of the parent and
+the husband. The organization of the militia is yet more indispensable
+to the liberties of the country. It is only by an effective militia that
+we can at once enjoy the repose of peace and bid defiance to foreign
+aggression; it is by the militia that we are constituted an armed
+nation, standing in perpetual panoply of defense in the presence of all
+the other nations of the earth. To this end it would be necessary, if
+possible, so to shape its organization as to give it a more united and
+active energy. There are laws for establishing an uniform militia
+throughout the United States and for arming and equipping its whole
+body. But it is a body of dislocated members, without the vigor of unity
+and having little of uniformity but the name. To infuse into this most
+important institution the power of which it is susceptible and to make
+it available for the defense of the Union at the shortest notice and at
+the smallest expense possible of time, of life, and of treasure are
+among the benefits to be expected from the persevering deliberations of
+Congress.
+
+Among the unequivocal indications of our national prosperity is the
+flourishing state of our finances. The revenues of the present year,
+from all their principal sources, will exceed the anticipations of the
+last. The balance in the Treasury on the 1st of January last was a
+little short of $2,000,000, exclusive of two millions and a half, being
+the moiety of the loan of five millions authorized by the act of 26th of
+May, 1824. The receipts into the Treasury from the 1st of January to the
+30th of September, exclusive of the other moiety of the same loan, are
+estimated at $16,500,000, and it is expected that those of the current
+quarter will exceed $5,000,000, forming an aggregate of receipts of
+nearly twenty-two millions, independent of the loan. The expenditures of
+the year will not exceed that sum more than two millions. By those
+expenditures nearly eight millions of the principal of the public debt
+have been discharged. More than a million and a half has been devoted to
+the debt of gratitude to the warriors of the Revolution; a nearly equal
+sum to the construction of fortifications and the acquisition of
+ordnance and other permanent preparations of national defense; half a
+million to the gradual increase of the Navy; an equal sum for purchases
+of territory from the Indians and payment of annuities to them; and
+upward of a million for objects of internal improvement authorized by
+special acts of the last Congress. If we add to these $4,000,000 for
+payment of interest upon the public debt, there remains a sum of about
+seven millions, which have defrayed the whole expense of the
+administration of Government in its legislative, executive, and
+judiciary departments, including the support of the military and naval
+establishments and all the occasional contingencies of a government
+coextensive with the Union.
+
+The amount of duties secured on merchandise imported since the
+commencement of the year is about twenty-five millions and a half, and
+that which will accrue during the current quarter is estimated at five
+millions and a half; from these thirty-one millions, deducting the
+drawbacks, estimated at less than seven millions, a sum exceeding
+twenty-four millions will constitute the revenue of the year, and will
+exceed the whole expenditures of the year. The entire amount of the
+public debt remaining due on the 1st of January next will be short of
+$81,000,000.
+
+By an act of Congress of the 3d of March last a loan of $12,000,000 was
+authorized at 4-1/2 per cent, or an exchange of stock to that amount of
+4-1/2 per cent for a stock of 6 per cent, to create a fund for
+extinguishing an equal amount of the public debt, bearing an interest of
+6 per cent, redeemable in 1826. An account of the measures taken to give
+effect to this act will be laid before you by the Secretary of the
+Treasury. As the object which it had in view has been but partially
+accomplished, it will be for the consideration of Congress whether the
+power with which it clothed the Executive should not be renewed at an
+early day of the present session, and under what modifications.
+
+The act of Congress of the 3d of March last, directing the Secretary of
+the Treasury to subscribe, in the name and for the use of the United
+States, for 1,500 shares of the capital stock of the Chesapeake and
+Delaware Canal Company, has been executed by the actual subscription for
+the amount specified; and such other measures have been adopted by that
+officer, under the act, as the fulfillment of its intentions requires.
+The latest accounts received of this important undertaking authorize the
+belief that it is in successful progress.
+
+The payments into the Treasury from the proceeds of the sales of the
+public lands during the present year were estimated at $1,000,000. The
+actual receipts of the first two quarters have fallen very little short
+of that sum; it is not expected that the second half of the year will be
+equally productive, but the income of the year from that source may now
+be safely estimated at a million and a half. The act of Congress of 18th
+May, 1824, to provide for the extinguishment of the debt due to the
+United States by the purchasers of public lands, was limited in its
+operation of relief to the purchaser to the 10th of April last. Its
+effect at the end of the quarter during which it expired was to reduce
+that debt from ten to seven millions. By the operation of similar prior
+laws of relief, from and since that of 2d March, 1821, the debt had been
+reduced from upward of twenty-two millions to ten. It is exceedingly
+desirable that it should be extinguished altogether; and to facilitate
+that consummation I recommend to Congress the revival for one year more
+of the act of 18th May, 1824, with such provisional modification as may
+be necessary to guard the public interests against fraudulent practices
+in the resale of the relinquished land. The purchasers of public lands
+are among the most useful of our fellow-citizens, and since the system
+of sales for cash alone has been introduced great indulgence has been
+justly extended to those who had previously purchased upon credit. The
+debt which had been contracted under the credit sales had become
+unwieldy, and its extinction was alike advantageous to the purchaser and
+to the public. Under the system of sales, matured as it has been by
+experience, and adapted to the exigencies of the times, the lands will
+continue as they have become, an abundant source of revenue; and when
+the pledge of them to the public creditor shall have been redeemed by
+the entire discharge of the national debt, the swelling tide of wealth
+with which they replenish the common Treasury may be made to reflow in
+unfailing streams of improvement from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
+
+The condition of the various branches of the public service resorting
+from the Department of War, and their administration during the current
+year, will be exhibited in the report of the Secretary of War and the
+accompanying documents herewith communicated. The organization and
+discipline of the Army are effective and satisfactory. To counteract the
+prevalence of desertion among the troops it has been suggested to
+withhold from the men a small portion of their monthly pay until the
+period of their discharge; and some expedient appears to be necessary to
+preserve and maintain among the officers so much of the art of
+horsemanship as could scarcely fail to be found wanting on the possible
+sudden eruption of a war, which should take us unprovided with a single
+corps of cavalry. The Military Academy at West Point, under the
+restrictions of a severe but paternal superintendence, recommends itself
+more and more to the patronage of the nation, and the numbers of
+meritorious officers which it forms and introduces to the public service
+furnishes the means of multiplying the undertakings of public
+improvements to which their acquirements at that institution are
+peculiarly adapted. The school of artillery practice established at
+Fortress Monroe is well suited to the same purpose, and may heed the aid
+of further legislative provision to the same end. The reports of the
+various officers at the head of the administrative branches of the
+military service, connected with the quartering, clothing, subsistence,
+health, and pay of the Army, exhibit the assiduous vigilance of those
+officers in the performance of their respective duties, and the faithful
+accountability which has pervaded every part of the system.
+
+Our relations with the numerous tribes of aboriginal natives of this
+country, scattered over its extensive surface and so dependent even for
+their existence upon our power, have been during the present year highly
+interesting. An act of Congress of 25th of May, 1824, made an
+appropriation to defray the expenses of making treaties of trade and
+friendship with the Indian tribes beyond the Mississippi. An act of 3d
+of March, 1825, authorized treaties to be made with the Indians for
+their consent to the making of a road from the frontier of Missouri to
+that of New Mexico, and another act of the same date provided for
+defraying the expenses of holding treaties with the Sioux, Chippeways,
+Menomenees, Sauks, Foxes, etc., for the purpose of establishing
+boundaries and promoting peace between said tribes. The first and the
+last objects of these acts have been accomplished, and the second is yet
+in a process of execution. The treaties which since the last session of
+Congress have been concluded with the several tribes will be laid before
+the Senate for their consideration conformably to the Constitution. They
+comprise large and valuable acquisitions of territory, and they secure
+an adjustment of boundaries and give pledges of permanent peace between
+several tribes which had been long waging bloody wars against each
+other.
+
+On the 12th of February last a treaty was signed at the Indian Springs
+between commissioners appointed on the part of the United States and
+certain chiefs and individuals of the Creek Nation of Indians, which was
+received at the seat of Government only a very few days before the close
+of the last session of Congress and of the late administration. The
+advice and consent of the Senate was given to it on the 3d of March, too
+late for it to receive the ratification of the then President of the
+United States; it was ratified on the 7th of March, under the
+unsuspecting impression that it had been negotiated in good faith and in
+the confidence inspired by the recommendation of the Senate. The
+subsequent transactions in relation to this treaty will form the subject
+of a separate communication.
+
+The appropriations made by Congress for public works, as well in the
+construction of fortifications as for purposes of internal improvement,
+so far as they have been expended, have been faithfully applied. Their
+progress has been delayed by the want of suitable officers for
+superintending them. An increase of both the corps of engineers,
+military and topographical, was recommended by my predecessor at the
+last session of Congress. The reasons upon which that recommendation was
+founded subsist in all their force and have acquired additional urgency
+since that time. It may also be expedient to organize the topographical
+engineers into a corps similar to the present establishment of the Corps
+of Engineers. The Military Academy at West Point will furnish from the
+cadets annually graduated there officers well qualified for carrying
+this measure into effect.
+
+The Board of Engineers for Internal Improvement, appointed for carrying
+into execution the act of Congress of 30th of April, 1824, "to procure
+the necessary surveys, plans, and estimates on the subject of roads and
+canals," have been actively engaged in that service from the close of
+the last session of Congress. They have completed the surveys necessary
+for ascertaining the practicability of a canal from the Chesapeake Bay
+to the Ohio River, and are preparing a full report on that subject,
+which, when completed, will be laid before you. The same observation is
+to be made with regard to the two other objects of national importance
+upon which the Board have been occupied, namely, the accomplishment of a
+national road from this city to New Orleans, and the practicability of
+uniting the waters of Lake Memphramagog with Connecticut River and the
+improvement of the navigation of that river. The surveys have been made
+and are nearly completed. The report may be expected at an early period
+during the present session of Congress.
+
+The acts of Congress of the last session relative to the surveying,
+marking, or laying out roads in the Territories of Florida, Arkansas,
+and Michigan, from Missouri to Mexico, and for the continuation of the
+Cumberland road, are, some of them, fully executed, and others in the
+process of execution. Those for completing or commencing fortifications
+have been delayed only so far as the Corps of Engineers has been
+inadequate to furnish officers for the necessary superintendence of the
+works. Under the act confirming the statutes of Virginia and Maryland
+incorporating the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, three commissioners
+on the part of the United States have been appointed for opening books
+and receiving subscriptions, in concert with a like number of
+commissioners appointed on the part of each of those States. A meeting
+of the commissioners has been postponed, to await the definitive report
+of the board of engineers. The light-houses and monuments for the safety
+of our commerce and mariners, the works for the security of Plymouth
+Beach and for the preservation of the islands in Boston Harbor, have
+received the attention required by the laws relating to those objects
+respectively. The continuation of the Cumberland road, the most
+important of them all, after surmounting no inconsiderable difficulty in
+fixing upon the direction of the road, has commenced under the most
+promising auspices, with the improvements of recent invention in the
+mode of construction, and with the advantage of a great reduction in the
+comparative cost of the work.
+
+The operation of the laws relating to the Revolutionary pensioners may
+deserve the renewed consideration of Congress. The act of the 18th of
+March, 1818, while it made provision for many meritorious and indigent
+citizens who had served in the War of Independence, opened a door to
+numerous abuses and impositions. To remedy this the act of 1st May,
+1820, exacted proofs of absolute indigence, which many really in want
+were unable and all susceptible of that delicacy which is allied to many
+virtues must be deeply reluctant to give. The result has been that some
+among the least deserving have been retained, and some in whom the
+requisites both of worth and want were combined have been stricken from
+the list. As the numbers of these venerable relics of an age gone by
+diminish; as the decays of body, mind, and estate of those that survive
+must in the common course of nature increase, should not a more liberal
+portion of indulgence be dealt out to them? May not the want in most
+instances be inferred from the demand when the service can be proved,
+and may not the last days of human infirmity be spared the mortification
+of purchasing a pittance of relief only by the exposure of its own
+necessities? I submit to Congress the expediency of providing for
+individual cases of this description by special enactment, or of
+revising the act of the 1st of May, 1820, with a view to mitigate the
+rigor of its exclusions in favor of persons to whom charity now bestowed
+can scarcely discharge the debt of justice.
+
+The portion of the naval force of the Union in actual service has been
+chiefly employed on three stations--the Mediterranean, the coasts of
+South America bordering on the Pacific Ocean, and the West Indies. An
+occasional cruiser has been sent to range along the African shores most
+polluted by the traffic of slaves; one armed vessel has been stationed
+on the coast of our eastern boundary, to cruise along the fishing
+grounds in Hudsons Bay and on the coast of Labrador, and the first
+service of a new frigate has been performed in restoring to his native
+soil and domestic enjoyments the veteran hero whose youthful blood and
+treasure had freely flowed in the cause of our country's independence,
+and whose whole life has been a series of services and sacrifices to the
+improvement of his fellow-men. The visit of General Lafayette, alike
+honorable to himself and to our country, closed, as it had commenced,
+with the most affecting testimonials of devoted attachment on his part,
+and of unbounded gratitude of this people to him in return. It will form
+hereafter a pleasing incident in the annals of our Union, giving to real
+history the intense interest of romance and signally marking the
+unpurchasable tribute of a great nation's social affections to the
+disinterested champion of the liberties of human-kind.
+
+The constant maintenance of a small squadron in the Mediterranean is a
+necessary substitute for the humiliating alternative of paying tribute
+for the security of our commerce in that sea, and for a precarious
+peace, at the mercy of every caprice of four Barbary States, by whom it
+was liable to be violated. An additional motive for keeping a
+respectable force stationed there at this time is found in the maritime
+war raging between the Greeks and the Turks, and in which the neutral
+navigation of this Union is always in danger of outrage and depredation.
+A few instances have occurred of such depredations upon our merchant
+vessels by privateers or pirates wearing the Grecian flag, but without
+real authority from the Greek or any other Government. The heroic
+struggles of the Greeks themselves, in which our warmest sympathies as
+freemen and Christians have been engaged, have continued to be
+maintained with vicissitudes of success adverse and favorable.
+
+Similar motives have rendered expedient the keeping of a like force on
+the coasts of Peru and Chile on the Pacific. The irregular and
+convulsive character of the war upon the shores has been extended to the
+conflicts upon the ocean. An active warfare has been kept up for years
+with alternate success, though generally to the advantage of the
+American patriots. But their naval forces have not always been under the
+control of their own Governments. Blockades, unjustifiable upon any
+acknowledged principles of international law, have been proclaimed by
+officers in command, and though disavowed by the supreme authorities,
+the protection of our own commerce against them has been made cause of
+complaint and erroneous imputations against some of the most gallant
+officers of our Navy. Complaints equally groundless have been made by
+the commanders of the Spanish royal forces in those seas; but the most
+effective protection to our commerce has been the flag and the firmness
+of our own commanding officers. The cessation of the war by the complete
+triumph of the patriot cause has removed, it is hoped, all cause of
+dissension with one party and all vestige of force of the other. But an
+unsettled coast of many degrees of latitude forming a part of our own
+territory and a flourishing commerce and fishery extending to the
+islands of the Pacific and to China still require that the protecting
+power of the Union should be displayed under its flag as well upon the
+ocean as upon the land.
+
+The objects of the West India Squadron have been to carry into execution
+the laws for the suppression of the African slave trade; for the
+protection of our commerce against vessels of piratical character,
+though bearing commissions from either of the belligerent parties; for
+its protection against open and unequivocal pirates. These objects
+during the present year have been accomplished more effectually than at
+any former period. The African slave trade has long been excluded from
+the use of our flag, and if some few citizens of our country have
+continued to set the laws of the Union as well as those of nature and
+humanity at defiance by persevering in that abominable traffic, it has
+been only by sheltering themselves under the banners of other nations
+less earnest for the total extinction of the trade than ours. The
+irregular privateers have within the last year been in a great measure
+banished from those seas, and the pirates for months past appear to have
+been almost entirely swept away from the borders and the shores of the
+two Spanish islands in those regions. The active, persevering, and
+unremitted energy of Captain Warrington and of the officers and men
+under his command on that trying and perilous service have been crowned
+with signal success, and are entitled to the approbation of their
+country. But experience has shown that not even a temporary suspension
+or relaxation from assiduity can be indulged on that station without
+reproducing piracy and murder in all their horrors; nor is it probable
+that for years to come our immensely valuable commerce in those seas can
+navigate in security without the steady continuance of an armed force
+devoted to its protection.
+
+It were, indeed, a vain and dangerous illusion to believe that in the
+present or probable condition of human society a commerce so extensive
+and so rich as ours could exist and be pursued in safety without the
+continual support of a military marine--the only arm by which the power
+of this Confederacy can be estimated or felt by foreign nations, and the
+only standing military force which can never be dangerous to our own
+liberties at home. A permanent naval peace establishment, therefore,
+adapted to our present condition, and adaptable to that gigantic growth
+with which the nation is advancing in its career, is among the subjects
+which have already occupied the foresight of the last Congress, and
+which will deserve your serious deliberations. Our Navy, commenced at an
+early period of our present political organization upon a scale
+commensurate with the incipient energies, the scanty resources, and the
+comparative indigence of our infancy, was even then found adequate to
+cope with all the powers of Barbary, save the first, and with one of the
+principal maritime powers of Europe.
+
+At a period of further advancement, but with little accession of
+strength, it not only sustained with honor the most unequal of
+conflicts, but covered itself and our country with unfading glory. But
+it is only since the close of the late war that by the numbers and force
+of the ships of which it was composed it could deserve the name of a
+navy. Yet it retains nearly the same organization as when it consisted
+only of five frigates. The rules and regulations by which it is governed
+earnestly call for revision, and the want of a naval school of
+instruction, corresponding with the Military Academy at West Point, for
+the formation of scientific and accomplished officers, is felt with
+daily increasing aggravation.
+
+The act of Congress of 26th of May, 1824, authorizing an examination and
+survey of the harbor of Charleston, in South Carolina, of St. Marys, in
+Georgia, and of the coast of Florida, and for other purposes, has been
+executed so far as the appropriation would admit. Those of the 3d of
+March last, authorizing the establishment of a navy-yard and depot on
+the coast of Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, and authorizing the
+building of ten sloops of war, and for other purposes, are in the course
+of execution, for the particulars of which and other objects connected
+with this Department I refer to the report of the Secretary of the Navy,
+herewith communicated.
+
+A report from the Postmaster-General is also submitted, exhibiting the
+present flourishing condition of that Department. For the first time for
+many years the receipts for the year ending on the 1st of July last
+exceeded the expenditures during the same period to the amount of more
+than $45,000. Other facts equally creditable to the administration of
+this Department are that in two years from the 1st of July, 1823, an
+improvement of more than $185,000 in its pecuniary affairs has been
+realized; that in the same interval the increase of the transportation
+of the mail has exceeded 1,500,000 miles annually, and that 1,040 new
+post-offices have been established. It hence appears that under
+judicious management the income from this establishment may be relied on
+as fully adequate to defray its expenses, and that by the discontinuance
+of post-roads altogether unproductive others of more useful character
+may be opened, till the circulation of the mail shall keep pace with the
+spread of our population, and the comforts of friendly correspondence,
+the exchanges of internal traffic, and the lights of the periodical
+press shall be distributed to the remotest corners of the Union, at a
+charge scarcely perceptible to any individual, and without the cost of a
+dollar to the public Treasury.
+
+Upon this first occasion of addressing the Legislature of the Union,
+with which I have been honored, in presenting to their view the
+execution so far as it has been effected of the measures sanctioned by
+them for promoting the internal improvement of our country, I can not
+close the communication without recommending to their calm and
+persevering consideration the general principle in a more enlarged
+extent. The great object of the institution of civil government is the
+improvement of the condition of those who are parties to the social
+compact, and no government, in whatever form constituted, can accomplish
+the lawful ends of its institution but in proportion as it improves the
+condition of those over whom it is established. Roads and canals, by
+multiplying and facilitating the communications and intercourse between
+distant regions and multitudes of men, are among the most important
+means of improvement. But moral, political, intellectual improvement are
+duties assigned by the Author of Our existence to social no less than to
+individual man. For the fulfillment of those duties governments are
+invested with power, and to the attainment of the end--the progressive
+improvement of the condition of the governed--the exercise of delegated
+powers is a duty as sacred and indispensable as the usurpation of powers
+not granted is criminal and odious. Among the first, perhaps the very
+first, instrument for the improvement of the condition of men is
+knowledge, and to the acquisition of much of the knowledge adapted to
+the wants, the comforts, and enjoyments of human life public
+institutions and seminaries of learning are essential. So convinced of
+this was the first of my predecessors in this office, now first in the
+memory, as, living, he was first in the hearts, of our countrymen, that
+once and again in his addresses to the Congresses with whom he
+cooperated in the public service he earnestly recommended the
+establishment of seminaries of learning, to prepare for all the
+emergencies of peace and war--a national university and a military
+academy. With respect to the latter, had he lived to the present day, in
+turning his eyes to the institution at West Point he would have enjoyed
+the gratification of his most earnest wishes; but in surveying the city
+which has been honored with his name he would have seen the spot of
+earth which he had destined and bequeathed to the use and benefit of his
+country as the site for an university still bare and barren.
+
+In assuming her station among the civilized nations of the earth it
+would seem that our country had contracted the engagement to contribute
+her share of mind, of labor, and of expense to the improvement of those
+parts of knowledge which lie beyond the reach of individual acquisition,
+and particularly to geographical and astronomical science. Looking back
+to the history only of the half century since the declaration of our
+independence, and observing the generous emulation with which the
+Governments of France, Great Britain, and Russia have devoted the
+genius, the intelligence, the treasures of their respective nations to
+the common improvement of the species in these branches of science, is
+it not incumbent upon us to inquire whether we are not bound by
+obligations of a high and honorable character to contribute our portion
+of energy and exertion to the common stock? The voyages of discovery
+prosecuted in the course of that time at the expense of those nations
+have not only redounded to their glory, but to the improvement of human
+knowledge. We have been partakers of that improvement and owe for it a
+sacred debt, not only of gratitude, but of equal or proportional
+exertion in the same common cause. Of the cost of these undertakings, if
+the mere expenditures of outfit, equipment, and completion of the
+expeditions were to be considered the only charges, it would be unworthy
+of a great and generous nation to take a second thought. One hundred
+expeditions of circumnavigation like those of Cook and La Pérouse would
+not burden the exchequer of the nation fitting them out so much as the
+ways and means of defraying a single campaign in war. But if we take
+into the account the lives of those benefactors of mankind of which
+their services in the cause of their species were the purchase, how
+shall the cost of those heroic enterprises be estimated, and what
+compensation can be made to them or to their countries for them? Is it
+not by bearing them in affectionate remembrance? Is it not still more by
+imitating their example--by enabling countrymen of our own to pursue the
+same career and to hazard their lives in the same cause?
+
+In inviting the attention of Congress to the subject of internal
+improvements upon a view thus enlarged it is not my design to recommend
+the equipment of an expedition for circumnavigating the globe for
+purposes of scientific research and inquiry. We have objects of useful
+investigation nearer home, and to which our cares may be more
+beneficially applied. The interior of our own territories has yet been
+very imperfectly explored. Our coasts along many degrees of latitude
+upon the shores of the Pacific Ocean, though much frequented by our
+spirited commercial navigators, have been barely visited by our public
+ships. The River of the West, first fully discovered and navigated by a
+countryman of our own, still bears the name of the ship in which he
+ascended its waters, and claims the protection of our armed national
+flag at its mouth. With the establishment of a military post there or at
+some other point of that coast, recommended by my predecessor and
+already matured in the deliberations of the last Congress, I would
+suggest the expediency of connecting the equipment of a public ship for
+the exploration of the whole northwest coast of this continent.
+
+The establishment of an uniform standard of weights and measures was one
+of the specific objects contemplated in the formation of our
+Constitution, and to fix that standard was one of the powers delegated
+by express terms in that instrument to Congress. The Governments of
+Great Britain and France have scarcely ceased to be occupied with
+inquiries and speculations on the same subject since the existence of
+our Constitution, and with them it has expanded into profound,
+laborious, and expensive researches into the figure of the earth and the
+comparative length of the pendulum vibrating seconds in various
+latitudes from the equator to the pole. These researches have resulted
+in the composition and publication of several works highly interesting
+to the cause of science. The experiments are yet in the process of
+performance. Some of them have recently been made on our own shores,
+within the walls of one of our own colleges, and partly by one of our
+own fellow-citizens. It would be honorable to our country if the sequel
+of the same experiments should be countenanced by the patronage of our
+Government, as they have hitherto been by those of France and Britain.
+
+Connected with the establishment of an university, or separate from it,
+might be undertaken the erection of an astronomical observatory, with
+provision for the support of an astronomer, to be in constant attendance
+of observation upon the phenomena of the heavens, and for the periodical
+publication of his observations. It is with no feeling of pride as an
+American that the remark may be made that on the comparatively small
+territorial surface of Europe there are existing upward of 130 of these
+light-houses of the skies, while throughout the whole American
+hemisphere there is not one. If we reflect a moment upon the discoveries
+which in the last four centuries have been made in the physical
+constitution of the universe by the means of these buildings and of
+observers stationed in them, shall we doubt of their usefulness to every
+nation? And while scarcely a year passes over our heads without bringing
+some new astronomical discovery to light, which we must fain receive at
+second hand from Europe, are we not cutting ourselves off from the means
+of returning light for light while we have neither observatory nor
+observer upon our half of the globe and the earth revolves in perpetual
+darkness to our unsearching eyes?
+
+When, on the 25th of October, 1791, the first President of the United
+States announced to Congress the result of the first enumeration of the
+inhabitants of this Union, he informed them that the returns gave the
+pleasing assurance that the population of the United States bordered on
+4,000,000 persons. At the distance of thirty years from that time the
+last enumeration, five years since completed, presented a population
+bordering upon 10,000,000. Perhaps of all the evidences of a prosperous
+and happy condition of human society the rapidity of the increase of
+population is the most unequivocal. But the demonstration of our
+prosperity rests not alone upon this indication. Our commerce, our
+wealth, and the extent of our territories have increased in
+corresponding proportions, and the number of independent communities
+associated in our Federal Union has since that time nearly doubled. The
+legislative representation of the States and people in the two Houses of
+Congress has grown with the growth of their constituent bodies. The
+House, which then consisted of 65 members, now numbers upward of 200.
+The Senate, which consisted of 26 members, has now 48. But the executive
+and, still more, the judiciary departments are yet in a great measure
+confined to their primitive organization, and are now not adequate to
+the urgent wants of a still growing community.
+
+The naval armaments, which at an early period forced themselves upon the
+necessities of the Union, soon led to the establishment of a Department
+of the Navy. But the Departments of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior,
+which early after the formation of the Government had been united in
+one, continue so united to this time, to the unquestionable detriment of
+the public service. The multiplication of our relations with the nations
+and Governments of the Old World has kept pace with that of our
+population and commerce, while within the last ten years a new family of
+nations in our own hemisphere has arisen among the inhabitants of the
+earth, with whom our intercourse, commercial and political, would of
+itself furnish occupation to an active and industrious department. The
+constitution of the judiciary, experimental and imperfect as it was even
+in the infancy of our existing Government, is yet more inadequate to the
+administration of national justice at our present maturity. Nine years
+have elapsed since a predecessor in this office, now not the last, the
+citizen who, perhaps, of all others throughout the Union contributed
+most to the formation and establishment of our Constitution, in his
+valedictory address to Congress, immediately preceding his retirement
+from public life, urgently recommended the revision of the judiciary and
+the establishment of an additional executive department. The exigencies
+of the public service and its unavoidable deficiencies, as now in
+exercise, have added yearly cumulative weight to the considerations
+presented by him as persuasive to the measure, and in recommending it to
+your deliberations I am happy to have the influence of his high
+authority in aid of the undoubting convictions of my own experience.
+
+The laws relating to the administration of the Patent Office are
+deserving of much consideration and perhaps susceptible of some
+improvement. The grant of power to regulate the action of Congress upon
+this subject has specified both the end to be obtained and the means by
+which it is to be effected, "to promote the progress of science and
+useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the
+exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries." If an
+honest pride might be indulged in the reflection that on the records of
+that office are already found inventions the usefulness of which has
+scarcely been transcended in the annals of human ingenuity, would not
+its exultation be allayed by the inquiry whether the laws have
+effectively insured to the inventors the reward destined to them by the
+Constitution--even a limited term of exclusive right to their
+discoveries?
+
+On the 24th of December, 1799, it was resolved by Congress that a marble
+monument should be erected by the United States in the Capitol at the
+city of Washington; that the family of General Washington should be
+requested to permit his body to be deposited under it, and that the
+monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his
+military and political life. In reminding Congress of this resolution
+and that the monument contemplated by it remains yet without execution,
+I shall indulge only the remarks that the works at the Capitol are
+approaching to completion; that the consent of the family, desired by
+the resolution, was requested and obtained; that a monument has been
+recently erected in this city over the remains of another distinguished
+patriot of the Revolution, and that a spot has been reserved within the
+walls where you are deliberating for the benefit of this and future
+ages, in which the mortal remains may be deposited of him whose spirit
+hovers over you and listens with delight to every act of the
+representatives of his nation which can tend to exalt and adorn his and
+their country.
+
+The Constitution under which you are assembled is a charter of limited
+powers. After full and solemn deliberation upon all or any of the
+objects which, urged by an irresistible sense of my own duty, I have
+recommended to your attention should you come to the conclusion that,
+however desirable in themselves, the enactment of laws for effecting
+them would transcend the powers committed to you by that venerable
+instrument which we are all bound to support, let no consideration
+induce you to assume the exercise of powers not granted to you by the
+people. But if the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases
+whatsoever over the district of Columbia; if the power to lay and
+collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and
+provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States;
+if the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the
+several States and with the Indian tribes, to fix the standard of
+weights and measures, to establish post-offices and post-roads, to
+declare war, to raise and support armies, to provide and maintain a
+navy, to dispose of and make all heedful rules and regulations
+respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United
+States, and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for
+carrying these powers into execution--if these powers and others
+enumerated in the Constitution may be effectually brought into action by
+laws promoting the improvement of agriculture, commerce, and
+manufactures, the cultivation and encouragement of the mechanic and of
+the elegant arts, the advancement of literature, and the progress of the
+sciences, ornamental and profound, to refrain from exercising them for
+the benefit of the people themselves would be to hide in the earth the
+talent committed to our charge--would be treachery to the most sacred of
+trusts.
+
+The spirit of improvement is abroad upon the earth. It stimulates the
+hearts and sharpens the faculties not of our fellow-citizens alone, but
+of the nations of Europe and of their rulers. While dwelling with
+pleasing satisfaction upon the superior excellence of our political
+institutions, let us not be unmindful that liberty is power; that the
+nation blessed with the largest portion of liberty must in proportion to
+its numbers be the most powerful nation upon earth, and that the tenure
+of power by man is, in the moral purposes of his Creator, upon condition
+that it shall be exercised to ends of beneficence, to improve the
+condition of himself and his fellow-men. While foreign nations less
+blessed with that freedom which is power than ourselves are advancing
+with gigantic strides in the career of public improvement, were we to
+slumber in indolence or fold up our arms and proclaim to the world that
+we are palsied by the will of our constituents, would it not be to cast
+away the bounties of Providence and doom ourselves to perpetual
+inferiority? In the course of the year now drawing to its close we have
+beheld, under the auspices and at the expense of one State of this
+Union, a new university unfolding its portals to the sons of science and
+holding up the torch of human improvement to eyes that seek the light.
+We have seen under the persevering and enlightened enterprise of another
+State the waters of our Western lakes mingle with those of the ocean. If
+undertakings like these have been accomplished in the compass of a few
+years by the authority of single members of our Confederation, can we,
+the representative authorities of the whole Union, fall behind our
+fellow-servants in the exercise of the trust committed to us for the
+benefit of our common sovereign by the accomplishment of works important
+to the whole and to which neither the authority nor the resources of any
+one State can be adequate?
+
+Finally, fellow-citizens, I shall await with cheering hope and faithful
+cooperation the result of your deliberations, assured that, without
+encroaching upon the powers reserved to the authorities of the
+respective States or to the people, you will, with a due sense of your
+obligations to your country and of the high responsibilities weighing
+upon yourselves, give efficacy to the means committed to you for the
+common good. And may He who searches the hearts of the children of men
+prosper your exertions to secure the blessings of peace and promote the
+highest welfare of our country.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+SPECIAL MESSAGES.
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 14, 1825_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their consideration and advice with regard
+to their ratification, the following treaties:
+
+1. A treaty between the United States and the Great and Little Osage
+tribes of Indians, concluded at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, on
+the 2d day of June last, by William Clark, Superintendent of Indian
+Affairs, commissioner on the part of the United States, and the chiefs,
+headmen, and warriors of the same tribes, duly authorized and empowered
+by their respective tribes or nations.
+
+2. A treaty between the United States and the Kanzas Nation of Indians,
+concluded at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, on the 3d day of June
+last, by William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, commissioner
+on the part of the United States, and the chiefs, headmen, and warriors
+of the said nation, duly authorized and empowered by the same.
+
+3. A convention between the United States and the Shawnee Nation of
+Indians residing within the State of Missouri, signed at St. Louis, in
+the State of Missouri, on the 7th day of November last, by William
+Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and the chiefs and headmen of
+the said nation, duly authorized and empowered by the same.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 15, 1825_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to the Senate, for their consideration in reference
+to its ratification, a general convention of peace, amity, commerce, and
+navigation between the United States of America and the Federation of
+the Centre of America, signed at this place on the 5th instant by the
+Secretary of State and the minister plenipotentiary from the Republic of
+Central America to the United States.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 26, 1825_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In the message to both Houses of Congress at the commencement of the
+session it was mentioned that the Governments of the Republics of
+Colombia, of Mexico, and of Central America had severally invited the
+Government of the United States to be represented at the Congress of
+American nations to be assembled at Panama to deliberate upon objects of
+peculiar concernment to this hemisphere, and that this invitation had
+been accepted.
+
+Although this measure was deemed to be within the constitutional
+competency of the Executive, I have not thought proper to take any step
+in it before ascertaining that my opinion of its expediency will concur
+with that of both branches of the Legislature, first, by the decision of
+the Senate upon the nominations to be laid before them, and, secondly,
+by the sanction of both Houses to the appropriations, without which it
+can not be carried into effect.
+
+A report from the Secretary of State and copies of the correspondence
+with the South American Governments on this subject since the invitation
+given by them are herewith transmitted to the Senate. They will disclose
+the objects of importance which are expected to form a subject of
+discussion at this meeting, in which interests of high importance to
+this Union are involved. It will be seen that the United States neither
+intend nor are expected to take part in any deliberations of a
+belligerent character; that the motive of their attendance is neither to
+contract alliances nor to engage in any undertaking or project importing
+hostility to any other nation.
+
+But the Southern American nations, in the infancy of their independence,
+often find themselves in positions with reference to other countries
+with the principles applicable to which, derivable from the state of
+independence itself, they have not been familiarized by experience. The
+result of this has been that sometimes in their intercourse with the
+United States they have manifested dispositions to reserve a right of
+granting special favors and privileges to the Spanish nation as the
+price of their recognition. At others they have actually established
+duties and impositions operating unfavorably to the United States to the
+advantage of other European powers, and sometimes they have appeared to
+consider that they might interchange among themselves mutual concessions
+of exclusive favor, to which neither European powers nor the United
+States should be admitted. In most of these cases their regulations
+unfavorable to us have yielded to friendly expostulation and
+remonstrance. But it is believed to be of infinite moment that the
+principles of a liberal commercial intercourse should be exhibited to
+them, and urged with disinterested and friendly persuasion upon them
+when all assembled for the avowed purpose of consulting together upon
+the establishment of such principles as may have an important bearing
+upon their future welfare.
+
+The consentaneous adoption of principles of maritime neutrality, and
+favorable to the navigation of peace, and commerce in time of war, will
+also form a subject of consideration to this Congress. The doctrine that
+free ships make free goods and the restrictions of reason upon the
+extent of blockades may be established by general agreement with far
+more ease, and perhaps with less danger, by the general engagement to
+adhere to them concerted at such a meeting, than by partial treaties or
+conventions with each of the nations separately. An agreement between
+all the parties represented at the meeting that each will guard by its
+own means against the establishment of any future European colony within
+its borders may be found advisable. This was more than two years since
+announced by my predecessor to the world as a principle resulting from
+the emancipation of both the American continents. It may be so developed
+to the new southern nations that they will all feel it as an essential
+appendage to their independence.
+
+There is yet another subject upon which, without entering into any
+treaty, the moral influence of the United States may perhaps be exerted
+with beneficial consequences at such a meeting--the advancement of
+religious liberty. Some of the southern nations are even yet so far
+under the dominion of prejudice that they have incorporated with their
+political constitutions an exclusive church, without toleration of any
+other than the dominant sect. The abandonment of this last badge of
+religious bigotry and oppression may be pressed more effectually by the
+united exertions of those who concur in the principles of freedom of
+conscience upon those who are yet to be convinced of their justice and
+wisdom than by the solitary efforts of a minister to any one of the
+separate Governments.
+
+The indirect influence which the United States may exercise upon any
+projects or purposes originating in the war in which the southern
+Republics are still engaged, which might seriously affect the interests
+of this Union, and the good offices by which the United States may
+ultimately contribute to bring that war to a speedier termination,
+though among the motives which have convinced me of the propriety of
+complying with this invitation, are so far contingent and eventual that
+it would be improper to dwell upon them more at large.
+
+In fine, a decisive inducement with me for acceding to the measure is to
+show by this token of respect to the southern Republics the interest
+that we take in their welfare and our disposition to comply with their
+wishes. Having been the first to recognize their independence, and
+sympathized with them so far as was compatible with our neutral duties
+in all their struggles and sufferings to acquire it, we have laid the
+foundation of our future intercourse with them in the broadest
+principles of reciprocity and the most cordial feelings of fraternal
+friendship. To extend those principles to all our commercial relations
+with them and to hand down that friendship to future ages is congenial
+to the highest policy of the Union, as it will be to that of all those
+nations and their posterity. In the confidence that these sentiments
+will meet the approbation of the Senate, I nominate Richard C. Anderson,
+of Kentucky, and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, to be envoys
+extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary to the assembly of American
+nations at Panama, and William B. Rochester, of New York, to be
+secretary to the mission.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 27, 1825_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+20th instant, I now transmit a copy of the message of President
+Jefferson to both Houses of Congress on the 18th of January, 1803,
+recommending an exploring expedition across this continent.[001] It will
+be perceived on the perusal of this message that it was confidential,
+for which reason the copy of it is now communicated in the same manner,
+leaving to the judgment of the House to determine whether any adequate
+reason yet remains for withholding it from publication. I possess no
+other document or information in relation to the same subject which I
+consider as coming within the scope of the resolution of the House.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 27, 1825_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+20th instant, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State,
+with copies of such portions of the correspondence between the United
+States and Great Britain on the subject of the convention for
+suppressing the slave trade as have not heretofore been, and which can
+be communicated without detriment to the public interest.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 27, 1825_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+23d instant, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War,
+with the correspondence between the Department of War and Generals
+Pinckney and Jackson, and all the instructions given to the said
+Generals Pinckney and Jackson relating to the treaty with the Creek
+Indians, afterwards made at Fort Jackson, so far as the same can be
+communicated without prejudice to the public interest.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 3, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+23d of last month, I communicate herewith a report from the Secretary of
+War, with the documents touching the treaty with the Cherokee Indians,
+ratified in 1819, by which the Cherokee title to a portion of lands
+within the limits of North Carolina was extinguished.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 9, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 3d instant, I
+communicate herewith, in confidence, a report[002] from the Secretary of
+State, with translations of the conventions and documents, containing
+information of the nature referred to in the said resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 9, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their consideration and advice with regard
+to the ratification, the following treaties:
+
+1. A treaty signed at the Poncar village at the mouth of White Point
+Creek, the first below the Qui Carre River, on the 9th of June, 1825, by
+Brigadier-General Henry Atkinson and Major Benjamin O'Fallon,
+commissioners on the part of the United States, and certain chiefs,
+headmen, and warriors of the Poncar tribe of Indians on the part of said
+tribe.
+
+2. A treaty signed at Fort Look-out, near the Three Rivers of the Sioux
+Pass, on the 22d June, 1825, by the same commissioners on the part of
+the United States and certain chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the
+Teton, Yancton, and Yanctonies bands of the Sioux tribe of Indians on
+the part of the said bands.
+
+3. A treaty signed at the mouth of the Teton River on the 5th of July,
+1825, by the same commissioners on the part of the United States and by
+certain chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Sione and Ogalla bands of
+Sioux Indians, and on the 12th of July, 1825, at Camp Hidden Creek, by
+chiefs and warriors of the Siounes of the Fireheart's band on the part
+of their respective bands.
+
+4. A treaty signed at the mouth of the Teton River on the 6th of July,
+1825, by the same commissioners on the part of the United States and by
+certain chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Chayenne tribe of Indians
+on the part of said tribe.
+
+5. A treaty signed at the Auricara village on the 16th July, 1825, by
+the same commissioners on the part of the United States and by certain
+chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Hunkpapas band of the Sioux tribe
+of Indians on the part of said band.
+
+6. A treaty signed at the Ricara village on the 18th July, 1825, by the
+same commissioners on the part of the United States and by certain
+chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Ricara tribe of Indians on the part
+of said tribe.
+
+7. A treaty signed at the Mandan village on the 30th of July, 1825, by
+the same commissioners on the part of the United States and by certain
+chiefs and warriors of the Mandan tribe of Indians on the part of said
+tribe.
+
+8. A treaty signed at the lower Mandan village on the 30th of July,
+1825, by the same commissioners on the part of the United States and by
+certain chiefs and warriors of the Belantse Etea, or Minnetaree, tribe
+of Indians on the part of said tribe.
+
+9. A treaty signed at the Mandan village on the 4th of August, 1825, by
+the same commissioners on the part of the United States and by certain
+chiefs and warriors of the Crow tribe of Indians on the part of said
+tribe.
+
+10. A treaty signed at Fort Atkinson, Council Bluffs, on the 25th of
+September, 1825, by the same commissioners on the part of the United
+States and by certain chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Ottoe and
+Missouri tribe of Indians on the part of said tribe.
+
+11. A treaty signed at Fort Atkinson, Council Bluffs, on the 30th of
+September, 1825, by the same commissioners on the part of the United
+States and by certain chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Pawnee tribe
+of Indians on the part of said tribe.
+
+12. A treaty signed at Fort Atkinson, Council Bluffs, on the 6th of
+October, 1825, by the same commissioners on the part of the United
+States and by certain chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Maha tribe of
+Indians on the part of said tribe.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 10, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate a treaty signed at Prairie des Chiens, in the
+Territory of Michigan, on the 19th of August, 1825, by William Clark and
+Lewis Cass, commissioners on the part of the United States, and certain
+chiefs and warriors of the Sioux, Chippeways, Socs, Foxes, Winnebagoes,
+Menominies, Ottoways, Potawatamies, and Ioway tribes of Indians on the
+part of said tribes, and I request the advice of the Senate with regard
+to its ratification.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 20, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+23d ultimo, I transmit herewith reports[003] from the Secretary of War
+and the Commissioner of the General Land Office, with the statements
+desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 23, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+27th December last, requesting a statement of moneys paid out of the
+public Treasury to the late President of the United States as
+compensation for his services in various other offices which he has
+filled under the Government of the United States, and on other accounts,
+and also of claims for allowances made by him upon the Government which
+have been disallowed, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of
+the Treasury, with documents, containing the information desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 24, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+12th December last, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of
+the Navy, with the documents and proceedings of the naval courts-martial
+in the cases of Captain Charles Stewart and of Lieutenants Joshua R.
+Sands and William M. Hunter.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 30, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to the Senate, for their consideration and advice
+with regard to their ratification--
+
+1. A treaty concluded on the 10th day of August, 1825, at Council Grove
+by Benjamin H. Reeves, George C. Sibley, and Thomas Mather,
+commissioners on the part of the United States, and certain chiefs and
+headmen of the Great and Little Osage tribes of Indians on the part of
+the said tribe.
+
+2. A treaty concluded on the 16th day of August, 1825, at the Sora
+Kanzas Creek by the same commissioners on the part of the United States
+and certain chiefs and headmen of the Kanzas tribe or nation of Indians
+on the part of said tribe.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 31, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+18th instant, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, with the
+correspondence with the British Government, relating to the boundary of
+the United States on the Pacific Ocean, desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 31, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to the Senate, for their consideration and advice
+with regard to its ratification, a treaty concluded by the Secretary of
+War, duly authorized thereto, with the chiefs and headmen of the Creek
+Nation, deputed by them, and now in this city.
+
+It has been agreed upon, and is presented to the consideration of the
+Senate as a substitute for the treaty signed at the Indian Springs on
+the 12th of February last. The circumstances under which this received
+on the 3d of March last your advice and consent to its ratification are
+known to you. It was transmitted to me from the Senate on the 5th of
+March, and ratified in full confidence yielded to the advice and consent
+of the Senate, under a firm belief, founded on the journal of the
+commissioners of the United States and on the express statements in the
+letter of one of them of the 16th of February to the then Secretary of
+War, that it had been concluded with a large majority of the chiefs of
+the Creek Nation and with a reasonable prospect of immediate
+acquiescence by the remainder.
+
+This expectation has not merely been disappointed. The first measures
+for carrying the treaty into execution had scarcely been taken when the
+two principal chiefs who had signed it fell victims to the exasperation
+of the great mass of the nation, and their families and dependents, far
+from being able to execute the engagements on their part, fled for life,
+safety, and subsistence from the territories which they had assumed to
+cede, to our own. Yet, in this fugitive condition, and while subsisting
+on the bounty of the United States, they have been found advancing
+pretensions to receive exclusively to themselves the whole of the sums
+stipulated by the commissioners of the United States in payment _for
+all_ the lands of the Creek Nation which were ceded by the terms of the
+treaty. And they have claimed the stipulation of the eighth article,
+that the United States would "_protect_ the emigrating party against the
+encroachments, hostilities, and impositions of the whites and of all
+others," as an engagement by which the United States were bound to
+become the instruments of their vengeance and to inflict upon the
+majority of the Creek Nation the punishment of Indian retribution to
+gratify the vindictive fury of an impotent and helpless minority of
+their own tribe.
+
+In this state of things the question is not whether the treaty of the
+12th of February last shall or shall not be executed. So far as the
+United States were or could be bound by it I have been anxiously
+desirous of carrying it into execution. But, like other treaties, its
+fulfillment depends upon the will not of one but of both the parties to
+it. The parties on the face of the treaty are the United States and the
+Creek Nation, and however desirous one of them may be to give it effect,
+this wish must prove abortive while the other party refuses to perform
+its stipulations and disavows its obligations. By the refusal of the
+Creek Nation to perform their part of the treaty the United States are
+absolved from all its engagements on their part, and the alternative
+left them is either to resort to measures of war to secure by force the
+advantages stipulated to them in the treaty or to attempt the adjustment
+of the interest by a new compact. In the preference dictated by the
+nature of our institutions and by the sentiments of justice and humanity
+which the occasion requires for measures of peace the treaty herewith
+transmitted has been concluded, and is submitted to the decision of the
+Senate. After exhausting every effort in our power to obtain the
+acquiescence of the Creek Nation to the treaty of the 12th of February,
+I entertained for some time the hope that their assent might at least
+have been given to a new treaty, by which all their lands within the
+State of Georgia should have been ceded. This has also proved
+impracticable, and although the excepted portion is of comparatively
+small amount and importance, I have assented to its exception so far as
+to place it before the Senate only from a conviction that between it and
+a resort to the forcible expulsion of the Creeks from their habitations
+and lands within the State of Georgia there was no middle term.
+
+The deputation with which this treaty has been concluded consists of the
+principal chiefs of the nation--able not only to negotiate but to carry
+into effect the stipulations to which they have agreed. There is a
+deputation also here from the small party which undertook to contract
+for the whole nation at the treaty of the 12th of February, but the
+number of which, according to the information collected by General
+Gaines, does not exceed 400. They represent themselves, indeed, to be
+far more numerous, but whatever their number may be their interests have
+been provided for in the treaty now submitted. Their subscriptions to it
+would also have been received but for unreasonable pretensions raised by
+them after all the arrangements of the treaty had been agreed upon and
+it was actually signed. Whatever their merits may have been in the
+facility with which they ceded all the lands of their nation within the
+State of Georgia, their utter inability to perform the engagements which
+they so readily contracted and the exorbitancy of their demands when
+compared with the inefficiency of their own means of performance leave
+them with no claims upon the United States other than of impartial and
+rigorous justice.
+
+In referring to the impressions under which I ratified the treaty of the
+12th of February last, I do not deem it necessary to decide upon the
+propriety of the manner in which it was negotiated. Deeply regretting
+the recriminations and recriminations to which these events have given
+rise, I believe the public interest will best be consulted by discarding
+them altogether from the discussion of the subject. The great body of
+the Creek Nation inflexibly refuse to acknowledge or to execute that
+treaty. Upon this ground it will be set aside, should the Senate advise
+and consent to the ratification of that now communicated, without
+looking back to the means by which the other was effected. And in the
+adjustment of the terms of the present treaty I have been peculiarly
+anxious to dispense a measure of great liberality to both parties of the
+Creek Nation, rather than to extort from them a bargain of which the
+advantages on our part could only be purchased by hardship on theirs.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 1, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 50th ultimo, I
+communicate herewith, in confidence, a report[004] from the Secretary of
+State, with the documents, containing the information desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 7, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 15th of December
+last, I communicate herewith reports from the Secretaries of the
+Treasury and War and from the Commissioner of the General Land Office,
+with documents, relating to the lead mines and salt springs, containing
+the information desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 14, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+12th ultimo, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the
+Navy, with the statements relating to naval courts of inquiry and
+courts-martial since the 1st January, 1824, requested by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 15, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the late
+Secretary of War to the late President of the United States, with
+documents, containing information requested by a resolution of the House
+of April 10, 1824, relating to the purchases of real estate in behalf of
+the United States within the territorial limits of any State since the
+4th July, 1776.
+
+These papers were prepared during the last session of Congress, but by
+some accident were not then communicated to the House.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 16, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In answer to the two resolutions of the Senate of the 15th instant,
+marked executive, and which I have received, I state respectfully that
+all the communications from me to the Senate relating to the congress at
+Panama have been made, like all other communications upon executive
+business, _in confidence_ and most of them in compliance with a
+resolution of the Senate requesting them confidentially. Believing that
+the established usage of free confidential communication between the
+Executive and the Senate ought for the public interest to be preserved
+unimpaired, I deem it my indispensable duty to leave to the Senate
+itself the decision of a question involving a departure hitherto, so far
+as I am informed, without example from that usage, and upon the motives
+for which, not being informed of them, I do not feel myself competent to
+decide.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 17, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the Navy, with a
+further document, prepared in compliance with a resolution of the House
+of the 10th of April, 1824, and containing information relating to
+purchasers of real estate in behalf of the United States within the
+territorial limits of any State since the 4th of July, 1776.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 17, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to both Houses of Congress a letter from the
+Secretary of War, with a report from the Ordnance Department, relating
+to the site of the arsenal of the United States at Augusta, in Georgia,
+and with regard to which the interposition of the legislative authority
+is submitted to your consideration as desirable.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 1, 1826_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to Congress a letter from the Secretary of War, together
+with a representation from Colonel Brooke, relating to the present
+condition of the Indians in Florida, and which I recommend to the
+favorable consideration of Congress.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 1, 1826_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+A resolution of the House of Representatives adopted at the first
+session of the Eighteenth Congress, and bearing date the 6th of May,
+1824, requested the President of the United States to lay before the
+House at their then next session a detailed report of the system and
+plan of fortifications then contemplated and recommended by the Board of
+Engineers, with various particulars specified in the resolution; and on
+the 5th of January last a further resolution was adopted requesting
+similar information. I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of
+War, with a letter from the Chief Engineer, and documents, containing,
+so far as it has been found practicable to obtain and compile it, the
+information requested by these resolutions.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 5, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I now submit to the consideration of Congress the propriety of making
+the appropriation for carrying into effect the appointment of a mission
+to the congress at Panama.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 7, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to both Houses of Congress a letter from the Secretary of
+War, together with copies of one to him from the Senators of the State
+of Maryland, and several other documents, relating to a claim of that
+State upon the Government of the United States for interest upon certain
+expenditures during the late war, which I the more readily recommend to
+the favorable and early consideration of Congress inasmuch as the
+principle upon which the claim is advanced appears to have been settled
+by the act of Congress of 3d March, 1825, authorizing the payment of
+interest due to the State of Virginia.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 8, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
+of State, with the proceedings of the court and marshal of the United
+States for the district of Alabama, and other documents, in relation to
+the cargoes of certain slave ships, the _Constitution, Louisa_. and
+_Marino_. containing the information requested by a resolution of the
+House of February 16, 1825.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 8, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+10th ultimo, requesting information relating to the proceedings of the
+joint commission of indemnities due under the award of the Emperor of
+Russia for slaves and other private property carried away by the British
+forces in violation of the treaty of Ghent, I transmit herewith a report
+from the Secretary of State and documents containing the information
+desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 15, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to Congress a letter from the Secretary of War and copies
+of a resolution of that legislature of the State of Georgia, with a
+correspondence of the governor of that State, relating to the running
+and establishing of the line between that State and Florida, which I
+recommend to the favorable consideration of Congress.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 15, 1826_.
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+In compliance with the resolution of the House of the 5th ultimo,
+requesting me to cause to be laid before the House so much of the
+correspondence between the Government of the United States and the new
+States of America, or their ministers, respecting the proposed congress
+or meeting of diplomatic agents at Panama, and such information
+respecting the general character of that expected congress as may be in
+my possession and as may, in my opinion, be communicated without
+prejudice to the public interest, and also to inform the House, so far
+as in my opinion the public interest may allow, in regard to what
+objects the agents of the United States are expected to take part in the
+deliberations of that congress, I now transmit to the House a report
+from the Secretary of State, with the correspondence and information
+requested by the resolution.
+
+With regard to the objects in which the agents of the United States are
+expected to take part in the deliberations of that congress, I deem it
+proper to premise that these objects did not form the only, nor even the
+principal, motive for my acceptance of the invitation. My first and
+greatest inducement was to meet in the spirit of kindness and friendship
+an overture made in that spirit by three sister Republics of this
+hemisphere.
+
+The great revolution in human affairs which has brought into existence,
+nearly at the same time, eight sovereign and independent nations in our
+own quarter of the globe has placed the United States in a situation not
+less novel and scarcely less interesting than that in which they had
+found themselves by their own transition from a cluster of colonies to a
+nation of sovereign States. The deliverance of the Southern American
+Republics from the oppression under which they had been so long
+afflicted was hailed with great unanimity by the people of this Union as
+among the most auspicious events of the age. On the 4th of May, 1822, an
+act of Congress made an appropriation of $100,000 "for such missions to
+the independent nations on the American continent as the President of
+the United States might deem proper." In exercising the authority
+recognized by this act my predecessor, by and with the advice and
+consent of the Senate appointed successively ministers plenipotentiary
+to the Republics of Colombia, Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Mexico. Unwilling
+to raise among the fraternity of freedom questions of precedency and
+etiquette, which even the European monarchs had of late found it
+necessary in a great measure to discard, he dispatched these ministers
+to Colombia, Buenos Ayres, and Chili without exacting from those
+Republics, as by the ancient principles of political primogeniture he
+might have done, that the compliment of a plenipotentiary mission should
+have been paid _first_ by them to the United States. The instructions,
+prepared under his direction, to Mr. Anderson, the first of our
+ministers to the southern continent, contain at much length the general
+principles upon which he thought it desirable that our relations,
+political and commercial, with these our new neighbors should be
+established for their benefit and ours and that of the future ages of
+our posterity. A copy of so much of these instructions as relates to
+these general subjects is among the papers now transmitted to the House.
+Similar instructions were furnished to the ministers appointed to Buenos
+Ayres, Chili, and Mexico, and the system of social intercourse which it
+was the purpose of those missions to establish from the first opening of
+our diplomatic relations with those rising nations is the most effective
+exposition of the principles upon which the invitation to the congress
+at Panama has been accepted by me, as well as of the objects of
+negotiation at that meeting, in which, it was that our plenipotentiaries
+should take part.
+
+The House will perceive that even at the date of these instructions the
+first treaties between some of the southern Republics had been
+concluded, by which they had stipulated among themselves this diplomatic
+assembly at Panama. And it will be seen with what caution, so far as it
+might concern the policy of the United States, and at the same time with
+what frankness and good will toward those nations, he gave countenance
+to their design of inviting the United States to this high assembly for
+consultation upon _American interests_. It was not considered a
+conclusive reason for declining this invitation that the proposal for
+assembling such a Congress had not first been made by ourselves. It had
+sprung from the urgent, immediate, and momentous common interests of the
+great communities struggling for independence, and, as it were,
+quickening into life. From them the proposition to us appeared
+respectful and friendly; from us to them it could scarcely have been
+made without exposing ourselves to suspicions of purposes of ambition,
+if not of domination, more suited to rouse resistance and excite
+distrust than to conciliate favor and friendship. The first and
+paramount principle upon which it was deemed wise and just to lay the
+corner stone of all our future relations with them was
+_disinterestedness_; the next was cordial good will to them; the third
+was a claim of fair and equal reciprocity. Under these impressions when
+the invitation was formally and earnestly given, had it even been
+doubtful whether _any_ of the objects proposed for consideration and
+discussion at the Congress were such as that immediate and important
+interests of the United States would be affected by the issue, I should,
+nevertheless, have determined so far as it depended upon me to have
+accepted the invitation and to have appointed ministers to attend the
+meeting. The proposal itself implied that the Republics by whom it was
+made _believed_ that important interests of ours or of theirs rendered
+our attendance there desirable. They had given us notice that in the
+novelty of their situation and in the spirit of deference to our
+experience they would be pleased to have the benefit of our friendly
+counsel. To meet the temper with which this proposal was made with a
+cold repulse was not thought congenial to that warm interest in their
+welfare with which the people and Government of the Union had hitherto
+gone hand in hand through the whole progress of their revolution. To
+insult them by a refusal of their overture, and then invite them to a
+similar assembly to be called by ourselves, was an expedient which never
+presented itself to the mind. I would have sent ministers to the meeting
+had it been merely to give them such advice as they might have desired,
+even with reference to _their own_ interests, not involving ours. I
+would have sent them had it been merely to explain and set forth to them
+our reasons for _declining_ any proposal of specific measures to which
+they might desire our concurrence, but which we might deem incompatible
+with our interests or our duties. In the intercourse between nations
+temper is a missionary perhaps more powerful than talent. Nothing was
+ever lost by kind treatment. Nothing can be gained by sullen repulses
+and aspiring pretensions.
+
+But objects of the highest importance, not only to the future welfare of
+the whole human race, but bearing directly upon the special interests of
+this Union, _will_ engage the deliberations of the congress of Panama
+whether we are represented there or not. Others, if we are represented,
+may be offered by our plenipotentiaries for consideration having in view
+both these great results--our own interests and the improvement of the
+condition of man upon earth. It may be that in the lapse of many
+centuries no other opportunity so favorable will be presented to the
+Government of the United States to subserve the benevolent purposes of
+Divine Providence; to dispense the promised blessings of the Redeemer of
+Mankind; to promote the prevalence in future ages of peace on earth and
+good will to man, as will now be placed in their power by participating
+in the deliberations of this congress.
+
+Among the topics enumerated in official papers published by the Republic
+of Colombia, and adverted to in the correspondence now communicated to
+the House, as intended to be presented for discussion at Panama, there
+is scarcely one in which the _result_ of the meeting will not deeply
+affect the interests of the United States. Even those in which the
+belligerent States alone will take an active part will have a powerful
+effect upon the state of our relations with the American, and probably
+with the principal European, States. Were it merely that we might be
+correctly and speedily informed of the proceedings of the congress and
+of the progress and issue of their negotiations, I should hold it
+advisable that we should have an accredited agency with them, placed in
+such confidential relations with the other members as would insure the
+authenticity and the safe and early transmission of its reports. Of the
+same enumerated topics are the preparation of a manifesto setting forth
+to the world the justice of their cause and the relations they desire to
+hold with other Christian powers, and to form a convention of navigation
+and commerce applicable both to the confederated States and to their
+allies.
+
+It will be within the recollection of the House that immediately after
+the close of the war of our independence a measure closely analogous to
+this congress of Panama was adopted by the Congress of our
+Confederation, and for purposes of precisely the same character. Three
+commissioners with plenipotentiary powers were appointed to negotiate
+treaties of amity, navigation, and commerce with all the principal
+powers of Europe. They met and resided for that purpose about one year
+at Paris, and the only result of their negotiations at that time was the
+first treaty between the United States and Prussia--memorable in the
+diplomatic annals of the world, and precious as a monument of the
+principles, in relation to commerce and maritime warfare, with which our
+country entered upon her career as a member of the great family of
+independent nations. This treaty, prepared in conformity with the
+instructions of the American plenipotentiaries, consecrated three
+fundamental principles of the foreign intercourse which the Congress of
+that period were desirous of establishing: First, equal reciprocity and
+the mutual stipulation of the privileges of the most favored nation in
+the commercial exchanges of peace; secondly, the abolition of private
+war upon the ocean, and thirdly, restrictions favorable to neutral
+commerce upon belligerent practices with regard to contraband of war and
+blockades. A painful, it may be said a calamitous, experience of more
+than forty years has demonstrated the deep importance of these same
+principles to the peace and prosperity of this nation and to the welfare
+of all maritime States, and has illustrated the profound wisdom with
+which they were assumed as cardinal points of the policy of the Union.
+
+At that time in the infancy of their political existence, under the
+influence of those principles of liberty and of right so congenial to
+the cause in which they had just fought and triumphed, they were able
+but to obtain the sanction of one great and philosophical, though
+absolute, sovereign in Europe to their liberal and enlightened
+principles. They could obtain no more. Since then a political hurricane
+has gone over three-fourths of the civilized portions of the earth, the
+desolation of which it may with confidence be expected is passing away,
+leaving at least the American atmosphere purified and refreshed. And now
+at this propitious moment the new-born nations of this hemisphere,
+assembling by their representatives at the isthmus between its two
+continents to settle the principles of their future international
+intercourse with other nations and with us, ask in this great exigency
+for our advice upon those very fundamental maxims which we from our
+cradle at first proclaimed and partially succeeded to introduce into the
+code of national law.
+
+Without recurring to that total prostration of all neutral and
+commercial rights which marked the progress of the late European wars,
+and which finally involved the United States in them, and adverting only
+to our political relations with these American nations, it is observable
+that while in all other respects those relations have been uniformly and
+without exception of the most friendly and mutually satisfactory
+character, the only causes of difference and dissension between us and
+them which ever have arisen originated in those never-failing fountains
+of discord and irritation--discriminations of commercial favor to other
+nations, licentious privateers, and paper blockades. I can not without
+doing injustice to the Republics of Buenos Ayres and Colombia forbear to
+acknowledge the candid and conciliatory spirit with which they have
+repeatedly yielded to our friendly representations and remonstrances on
+these subjects--in repealing discriminative laws which operated to our
+disadvantage and in revoking the commissions of their privateers, to
+which Colombia has added the magnanimity of making reparation for
+unlawful captures by some of her cruisers and of assenting in the midst
+of war to treaty stipulations favorable to neutral navigation. But the
+recurrence of these occasions of complaint has rendered the renewal of
+the discussions which result in the removal of them necessary, while in
+the meantime injuries are sustained by merchants and other individuals
+of the United States which can not be repaired, and the remedy lingers
+in overtaking the pernicious operation of the mischief. The settlement
+of general principles pervading with equal efficacy all the American
+States can alone put an end to these evils, and can alone be
+accomplished at the proposed assembly.
+
+If it be true that the noblest treaty of peace ever mentioned in history
+is that by which the Carthagenians were bound to abolish the practice of
+sacrificing their own children _because it was stipulated in favor of
+human nature_. I can not exaggerate to myself the unfading glory with
+which these United States will go forth in the memory of future ages if
+by their friendly counsel, by their moral influence, by the power of
+argument and persuasion alone they can prevail upon the American nations
+at Panama to stipulate by general agreement among themselves, and so far
+as any of them may be concerned, the perpetual abolition of private war
+upon the ocean. And if we can not yet flatter ourselves that this may be
+accomplished, as advances toward it the establishment of the principle
+that the friendly flag shall cover the cargo, the curtailment of
+contraband of war, and the proscription of fictitious paper blockades--
+engagements which we may reasonably hope will not prove impracticable--
+will, if successfully inculcated, redound proportionally to our honor
+and drain the fountain of many a future sanguinary war.
+
+The late President of the United States, in his message to Congress of
+the 2d December, 1823, while announcing the negotiation then pending
+with Russia, relating to the northwest coast of this continent, observed
+that the occasion of the discussions to which that incident had given
+rise had been taken for asserting as a principle in which the rights and
+interests of the United States were involved that the American
+continents, by the free and independent condition which they had assumed
+and maintained, were thenceforward not to be considered as subjects for
+future colonization by any European power. The principle had first been
+assumed in that negotiation with Russia. It rested upon a course of
+reasoning equally simple and conclusive. With the exception of the
+existing European colonies, which it was in nowise intended to disturb,
+the two continents consisted of several sovereign and independent
+nations, whose territories covered their whole surface. By this their
+independent condition the United States enjoyed the right of commercial
+intercourse with every part of their possessions. To attempt the
+establishment of a colony in those possessions would be to usurp to the
+exclusion of others a commercial intercourse which was the common
+possession of all. It could not be done without encroaching upon
+existing rights of the United States. The Government of Russia has never
+disputed these positions nor manifested the slightest dissatisfaction at
+their having been taken. Most of the new American Republics have
+declared their entire assent to them, and they now propose, among the
+subjects of consultation at Panama, to take into consideration the means
+of making effectual the assertion of that principle, as well as the
+means of resisting interference from abroad with the domestic concerns
+of the American Governments.
+
+In alluding to these means it would obviously be premature at this time
+to anticipate that which is offered merely as matter for consultation,
+or to pronounce upon those measures which have been or may be suggested.
+The purpose of this Government is to concur in none which would import
+hostility to Europe or justly excite resentment in any of her States.
+Should it be deemed advisable to contract any conventional engagement on
+this topic, our views would extend no further than to a mutual pledge of
+the parties to the compact to maintain the principle in application to
+its own territory, and to permit no colonial lodgments or establishment
+of European jurisdiction upon its own soil; and with respect to the
+obtrusive interference from abroad--if its future character may be
+inferred from that which has been and perhaps still is exercised in more
+than one of the new States--a joint declaration of its character and
+exposure of it to the world may be probably all that the occasion would
+require. Whether the United States should or should not be parties to
+such a declaration may justly form a part of the deliberation. That
+there is an evil to be remedied heeds little insight into the secret
+history of late years to know, and that this remedy may best be
+concerted at the Panama meeting deserves at least the experiment of
+consideration. A concert of measures having reference to the more
+effectual abolition of the African slave trade and the consideration of
+the light in which the political condition of the island of Hayti is to
+be regarded are also among the subjects mentioned by the minister from
+the Republic of Colombia as believed to be suitable for deliberation at
+the congress. The failure of the negotiations with that Republic
+undertaken during the late administration, for the suppression of that
+trade, in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives,
+indicates the expediency of listening with respectful attention to
+propositions which may contribute to the accomplishment of the great end
+which was the purpose of that resolution, while the result of those
+negotiations will serve as admonition to abstain from pledging this
+Government to any arrangement which might be expected to fail of
+obtaining the advice and consent of the Senate by a constitutional
+majority to its ratification.
+
+Whether the political condition of the island of Hayti shall be brought
+at all into discussion at the meeting may be a question for preliminary
+advisement. There are in the political constitution of Government of
+that people circumstances which have hitherto forbidden the
+acknowledgment of them by the Government of the United States as
+sovereign and independent. Additional reasons for withholding that
+acknowledgment have recently been seen in their acceptance of a nominal
+sovereignty by the _grant_ of a foreign prince under conditions
+equivalent to the concession by them of exclusive commercial advantages
+to one nation, adapted altogether to the state of colonial vassalage and
+retaining little of independence but the name. Our plenipotentiaries
+will be instructed to present these views to the assembly at Panama, and
+should they not be concurred in to decline acceding to any arrangement
+which may be proposed upon different principles.
+
+The condition of the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico is of deeper import
+and more immediate bearing upon the present interests and future
+prospects of our Union. The correspondence herewith transmitted will
+show how earnestly it has engaged the attention of this Government. The
+invasion of both those islands by the united forces of Mexico and
+Colombia is avowedly among the objects to be matured by the belligerent
+States at Panama. The convulsions to which, from the peculiar
+composition of their population, they would be liable in the event of
+such an invasion, and the danger therefrom resulting of their falling
+ultimately into the hands of some European power other than Spain, will
+not admit of our looking at the consequences to which the congress at
+Panama may lead with indifference. It is unnecessary to enlarge upon
+this topic or to say more than that all our efforts in reference to this
+interest will be to preserve the existing state of things, the
+tranquillity of the islands, and the peace and security of their
+inhabitants.
+
+And lastly, the congress of Panama is believed to present a fair
+occasion for urging upon all the new nations of the south the just and
+liberal principles of religious liberty; not by any interference
+whatever in their internal concerns, but by claiming for our citizens
+whose occupations or interests may call them to occasional residence in
+their territories the inestimable privilege of worshipping their Creator
+according to the dictates of their own consciences. This privilege,
+sanctioned by the customary law of nations and secured by treaty
+stipulations in numerous national compacts, secured even to our own
+citizens in the treaties with Colombia and with the Federation of
+Central America, is yet to be obtained in the other South American
+States and Mexico. Existing prejudices are still struggling against it,
+which may, perhaps, be more successfully combated at this general
+meeting than at the separate seats of Government of each Republic.
+
+I can scarcely deem it otherwise than superfluous to observe that the
+assembly will be in its nature diplomatic and not legislative; that
+nothing can be transacted there obligatory upon any one of the States to
+be represented at the meeting, unless with the express concurrence of
+its own representatives, nor even then, but subject to the ratification
+of its constitutional authority at home. The faith of the United States
+to foreign powers can not otherwise be pledged. I shall, indeed, in the
+first instance, consider the assembly as merely _consultative_; and
+although the plenipotentiaries of the United States will be empowered to
+receive and refer to the consideration of their Government any
+proposition from the other parties to the meeting, they will be
+authorized to conclude nothing unless subject to the definitive sanction
+of this Government in all its constitutional forms. It has therefore
+seemed to me unnecessary to insist that every object to be discussed at
+the meeting should be specified with the precision of a judicial
+sentence or enumerated with the exactness of a mathematical
+demonstration. The purpose of the meeting itself is to deliberate upon
+the great and common _interests_ of several new and neighbouring
+nations. If the measure is new and without precedent, so is the
+situation of the parties to it. That the purposes of the meeting are
+somewhat indefinite, far from being an objection to it is among the
+cogent reasons for its adoption. It is not the establishment of
+principles of intercourse with one, but with seven or eight nations at
+once. That before they have had the means of exchanging ideas and
+communicating with one another in common upon these topics they should
+have definitively settled and arranged them in concert is to require
+that the effect should precede the cause; it is to exact as a
+preliminary to the meeting that for the accomplishment of which the
+meeting itself is designed.
+
+Among the inquiries which were thought entitled to consideration before
+the determination was taken to accept the invitation was that whether
+the measure might not have a tendency to change the policy, hitherto
+invariably pursued by the United States, of avoiding all entangling
+alliances and all unnecessary foreign connections.
+
+Mindful of the advice given by the father of our country in his Farewell
+Address, that the great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign
+nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as
+little political connection as possible, and faithfully adhering to the
+spirit of that admonition, I can not overlook the reflection that the
+counsel of Washington in that instance, like all the counsels of wisdom,
+was founded upon the circumstances in which our country and the world
+around us were situated at the time when it was given; that the reasons
+assigned by him for his advice were that Europe had a set of primary
+interests which to us had none or a very remote relation; that hence she
+must be engaged in frequent controversies, the, causes of which were
+essentially foreign to our concerns; that our _detached_ and _distant_
+situation invited and enabled us to pursue a different course; that by
+our union and rapid growth, with an efficient Government, the period was
+not far distant when we might defy material injury from external
+annoyance, when we might take such an attitude as would cause our
+neutrality to be respected, and, with reference to belligerent nations,
+might choose peace or war, as our interests, guided by justice, should
+counsel.
+
+Compare our situation and the circumstances of that time with those of
+the present day, and what, from the very words of Washington then, would
+be his counsels to his countrymen now? Europe has still her set of
+primary interests, with which we have little or a remote relation. Our
+distant and detached situation with reference to Europe remains the
+same. But we were then the only independent nation of this hemisphere,
+and we were surrounded by European colonies, with the greater part of
+which we had no more intercourse than with the inhabitants of another
+planet. Those colonies have now been transformed into eight independent
+nations, extending to our very borders, seven of them Republics like
+ourselves, with whom we have an immensely growing commercial, and _must_
+have and have already important political, connections; with reference
+to whom our situation is neither distant nor detached; whose political
+principles and systems of government, congenial with our own, must and
+will have an action and counteraction upon us and ours to which we can
+not be indifferent if we would.
+
+The rapidity of our growth, and the consequent increase of our strength,
+has more than realized the anticipations of this admirable political
+legacy. Thirty years have nearly elapsed since it was written, and in
+the interval our population, our wealth, our territorial extension, our
+power--physical and moral--have nearly trebled. Reasoning upon this
+state of things from the sound and judicious principles of Washington,
+must we not say that the period which he predicted as then not far off
+has arrived; that _America_ has a set of primary interests which have
+none or a remote relation to Europe; that the interference of Europe,
+therefore, in those concerns should be spontaneously withheld by her
+upon the same principles that we have never interfered with hers, and
+that if she should interfere, as she may, by measures which may have a
+great and dangerous recoil upon ourselves, we might be called in defense
+of our own altars and firesides to take an attitude which would cause
+our neutrality to be respected, and choose peace or war, as our
+interest, guided by justice, should counsel.
+
+The acceptance of this invitation, therefore, far from conflicting with
+the counsel or the policy of Washington, is directly deducible from and
+conformable to it. Nor is it less conformable to the views of my
+immediate predecessor as declared in his annual message to Congress of
+the 2d December, 1823, to which I have already adverted, and to an
+important passage of which I invite the attention of the House:
+
+    The citizens of the United States (said he) cherish sentiments
+    the most friendly in favor of the liberty and happiness of their
+    fellow-men on that (the European) side of the Atlantic. In the
+    wars of the European powers in matters relating to themselves we
+    have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so
+    to do. It is only when our rights are invaded or seriously
+    menaced that we resent injuries or make preparation for our
+    defense. With the movements in this hemisphere we are of
+    necessity more immediately connected, and by causes which must be
+    obvious to all enlightened and impartial observers. The political
+    system of the allied powers is essentially different in this
+    respect from that of America. This difference proceeds from that
+    which exists in their respective Governments. And to the defense
+    of our own, which has been achieved by the loss of so much blood
+    and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of their most enlightened
+    citizens, and under which we have enjoyed unexampled felicity,
+    this whole nation is devoted. We owe it, therefore, to candor and
+    to the amicable relations subsisting between the United States
+    and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt
+    on their part to extend their system to any portion of this
+    hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the
+    existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have
+    not interfered and shall not interfere; but with the Governments
+    who have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose
+    independence we have on great consideration and on just
+    principles acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for
+    the purposes of oppressing them or controlling in any other
+    manner their destiny by any European power in any other light
+    than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the
+    United States. In the war between those new Governments and Spain
+    we declared our neutrality at the time of their recognition, and
+    to this we have adhered and shall continue to adhere, provided no
+    change shall occur which in the judgment of the competent
+    authorities of this Government shall make a corresponding change
+    on the part of the United States indispensable to their security.
+
+To the question which may be asked, whether this meeting and the
+principles which may be adjusted and settled by it as rules of
+intercourse between the American nations may not give umbrage to the
+holy league of European powers or offense to Spain, it is deemed a
+sufficient answer that our attendance at Panama can give _no just cause_
+of umbrage or offense to either, and that the United States will
+stipulate nothing there which can give such cause. Here the right of
+inquiry into our purposes and measures must stop. The holy league of
+Europe itself was formed without inquiring of the United States whether
+it would or would not give umbrage to them. The fear of giving umbrage
+to the holy league of Europe was urged as a motive for denying to the
+American nations the acknowledgment of their independence. That it would
+be viewed by Spain as hostility to her was not only urged, but directly
+declared by herself. The Congress and administration of that day
+consulted their rights and duties, and not their fears. Fully determined
+to give no heedless displeasure to any foreign power, the United States
+can estimate the probability of their giving it only by the right which
+any foreign state could have to take it from their measures. Neither the
+representation of the United States at Panama nor any measure to which
+their assent may be yielded there will give to the holy league or any of
+its members, nor to Spain, the right to take offense; for the rest the
+United States must still, as heretofore, take counsel from their duties
+rather than their fears.
+
+Such are the objects in which it is expected that the plenipotentiaries
+of the United States, when commissioned to attend the meeting at the
+Isthmus, will take part, and such are the motives and purposes with
+which the invitation of the three Republics was accepted. It was,
+however, as the House will perceive from the correspondence, accepted
+only upon condition that the nomination of commissioners for the mission
+should receive the advice and consent of the Senate.
+
+The concurrence of the House to the measure by the appropriations
+necessary for carrying it into effect is alike subject to its free
+determination and indispensable to the fulfillment of the intention.
+
+That the congress at Panama will accomplish all, or even any, of the
+transcendent benefits to the human race which warmed the conceptions of
+its first proposer it were perhaps indulging too sanguine a forecast of
+events to promise. It is in its nature a measure speculative and
+experimental. The blessing of Heaven may turn it to the account of human
+improvement; accidents unforeseen and mischances not to be anticipated
+may baffle all its high purposes and disappoint its fairest
+expectations. But the design is great, is benevolent, is humane.
+
+It looks to the melioration of the condition of man. It is congenial
+with that spirit which prompted the declaration of our independence,
+which inspired the preamble of our first treaty with France, which
+dictated our first treaty with Prussia and the instructions under which
+it was negotiated, which filled the hearts and fired the souls of the
+immortal founders of our Revolution.
+
+With this unrestricted exposition of the motives by which I have been
+governed in this transaction, as well as of the objects to be discussed
+and of the ends, if possible, to be attained by our representation at
+the proposed congress, I submit the propriety of an appropriation to the
+candid consideration and enlightened patriotism of the Legislature.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 16, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+Some additional documents having relation to the objects of the mission
+to the congress at Panama, and received since the communication of those
+heretofore sent, are now transmitted to the Senate.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+10th instant, requesting information in possession of the Government
+relating to certain resolves of the Congress of the Confederation of the
+21st of October, 1780, and the 21st March, 1783, concerning allowances
+to the officers of the Revolutionary army, and to the manner of carrying
+into effect those resolves, and other particulars appertaining thereto,
+I transmit reports from the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, and
+of War, with documents, comprising the information desired by the House.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+MARCH 22, 1826.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 24, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of
+the 14th ultimo, requesting statements of the amount of compensation
+allowed to the paymaster and quartermaster of the Marine Corps for
+the two years preceding the 1st of January, 1826, and of other particulars
+relating to the same Corps, I communicate a report from the Secretary
+of the Navy, with documents, containing the information desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 24, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+16th ultimo, requesting statements of the net amount of revenue derived
+from imports and tonnage received by the Treasury from the ports within
+the bay of Delaware, the bay of Chesapeake, the harbor of New York,
+and at Boston from the 1st of January, 1790, to the last of December,
+1825, and of the amount of expenditures paid from the Treasury for forts,
+light-houses, beacons, and other public works erected to aid commerce
+or for the purposes of defense within the said bays and harbors during
+the said time, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the
+Treasury, with several documents, containing the information desired by
+the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 29, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of the 227th instant,
+requesting a copy of such parts of the answer of the Secretary of State
+to Mr. Poinsett's letter to Mr. Clay, dated Mexico, 28th September,
+1825, No. 22, as relates to the pledge of the United States therein
+mentioned; and also requesting me to inform the House whether the United
+States have in any manner made any pledge to the Governments of Mexico
+and South America that the United States would not permit the
+interference of any foreign power with the independence or form of
+government of these nations, and, if so, when, in what manner, and to
+what effect; and also to communicate to the House a copy of the
+communication from our minister at Mexico in which he informed the
+Government of the United States that the Mexican Government called upon
+this Government to fulfill the memorable pledge of the President of the
+United States in his message to Congress of December, 1823, I transmit
+to the House a report from the Secretary of State, with the documents
+containing the information desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 30, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+By the second article of the general convention of peace, amity,
+navigation, and commerce between the United States and the Republic of
+Colombia, concluded at Bogota on 3d of October, 1824, it was stipulated
+that the parties engaged mutually not to grant any particular favor to
+other nations in respect of commerce and navigation which should not
+immediately become common to the other party, who should enjoy the same
+freely if the concession was freely made, or on allowing the same
+compensation if the concession was conditional. And in the third article
+of the same convention it was agreed that the citizens of the United
+States might frequent all the coasts and countries of the Republic of
+Colombia, and reside and trade there in all sorts of produce,
+manufactures, and merchandise, and should pay no other or greater
+duties, charges, or fees whatsoever than the most favored nation should
+be obliged to pay, and should enjoy all the rights, privileges, and
+exemptions in navigation and commerce which the most favored nations
+should enjoy, submitting themselves, nevertheless, to the laws, decrees,
+and usages there established, and to which were submitted the subjects
+and citizens of the most favored nations; with a reciprocal stipulation
+in favor of the citizens of the Republic of Colombia in the United
+States. Subsequently to the conclusion of this convention a treaty was
+negotiated between the Republic of Colombia and Great Britain, by which
+it was stipulated that no other or higher duties on account of tonnage,
+light, or harbor dues should be imposed in the ports of Colombia on
+British vessels than those payable in the same ports by Colombian
+vessels, and that the same duties should be paid on the importation into
+the territories of Colombia of any article the growth, produce, or
+manufacture of His Britannic Majesty's dominions, whether such
+importations should be in Colombian or in British vessels, and that the
+same duties should be paid and the same discount (drawbacks) and
+bounties allowed on the exportation of any articles the growth, produce,
+or manufacture of Colombia to His Britannic Majesty's dominions, whether
+such exportations were in Colombian or in British vessels.
+
+The minister of the United States to the Republic of Colombia having
+claimed, by virtue of the second and third articles of the convention
+between the two Republics, that the benefit of these subsequent
+stipulations should be alike extended to the citizens of the United
+States upon the condition of reciprocity provided for by the convention,
+the application of those engagements was readily acceded to by the
+Colombian Government, and a decree was issued by the executive authority
+of that Republic on the 30th of January last, a copy and translation of
+which are herewith communicated, securing to the citizens of the United
+States in the Republic of Colombia the same advantages in regard to
+commerce and navigation which had been conceded to British subjects in
+the Colombian treaty with Great Britain.
+
+It remains for the Government of the United States to secure to the
+citizens of the Republic of Colombia the reciprocal advantages to which
+they are entitled by the terms of the convention, to commence from the
+30th of January last, for the accomplishment of which I invite the
+favor-able consideration of the Legislature.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 31, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the House of the 21st instant,
+requesting information whether any, and what, measures have been taken
+to improve the navigation over the sand bars in the Ohio River according
+to the provisions of the act of the 24th of May, 1824, to improve the
+navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and also whether the
+experiments mentioned in the proviso to the first section of the said
+act have been made, and, if so, what success has attended them, I
+transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War, with documents,
+containing the information desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 31, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to the Senate herewith a supplementary article to the
+treaty with the chiefs and headmen of the Creek Nation, in behalf of
+that nation, which was transmitted to the Senate on the 31st of January
+last, and which I submit, together with and as a part of that treaty,
+for the constitutional advice of the Senate with regard to its
+ratification. A report of the Secretary of War accompanies the article,
+setting forth the reasons for which it has been concluded.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 1, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the House of the 13th ultimo,
+requesting a statement of all the expenditures incident or relating to
+internal improvement for the years 1824 and 1825, I transmit reports
+from the Secretaries of the Treasury and of War, with documents,
+containing the statement desired.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 1, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of the 7th ultimo,
+requesting information relative to the execution of an act of Congress
+of the 7th May, 1822, to authorize and empower the corporation of the
+city of Washington, in the district of Columbia, to drain the low
+grounds on and near the public reservations, and to improve and ornament
+certain parts of such reservations, I transmit herewith a report from
+the commissioners appointed by the corporation of the city to carry into
+effect the provisions of the said act, together with sundry documents,
+exhibiting the information desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 5, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of the 30th ultimo, I
+transmit to the House a report[005] from the Secretary of State, with
+the documents desired by the resolution; and also a copy of the letter
+from the Secretary of State to Mr. Poinsett acknowledging the receipt of
+his dispatch No. 22, accidentally overlooked in the answer to the
+resolution of the House of the 27th ultimo.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 11, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+On the 16th of January last I sent to the Senate a nomination of Daniel
+Bissell to be colonel of the Second Regiment of Artillery, and on the 3d
+of February I received from the Secretary of the Senate an attested copy
+of their proceedings in relation to that nomination, laid before me by
+their order, and closing with a resolution in these words:
+
+_Resolved_. That in the opinion of the Senate Daniel Bissell is entitled
+to the place of colonel in the Army of the United States, taking rank as
+such from the 15th of August, 1812, with the brevet of brigadier-general
+from the 9th of March, 1814, and that the President of the United States
+may arrange him accordingly.
+
+In the discharge of my own duties I am under the necessity of stating
+respectfully to the Senate--
+
+First. That I can not concur in these opinions.
+
+Secondly. That the resolution of the Senate, having on its face no
+reference either to the nomination or to the office for which it was
+made, leaves me doubtful whether it was intended by the Senate as their
+decision upon the nomination or not. If intended as their decision, it
+imports that the Senate do not advise and consent to the appointment of
+Daniel Bissell as colonel in the Second Regiment of Artillery. If
+intended as a mere expression of their opinions, superseding in their
+judgment the necessity of their immediate decision upon the nomination,
+it leaves the Senate still in possession of the nomination and free to
+act upon it when informed of my inability to carry those opinions into
+effect.
+
+In this uncertainty I have thought it most respectful to the Senate to
+refer the subject again to them for their consideration. The delay in
+the transmission of this communication is attributable to the earnest
+desire which I have entertained of acceding to the opinions and
+complying with the wishes of the Senate, and to the long and repeated
+reconsideration of my own impressions with the view to make them, if
+possible, conform to theirs. A still higher duty now constrains me to
+invite their definitive decision upon the nomination.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 15, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+11th instant, I transmit herewith a report[006] of the Secretary of
+State, and documents, containing the information desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 25, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I now transmit to both Houses of Congress copies of a treaty with the
+Creek Nation of Indians, concluded on the 24th day of January last, with
+a supplementary article, signed on the 31st of last month, which have
+been, with the advice and consent of the Senate, duly ratified. I send
+at the same time copies of the treaty superseded by them, signed at the
+Indian Springs on the 12th of February, 1825. The treaty and
+supplementary article now ratified will require the aid of the
+Legislature for carrying them into effect. And I subjoin a letter from
+the Secretary of War, proposing an additional appropriation for the
+purpose of facilitating the removal of that portion of the Creek Nation
+which may be disposed to remove west of the Mississippi, recommending
+the whole subject to the favorable consideration of Congress.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 25, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of the 4th of January last,
+I now transmit reports from the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury,
+and of War, and from the Postmaster-General, with the documents
+containing the list of appointments of members of Congress and other
+information relating thereto desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 28, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to the Senate, for their advice concerning its
+ratification, a general convention of friendship, commerce, and
+navigation between the United States and His Majesty the King of
+Denmark, signed by the Secretary of State and the Danish minister on the
+26th instant. A copy of the convention and a note from the Secretary of
+State, together with Mr. Pedersen's answer, respecting the claims of the
+citizens of the United States upon the Danish Government, are likewise
+communicated.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 29, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+26th instant, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the
+Treasury, with a copy of the opinion of the Attorney-General[007]
+referred to in the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 9, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_: In compliance with a resolution of
+the Senate of the 28th ultimo, I transmit herewith a report from the
+Secretary of War, with a copy of the proceedings of the recent
+court-martial for the trial of Colonel Talbot Chambers, and other
+documents requested by the resolution or relating to the subject of it.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 15, 1826_.
+
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_: In compliance with a resolution of
+the Senate of the 23d of March last, requesting information concerning
+the official conduct of the collector and other revenue officers of the
+port of Philadelphia, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of
+the Treasury, with documents, containing the information desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 16, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+9th instant, I communicate herewith a report[007a] from the Secretary of
+the Treasury, with the documents desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 17, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to both Houses of Congress copies of treaties with Indian
+tribes which have been, by and with the advice and consent of the
+Senate, duly ratified during the present session of Congress:
+
+(1) With the Great and Little Osage tribes, concluded June 2, 1825; (2)
+Kansas, June 3, 1825; (3) Poncar, June 9, 1825; (4) Teton, Yancton, and
+Yanctonies, June 22, 1825; (5) Sioune and Ogallala, July 5 and 12, 1825;
+(6) Chayenne, July 6, 1825; (7) Hunkpapas, July 16, 1825; (8) Ricara,
+July 18, 1825; (9) Mandan, July 30, 1825; (10) Belantse-Etoa, or
+Minnetaree, July 30, 1825; (11) Crow, August 4, 1825; (12) Great and
+Little Osage, August 10, 1825; (13) Kansas, August 16, 1825; (14) Sioux,
+Chippewa, Sac and Fox, Menomonee, Ioway, Sioux, Winnebago, and a portion
+of the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Pottawatomie tribes, August 19, 1825; (15)
+Ottoe and Missouri, September 26, 1825; (16) Pawnee, September 30, 1825;
+(17) Maha, October 6, 1825; (18) Shawnee, November 7, 1825.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 19, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of the 16th instant, I
+transmit a report[008] from the Secretary of State, containing the
+information thereby requested.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 20, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 5th of March, 1824,
+requesting copies of the several instructions to the ministers of the
+United States to the Government of France and of the correspondence
+between the said ministers and Government having reference to the
+spoliations committed by that power on the commerce of the United States
+anterior to the 30th of September, 1800, or so much thereof as can be
+communicated without prejudice to the public interest; also how far, if
+at all, the claim of indemnity from the Government of France for the
+spoliations aforesaid was affected by the convention entered into
+between the United States and France on the said 30th of September,
+1800, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with the
+documents desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+EXECUTIVE ORDER.
+
+
+Adjutant-General's Office,
+
+Washington,
+_July 11, 1826_
+
+
+General Orders.
+
+
+The General in Chief has received from the Department of War the
+following orders:
+
+The President with deep regret announces to the Army that it has pleased
+the Disposer of All Human Events, in whose hands are the issues of life,
+to remove from the scene of earthly existence our illustrious and
+venerated fellow-citizen, Thomas Jefferson.
+
+This dispensation of Divine Providence, afflicting to us, but the
+consummation of glory to him, occurred on the 4th of the present
+month--- on the fiftieth anniversary of that Independence the
+Declaration of which, emanating from his mind, at once proclaimed the
+birth of a free nation and offered motives of hope and consolation to
+the whole family of man. Sharing in the grief which every heart must
+feel for so heavy and afflicting a public loss, and desirous to express
+his high sense of the vast debt of gratitude which is due to the
+virtues, talents, and ever-memorable services of the illustrious
+deceased, the President directs that funeral honors be paid to him at
+all the military stations, and that the officers of the Army wear crape
+on the left arm, by way of mourning, for six months.
+
+Major-General Brown will give the necessary orders for carrying into
+effect the foregoing directions.
+
+J. Barbour.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+It has become the painful duty of the Secretary of War to announce to
+the Army the death of another distinguished and venerated citizen. John
+Adams departed this life on the 4th of this month. Like his compatriot
+Jefferson, he aided in drawing and ably supporting the Declaration of
+Independence. With a prophetic eye he looked through the impending
+difficulties of the Revolution and foretold with what demonstrations of
+joy the anniversary of the birth of American freedom would be hailed. He
+was permitted to behold the verification of his prophecy, and died, as
+did Jefferson, on the day of the jubilee.
+
+A coincidence of circumstances so wonderful gives confidence to the
+belief that the patriotic efforts of these illustrious men were Heaven
+directed, and furnishes a new seal to the hope that the prosperity of
+these States is under the special protection of a kind Providence.
+
+The Secretary of War directs that the same funeral honors be paid by the
+Army to the memory of the deceased as by the order of the 7th (11th?)
+instant were directed to be paid to Thomas Jefferson, and the same token
+of mourning be worn.
+
+Major-General Brown is charged with the execution of this order.
+
+J. Barbour.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Never has it fallen to the lot of any commander to announce to an army
+such an event as now calls forth the mingled grief and astonishment of
+this Republic; never since history first wrote the record of time has
+one day thus mingled every triumphant with every tender emotion, and
+consecrated a nation's joy by blending it with the most sacred of
+sorrows. Yes, soldiers, in one day, almost in the same hour, have two of
+the Founders of the Republic, the Patriarchs of Liberty, closed their
+services to social man, after beholding them crowned with the richest
+and most unlimited success. United in their end as they had been in
+their highest aim, their toils completed, their hopes surpassed, their
+honors full, and the dearest wish of their bosoms gratified in death,
+they closed their eyes in patriot ecstasy, amidst the gratulations and
+thanksgivings of a people on all, on every individual, of whom they had
+conferred the best of all earthly benefits.
+
+Such men heed no trophies; they ask no splendid mausolea. We are their
+monuments; their mausolea is their country, and her growing prosperity
+the amaranthine wreath that Time shall place over their dust. Well may
+the Genius of the Republic mourn. If she turns her eyes in one
+direction, she beholds the hall where Jefferson wrote the charter of her
+rights; if in another, she sees the city where Adams kindled the fires
+of the Revolution. To no period of our history, to no department of our
+affairs, can she direct her views and not meet the multiplied memorials
+of her loss and of their glory.
+
+At the grave of such men envy dies, and party animosity blushes while
+she quenches her fires. If Science and Philosophy lament their
+enthusiastic votary in the halls of Monticello, Philanthropy and
+Eloquence weep with no less reason in the retirement of Quincy. And when
+hereafter the stranger performing his pilgrimage to the land of freedom
+shall ask for the monument of Jefferson, his inquiring eye may be
+directed to the dome of that temple of learning, the university of his
+native State--- the last labor of his untiring mind, the latest and the
+favorite gift of a patriot to his country.
+
+Bereaved yet happy America! Mourning yet highly favored country! Too
+happy if every son whose loss shall demand thy tears can thus soothe thy
+sorrow by a legacy of fame.
+
+The Army of the United States, devoted to the service of the country,
+and honoring all who are alike devoted, whether in the Cabinet or the
+field, will feel an honorable and a melancholy pride in obeying this
+order. Let the officers, then, wear the badge of mourning, the poor
+emblem of a sorrow which words can not express, but which freemen must
+ever feel while contemplating the graves of the venerated Fathers of the
+Republic.
+
+Tuesday succeeding the arrival of this order at each military station
+shall be a day of rest.
+
+The National flag shall wave at half-mast.
+
+At early dawn thirteen guns shall be fired, and at intervals of thirty
+minutes between the rising and setting sun a single cannon will be
+discharged, and at the close of the day twenty-four rounds.
+
+By command of Major-General Brown: R. JONES, _Adjutant-General_
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+SECOND ANNUAL MESSAGE.
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 5, 1826_.
+
+
+
+Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_:
+
+The assemblage of the representatives of our Union in both Houses of the
+Congress at this time occurs under circumstances calling for the renewed
+homage of our grateful acknowledgments to the Giver of All Good. With
+the exceptions incidental to the most felicitous condition of human
+existence, we continue to be highly favored in all the elements which
+contribute to individual comfort and to national prosperity. In the
+survey of our extensive country we have generally to observe abodes of
+health and regions of plenty. In our civil and political relations we
+have peace without and tranquillity within our borders. We are, as a
+people, increasing with unabated rapidity in population, wealth, and
+national resources, and whatever differences of opinion exist among us
+with regard to the mode and the means by which we shall turn the
+beneficence of Heaven to the improvement of our own condition, there is
+yet a spirit animating us all which will not suffer the bounties of
+Providence to be showered upon us in vain, but will receive them with
+grateful hearts, and apply them with unwearied hands to the advancement
+of the general good.
+
+Of the subjects recommended to Congress at their last session, some were
+then definitively acted upon. Others, left unfinished, but partly
+matured, will recur to your attention without heeding a renewal of
+notice from me. The purpose of this communication will be to present to
+your view the general aspect of our public affairs at this moment and
+the measures which have been taken to carry into effect the intentions
+of the Legislature as signified by the laws then and heretofore enacted.
+
+In our intercourse with the other nations of the earth we have still the
+happiness of enjoying peace and a general good understanding, qualified,
+however, in several important instances by collisions of interest and by
+unsatisfied claims of justice, to the settlement of which the
+constitutional interposition of the legislative authority may become
+ultimately indispensable.
+
+By the decease of the Emperor Alexander, of Russia, which occurred
+contemporaneously with the commencement of the last session of Congress,
+the United States have been deprived of a long-tried, steady, and
+faithful friend. Born to the inheritance of absolute power and trained
+in the school of adversity, from which no power on earth, however
+absolute, is exempt, that monarch from his youth had been taught to feel
+the force and value of public opinion and to be sensible that the
+interests of his own Government would best be promoted by a frank and
+friendly intercourse with this Republic, as those of his people would be
+advanced by a liberal commercial intercourse with our country. A candid
+and confidential interchange of sentiments between him and the
+Government of the United States upon the affairs of Southern America
+took place at a period not long preceding his demise, and contributed to
+fix that course of policy which left to the other Governments of Europe
+no alternative but that of sooner or later recognizing the independence
+of our southern neighbors, of which the example had by the United States
+already been set. The ordinary diplomatic communications between his
+successor, the Emperor Nicholas, and the United States have suffered
+some interruption by the illness, departure, and subsequent decease of
+his minister residing here, who enjoyed, as he merited, the entire
+confidence of his new sovereign, as he had eminently responded to that
+of his predecessor. But we have had the most satisfactory assurances
+that the sentiments of the reigning Emperor toward the United States are
+altogether conformable to those which had so long and constantly
+animated his imperial brother, and we have reason to hope that they will
+serve to cement that harmony and good understanding between the two
+nations which, founded in congenial interests, can not but result in the
+advancement of the welfare and prosperity of both.
+
+Our relations of commerce and navigation with France are, by the
+operation of the convention of 24th of June, 1822, with that nation, in
+a state of gradual and progressive improvement. Convinced by all our
+experience, no less than by the principles of fair and liberal
+reciprocity which the United States have constantly tendered to all the
+nations of the earth as the rule of commercial intercourse which they
+would universally prefer, that fair and equal competition is most
+conducive to the interests of both parties, the United States in the
+negotiation of that convention earnestly contended for a mutual
+renunciation of discriminating duties and charges in the ports of the
+two countries. Unable to obtain the immediate recognition of this
+principle in its full extent, after reducing the duties of
+discrimination so far as was found attainable it was agreed that at the
+expiration of two years from the 1st of October, 1822, when the
+convention was to go into effect, unless a notice of six months on
+either side should be given to the other that the convention itself must
+terminate, those duties should be reduced one-fourth, and that this
+reduction should be yearly repeated, until all discrimination should
+cease, while the convention itself should continue in force. By the
+effect of this stipulation three-fourths of the discriminating duties
+which had been levied by each party upon the vessels of the other in its
+ports have already been removed; and on the 1st of next October, should
+the convention be still in force, the remaining fourth will be
+discontinued. French vessels laden with French produce will be received
+in our ports on the same terms as our own, and ours in return will enjoy
+the same advantages in the ports of France.
+
+By these approximations to an equality of duties and of charges not only
+has the commerce between the two countries prospered, but friendly
+dispositions have been on both sides encouraged and promoted. They will
+continue to be cherished and cultivated on the part of the United
+States. It would have been gratifying to have had it in my power to add
+that the claims upon the justice of the French Government, involving the
+property and the comfortable subsistence of many of our fellow-citizens,
+and which have been so long and so earnestly urged, were in a more
+promising train of adjustment than at your last meeting; but their
+condition remains unaltered.
+
+With the Government of the Netherlands the mutual abandonment of
+discriminating duties had been regulated by legislative acts on both
+sides. The act of Congress of the 20th of April, 1818, abolished all
+discriminating duties of impost and tonnage upon the vessels and produce
+of the Netherlands in the ports of the United States upon the assurance
+given by the Government of the Netherlands that all such duties
+operating against the shipping and commerce of the United States in that
+Kingdom had been abolished. These reciprocal regulations had continued
+in force several years when the discriminating principle was resumed by
+the Netherlands in a new and indirect form by a bounty of 10 per cent in
+the shape of a return of duties to their national vessels, and in which
+those of the United States are not permitted to participate. By the act
+of Congress of 7th January, 1824, all discriminating duties in the
+United States were again suspended, so far as related to the vessels and
+produce of the Netherlands, so long as the reciprocal exemption should
+be extended to the vessels and produce of the United States in the
+Netherlands. But the same act provides that in the event of a
+restoration of discriminating duties to operate against the shipping and
+commerce of the United States in any of the foreign countries referred
+to therein the suspension of discriminating duties in favor of the
+navigation of such foreign country should cease and all the provisions
+of the acts imposing discriminating foreign tonnage and impost duties in
+the United States should revive and be in full force with regard to that
+nation.
+
+In the correspondence with the Government of the Netherlands upon this
+subject they have contended that the favor shown to their own shipping
+by this bounty upon their tonnage is not to be considered as a
+discriminating duty; but it can not be denied that it produces all the
+same effects. Had the mutual abolition been stipulated by treaty, such a
+bounty upon the national vessels could scarcely have been granted
+consistently with good faith. Yet as the act of Congress of 7th January,
+1824, has not expressly authorized the Executive authority to determine
+what shall be considered as a revival of discriminating duties by a
+foreign government to the disadvantage of the United States, and as the
+retaliatory measure on our part, however just and necessary, may tend
+rather to that conflict of legislation which we deprecate than to that
+concert to which we invite all commercial nations, as most conducive to
+their interest and our own, I have thought it more consistent with the
+spirit of our institutions to refer the subject again to the paramount
+authority of the Legislature to decide what measure the emergency may
+require than abruptly by proclamation to carry into effect the minatory
+provisions of the act of 1824.
+
+During the last session of Congress treaties of amity, navigation, and
+commerce were negotiated and signed at this place with the Government of
+Denmark, in Europe, and with the Federation of Central America, in this
+hemisphere. These treaties then received the constitutional sanction of
+the Senate, by the advice and consent to their ratification. They were
+accordingly ratified on the part of the United States, and during the
+recess of Congress have been also ratified by the other respective
+contracting parties. The ratifications have been exchanged, and they
+have been published by proclamations, copies of which are herewith
+communicated to Congress.
+
+These treaties have established between the contracting parties the
+principles of equality and reciprocity in their broadest and most
+liberal extent, each party admitting the vessels of the other into its
+ports, laden with cargoes the produce or manufacture of any quarter of
+the globe, upon the payment of the same duties of tonnage and impost
+that are chargeable upon their own. They have further stipulated that
+the parties shall hereafter grant no favor of navigation or commerce to
+any other nation which shall not upon the same terms be granted to each
+other, and that neither party will impose upon articles of merchandise
+the produce or manufacture of the other any other or higher duties than
+upon the like articles being the produce or manufacture of any other
+country. To these principles there is in the convention with Denmark an
+exception with regard to the colonies of that Kingdom in the arctic
+seas, but none with regard to her colonies in the West Indies.
+
+In the course of the last summer the term to which our last commercial
+treaty with Sweden was limited has expired. A continuation of it is in
+the contemplation of the Swedish Government, and is believed to be
+desirable on the part of the United States. It has been proposed by the
+King of Sweden that pending the negotiation of renewal the expired
+treaty should be mutually considered as still in force, a measure which
+will require the sanction of Congress to be carried into effect on our
+part, and which I therefore recommend to your consideration.
+
+With Prussia, Spain, Portugal, and, in general, all the European powers
+between whom and the United States relations of friendly intercourse
+have existed their condition has not materially varied since the last
+session of Congress. I regret not to be able to say the same of our
+commercial intercourse with the colonial possessions of Great Britain in
+America. Negotiations of the highest importance to our common interests
+have been for several years in discussion between the two Governments,
+and on the part of the United States have been invariably pursued in the
+spirit of candor and conciliation. Interests of great magnitude and
+delicacy had been adjusted by the conventions of 1815 and 1818, while
+that of 1822, mediated by the late Emperor Alexander, had promised a
+satisfactory compromise of claims which the Government of the United
+States, in justice to the rights of a numerous class of their citizens,
+was bound to sustain. But with regard to the commercial intercourse
+between the United States and the British colonies in America, it has
+been hitherto found impracticable to bring the parties to an
+understanding satisfactory to both. The relative geographical position
+and the respective products of nature cultivated by human industry had
+constituted the elements of a commercial intercourse between the United
+States and British America, insular and continental, important to the
+inhabitants of both countries; but it had been interdicted by Great
+Britain upon a principle heretofore practiced upon by the colonizing
+nations of Europe, of holding the trade of their colonies each in
+exclusive monopoly to herself. After the termination of the late war
+this interdiction had been revived, and the British Government declined
+including this portion of our intercourse with her possessions in the
+negotiation of the convention of 1815. The trade was then carried on
+exclusively in British vessels till the act of Congress, concerning
+navigation, of 1818 and the supplemental act of 1820 met the interdict
+by a corresponding measure on the part of the United States. These
+measures, not of retaliation, but of necessary self-defense, were soon
+succeeded by an act of Parliament opening certain colonial ports to the
+vessels of the United States coming directly from them, and to the
+importation from them of certain articles of our produce burdened with
+heavy duties, and excluding some of the most valuable articles of our
+exports. The United States opened their ports to British vessels from
+the colonies upon terms as exactly corresponding with those of the act
+of Parliament as in the relative position of the parties could be made,
+and a negotiation was commenced by mutual consent, with the hope on our
+part that a reciprocal spirit of accommodation and a common sentiment of
+the importance of the trade to the interests of the inhabitants of the
+two countries between whom it must be carried on would ultimately bring
+the parties to a compromise with which both might be satisfied. With
+this view the Government of the United States had determined to
+sacrifice something of that entire reciprocity which in all commercial
+arrangements with foreign powers they are entitled to demand, and to
+acquiesce in some inequalities disadvantageous to ourselves rather than
+to forego the benefit of a final and permanent adjustment of this
+interest to the satisfaction of Great Britain herself. The negotiation,
+repeatedly suspended by accidental circumstances, was, however, by
+mutual agreement and express assent, considered as pending and to be
+speedily resumed. In the meantime another act of Parliament, so doubtful
+and ambiguous in its import as to have been misunderstood by the
+officers in the colonies who were to carry it into execution, opens
+again certain colonial ports upon new conditions and terms, with a
+threat to close them against any nation which may not accept those terms
+as prescribed by the British Government. This act, passed in July, 1825,
+not communicated to the Government of the United States, not understood
+by the British officers of the customs in the colonies where it was to
+be enforced, was nevertheless submitted to the consideration of Congress
+at their last session. With the knowledge that a negotiation upon the
+subject had long been in progress and pledges given of its resumption at
+an early day, it was deemed expedient to await the result of that
+negotiation rather than to subscribe implicitly to terms the import of
+which was not clear and which the British authorities themselves in this
+hemisphere were not prepared to explain.
+
+Immediately after the close of the last session of Congress one of our
+most distinguished citizens was dispatched as envoy extraordinary and
+minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain, furnished with instructions
+which we could not doubt would lead to a conclusion of this
+long-controverted interest upon terms acceptable to Great Britain. Upon
+his arrival, and before he had delivered his letters of credence, he was
+met by an order of the British council excluding from and after the 1st
+of December now current the vessels of the United States from all the
+colonial British ports excepting those immediately bordering on our
+territories. In answer to his expostulations upon a measure thus
+unexpected he is informed that according to the ancient maxims of policy
+of European nations having colonies their trade is an exclusive
+possession of the mother country; that all participation in it by other
+nations is a boon or favor not forming a subject of negotiation, but to
+be regulated by the legislative acts of the power owning the colony;
+that the British Government therefore declines negotiating concerning
+it, and that as the United States did not forthwith accept purely and
+simply the terms offered by the act of Parliament of July, 1825, Great
+Britain would not now admit the vessels of the United States even upon
+the terms on which she has opened them to the navigation of other
+nations.
+
+We have been accustomed to consider the trade which we have enjoyed with
+the British colonies rather as an interchange of mutual benefits than as
+a mere favor received; that under every circumstance we have given an
+ample equivalent. We have seen every other nation holding colonies
+negotiate with other nations and grant them freely admission to the
+colonies by treaty, and so far are the other colonizing nations of
+Europe now from refusing to negotiate for trade with their colonies that
+we ourselves have secured access to the colonies of more than one of
+them by treaty. The refusal, however, of Great Britain to negotiate
+leaves to the United States no other alternative than that of regulating
+or interdicting altogether the trade on their part, according as either
+measure may affect the interests of our own country, and with that
+exclusive object I would recommend the whole subject to your calm and
+candid deliberations.
+
+It is hoped that our unavailing exertions to accomplish a cordial good
+understanding on this interest will not have an unpropitious effect
+upon the other great topics of discussion between the two Governments.
+Our northeastern and northwestern boundaries are still unadjusted. The
+commissioners under the seventh article of the treaty of Ghent have
+nearly come to the close of their labors; nor can we renounce the
+expectation, enfeebled as it is, that they may agree upon their report
+to the satisfaction or acquiescence of both parties. The commission for
+liquidating the claims for indemnity for slaves carried away after the
+close of the war has been sitting, with doubtful prospects of success.
+Propositions of compromise have, however, passed between the two
+Governments, the result of which we flatter ourselves may yet prove
+satisfactory. Our own dispositions and purposes toward Great Britain are
+all friendly and conciliatory; nor can we abandon but with strong
+reluctance the belief that they will ultimately meet a return, not of
+favors, which we neither ask nor desire, but of equal reciprocity and
+good will.
+
+With the American Governments of this hemisphere we continue to maintain
+an intercourse altogether friendly, and between their nations and ours
+that commercial interchange of which mutual benefit is the source and
+mutual comfort and harmony the result is in a continual state of
+improvement. The war between Spain and them since the total expulsion of
+the Spanish military force from their continental territories has been
+little more than nominal, and their internal tranquillity, though
+occasionally menaced by the agitations which civil wars never fail to
+leave behind them, has not been affected by any serious calamity.
+
+The congress of ministers from several of those nations which assembled
+at Panama, after a short session there, adjourned to meet again at a
+more favorable season in the neighbourhood of Mexico. The decease of one
+of our ministers on his way to the Isthmus, and the impediments of the
+season, which delayed the departure of the other, deprived us of the
+advantage of being represented at the first meeting of the congress.
+There is, however, no reason to believe that any of the transactions of
+the congress were of a nature to affect injuriously the interests of the
+United States or to require the interposition of our ministers had they
+been present. Their absence has, indeed, deprived us of the opportunity
+of possessing precise and authentic information of the treaties which
+were concluded at Panama; and the whole result has confirmed me in the
+conviction of the expediency to the United States of being represented
+at the congress. The surviving member of the mission, appointed during
+your last session, has accordingly proceeded to his destination, and a
+successor to his distinguished and lamented associate will be nominated
+to the Senate. A treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce has in the
+course of the last summer been concluded by our minister plenipotentiary
+at Mexico with the united states of that Confederacy, which will also be
+laid before the Senate for their advice with regard to its ratification.
+
+In adverting to the present condition of our fiscal concerns and to the
+prospects of our revenue the first remark that calls our attention is
+that they are less exuberantly prosperous than they were at the
+corresponding period of the last year. The severe shock so extensively
+sustained by the commercial and manufacturing interests in Great Britain
+has not been without a perceptible recoil upon ourselves. A reduced
+importation from abroad is necessarily succeeded by a reduced return to
+the Treasury at home. The net revenue of the present year will not equal
+that of the last, and the receipts of that which is to come will fall
+short of those in the current year. The diminution, however, is in part
+attributable to the flourishing condition of some of our domestic
+manufactures, and so far is compensated by an equivalent more profitable
+to the nation. It is also highly gratifying to perceive that the
+deficiency in the revenue, while it scarcely exceeds the anticipations
+of the last year's estimate from the Treasury, has not interrupted the
+application of more than eleven millions during the present year to the
+discharge of the principal and interest of the debt, nor the reduction
+of upward of seven millions of the capital of the debt itself. The
+balance in the Treasury on the 1st of January last was $5,201,650.43;
+the receipts from that time to the 30th of September last were
+$19,585,932.50; the receipts of the current quarter, estimated at
+$6,000,000. yield, with the sums already received, a revenue of about
+twenty-five millions and a half for the year; the expenditures for the
+three first quarters of the year have amounted to $18,714,226.66; the
+expenditures of the current quarter are expected, including the two
+millions of the principal of the debt to be paid, to balance the
+receipts; so that the expenses of the year, amounting to upward of a
+million less than its income, will leave a proportionally increased
+balance in the Treasury on the 1st of January, 1827, over that of the
+1st of January last; instead of $5,200,000 there will be $6,400,000.
+
+The amount of duties secured on merchandise imported from the
+commencement of the year till September 30 is estimated at $21,250,000,
+and the amount that will probably accrue during the present quarter is
+estimated at $4,250,000, making for the whole year $25,500,000, from
+which the drawbacks being deducted will leave a clear revenue from the
+customs receivable in the year 1827 of about $20,400,000, which, with
+the sums to be received from the proceeds of public lands, the bank
+dividends, and other incidental receipts, will form an aggregate of
+about $23,000,000, a sum falling short of the whole expenses of the
+present year little more than the portion of those expenditures applied
+to the discharge of the public debt beyond the annual appropriation of
+$10,000,000 by the act of the 3d March, 1817. At the passage of that act
+the public debt amounted to $123,500,000. On the 1st of January next it
+will be short of $74,000,000. In the lapse of these ten years
+$50,000,000 of public debt, with the annual charge of upward of
+$3,000,000 of interest upon them, have been extinguished. At the passage
+of that act, of the annual appropriation of ten millions seven were
+absorbed in the payment of interest, and not more than three millions
+went to reduce the capital of the debt. Of the same ten millions, at
+this time scarcely four are applicable to the interest, and upward of
+six are effective in melting down the capital. Yet our experience has
+proved that a revenue consisting so largely of imposts and tonnage ebbs
+and flows to an extraordinary extent, with all the fluctuations incident
+to the general commerce of the world. It is within our recollection that
+even in the compass of the same last ten years the receipts of the
+Treasury were not adequate to the expenditures of the year, and that in
+two successive years it was found necessary to resort to loans to meet
+the engagements of the nation. The returning tides of the succeeding
+years replenished the public coffers until they have again begun to feel
+the vicissitude of a decline. To produce these alternations of fullness
+and exhaustion the relative operation of abundant or unfruitful seasons,
+the regulations of foreign governments, political revolutions, the
+prosperous or decaying condition of manufactures, commercial
+speculations, and many other causes, not always to be traced, variously
+combine. We have found the alternate swells and diminutions embracing
+periods of from two to three years. The last period of depression to us
+was from 1819 to 1822. The corresponding revival was from 1823 to the
+commencement of the present year. Still, we have no cause to apprehend a
+depression comparable to that of the former period, or even to
+anticipate a deficiency which will intrench upon the ability to apply
+the annual ten millions to the reduction of the debt. It is well for us,
+however, to be admonished of the necessity of abiding by the maxims of
+the most vigilant economy, and of resorting to all honorable and useful
+expedients for pursuing with steady and inflexible perseverance the
+total discharge of the debt.
+
+Besides the seven millions of the loans of 1813 which will have been
+discharged in the course of the present year, there are nine millions
+which by the terms of the contracts would have been and are now
+redeemable. Thirteen millions more of the loan of 1814 will become
+redeemable from and after the expiration of the present month, and nine
+other millions from and after the close of the ensuing year. They
+constitute a mass of $31,000,000, all bearing an interest of 6 per cent,
+more than twenty millions of which will be immediately redeemable, and
+the rest within little more than a year. Leaving of this amount fifteen
+millions to continue at the interest of 6 per cent, but to be paid off
+as far as shall be found practicable in the years 1827 and 1828, there
+is scarcely a doubt that the remaining sixteen millions might within a
+few months be discharged by a loan at not exceeding 5 per cent,
+redeemable in the years 1829 and 1830. By this operation a sum of nearly
+half a million of dollars may be saved to the nation, and the discharge
+of the whole thirty-one millions within the four years may be greatly
+facilitated if not wholly accomplished.
+
+By an act of Congress of 3d March, 1835, a loan for the purpose now
+referred to, or a subscription to stock, was authorized, at an interest
+not exceeding 4-1/2 per cent. But at that time so large a portion of the
+floating capital of the country was absorbed in commercial speculations
+and so little was left for investment in the stocks that the measure was
+but partially successful. At the last session of Congress the condition
+of the funds was still unpropitious to the measure; but the change so
+soon afterwards occurred that, had the authority existed to redeem the
+nine millions now redeemable by an exchange of stocks or a loan at 5 per
+cent, it is morally certain that it might have been effected, and with
+it a yearly saving of $90,000.
+
+With regard to the collection of the revenue of imposts, certain
+occurrences have within the last year been disclosed in one or two of
+our principal ports, which engaged the attention of Congress at their
+last session and may hereafter require further consideration. Until
+within a very few years the execution of the laws for raising the
+revenue, like that of all our other laws, has been insured more by the
+moral sense of the community than by the rigors of a jealous precaution
+or by penal sanctions. Confiding in the exemplary punctuality and
+unsullied integrity of our importing merchants, a gradual relaxation
+from the provisions of the collection laws, a close adherence to which
+would have caused inconvenience and expense to them, had long become
+habitual, and indulgences had been extended universally because they had
+never been abused. It may be worthy of your serious consideration
+whether some further legislative provision may not be necessary to come
+in aid of this state of unguarded security.
+
+From the reports herewith communicated of the Secretaries of War and of
+the Navy, with the subsidiary documents annexed to them, will be
+discovered the present condition and administration of our military
+establishment on the land and on the sea. The organization of the Army
+having undergone no change since its reduction to the present peace
+establishment in 1821, it remains only to observe that it is yet found
+adequate to all the purposes for which a permanent armed force in time
+of peace can be heeded or useful. It may be proper to add that, from a
+difference of opinion between the late President of the United States
+and the Senate with regard to the construction of the act of Congress of
+2d March, 1821, to reduce and fix the military peace establishment of
+the United States, it remains hitherto so far without execution that no
+colonel has been appointed to command one of the regiments of artillery.
+A supplementary or explanatory act of the Legislature appears to be the
+only expedient practicable for removing the difficulty of this
+appointment.
+
+In a period of profound peace the conduct of the mere military
+establishment forms but a very inconsiderable portion of the duties
+devolving upon the administration of the Department of War. It will be
+seen by the returns from the subordinate departments of the Army that
+every branch of the service is marked with order, regularity, and
+discipline; that from the commanding general through all the gradations
+of superintendence the officers feel themselves to have been citizens
+before they were soldiers, and that the glory of a republican army must
+consist in the spirit of freedom, by which it is animated, and of
+patriotism, by which it is impelled. It may be confidently stated that
+the moral character of the Army is in a state of continual improvement,
+and that all the arrangements for the disposal of its parts have a
+constant reference to that end.
+
+But to the War Department are attributed other duties, having, indeed,
+relation to a future possible condition of war, but being purely
+defensive, and in their tendency contributing rather to the security and
+permanency of peace--the erection of the fortifications provided for by
+Congress, and adapted to secure our shores from hostile invasion; the
+distribution of the fund of public gratitude and justice to the
+pensioners of the Revolutionary war; the maintenance of our relations of
+peace and of protection with the Indian tribes, and the internal
+improvements and surveys for the location of roads and canals, which
+during the last three sessions of Congress have engaged so much of their
+attention, and may engross so large a share of their future benefactions
+to our country.
+
+By the act of the 30th of April, 1824, suggested and approved by my
+predecessor, the sum of $30,000 was appropriated for the purpose of
+causing to be made the necessary surveys, plans, and estimates of the
+routes of such roads and canals as the President of the United States
+might deem of national importance in a commercial or military point of
+view, or necessary for the transportation of the public mail. The
+surveys, plans, and estimates for each, when completed, will be laid
+before Congress.
+
+In execution of this act a board of engineers was immediately
+instituted, and have been since most assiduously and constantly occupied
+in carrying it into effect. The first object to which their labors were
+directed, by order of the late President, was the examination of the
+country between the tide waters of the Potomac, the Ohio, and Lake Erie,
+to ascertain the practicability of a communication between them, to
+designate the most suitable route for the same, and to form plans and
+estimates in detail of the expense of execution.
+
+On the 3d of February, 1825, they made their first report, which was
+immediately communicated to Congress, and in which they declared that
+having maturely considered the circumstances observed by them
+personally, and carefully studied the results of such of the preliminary
+surveys as were then completed, they were decidedly of opinion that the
+communication was practicable.
+
+At the last session of Congress, before the board of engineers were
+enabled to make up their second report containing a general plan and
+preparatory estimate for the work, the Committee of the House of
+Representatives upon Roads and Canals closed the session with a report
+expressing the hope that the plan and estimate of the board of engineers
+might at this time be prepared, and that the subject be referred to the
+early and favorable consideration of Congress at their present session.
+That expected report of the board of engineers is prepared, and will
+forthwith be laid before you.
+
+Under the resolution of Congress authorizing the Secretary of War to
+have prepared a complete system of cavalry tactics, and a system of
+exercise and instruction of field artillery, for the use of the militia
+of the United States, to be reported to Congress at the present session,
+a board of distinguished officers of the Army and of the militia has
+been convened, whose report will be submitted to you with that of the
+Secretary of War. The occasion was thought favorable for consulting the
+same board, aided by the results of a correspondence with the governors
+of the several States and Territories and other citizens of intelligence
+and experience, upon the acknowledged defective condition of our militia
+system, and of the improvements of which it is susceptible. The report
+of the board upon this subject is also submitted for your consideration.
+
+In the estimates of appropriations for the ensuing year upward of
+$5,000,000 will be submitted for the expenditures to be paid from the
+Department of War. Less than two-fifths of this will be applicable to
+the maintenance and support of the Army. A million and a half, in the
+form of pensions, goes as a scarcely adequate tribute to the services
+and sacrifices of a former age, and a more than equal sum invested in
+fortifications, or for the preparations of internal improvement,
+provides for the quiet, the comfort, and happier existence of the ages
+to come. The appropriations to indemnify those unfortunate remnants of
+another race unable alike to share in the enjoyments and to exist in the
+presence of civilization, though swelling in recent years to a magnitude
+burdensome to the Treasury, are generally not without their equivalents
+in profitable value, or serve to discharge the Union from engagements
+more burdensome than debt.
+
+In like manner the estimate of appropriations for the Navy Department
+will present an aggregate sum of upward of $3,000,000. About one-half of
+these, however, covers the current expenditures of the Navy in actual
+service, and one-half constitutes a fund of national property, the
+pledge of our future glory and defense. It was scarcely one short year
+after the close of the late war, and when the burden of its expenses and
+charges was weighing heaviest upon the country, that Congress, by the
+act of 29th April, 1816, appropriated $1,000,000 annually for eight
+years to the _gradual increase of the Navy_. At a subsequent period this
+annual appropriation was reduced to half a million for six years, of
+which the present year is the last. A yet more recent appropriation the
+last two years, for building ten sloops of war, has nearly restored the
+original appropriation of 1816 of a million for every year. The result
+is before us all. We have twelve line-of-battle ships, twenty frigates,
+and sloops of war in proportion, which, with a few months of
+preparation, may present a line of floating fortifications along the
+whole range of our coast ready to meet any invader who might attempt to
+set foot upon our shores. Combining with a system of fortifications upon
+the shores themselves, commenced about the same time under the auspices
+of my immediate predecessor, and hitherto systematically pursued, it has
+placed in our possession the most effective sinews of war and has left
+us at once an example and a lesson from which our own duties may be
+inferred. The gradual increase of the Navy was the principle of which
+the act of 29th April, 1816, was the first development. It was the
+introduction of a system to act upon the character and history of our
+country for an indefinite series of ages. It was a declaration of that
+Congress to their constituents and to posterity that it was the destiny
+and the duty of these confederated States to become in regular process
+of time and by no petty advances a great naval power. That which they
+proposed to accomplish in eight years is rather to be considered as the
+measure of their means than the limitation of their design. They looked
+forward for a term of years sufficient for the accomplishment of a
+definite portion of their purpose, and they left to their successors to
+fill up the canvas of which they had traced the large and prophetic
+outline. The ships of the line and frigates which they had in
+contemplation will be shortly completed. The time which they had
+allotted for the accomplishment of the work has more than elapsed. It
+remains for your consideration how their successors may contribute their
+portion of toil and of treasure for the benefit of the succeeding age in
+the gradual increase of our Navy. There is perhaps no part of the
+exercise of the constitutional powers of the Federal Government which
+has given more general satisfaction to the people of the Union than
+this. The system has not been thus vigorously introduced and hitherto
+sustained to be now departed from or abandoned. In continuing to provide
+for the gradual increase of the Navy it may not be necessary or
+expedient to add for the present any more to the number of our ships;
+but should you deem it advisable to continue the yearly appropriation of
+half a million to the same objects, it may be profitably expended in
+providing a supply of timber to be seasoned and other materials for
+future use in the construction of docks or in laying the foundations of
+a school for naval education, as to the wisdom of Congress either of
+those measures may appear to claim the preference.
+
+Of the small portions of this Navy engaged in actual service during the
+peace, squadrons have continued to be maintained in the Pacific Ocean,
+in the West India seas, and in the Mediterranean, to which has been
+added a small armament to cruise on the eastern coast of South America.
+In all they have afforded protection to our commerce, have contributed
+to make our country advantageously known to foreign nations, have
+honorably employed multitudes of our seamen in the service of their
+country, and have inured numbers of youths of the rising generation to
+lives of manly hardihood and of nautical experience and skill. The
+piracies with which the West India seas were for several years infested
+have been totally suppressed, but in the Mediterranean they have
+increased in a manner afflictive to other nations, and but for the
+continued presence of our squadron would probably have been distressing
+to our own. The war which has unfortunately broken out between the
+Republic of Buenos Ayres and the Brazilian Government has given rise to
+very great irregularities among the naval officers of the latter, by
+whom principles in relation to blockades and to neutral navigation have
+been brought forward to which we can not subscribe and which our own
+commanders have found it necessary to resist. From the friendly
+disposition toward the United States constantly manifested by the
+Emperor of Brazil, and the very useful and friendly commercial
+intercourse between the United States and his dominions, we have reason
+to believe that the just reparation demanded for the injuries sustained
+by several of our citizens from some of his officers will not be
+withheld. Abstracts from the recent dispatches of the commanders of our
+several squadrons are communicated with the report of the Secretary of
+the Navy to Congress.
+
+A report from the Postmaster-General is likewise communicated,
+presenting in a highly satisfactory manner the result of a vigorous,
+efficient, and economical administration of that Department. The revenue
+of the office, even of the year including the latter half of 1824 and
+the first half of 1825, had exceeded its expenditures by a sum of more
+than $45,000. That of the succeeding year has been still more
+productive. The increase of the receipts in the year preceding the 1st
+of July last over that of the year before exceeds $136,000, and the
+excess of the receipts over the expenditures of the year has swollen
+from $45,000 to nearly $80,000. During the same period contracts for
+additional transportation of the mail in stages for about 260,000 miles
+have been made, and for 70,000 miles annually on horseback. Seven
+hundred and fourteen new post-offices have been established within the
+year, and the increase of revenue within the last three years, as well
+as the augmentation of the transportation by mail, is more than equal to
+the whole amount of receipts and of mail conveyance at the commencement
+of the present century, when the seat of the General Government was
+removed to this place. When we reflect that the objects effected by the
+transportation of the mail are among the choicest comforts and
+enjoyments of social life, it is pleasing to observe that the
+dissemination of them to every corner of our country has outstripped in
+their increase even the rapid march of our population.
+
+By the treaties with France and Spain, respectively ceding Louisiana and
+the Floridas to the United States, provision was made for the security
+of land titles derived from the Governments of those nations. Some
+progress has been made under the authority of various acts of Congress
+in the ascertainment and establishment of those titles, but claims to a
+very large extent remain unadjusted. The public faith no less than the
+just rights of individuals and the interest of the community itself
+appears to require further provision for the speedy settlement of those
+claims, which I therefore recommend to the care and attention of the
+Legislature.
+
+In conformity with the provisions of the act of 20th May last, to
+provide for erecting a penitentiary in the district of Columbia, and for
+other purposes, three commissioners were appointed to select a site for
+the erection of a penitentiary for the district, and also a site in the
+county of Alexandria for a county jail, both of which objects have been
+effected. The building of the penitentiary has been commenced, and is in
+such a degree of forwardness as to promise that it will be completed
+before the meeting of the next Congress. This consideration points to
+the expediency of maturing at the present session a system for the
+regulation and government of the penitentiary, and of defining the class
+of offenses which shall be punishable by confinement in this edifice.
+
+In closing this communication I trust that it will not be deemed
+inappropriate to the occasion and purposes upon which we are here
+assembled to indulge a momentary retrospect, combining in a single
+glance the period of our origin as a national confederation with that of
+our present existence, at the precise interval of half a century from
+each other. Since your last meeting at this place the fiftieth
+anniversary of the day when our independence was declared has been
+celebrated throughout our land, and on that day, while every heart was
+bounding with joy and every voice was tuned to gratulation, amid the
+blessings of freedom and independence which the sires of a former age
+had handed down to their children, two of the principal actors in that
+solemn scene--the hand that penned the ever-memorable Declaration and
+the voice that sustained it in debate--were by one summons, at the
+distance of 700 miles from each other, called before the Judge of All to
+account for their deeds done upon earth. They departed cheered by the
+benedictions of their country, to whom they left the inheritance of
+their fame and the memory of their bright example. If we turn our
+thoughts to the condition of their country, in the contrast of the first
+and last day of that half century, how resplendent and sublime is the
+transition from gloom to glory! Then, glancing through the same lapse of
+time, in the condition of the individuals we see the first day marked
+with the fullness and vigor of youth, in the pledge of their lives,
+their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of freedom and of
+mankind; and on the last, extended on the bed of death, with but sense
+and sensibility left to breathe a last aspiration to Heaven of blessing
+upon their country, may we not humbly hope that to them too it was a
+pledge of transition from gloom to glory, and that while their mortal
+vestments were sinking into the clod of the valley their emancipated
+spirits were ascending to the bosom of their God!
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+SPECIAL MESSAGES.
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 7, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I now transmit a report from the Secretary of War, with that of the
+Board of Engineers of Internal Improvement, concerning the proposed
+Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 8, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
+of War, with sundry documents, containing the information requested by a
+resolution of the House of the 8th of May last, relating to the lead
+mines belonging to the United States in Illinois and Missouri.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 8, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
+of War, with several documents, containing information required by a
+resolution of the House of the 20th of May last, respecting certain
+proposed donations of land by Indian tribes to any agent or commissioner
+of the United States.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 12, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to the Senate, for their advice with regard to their
+ratification, the following treaties with Indian tribes:
+
+1. A treaty made and concluded at the Fond du Lac of Lake Superior,
+between Lewis Cass and Thomas L. McKenney, commissioners on the part of
+the United States, and the Chippewa tribe of Indians, on the 5th of
+August, 1826.
+
+2. A treaty made and concluded near the mouth of the Mississinewa, upon
+the Wabash, in the State of Indiana, between Lewis Cass, James B. Ray,
+and John Tipton, commissioners on the part of the United States, and the
+chiefs and warriors of the Potawatamie tribe of Indians, on the 16th of
+October, 1826.
+
+3. A treaty made and concluded near the mouth of the Mississinewa, upon
+the Wabash, in the State of Indiana, between Lewis Cass, James B. Ray,
+and John Tipton, commissioners on the part of the United States, and the
+chiefs and warriors of the Miami tribe of Indians, on the 23d of
+October, 1826.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 18, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to Congress extracts of a letter, received since the
+commencement of their session, from the minister of the United States at
+London, having relation to the late discussions with the Government of
+Great Britain concerning the trade between the United States and the
+British colonies in America.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 20, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In the message to both Houses of Congress at the commencement of their
+present session it was intimated that the commission for liquidating the
+claims of our fellow-citizens to indemnity for slaves and other property
+carried away after the close of the late war with Great Britain in
+contravention to the first article of the treaty of Ghent had been
+sitting in this city with doubtful prospects of success, but that
+propositions had recently passed between the two Governments which it
+was hoped would lead to a satisfactory adjustment of that controversy.
+
+I now transmit to the Senate, for their constitutional consideration and
+advice, a convention signed at London by the plenipotentiaries of the
+two Governments on the 13th of the last month, relating to this object.
+A copy of the convention is at the same time sent, together with a copy
+of the instructions under which it was negotiated and the correspondence
+relating to it. To avoid all delay these documents are now transmitted,
+consisting chiefly of original papers, the return of which is requested.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 22, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+12th instant, requesting information of the measures taken to carry into
+effect the act of Congress of 3d March, 1825, directing a road to be
+made from Little Rock to Cantonment Gibson, in the Territory of
+Arkansas, I transmit a report from the Secretary of War, with a letter
+from the Quartermaster-General, containing the information desired by
+the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 22, 1826_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to the House of Representatives a report from the
+Secretary of State, with a copy of the three articles[009] (marked A)
+requested by the resolution of the House of the 19th instant. The third
+of those articles relating to a subject upon which the negotiation
+between the two Governments is yet open, the communication of all the
+other documents relating to it is reserved to a future period, when it
+may be closed.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
+of State, with sundry documents, containing the information requested by
+two resolutions of the House of the 15th instant, relating to the
+proceedings of the congress of ministers which assembled last summer at
+Panama.
+
+The occasion is taken to communicate at the same time two other
+dispatches, from the minister of the United States to the Mexican
+Confederation, one of which should have been communicated at the last
+session of Congress but that it was then accidentally mislaid, and the
+other having relation to the same subject.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+DECEMBER 26, 1826.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 10, 1827_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+6th instant, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State,
+together with copies of the correspondence with the Government of the
+Netherlands, relating to discriminating duties.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 10, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 20th of May last,
+requesting a detailed statement of the expenditures for the construction
+and repair of the Cumberland road, I now transmit a report from the
+Secretary of the Treasury, with the statement requested by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 10, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to both Houses of Congress a report from the Secretary of the
+Navy, together with that of the engineer by whom, conformably to a joint
+resolution of the two Houses of the 22d May last, an examination and
+survey has been made of a site for a dry dock at the navy-yard at
+Portsmouth, N. H.; Charlestown, Mass.; Brooklyn, N. Y., and Gosport, Va.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 15, 1827_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+20th of May last, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of
+State, touching the impressment of seamen from on board American vessels
+on the high seas or elsewhere by the commanders of British or other
+foreign vessels or ships of war since 18th of February, 1815, together
+with such correspondence on the subject as comes within the purview of
+the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 15, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 21st of last month,
+I now transmit a letter from the Secretary of War, with a report from
+the Chief Engineer and a statement of the Third Auditor, shewing the
+amount disbursed of the appropriation made by the act of 24th May, 1824,
+to improve the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and the
+state and progress of the work contemplated by the appropriation.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 15, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to Congress a letter from the Secretary of War, together
+with a report of the Chief Engineer, and certain acts of the legislature
+of the State of New York proposing to the Government of the United
+States the purchase of the fortifications erected at the expense of the
+State on Staten Island, with the ordnance and other apparatus belonging
+to or connected with the same. These papers were prepared at the close
+of the last session of Congress, at too late a period to be then acted
+upon.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 16, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to both Houses of Congress copies of a convention between
+the United States and Great Britain, signed on the 13th of November last
+at London by the respective plenipotentiaries of the two Governments,
+for the final settlement and liquidation of certain claims of indemnity
+of citizens of the United States which had arisen under the first
+article of the treaty of Ghent. It having been stipulated by this
+convention that the exchange of the ratifications of the same should be
+made at London, the usual proclamation of it here can only be issued
+when that event shall have taken place, the notice of which can scarcely
+be expected before the close of the present session of Congress. But it
+has been duly ratified on the part of the United States, and by the
+report of the Secretary of State and the accompanying certificate
+herewith also communicated it will be seen that the first half of the
+stipulated payment has been made by the minister of His Britannic
+Majesty residing here, and has been deposited in the office of the Bank
+of the United States at this place to await the disposal of Congress.
+
+I recommend to their consideration the expediency of such legislative
+measures as they may deem proper for the distribution of the sum already
+paid, and of that hereafter to be received, among the claimants who may
+be found entitled to the indemnity.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 17, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 10th of May last, I
+transmit a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, with a letter from
+the Director of the Mint, shewing the result of the assay of foreign
+coins and the information otherwise relating thereto desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 29, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 23d instant, I
+transmit herewith a report[010] from the Secretary of State, with the
+accompanying documents.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 29, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+The report from the Commissioner of the General Land Office and the
+accompanying documents herewith transmitted are laid before the Senate
+in compliance with their resolution of the 4th of April last, relating
+to the public lands of the United States in the States of Missouri and
+Illinois which are unfit for cultivation.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 2, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 25th ultimo,
+relative to the execution of the treaty of the 18th of October, 1820, of
+Doaks Stand with the Choctaw tribe of Indians, I transmit a report from
+the Secretary of War, with a statement from the Office of Indian
+Affairs, comprising so far as it is possessed the information desired by
+the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 3, 1827_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+United States of the 9th ultimo, relating to the appointments of chargés
+d'affaires and to the commissions and salaries of the ministers and
+secretary to the mission to Panama, I transmit herewith a report from
+the Secretary of State, with accompanying documents.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 5, 1827_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+The report from the Secretary of War and accompanying documents herewith
+transmitted have been prepared in compliance with a resolution of the
+House of Representatives of the 20th of May last, requesting a statement
+of expenditure and other particulars relating to the procurement and
+properties of the patent rifle.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 5, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I submit to the consideration of Congress a letter from the agent of the
+United States with the Creek Indians, who invoke the protection of the
+Government of the United States in defense of the rights and territory
+secured to that nation by the treaty concluded at Washington, and
+ratified on the part of the United States on the 22d of April last.
+
+The complaint set forth in this letter that surveyors from Georgia have
+been employed in surveying lands within the Indian Territory, as secured
+by that treaty, is authenticated by the information inofficially
+received from other quarters, and there is reason to believe that one or
+more of the surveyors have been arrested in their progress by the
+Indians. Their forbearance, and reliance upon the good faith of the
+United States, will, it is hoped, avert scenes of violence and blood
+which there is otherwise too much cause to apprehend will result from
+these proceedings.
+
+By the fifth section of the act of Congress of the 30th of March, 1802,
+to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes and to preserve
+peace on the frontiers, it is provided that if any citizen of or other
+person resident in the United States shall make a settlement on any
+lands belonging or secured or granted by treaty with the United States
+to any Indian tribe, or shall survey, or attempt to survey, such lands,
+or designate any of the boundaries by marking trees or otherwise, such
+offender shall forfeit a sum not exceeding $1,000 and suffer
+imprisonment not exceeding twelve months.
+
+By the sixteenth and seventeenth sections of the same statute two
+distinct processes are prescribed, by either or both of which the above
+enactment may be carried into execution. By the first it is declared to
+be lawful for the military force of the United States to apprehend every
+person found in the Indian country over and beyond the boundary line
+between the United States and the Indian tribes in violation of any of
+the provisions or regulations of the act, and immediately to convey
+them, in the nearest convenient and safe route, to the civil authority
+of the United States in some of the three next adjoining States or
+districts, to be proceeded against in due course of law.
+
+By the second it is directed that if any person charged with the
+violation of any of the provisions or regulations of the act shall be
+found within any of the United States or either of their territorial
+districts such offender may be there apprehended and brought to trial in
+the same manner as if such crime or offense had been committed within
+such State or district; and that it shall be the duty of the military
+force of the United States, when called upon by the civil magistrate or
+any proper officer or other person duly authorized for that purpose and
+having a lawful warrant, to aid and assist such magistrate, officer, or
+other person so authorized in arresting such offender and committing him
+to safe custody for trial according to law.
+
+The first of these processes is adapted to the arrest of the trespasser
+upon Indian territories on the spot and in the act of committing the
+offense; but as it applies the action of the Government of the United
+States to places where the civil process of the law has no authorized
+course, it is committed entirely to the functions of the military force
+to arrest the person of the offender, and after bringing him within the
+reach of the jurisdiction of the courts there to deliver him into
+custody for trial. The second makes the violator of the law amenable
+only after his offense has been consummated, and when he has returned
+within the civil jurisdiction of the Union. This process, in the first
+instance, is merely of a civil character, but may in like manner be
+enforced by calling in, if necessary, the aid of the military force.
+
+Entertaining no doubt that in the present case the resort to either of
+these modes of process, or to both, was within the discretion of the
+Executive authority, and penetrated with the duty of maintaining the
+rights of the Indians as secured both by the treaty and the law, I
+concluded, after full deliberation, to have recourse on this occasion,
+in the first instance, only to the civil process. Instructions have
+accordingly been given by the Secretary of War to the attorney and
+marshal of the United States in the district of Georgia to commence
+prosecutions against the surveyors complained of as having violated the
+law, while orders have at the same time been forwarded to the agent of
+the United States at once to assure the Indians that their rights
+founded upon the treaty and the law are recognized by this Government
+and will be faithfully protected, and earnestly to exhort them, by the
+forbearance of every act of hostility on their part, to preserve
+unimpaired that right to protection secured to them by the sacred pledge
+of the good faith of this nation. Copies of these instructions and
+orders are herewith transmitted to Congress.
+
+In abstaining at this stage of the proceedings from the application of
+any military force I have been governed by considerations which will, I
+trust, meet the concurrence of the Legislature. Among them one of
+paramount importance has been that these surveys have been attempted,
+and partly effected, under color of legal authority from the State of
+Georgia; that the surveyors are, therefore, not to be viewed in the
+light of individual and solitary transgressors, but as the agents of a
+sovereign State, acting in obedience to authority which they believed to
+be binding upon them. Intimations had been given that should they meet
+with interruption they would at all hazards be sustained by the military
+force of the State, in which event, if the military force of the Union
+should have been employed to enforce its violated law, a conflict _must_
+have ensued, which would itself have inflicted a wound upon the Union
+and have presented the aspect of one of these confederated States at war
+with the rest. Anxious, above all, to avert this state of things, yet at
+the same time impressed with the deepest conviction of my own duty to
+take care that the laws shall be executed and the faith of the nation
+preserved, I have used of the means intrusted to the Executive for that
+purpose only those which without resorting to military force may
+vindicate the sanctity of the law by the ordinary agency of the judicial
+tribunals.
+
+It ought not, however, to be disguised that the act of the legislature
+of Georgia, under the construction given to it by the governor of that
+State, and the surveys made or attempted by his authority beyond the
+boundary secured by the treaty of Washington of April last to the Creek
+Indians, are in direct violation of the supreme law of this land, set
+forth in a treaty which has received all the sanctions provided by the
+Constitution which we have been sworn to support and maintain.
+
+Happily distributed as the sovereign powers of the people of this Union
+have been between their General and State Governments, their history has
+already too often presented collisions between these divided authorities
+with regard to the extent of their respective powers. No instance,
+however, has hitherto occurred in which this collision has been urged
+into a conflict of actual force. No other case is known to have happened
+in which the application of military force by the Government of the
+Union has been prescribed for the enforcement of a law the violation of
+which has within any single State been prescribed by a legislative act
+of the State. In the present instance it is my duty to say that if the
+legislative and executive authorities of the State of Georgia should
+persevere in acts of encroachment upon the territories secured by a
+solemn treaty to the Indians, and the laws of the Union remain
+unaltered, a superadded obligation even higher than that of human
+authority will compel the Executive of the United States to enforce the
+laws and fulfill the duties of the nation by all the force committed for
+that purpose to his charge. That the arm of military force will be
+resorted to only in the event of the failure of all other expedients
+provided by the laws, a pledge has been given by the forbearance to
+employ it at this time. It is submitted to the wisdom of Congress to
+determine whether any further act of legislation may be necessary or
+expedient to meet the emergency which these transactions may produce.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 8, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their advice with regard to its
+ratification, a treaty between the United States and the Mexican
+Confederation, signed by the plenipotentiaries of the respective
+Governments on the 10th of July last. It will be seen by its terms that
+if ratified by both parties the ratifications are to be exchanged at
+this city on or before the 10th day of next month. The ratification on
+the part of the Government of Mexico has not yet been received, though
+it has probably before this been effected. To avoid all unnecessary
+delay the treaty is now communicated to the Senate, that it may receive
+all the deliberation which, in their wisdom, it may require, without
+pressing upon their time at a near approach to the close of their
+session. Should they advise and consent to its ratification, that
+measure will still be withheld until the ratification by the Mexican
+Government shall have been ascertained. A copy of the treaty is likewise
+transmitted, together with the documents appertaining to the
+negotiation.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 8, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to Congress copies of a letter from the governor of the
+State of Georgia, received since my message of the 5th instant, and of
+inclosures received with it, further confirmative of the facts stated in
+that message.[011]
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 16, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of the Treasury,
+with statements prepared at the Register's and General Land Office, in
+compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 10th of May last, in
+relation to the purchase and sales of the public lands since the
+declaration of independence.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 19, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to both Houses of Congress copies of the following treaties,
+which have been ratified by and with the consent of the Senate:
+
+1. A treaty with the Chippewa tribe of Indians, signed at the Fond du
+Lac of Lake Superior on the 5th of August, 1826.
+
+2. A treaty with the Potawatamie tribe of Indians, signed on the 16th of
+October, 1826, near the mouth of the Mississinawa, upon the Wabash, in
+the State of Indiana.
+
+3. A treaty with the Miami tribe of Indians, signed at the same place on
+the 23d of October, 1826.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 24, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their consideration, a conveyance by
+treaty from the Seneca tribe of Indians to Robert Troup, Thomas L.
+Ogden, and Benjamin W. Rogers, in the presence of Oliver Forward,
+commissioner of the United States for holding the said treaty, and of
+Nathaniel Gorham, superintendent in behalf of the State of
+Massachusetts. A letter from the grantees of this conveyance and a
+report of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of War,
+relating to this instrument, are also transmitted; and with regard to
+the approval or ratification of the treaty itself, it is submitted to
+the Senate for their advice and consent.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 28, 1827_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
+of War, with sundry documents, containing statements requested by a
+resolution of the House of Representatives of the 9th of January,
+relating to the Artillery School of Practice at Fortress Monroe.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 2, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of the Treasury,
+with sundry documents, containing the information requested by a
+resolution of the Senate of the 20th of April last, relating to the
+security taken of the late survey or-general of Illinois, Missouri, and
+Arkansas, and of the late receiver of public moneys in the western
+district of Missouri, and to the sums for which they were respectively
+defaulters; also the sums due by each of the late directors of the Bank
+of Missouri to the United States, and to the measures taken for
+obtaining or enforcing payment of the same.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 2, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to both Houses of Congress copies of communications received
+yesterday by the Secretary of War from the governor of Georgia and from
+Lieutenant Vinton.[012]
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+PROCLAMATIONS.
+
+
+
+By the President of the United States.
+
+A PROCLAMATION.
+
+Whereas by the sixth section of an act of Congress entitled "An act to
+regulate the commercial intercourse between the United States and
+certain British colonial ports," which was approved on the 1st day of
+March, A. D. 1823, it is enacted "that this act, unless repealed,
+altered, or amended by Congress, shall be and continue in force so long
+as the above-enumerated British colonial ports shall be open to the
+admission of the vessels of the United States, conformably to the
+provisions of the British act of Parliament of the 24th of June last,
+being the forty-fourth chapter of the acts of the third year of George
+IV; but if at any time the trade and intercourse between the United
+States and all or any of the above enumerated British colonial ports
+authorized by the said act of Parliament should be prohibited by a
+British order in council or by act of Parliament, then, from the day of
+the date of such order in council or act of Parliament, or from the time
+that the same shall commence to be in force, proclamation to that effect
+having been made by the President of the United States, each and every
+provision of this act, so far as the same shall apply to the intercourse
+between the United States and the above-enumerated British colonial
+ports in British vessels, shall cease to operate in their favor, and
+each and every provision of the 'Act concerning navigation,' approved on
+the 18th of April, 1818, and of the act supplementary thereto, approved
+on the 15th of May, 1820, shall revive and be in full force;" and
+
+Whereas by an act of the British Parliament which passed on the 5th day
+of July, A. D. 1825, entitled "An act to repeal the several laws
+relating to the customs," the said act of Parliament of the 24th of
+June, 1822, was repealed; and by another act of the British Parliament,
+passed on the 5th day of July, A. D. 1825, in the sixth year of the
+reign of George IV, entitled "An act to regulate the trade of the
+British possessions abroad;" and by an order of His Britannic Majesty in
+council, bearing date the 27th of July, 1826, the trade and intercourse
+authorized by the aforesaid act of Parliament of the 24th of June, 1822,
+between the United States and the greater part of the said British
+colonial ports therein enumerated, have been prohibited upon and from
+the 1st day of December last past, and the contingency has thereby
+arisen on which the President of the United States was authorized by the
+sixth section aforesaid of the act of Congress of the 1st March, 1823,
+to issue a proclamation to the effect therein mentioned:
+
+Now, therefore, I, John Quincy Adams, President of the United States of
+America, do hereby declare and proclaim that the trade and intercourse
+authorized by the said act of Parliament of the 24th of June, 1822,
+between the United States and the British colonial ports enumerated in
+the aforesaid act of Congress of the 1st of March, 1823, have been and
+are, upon and from the 1st day of December, 1826, by the aforesaid two
+several acts of Parliament of the 5th of July, 1825, and by the
+aforesaid British order in council of the 27th day of July, 1826,
+prohibited.
+
+Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this 17th day of March,
+A. D. 1827, and the fifty-first year of the Independence of the United
+States.
+
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+By the President:
+H. Clay,
+_Secretary of State_.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+By the President of the United States.
+
+A PROCLAMATION.
+
+
+Whereas by an act of the Congress of the United States of the 7th of
+January, 1824, entitled "An act concerning discriminating duties of
+tonnage and impost," it is provided that upon satisfactory evidence
+being given to the President of the United States by the government of
+any foreign nation that no discriminating duties of tonnage or impost
+are imposed or levied within the ports of the said nation upon vessels
+wholly belonging to citizens of the United States or upon merchandise
+the produce or manufacture thereof imported in the same, the President
+is thereby authorized to issue his proclamation declaring that the
+foreign discriminating duties of tonnage and impost within the United
+States are and shall be suspended and discontinued so far as respects
+the vessels of the said nation and the merchandise of its produce or
+manufacture imported into the United States in the same, the said
+suspension to take effect from the time of such notification being given
+to the President of the United States and to continue so long as the
+reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United
+States and merchandise as aforesaid therein laden shall be continued,
+and no longer; and
+
+Whereas satisfactory evidence was given to the President of the United
+States on the 30th day of May last by Count Lucchesi, consul-general of
+His Holiness the Pope, that all foreign and discriminating duties of
+tonnage and impost within the dominions of His Holiness, so far as
+respected the vessels of the United States and the merchandise of their
+produce or manufacture imported in the same, were suspended and
+discontinued:
+
+Now, therefore, I, John Quincy Adams, President of the United States,
+conformably to the fourth section of the act of Congress aforesaid, do
+hereby proclaim and declare that the foreign discriminating duties of
+tonnage and impost within the United States are and shall be suspended
+and discontinued so far as respects the vessels of the subjects of His
+Holiness the Pope and the merchandise of the produce or manufacture of
+his dominions imported into the United States' in the same, the said
+suspension to take effect from the 30th of May aforesaid and to continue
+so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of
+the United States and merchandise as aforesaid therein laden shall be
+continued, and no longer.
+
+Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this 7th day of June, A.
+D. 1827, and of the Independence of the United States the fifty-first.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+By the President:
+H. Clay,
+_Secretary of State_.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+By the President of the United States.
+
+A PROCLAMATION.
+
+Whereas Willis Anderson, of the County of Alexandria, in the district of
+Columbia, is charged with having recently murdered Gerrard Arnold, late
+of the said county; and
+
+Whereas it is represented to me that the said Willis Anderson has
+absconded and secretes himself, so that he can not be apprehended and
+brought to justice for the offense of which he is so charged; and
+
+Whereas the apprehension and trial of the said Willis Anderson is an
+example due to justice and humanity, and would be every way salutary in
+its influence:
+
+Now, therefore, I have thought fit to issue this my proclamation, hereby
+exhorting the citizens of the United States, and particularly those of
+this district, and requiring all officers, according to their respective
+stations, to use their utmost endeavors to apprehend and bring the said
+Willis Anderson to justice for the atrocious crime with which he stands
+charged as aforesaid; and I do moreover offer a reward of $250 for the
+apprehension of the said Willis Anderson and his delivery to an officer
+or officers of justice in the county aforesaid, so that he may be
+brought to trial for the murder aforesaid and be otherwise dealt with
+according to law.
+
+In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and caused the seal
+of the United States to be affixed to these presents.
+
+(SEAL.)
+
+Done at Washington, this 10th day of September, A. D. 1827, and of the
+Independence of the United States the fifty-second.
+
+J. Q. Adams.
+
+
+
+
+By the President:
+H. Clay,
+_Secretary of State_.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE.
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 4, 1827_
+
+
+_Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_:
+
+A revolution of the seasons has nearly been completed since the
+representatives of the people and States of this Union were last
+assembled at this place to deliberate and to act upon the common
+important interests of their constituents. In that interval the
+never-slumbering eye of a wise and beneficent Providence has continued
+its guardian care over the welfare of our beloved country; the blessing
+of health has continued generally to prevail throughout the land; the
+blessing of peace with our brethren of the human race has been enjoyed
+without interruption; internal quiet has left our fellow-citizens in the
+full enjoyment of all their rights and in the free exercise of all their
+faculties, to pursue the impulse of their nature and the obligation of
+their duty in the improvement of their own condition; the productions of
+the soil, the exchanges of commerce, the vivifying labors of human
+industry, have combined to mingle in our cup a portion of enjoyment as
+large and liberal as the indulgence of Heaven has perhaps ever granted
+to the imperfect state of man upon earth; and as the purest of human
+felicity consists in its participation with others, it is no small
+addition to the sum of our national happiness at this time that peace
+and prosperity prevail to a degree seldom experienced over the whole
+habitable globe, presenting, though as yet with painful exceptions, a
+foretaste of that blessed period of promise when the lion shall lie down
+with the lamb and wars shall be no more. To preserve, to improve, and to
+perpetuate the sources and to direct in their most effective channels
+the streams which contribute to the public weal is the purpose for which
+Government was instituted. Objects of deep importance to the welfare of
+the Union are constantly recurring to demand the attention of the
+Federal Legislature, and they call with accumulated interest at the
+first meeting of the two Houses after their periodical renovation. To
+present to their consideration from time to time subjects in which the
+interests of the nation are most deeply involved, and for the regulation
+of which the legislative will is alone competent, is a duty prescribed
+by the Constitution, to the performance of which the first meeting of
+the new Congress is a period eminently appropriate, and which it is now
+my purpose to discharge.
+
+Our relations of friendship with the other nations of the earth,
+political and commercial, have been preserved unimpaired, and the
+opportunities to improve them have been cultivated with anxious and
+unremitting attention. A negotiation upon subjects of high and delicate
+interest with the Government of Great Britain has terminated in the
+adjustment of some of the questions at issue upon satisfactory terms and
+the postponement of others for future discussion and agreement. The
+purposes of the convention concluded at St. Petersburg on the 12th day
+of July, 1822, under the mediation of the late Emperor Alexander, have
+been carried into effect by a subsequent convention, concluded at London
+on the 13th of November, 1826, the ratifications of which were exchanged
+at that place on the 6th day of February last. A copy of the
+proclamation issued on the 19th day of March last, publishing this
+convention, is herewith communicated to Congress. The sum of $1,204,960,
+therein stipulated to be paid to the claimants of indemnity under the
+first article of the treaty of Ghent, has been duly received, and the
+commission instituted, comformably to the act of Congress of the 2d of
+March last, for the distribution of the indemnity to the persons
+entitled to receive it are now in session and approaching the
+consummation of their labors. This final disposal of one of the most
+painful topics of collision between the United States and Great Britain
+not only affords an occasion of gratulation to ourselves, but has had
+the happiest effect in promoting a friendly disposition and in softening
+asperities upon other objects of discussion; nor ought it to pass
+without the tribute of a frank and cordial acknowledgment of the
+magnanimity with which an honorable nation, by the reparation of their
+own wrongs, achieves a triumph more glorious than any field of blood can
+ever bestow.
+
+The conventions of 3d July, 1815, and of 20th October, 1818, will expire
+by their own limitation on the 20th of October, 1828. These have
+regulated the direct commercial intercourse between the United States
+and Great Britain upon terms of the most perfect reciprocity; and they
+effected a temporary compromise of the respective rights and claims to
+territory westward of the Rocky Mountains. These arrangements have been
+continued for an indefinite period of time after the expiration of the
+above-mentioned conventions, leaving each party the liberty of
+terminating them by giving twelve months' notice to the other. The
+radical principle of all commercial intercourse between independent
+nations is the mutual interest of both parties. It is the vital spirit
+of trade itself; nor can it be reconciled to the nature of man or to the
+primary laws of human society that any traffic should long be willingly
+pursued of which all the advantages are on one side and all the burdens
+on the other. Treaties of commerce have been found by experience to be
+among the most effective instruments for promoting peace and harmony
+between nations whose interests, exclusively considered on either side,
+are brought into frequent collisions by competition. In framing such
+treaties it is the duty of each party not simply to urge with unyielding
+pertinacity that which suits its own interest, but to concede liberally
+to that which is adapted to the interest of the other. To accomplish
+this, little more is generally required than a simple observance of the
+rule of reciprocity, and were it possible for the statesmen of one
+nation by stratagem and management to obtain from the weakness or
+ignorance of another an overreaching treaty, such a compact would prove
+an incentive to war rather than a bond of peace. Our conventions with
+Great Britain are founded upon the principles of reciprocity. The
+commercial intercourse between the two countries is greater in magnitude
+and amount than between any two other nations on the globe. It is for
+all purposes of benefit or advantage to both as precious, and in all
+probability far more extensive, than if the parties were still
+constituent parts of one and the same nation. Treaties between such
+States, regulating the intercourse of peace between them and adjusting
+interests of such transcendent importance to both, which have been found
+in a long experience of years mutually advantageous, should not be
+lightly canceled or discontinued. Two conventions for continuing in
+force those above mentioned have been concluded between the
+plenipotentiaries of the two Governments on the 6th of August last, and
+will be forthwith laid before the Senate for the exercise of their
+constitutional authority concerning them.
+
+In the execution of the treaties of peace of November, 1782, and
+September, 1783, between the United States and Great Britain, and which
+terminated the war of our independence, a line of boundary was drawn as
+the demarcation of territory between the two countries, extending over
+near 20 degrees of latitude, and ranging over seas, lakes, and
+mountains, then very imperfectly explored and scarcely opened to the
+geographical knowledge of the age. In the progress of discovery and
+settlement by both parties since that time several questions of boundary
+between their respective territories have arisen, which have been found
+of exceedingly difficult adjustment. At the close of the last war with
+Great Britain four of these questions pressed themselves upon the
+consideration of the negotiators of the treaty of Ghent, but without the
+means of concluding a definitive arrangement concerning them. They were
+referred to three separate commissions consisting of two commissioners,
+one appointed by each party, to examine and decide upon their respective
+claims. In the event of a disagreement between the commissioners it was
+provided that they should make reports to their several Governments, and
+that the reports should finally be referred to the decision of a
+sovereign the common friend of both. Of these commissions two have
+already terminated their sessions and investigations, one by entire and
+the other by partial agreement. The commissioners of the fifth article
+of the treaty of Ghent have finally disagreed, and made their
+conflicting reports to their own Governments. But from these reports a
+great difficulty has occurred in making up a question to be decided by
+the arbitrator. This purpose has, however, been effected by a fourth
+convention, concluded at London by the plenipotentiaries of the two
+Governments on the 29th of September last. It will be submitted,
+together with the others, to the consideration of the Senate.
+
+While these questions have been pending incidents have occurred of
+conflicting pretensions and of dangerous character upon the territory
+itself in dispute between the two nations. By a common understanding
+between the Governments it was agreed that no exercise of exclusive
+jurisdiction by either party while the negotiation was pending should
+change the state of the question of right to be definitively settled.
+Such collision has, nevertheless, recently taken place by occurrences
+the precise character of which has not yet been ascertained. A
+communication from the governor of the State of Maine, with accompanying
+documents, and a correspondence between the Secretary of State and the
+minister of Great Britain on this subject are now communicated. Measures
+have been taken to ascertain the state of the facts more correctly by
+the employment of a special agent to visit the spot where the alleged
+outrages have occurred, the result of whose inquiries, when received,
+will be transmitted to Congress.
+
+While so many of the subjects of high interest to the friendly relations
+between the two countries have been so far adjusted, it is matter of
+regret that their views respecting the commercial intercourse between
+the United States and the British colonial possessions have not equally
+approximated to a friendly agreement.
+
+At the commencement of the last session of Congress they were informed
+of the sudden and unexpected exclusion by the British Government of
+access in vessels of the United States to all their colonial ports,
+except those immediately bordering upon our own territories. In the
+amicable discussions which have succeeded the adoption of this measure,
+which, as it affected harshly the interests of the United States, became
+a subject of expostulation on our part, the principles upon which its
+justification has been placed have been of a diversified character. It
+has been at once ascribed to a mere recurrence to the old,
+long-established principle of colonial monopoly and at the same time to
+a feeling of resentment because the offers of an act of Parliament
+opening the colonial ports upon certain conditions had not been grasped
+at with sufficient eagerness by an instantaneous conformity to them. At
+a subsequent period it has been intimated that the new exclusion was in
+resentment because a prior act of Parliament, of 1822, opening certain
+colonial ports, under heavy and burdensome restrictions, to vessels of
+the United States, had not been reciprocated by an admission of British
+vessels from the colonies, and their cargoes, without any restriction or
+discrimination whatever. But be the motive for the interdiction what it
+may, the British Government have manifested no disposition, either by
+negotiation or by corresponding legislative enactments, to recede from
+it, and we have been given distinctly to understand that neither of the
+bills which were under the consideration of Congress at their last
+session would have been deemed sufficient in their concessions to have
+been rewarded by any relaxation from the British interdict. It is one of
+the inconveniences inseparably connected with the attempt to adjust by
+reciprocal legislation interests of this nature that neither party can
+know what would be satisfactory to the other, and that after enacting a
+statute for the avowed and sincere purpose of conciliation it will
+generally be found utterly inadequate to the expectations of the other
+party, and will terminate in mutual disappointment.
+
+The session of Congress having terminated without any act upon the
+subject, a proclamation was issued on the 17th of March last,
+conformably to the provisions of the sixth section of the act of 1st
+March, 1823, declaring the fact that the trade and intercourse
+authorized by the British act of Parliament of 24th June, 1822, between
+the United States and the British enumerated colonial ports had been by
+the subsequent acts of Parliament of 5th July, 1825, and the order of
+council of 27th July, 1826, prohibited. The effect of this proclamation,
+by the terms of the act under which it was issued, has been that each
+and every provision of the act concerning navigation of 18th April,
+1818, and of the act supplementary thereto of 15th May, 1820, revived
+and is in full force. Such, then, is the present condition of the trade
+that, useful as it is to both parties, it can, with a single momentary
+exception, be carried on directly by the vessels of neither. That
+exception itself is found in a proclamation of the governor of the
+island of St. Christopher and of the Virgin Islands, inviting for three
+months from the 28th of August last the importation of the articles of
+the produce of the United States which constitute their export portion
+of this trade in the vessels of all nations. That period having already
+expired, the state of mutual interdiction has again taken place. The
+British Government have not only declined negotiation upon this subject,
+but by the principle they have assumed with reference to it have
+precluded even the means of negotiation. It becomes not the self-respect
+of the United States either to solicit gratuitous favors or to accept as
+the grant of a favor that for which an ample equivalent is exacted. It
+remains to be determined by the respective Governments whether the trade
+shall be opened by acts of reciprocal legislation. It is, in the
+meantime, satisfactory to know that apart from the inconveniences
+resulting from a disturbance of the usual channels of trade no loss has
+been sustained by the commerce, the navigation, or the revenue of the
+United States, and none of magnitude is to be apprehended from this
+existing state of mutual interdict.
+
+With the other maritime and commercial nations of Europe our intercourse
+continues with little variation. Since the cessation by the convention
+of 24th June, 1822, of all discriminating duties upon the vessels of the
+United States and of France in either country our trade with that nation
+has increased and is increasing. A disposition on the part of France has
+been manifested to renew that negotiation, and in acceding to the
+proposal we have expressed the wish that it might be extended to other
+subjects upon which a good understanding between the parties would be
+beneficial to the interests of both. The origin of the political
+relations between the United States and France is coeval with the first
+years of our independence. The memory of it is interwoven with that of
+our arduous struggle for national existence. Weakened as it has
+occasionally been since that time, it can by us never be forgotten, and
+we should hail with exultation the moment which should indicate a
+recollection equally friendly in spirit on the part of France. A fresh
+effort has recently been made by the minister of the United States
+residing at Paris to obtain a consideration of the just claims of
+citizens of the United States to the reparation of wrongs long since
+committed, many of them frankly acknowledged and all of them entitled
+upon every principle of justice to a candid examination. The proposal
+last made to the French Government has been to refer the subject which
+has formed an obstacle to this consideration to the determination of a
+sovereign the common friend of both. To this offer no definitive answer
+has yet been received, but the gallant and honorable spirit which has at
+all times been the pride and glory of France will not ultimately permit
+the demands of innocent sufferers to be extinguished in the mere
+consciousness of the power to reject them.
+
+A new treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce has been concluded with
+the Kingdom of Sweden, which will be submitted to the Senate for their
+advice with regard to its ratification. At a more recent date a minister
+plenipotentiary from the Hanseatic Republics of Hamburg, Lubeck, and
+Bremen has been received, charged with a special mission for the
+negotiation of a treaty of amity and commerce between that ancient and
+renowned league and the United States. This negotiation has accordingly
+been commenced, and is now in progress, the result of which will, if
+successful, be also submitted to the Senate for their consideration.
+
+Since the accession of the Emperor Nicholas to the imperial throne of
+all the Russias the friendly dispositions toward the United States so
+constantly manifested by his predecessor have continued unabated, and
+have been recently testified by the appointment of a minister
+plenipotentiary to reside at this place. From the interest taken by this
+Sovereign in behalf of the suffering Greeks and from the spirit with
+which others of the great European powers are cooperating with him the
+friends of freedom and of humanity may indulge the hope that they will
+obtain relief from that most unequal of conflicts which they have so
+long and so gallantly sustained; that they will enjoy the blessing of
+self-government, which by their sufferings in the cause of liberty they
+have richly earned, and that their independence will be secured by those
+liberal institutions of which their country furnished the earliest
+examples in the history of mankind, and which have consecrated to
+immortal remembrance the very soil for which they are now again
+profusely pouring forth their blood. The sympathies which the people and
+Government of the United States have so warmly indulged with their cause
+have been acknowledged by their Government in a letter of thanks, which
+I have received from their illustrious President, a translation of which
+is now communicated to Congress, the representatives of that nation to
+whom this tribute of gratitude was intended to be paid, and to whom it
+was justly due.
+
+In the American hemisphere the cause of freedom and independence has
+continued to prevail, and if signalized by none of those splendid
+triumphs which had crowned with glory some of the preceding years it has
+only been from the banishment of all external force against which the
+struggle had been maintained. The shout of victory has been superseded
+by the expulsion of the enemy over whom it could have been achieved. Our
+friendly wishes and cordial good will, which have constantly followed
+the southern nations of America in all the vicissitudes of their war of
+independence, are succeeded by a solicitude equally ardent and cordial
+that by the wisdom and purity of their institutions they may secure to
+themselves the choicest blessings of social order and the best rewards
+of virtuous liberty. Disclaiming alike all right and all intention of
+interfering in those concerns which it is the prerogative of their
+independence to regulate as to them shall seem fit, we hail with joy
+every indication of their prosperity, of their harmony, of their
+persevering and inflexible homage to those principles of freedom and of
+equal rights which are alone suited to the genius and temper of the
+American nations. It has been, therefore, with some concern that we have
+observed indications of intestine divisions in some of the Republics of
+the south, and appearances of less union with one another than we
+believe to be the interest of all. Among the results of this state of
+things has been that the treaties concluded at Panama do not appear to
+have been ratified by the contracting parties, and that the meeting of
+the congress at Tacubaya has been indefinitely postponed. In accepting
+the invitations to be represented at this congress, while a
+manifestation was intended on the part of the United States of the most
+friendly disposition toward the southern Republics by whom it had been
+proposed, it was hoped that it would furnish an opportunity for bringing
+all the nations of this hemisphere to the common acknowledgment and
+adoption of the principles in the regulation of their internal relations
+which would have secured a lasting peace and harmony between them and
+have promoted the cause of mutual benevolence throughout the globe. But
+as obstacles appear to have arisen to the reassembling of the congress,
+one of the two ministers commissioned on the part of the United States
+has returned to the bosom of his country, while the minister charged
+with the ordinary mission to Mexico remains authorized to attend at the
+conferences of the congress whenever they may be resumed.
+
+A hope was for a short time entertained that a treaty of peace actually
+signed between the Governments of Buenos Ayres and of Brazil would
+supersede all further occasion for those collisions between belligerent
+pretensions and neutral rights which are so commonly the result of
+maritime war, and which have unfortunately disturbed the harmony of the
+relations between the United States and the Brazilian Governments. At
+their last session Congress were informed that some of the naval
+officers of that Empire had advanced and practiced upon principles in
+relation to blockades and to neutral navigation which we could not
+sanction, and which our commanders found it necessary to resist. It
+appears that they have not been sustained by the Government of Brazil
+itself. Some of the vessels captured under the assumed authority of
+these erroneous principles have been restored, and we trust that our
+just expectations will be realized that adequate indemnity will be made
+to all the citizens of the United States who have suffered by the
+unwarranted captures which the Brazilian tribunals themselves have
+pronounced unlawful.
+
+In the diplomatic discussions at Rio de Janeiro of these wrongs
+sustained by citizens of the United States and of others which seemed as
+if emanating immediately from that Government itself the chargé
+d'affaires of the United States, under an impression that his
+representations in behalf of the rights and interests of his countrymen
+were totally disregarded and useless, deemed it his duty, without
+waiting for instructions, to terminate his official functions, to demand
+his passports, and return to the United States. This movement, dictated
+by an honest zeal for the honor and interests of his country--motives
+which operated exclusively on the mind of the officer who resorted to
+it--has not been disapproved by me. The Brazilian Government, however,
+complained of it as a measure for which no adequate intentional cause
+had been given by them, and upon an explicit assurance through their
+chargé d'affaires residing here that a successor to the late
+representative of the United States near that Government, the
+appointment of whom they desired, should be received and treated with
+the respect due to his character, and that indemnity should be promptly
+made for all injuries inflicted on citizens of the United States or
+their property contrary to the laws of nations, a temporary commission
+as charge d'affaires to that country has been issued, which it is hoped
+will entirety restore the ordinary diplomatic intercourse between the
+two Governments and the friendly relations between their respective
+nations.
+
+Turning from the momentous concerns of our Union in its intercourse with
+foreign nations to those of the deepest interest in the administration
+of our internal affairs, we find the revenues of the present year
+corresponding as nearly as might be expected with the anticipations of
+the last, and presenting an aspect still more favorable in the promise
+of the next. The balance in the Treasury on January 1 last was
+$6,358,686.18. The receipts from that day to the 30th of September last,
+as near as the returns of them yet received can show, amount to
+$16,886,581.32. The receipts of the present quarter, estimated at
+$4,515,000, added to the above form an aggregate of $21,400,000 of
+receipts. The expenditures of the year may perhaps amount to
+$22,300,000, presenting a small excess over the receipts. But of these
+twenty-two millions, upward of six have been applied to the discharge of
+the principal of the public debt, the whole amount of which, approaching
+seventy-four millions on the 1st of January last, will on the first day
+of the next year fall short of sixty-seven millions and a half. The
+balance in the Treasury on the 1st of January next it is expected will
+exceed $5,450,000, a sum exceeding that of the 1st of January, 1825,
+though falling short of that exhibited on the 1st of January last.
+
+It was foreseen that the revenue of the present year would not equal
+that of the last, which had itself been less than that of the next
+preceding year. But the hope has been realized which was entertained,
+that these deficiencies would in nowise interrupt the steady operation
+of the discharge of the public debt by the annual ten millions devoted
+to that object by the act of 3d March, 1817.
+
+The amount of duties secured on merchandise imported from the
+commencement of the year until the 30th of September last is
+$21,226,000, and the probable amount of that which will be secured
+during the remainder of the year is $5,774,000, forming a sum total of
+$27,000,000. With the allowances for drawbacks and contingent
+deficiencies which may occur, though not specifically foreseen, we may
+safely estimate the receipts of the ensuing year at $22,300,000--a
+revenue for the next equal to the expenditure of the present year.
+
+The deep solicitude felt by our citizens of all classes throughout the
+Union for the total discharge of the public debt will apologize for the
+earnestness with which I deem it my duty to urge this topic upon the
+consideration of Congress--of recommending to them again the observance
+of the strictest economy in the application of the public funds. The
+depression upon the receipts of the revenue which had commenced with the
+year 1826 continued with increased severity during the two first
+quarters of the present year. The returning tide began to flow with the
+third quarter, and, so far as we can judge from experience, may be
+expected to continue through the course of the ensuing year. In the
+meantime an alleviation from the burden of the public debt will in the
+three years have been effected to the amount of nearly sixteen millions,
+and the charge of annual interest will have been reduced upward of one
+million. But among the maxims of political economy which the stewards of
+the public moneys should never suffer without urgent necessity to be
+transcended is that of keeping the expenditures of the year within the
+limits of its receipts. The appropriations of the two last years,
+including the yearly ten millions of the sinking fund, have each equaled
+the promised revenue of the ensuing year. While we foresee with
+confidence that the public coffers will be replenished from the receipts
+as fast as they will be drained by the expenditures, equal in amount to
+those of the current year, it should not be forgotten that they could
+ill suffer the exhaustion of larger disbursements.
+
+The condition of the Army and of all the branches of the public service
+under the superintendence of the Secretary of War will be seen by the
+report from that officer and the documents with which it is accompanied.
+
+During the last summer a detachment of the Army has been usefully and
+successfully called to perform their appropriate duties. At the moment
+when the commissioners appointed for carrying into execution certain
+provisions of the treaty of August 19, 1825, with various tribes of the
+Northwestern Indians were about to arrive at the appointed place of
+meeting the unprovoked murder of several citizens and other acts of
+unequivocal hostility committed by a party of the Winnebago tribe, one
+of those associated in the treaty, followed by indications of a menacing
+character among other tribes of the same region, rendered necessary an
+immediate display of the defensive and protective force of the Union in
+that quarter. It was accordingly exhibited by the immediate and
+concerted movements of the governors of the State of Illinois and of the
+Territory of Michigan, and competent levies of militia, under their
+authority, with a corps of 700 men of United States troops, under the
+command of General Atkinson, who, at the call of Governor Cass,
+immediately repaired to the scene of danger from their station at St.
+Louis. Their presence dispelled the alarms of our fellow-citizens on
+those borders, and overawed the hostile purposes of the Indians. The
+perpetrators of the murders were surrendered to the authority and
+operation of our laws, and every appearance of purposed hostility from
+those Indian tribes has subsided.
+
+Although the present organization of the Army and the administration of
+its various branches of service are, upon the whole, satisfactory, they
+are yet susceptible of much improvement in particulars, some of which
+have been heretofore submitted to the consideration of Congress, and
+others are now first presented in the report of the Secretary of War.
+
+The expediency of providing for additional numbers of officers in the
+two corps of engineers will in some degree depend upon the number and
+extent of the objects of national importance upon which Congress may
+think it proper that surveys should be made conformably to the act of
+the 30th of April, 1824. 'Of the surveys which before the last session
+of Congress had been made under the authority of that act, reports were
+made--
+
+1. Of the Board of Internal Improvement, on the Chesapeake and Ohio
+Canal.
+
+2. On the continuation of the national road from Cumberland to the tide
+waters within the district of Columbia.
+
+3. On the continuation of the national road from Canton to Zanesville.
+
+4. On the location of the national road from Zanesville to Columbus.
+
+5. On the continuation of the same to the seat of government in
+Missouri.
+
+6. On a post-road from Baltimore to Philadelphia.
+
+7. Of a survey of Kennebec River (in part).
+
+8. On a national road from Washington to Buffalo.
+
+9. On the survey of Saugatuck Harbor and River.
+
+10. On a canal from Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River.
+
+11. On surveys at Edgartown, Newburyport, and Hyannis Harbor.
+
+12. On survey of La Plaisance Bay, in the Territory of Michigan.
+
+And reports are now prepared and will be submitted to Congress--
+
+On surveys of the peninsula of Florida, to ascertain the practicability
+of a canal to connect the waters of the Atlantic with the Gulf of Mexico
+across that peninsula; and also of the country between the bays of
+Mobile and of Pensacola, with the view of connecting them together by a
+canal.
+
+On surveys of a route for a canal to connect the waters of James and
+Great Kenhawa rivers.
+
+On the survey of the Swash, in Pamlico Sound, and that of Cape Fear,
+below the town of Wilmington, in North Carolina.
+
+On the survey of the Muscle Shoals, in the Tennessee River, and for a
+route for a contemplated communication between the Hiwassee and Coosa
+rivers, in the State of Alabama.
+
+Other reports of surveys upon objects pointed out by the several acts of
+Congress of the last and preceding sessions are in the progress of
+preparation, and most of them may be completed before the close of this
+session. All the officers of both corps of engineers, with several other
+persons duly qualified, have been constantly employed upon these
+services from the passage of the act of 30th April, 1824, to this time.
+Were no other advantage to accrue to the country from their labors than
+the fund of topographical knowledge which they have collected and
+communicated, that alone would have been a profit to the Union more than
+adequate to all the expenditures which have been devoted to the object;
+but the appropriations for the repair and continuation of the Cumberland
+road, for the construction of various other roads, for the removal of
+obstructions from the rivers and harbors, for the erection of
+light-houses, beacons, piers, and buoys, and for the completion of
+canals undertaken by individual associations, but heeding the assistance
+of means and resources more comprehensive than individual enterprise can
+command, may be considered rather as treasures laid up from the
+contributions of the present age for the benefit of posterity than as
+unrequited applications of the accruing revenues of the nation. To such
+objects of permanent improvement to the condition of the country, of
+real addition to the wealth as well as to the comfort of the people by
+whose authority and resources they have been effected, from three to
+four millions of the annual income of the nation have, by laws enacted
+at the three most recent sessions of Congress, been applied, without
+intrenching upon the necessities of the Treasury, without adding a
+dollar to the taxes or debts of the community, without suspending even
+the steady and regular discharge of the debts contracted in former days,
+which within the same three years have been diminished by the amount of
+nearly $16,000,000.
+
+The same observations are in a great degree applicable to the
+appropriations made for fortifications upon the coasts and harbors of
+the United States, for the maintenance of the Military Academy at West
+Point, and for the various objects under the superintendence of the
+Department of the Navy. The report from the Secretary of the Navy and
+those from the subordinate branches of both the military departments
+exhibit to Congress in minute detail the present condition of the public
+establishments dependent upon them, the execution of the acts of
+Congress relating to them, and the views of the officers engaged in the
+several branches of the service concerning the improvements which may
+tend to their perfection. The fortification of the coasts and the
+gradual increase and improvement of the Navy are parts of a great system
+of national defense which has been upward of ten years in progress, and
+which for a series of years to come will continue to claim the constant
+and persevering protection and superintendence of the legislative
+authority. Among the measures which have emanated from these principles
+the act of the last session of Congress for the gradual improvement of
+the Navy holds a conspicuous place. The collection of timber for the
+future construction of vessels of war, the preservation and reproduction
+of the species of timber peculiarly adapted to that purpose, the
+construction of dry docks for the use of the Navy, the erection of a
+marine railway for the repair of the public ships, and the improvement
+of the navy-yards for the preservation of the public property deposited
+in them have all received from the Executive the attention required by
+that act, and will continue to receive it, steadily proceeding toward
+the execution of all its purposes. The establishment of a naval academy,
+furnishing the means of theoretic instruction to the youths who devote
+their lives to the service of their country upon the ocean, still
+solicits the sanction of the Legislature. Practical seamanship and the
+art of navigation may be acquired on the cruises of the squadrons which
+from time to time are dispatched to distant seas, but a competent
+knowledge even of the art of shipbuilding, the higher mathematics, and
+astronomy; the literature which can place our officers on a level of
+polished education with the officers of other maritime nations; the
+knowledge of the laws, municipal and national, which in their
+intercourse with foreign states and their governments are continually
+called into operation, and, above all, that acquaintance with the
+principles of honor and justice, with the higher obligations of morals
+and of general laws, human and divine, which constitutes the great
+distinction between the warrior-patriot and the licensed robber and
+pirate--these can be systematically taught and eminently acquired only
+in a permanent school, stationed upon the shore and provided with the
+teachers, the instruments, and the books conversant with and adapted to
+the communication of the principles of these respective sciences to the
+youthful and inquiring mind.
+
+The report from the Postmaster-General exhibits the condition of that
+Department as highly satisfactory for the present and still more
+promising for the future. Its receipts for the year ending the 1st of
+July last amounted to $1,473,551, and exceeded its expenditures by
+upward of $100,000. It can not be an oversanguine estimate to predict
+that in less than ten years, of which one-half have elapsed, the
+receipts will have been more than doubled. In the meantime a reduced
+expenditure upon established routes has kept pace with increased
+facilities of public accommodation and additional services have been
+obtained at reduced rates of compensation. Within the last year the
+transportation of the mail in stages has been greatly augmented. The
+number of post-offices has been increased to 7,000, and it may be
+anticipated that while the facilities of intercourse between
+fellow-citizens in person or by correspondence will soon be carried to
+the door of every villager in the Union, a yearly surplus of revenue
+will accrue which may be applied as the wisdom of Congress under the
+exercise of their constitutional powers may devise for the further
+establishment and improvement of the public roads, or by adding still
+further to the facilities in the transportation of the mails. Of the
+indications of the prosperous condition of our country, none can be more
+pleasing than those presented by the multiplying relations of personal
+and intimate intercourse between the citizens of the Union dwelling at
+the remotest distances from each other.
+
+Among the subjects which have heretofore occupied the earnest solicitude
+and attention of Congress is the management and disposal of that portion
+of the property of the nation which consists of the public lands. The
+acquisition of them, made at the expense of the whole Union, not only in
+treasure but in blood, marks a right of property in them equally
+extensive. By the report and statements from the General Land Office now
+communicated it appears that under the present Government of the United
+States a sum little short of $33,000,000 has been paid from the common
+Treasury for that portion of this property which has been purchased from
+France and Spain, and for the extinction of the aboriginal titles. The
+amount of lands acquired is near 260,000,000 acres, of which on the 1st
+of January, 1826, about 139,000,000 acres had been surveyed, and little
+more than 19,000,000 acres had been sold. The amount paid into the
+Treasury by the purchasers of the public lands sold is not yet equal to
+the sums paid for the whole, but leaves a small balance to be refunded.
+The proceeds of the sales of the lands have long been pledged to the
+creditors of the nation, a pledge from which we have reason to hope that
+they will in a very few years be redeemed.
+
+The system upon which this great national interest has been managed was
+the result of long, anxious, and persevering deliberation. Matured and
+modified by the progress of our population and the lessons of
+experience, it has been hitherto eminently successful. More than
+nine-tenths of the lands still remain the common property of the Union,
+the appropriation and disposal of which are sacred trusts in the hands
+of Congress. Of the lands sold, a considerable part were conveyed under
+extended credits, which in the vicissitudes and fluctuations in the
+value of lands and of their produce became oppressively burdensome to
+the purchasers. It can never be the interest or the policy of the nation
+to wring from its own citizens the reasonable profits of their industry
+and enterprise by holding them to the rigorous import of disastrous
+engagements. In March, 1821, a debt of $22,000,000, due by purchasers of
+the public lands, had accumulated, which they were unable to pay. An act
+of Congress of the 2d March, 1821, came to their relief, and has been
+succeeded by others, the latest being the act of the 4th of May, 1826,
+the indulgent provisions of which expired on the 4th July last. The
+effect of these laws has been to reduce the debt from the purchasers to
+a remaining balance of about $4,300,000 due, more than three-fifths of
+which are for lands within the State of Alabama. I recommend to Congress
+the revival and continuance for a further term of the beneficent
+accommodations to the public debtors of that statute, and submit to
+their consideration, in the same spirit of equity, the remission, under
+proper discriminations, of the forfeitures of partial payments on
+account of purchases of the public lands, so far as to allow of their
+application to other payments.
+
+There are various other subjects of deep interest to the whole Union
+which have heretofore been recommended to the consideration of Congress,
+as well by my predecessors as, under the impression of the duties
+devolving upon me, by myself. Among these are the debt, rather of
+justice than gratitude, to the surviving warriors of the Revolutionary
+war; the extension of the judicial administration of the Federal
+Government to those extensive and important members of the Union which,
+having risen into existence since the organization of the present
+judiciary establishment, now constitute at least one-third of its
+territory, power, and population; the formation of a more effective and
+uniform system for the government of the militia, and the amelioration
+in some form or modification of the diversified and often oppressive
+codes relating to insolvency. Amidst the multiplicity of topics of great
+national concernment which may recommend themselves to the calm and
+patriotic deliberations of the Legislature, it may suffice to say that
+on these and all other measures which may receive their sanction my
+hearty cooperation will be given, conformably to the duties enjoined
+upon me and under the sense of all the obligations prescribed by the
+Constitution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+SPECIAL MESSAGES.
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 6, 1827_.
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 19th of February
+last, requesting a statement of all the expenses annually incurred in
+carrying into effect the act of March 2, 1819, for prohibiting the slave
+trade, including the cost of keeping the ships of war on the coast of
+Africa and all the incidental expenses growing out of the operation of
+that act, I transmit a report from the Secretary of the Navy, with the
+statement, so far as it can be made, required by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 11, 1827_.
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate--
+
+1. A convention between the United States and Great Britain for the
+continuance in force of the convention of 3d July, 1815, after the 20th
+October, 1828, the term at which it would otherwise expire.
+
+2. A convention between the same parties for continuing in force after
+the 20th October, 1828, the provisions of the third article of the
+convention of 20th October, 1818, in relation to the territories
+westward of the Rocky Mountains.
+
+3. A convention between the same parties for the reference to a friendly
+sovereign of the points of difference between them relating to the
+northeastern boundary of the United States.
+
+The first and second of these conventions were signed by the
+plenipotentiaries of the respective parties at London on the 6th day of
+August and the third on the 29th day of September last.
+
+Copies of them are also communicated, together with the correspondence
+and documents illustrative of their negotiation.
+
+I request the advice of the Senate with regard to the ratification of
+each of them.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 11, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their advice with regard to its
+ratification, a treaty of commerce and navigation between the United
+States and the Kingdom of. Sweden and Norway, signed at Stockholm by the
+plenipotentiaries of the two Governments on the 4th day of July last.
+
+A copy of the treaty, with a translation, and the instructions and
+correspondence relating to the negotiation are also communicated.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 12, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to Congress copies of a report of the
+surveyor-general of lands northwest of Ohio, with a plat of the northern
+boundary line of the State of Indiana, surveyed in conformity to the act
+of Congress to authorize the President of the United States to ascertain
+and designate the northern boundary of the State of Indiana, passed the
+2d of March, 1827.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 24, 1827_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 14th instant,
+requesting a communication of the instructions to the American minister
+at London for the negotiation of the convention of the 13th of November,
+1826, with Great Britain, for indemnity to the claimants under the first
+article of the treaty of Ghent, together with the letters of the
+minister accompanying and explaining the said convention, I transmit
+herewith a report from the Secretary of State, together with the
+documents desired.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 4, 1828_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 19th of last month,
+I communicate herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with copies
+of the correspondence with the British Government relating to the
+establishment of light-houses, light-vessels, buoys, and other
+improvements to the navigation within their jurisdiction, opposite to
+the coast of Florida, referred to in the resolution,
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 7, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+17th of last month, I transmit to the House a report from the Secretary
+of State and the correspondence with the Government of Great Britain
+relative to the free navigation of the river St. Lawrence.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 9, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 7th instant, I
+transmit herewith Mitchell's map and the map marked A,[013] as requested
+by the resolution, desiring that when the Senate shall have no further
+use for them they may be returned.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 15, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+2d instant, requesting information respecting the recovery of debts and
+property in the Mexican States from persons absconding from the United
+States, and also respecting the boundary between the State of Louisiana
+and the Province of Texas, I now transmit a report from the Secretary of
+State on the subject-matter of the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 22, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their consideration and advice, articles
+of agreement signed at the Creek Agency on the 15th of November last by
+Thomas L. McKenney and John Crowell in behalf of the United States and
+by the Little Prince and other chiefs and headmen of the Creek Nation,
+with a supplementary article concluded by the said John Crowell with the
+chiefs and headmen of the nation in general council convened on the 3d
+instant, embracing a cession by the Creek Nation of all the remnant of
+their lands within the State of Georgia. Documents connected with the
+negotiation of the treaty and the instructions under which it was
+effected are also communicated to the Senate.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 22, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+By the report of the Secretary of War and the documents from that
+Department exhibited to Congress at the commencement of their present
+session they were advised of the measures taken for carrying into
+execution the act of 4th May, 1826, to authorize the President of the
+United States to run and mark a line dividing the Territory of Florida
+from the State of Georgia, and of their unsuccessful result. I now
+transmit to Congress copies of communications received from the governor
+of Georgia relating to that subject.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 23, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+A resolution of the Senate of the 9th instant requested information
+relative to the trade between the United States and the colonies of
+France. A report from the Secretary of State, with a translation of the
+ordinance of the King of France of the 5th of February, 1826, is
+herewith transmitted, containing the information desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 28, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate--
+
+1. A treaty concluded at the Butte des Morts, on Fox River, in the
+Territory of Michigan, on 11th of August, 1827, between Lewis Cass and
+Thomas L. McKenney, commissioners of the United States, and the chiefs
+and headmen of the Chippewa, Menomonie, and Winnebago tribes of Indians.
+
+2. A treaty concluded at St. Joseph, in the Territory of Michigan, on
+the 19th of September, 1827, between Lewis Cass, commissioner of the
+United States, and the chiefs and warriors of the Potawatamie tribe of
+Indians.
+
+Upon which treaties I request the advice of the Senate. The instructions
+and other documents relating to the negotiation of them are here-with
+communicated.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 29_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+A report from the Secretary of State, with copies of a recent
+correspondence between the chargé d'affaires from Brazil and him on the
+subjects of discussion between this Government and that of Brazil,[014]
+is transmitted to the House of Representatives, in compliance with a
+resolution of the House of the 2d instant.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 6, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I communicate herewith to Congress copies of a treaty of commerce and
+navigation between the United States and His Majesty the King of Sweden
+and Norway, concluded at Stockholm on the 4th of July, 1827, and the
+ratifications of which were exchanged on the 18th ultimo at this city.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 14, 1828_
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 11th instant,
+requesting copies of the instructions to Andrew Ellicott, commissioner
+for running the line between the United States and Spain, and of any
+journal or report of the commissioners, I communicate herewith a report
+from the Secretary of State, with the documents requested, so far as
+they are found in the files of that Department.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 21, 1828_
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In transmitting to Congress copies of a communication received from the
+governor of Pennsylvania, with certain resolutions of the legislature of
+that Commonwealth, relating to the Cumberland road, I deem it my duty to
+recommend to the consideration of Congress an adequate provision for the
+permanent preservation and repair of that great national work.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 3, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
+of State, with documents, containing the instructions of the Government
+of the United States to Thomas Pinckney under which was negotiated the
+treaty of San Lorenzo el Real, and relating to the boundary line between
+the United States and the dominions, at that time, of Spain as requested
+by a resolution of the House of the 18th ultimo.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 3, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 3d of January last,
+requesting the communication of information in my possession relative to
+alleged aggression on the rights of citizens of the United States by
+persons claiming authority under the government of the Province of New
+Brunswick, I communicate a report from the Secretary of State, with a
+copy of that of the special agent mentioned in my message at the
+commencement of the present session of Congress as having been sent to
+visit the spot where the cause of complaint had occurred to ascertain
+the state of the facts, and the result of whose inquiries I then
+promised to communicate to Congress when it should be received.
+
+The Senate are requested to receive this communication as the
+fulfillment of that engagement; and in making it I deem it proper to
+notice with just acknowledgment the liberality with which the minister
+of His Britannic Majesty residing here and the government of the
+Province of New Brunswick have furnished the agent of the United States
+with every facility for the attainment of the information which it was
+the object of his mission to procure.
+
+Considering the exercise of exclusive territorial jurisdiction upon the
+grounds in controversy by the government of New Brunswick in the arrest
+and imprisonment of John Baker as incompatible with the mutual
+understanding existing between the Governments of the United States and
+of Great Britain on this subject, a demand has been addressed to the
+provincial authorities through the minister of Great Britain for the
+release of that individual from prison, and of indemnity to him for his
+detention'. In doing this it has not been intended to maintain the
+regularity of his own proceedings or of those with whom he was
+associated, to which they were not authorized by any sovereign authority
+of this country.
+
+The documents appended to the report of the agent being original papers
+belonging to the files of the Department of State, a return of them is
+requested when the Senate shall have no further use for them.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 7, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+The resolution of the Senate of the 28th ultimo, requesting me to cause
+to be laid before the Senate all papers which might be in the Department
+of War relating to the treaty concluded at the Butte des Morts, on Fox
+River, between Lewis Cass and Thomas L. McKenney, commissioners on the
+part of the United States, and the Chippewa, Menomonie, and Winnebago
+tribes of Indians, having been referred to the Secretary of War, the
+report of that officer thereon is herewith inclosed. The papers therein
+referred to were all transmitted to the Senate with the treaty. Before
+that event, however, a petition and several other papers had been
+addressed directly to me, in behalf of certain Indians originally and in
+part still residing within the State of New York, objecting to the
+ratification of the treaty, as affecting injuriously their rights and
+interests. The treaty was itself withheld from the Senate until it was
+understood at the War Department and by me that by the consent of the
+persons representing the New York Indians their objections were
+withdrawn, as by one of them, the Reverend Eleazer Williams, I was
+personally assured. Those papers, however, addressed directly to me, and
+which have not been upon the files of the War Department, are now
+transmitted to the Senate.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 14, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their consideration and advice, a treaty
+concluded at the Wyandot village, near the Wabash, in the State of
+Indiana, between John Tipton, commissioner on the part of the United
+States, and the chiefs, headmen, and warriors of the Eel River or
+Thorntown party of Miami Indians, on the 11th day of February last.
+
+A letter from the commissioner to the Secretary of War, with a copy of
+the journal of the proceedings which led to the conclusion of the
+treaty, are communicated with it to the Senate.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 15, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of the 21st ultimo,
+requesting me to lay before the House correspondence not heretofore
+communicated between the Government of the United States and that of
+Great Britain on the subject of the claims of the two Governments to the
+territory westward of the Rocky Mountains, I transmit herewith a report
+of the Secretary of State, with the documents requested by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 21, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to Congress copies of a treaty concluded on the 15th day of
+November, 1827, by commissioners of the United States and the chiefs and
+headmen of the Creek Nation of Indians, which was duly ratified on the
+4th instant.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 22, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+3d instant, touching the formation of a new government by the Cherokee
+tribe of Indians within the States of North Carolina, Georgia,
+Tennessee, and Alabama, and requesting copies of certain correspondence
+relating thereto, I transmit to the House of Representatives a report
+from the Secretary of War, together with the documents desired by the
+resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 25, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, prepared in
+compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+25th of February last, requesting copies of instructions and
+correspondence relating to the settlement of the boundary lines of the
+United States, or any one of them, under the Government of the
+Confederated States and by the definitive treaty of peace of 3d
+September, 1783, with Great Britain.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 8, 1828_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+22d ultimo, on the subject of the treaty with the Creek Nation of
+Indians of the 15th November last, I transmit herewith a report from the
+Secretary of War, with the documents, containing the information desired
+by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 15, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the House of the 9th instant,
+requesting copies of the charges preferred against the agent of the
+United States for the Creek tribe of Indians since the 1st of January,
+1826, and of proceedings had thereon, I transmit herewith a report from
+the Secretary of War, with documents, containing the information desired
+by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 17, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In conformity with the practice of all my predecessors, I have during my
+service in the office of President transmitted to the two Houses of
+Congress from time to time, by the same private secretary, such messages
+as a proper discharge of my constitutional duty appeared to me to
+require. On Tuesday last he was charged with the delivery of a message
+to each House. Having presented that which was intended for the House of
+Representatives, whilst he was passing, within the Capitol, from their
+Hall to the Chamber of the Senate, for the purpose of delivering the
+other message, he was waylaid and assaulted in the Rotunda by a person,
+in the presence of a member of the House, who interposed and separated
+the parties.
+
+I have thought it my duty to communicate this occurrence to Congress, to
+whose wisdom it belongs to consider whether it is of a nature requiring
+from them any animadversion, and also whether any further laws or
+regulations are necessary to insure security in the official intercourse
+between the President and Congress, and to prevent disorders within the
+Capitol itself.
+
+In the deliberations of Congress upon this subject it is neither
+expected nor desired that any consequence shall be attached to the
+private relation in which my secretary stands to me.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 21, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their consideration and advice, a treaty
+of limits between the United States of America and the United Mexican
+States, concluded by the plenipotentiaries of the two Governments on the
+12th of January last. A copy of the treaty and the protocols of
+conference between the plenipotentiaries during the negotiation are
+inclosed with it.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 22,1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+A copy of the opinion of the Attorney-General, dated 17th May, 1826,
+upon the construction of the award of the Emperor of Russia under the
+treaty of Ghent and upon certain questions propounded to him in relation
+thereto, subjoined to a report from the Secretary of State, are herewith
+communicated to the House, in compliance with their resolution of the
+17th instant.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 24, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for the exercise of their constitutional
+authority thereon, a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation between
+the United States of America and the United Mexican States, signed by
+their respective plenipotentiaries on the 14th of February last, with a
+copy of the treaty and the protocols of conference during and subsequent
+to the negotiation.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 28,1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+9th instant, requesting a communication of the correspondence between
+this Government and that of Great Britain on the subject of the trade
+between the United States and the British colonial possessions in the
+West Indies and North America, not heretofore communicated, I transmit
+to the House a report from the Secretary of State, with the
+correspondence desired.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_April 30, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In the month of December last 121 African negroes were landed at Key
+West from a Spanish slave-trading vessel stranded within the
+jurisdiction of the United States while pursued by an armed schooner in
+His Britannic Majesty's service. The collector of the customs at Key
+West took possession of these persons, who were afterwards delivered
+over to the marshal of the Territory of East Florida, by whom they were
+conveyed to St. Augustine, where they still remain.
+
+Believing that the circumstances under which they have been cast upon
+the compassion of the country are not embraced by the provisions of the
+act of Congress of 3d March, 1819, or of the other acts prohibiting the
+slave trade, I submit to the consideration of Congress the expediency of
+a supplementary act directing and authorizing such measures as may be
+necessary for removing them from the territory of the United States and
+for fulfilling toward them the obligations of humanity.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 1, 1828_.
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 17th ultimo,
+relating to the removal of the Indian agency from Fort Wayne, in the
+State of Indiana, I transmit a report from the Secretary of War, with
+the documents and information requested by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 5, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 30th ultimo,
+requesting information concerning any regulation of the Government of
+Brazil relative to the reduction of certain duties, I transmit herewith
+a report from the Secretary of State, exhibiting the information
+received at that Department on the subject.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 5,1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to the Senate, for their consideration and advice, a
+treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States and His
+Majesty the King of Prussia, signed on the 1st instant at this place by
+the Secretary of State and the chargé d'affaires of Prussia residing
+here. A copy of the treaty is also transmitted.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 9, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+The report of the Secretary of War herewith transmitted, with the
+documents annexed, contains the information requested by a resolution of
+the 3d of April last, relating to the payments made to the citizens of
+Georgia under the fourth article of the treaty with the Creek Nation of
+8th February, 1821, and to the disallowances of certain claims exhibited
+under that treaty, and to the reasons for rejecting the same.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 12, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their consideration and advice, the
+articles of a convention concluded at this place on the 6th instant
+between the Secretary of War and the chiefs and headmen of the Cherokee
+Nation west of the Mississippi, duly authorized by their nation. A
+report from the Secretary of War, with certain documents, and a map
+illustrative of the convention are submitted with it to the Senate.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 16, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+By a communication received from the chargé d'affaires of Prussia, a
+translation of which is herewith transmitted, it appears that in the
+ports of that Kingdom all discriminating duties so far as they affected
+the vessels of the United States and their cargoes have been abolished
+since the 15th of April, 1826. I recommend to the consideration of
+Congress a legislative provision whereby the reciprocal application of
+the same principle may be extended to Prussian vessels and their cargoes
+which may have arrived in the ports of the United States from and after
+that day.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 19, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to Congress copies of three conventions concluded between the
+United States of America and His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom
+of Great Britain and Ireland, the ratifications of which were exchanged
+at London on the 2d of last month:
+
+1. A convention concluded 6th August, 1827, for continuing in force the
+provisions of the convention of 3d July, 1815.
+
+2. A convention concluded 6th August, 1827, for continuing in force the
+provisions of the third article of the convention of 20th October, 1818.
+
+3. A convention concluded 29th September, 1827, for carrying into effect
+the provisions of the fifth article of the treaty of Ghent in relation
+to the northeastern boundary of the United States.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 21, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House a report[015] from the Secretary of State, with
+a copy of the note of the minister of the United States to Spain dated
+20th January, 1826, requested by a resolution of the House of the 19th
+instant.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 22, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+The inclosed report from the Secretary of State is accompanied by copies
+of the correspondence between this Government and the minister of His
+Britannic Majesty residing here relating to the arrest and imprisonment
+of John Baker,[016] requested by a recent resolution of the House.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 22, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to Congress copies of a treaty between the United States of
+America and the Eel River or Thornton party of Miami Indians, concluded
+on the 11th of February last at the Wyandot village, near the Wabash, and
+duly ratified on the 7th instant.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 23, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 8th instant,
+relating to the accounts and official conduct of Thomas A. Smith,
+receiver of public moneys at Franklin, Mo., I transmit herewith a report
+from the Secretary of the Treasury, with documents, containing the
+information desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_May 23, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+30th ultimo, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State,
+with copies of the correspondence[017] with the Brazilian Government,
+and shewing the measures taken by the Government of the United States in
+relation to the several topics noticed in the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+PROCLAMATION.
+
+
+By the President of the United States of America.
+
+A PROCLAMATION.
+
+
+Whereas by an act of the Congress of the United States of the 7th of
+January, 1824, entitled "An act concerning discriminating duties of
+tonnage and impost," it is provided that upon satisfactory evidence
+being given to the President of the United States by the government of
+any foreign nation that no discriminating duties of tonnage or impost
+are imposed or levied within the ports of the said nation upon vessels
+belonging wholly to citizens of the United States or upon merchandise
+the produce or manufacture thereof imported in the same, the President
+is thereby authorized to issue his proclamation declaring that the
+foreign discriminating duties of tonnage and impost within the United
+States are and shall be suspended and discontinued so far as respects
+the vessels of the said nation and the merchandise of its produce or
+manufacture imported into the United States in the same, the said
+suspension to take effect from the time of such notification being given
+to the President of the United States, and to continue so long as the
+reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United
+States and merchandise as aforesaid thereon laden shall be continued,
+and no longer; and
+
+Whereas satisfactory evidence has been received by me from His Britannic
+Majesty, as King of Hanover, through the Right Honorable Charles Richard
+Vaughan, his envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, that
+vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United States or merchandise
+the produce or manufacture thereof imported in such vessels are not nor
+shall be on their entering any Hanoverian port subject to the payment of
+higher duties of tonnage or impost than are levied on Hanoverian ships
+or merchandise the produce or manufacture of the United States imported
+in such vessels:
+
+Now, therefore, I, John Quincy Adams, President of the United States of
+America, do hereby declare and proclaim that so much of the several acts
+imposing duties on the tonnage of ships and vessels and on goods, wares,
+and merchandise imported into the United States as imposed a
+discriminating duty of tonnage between the vessels of the Kingdom of
+Hanover and vessels of the United States and between goods imported into
+the United States in vessels of the Kingdom of Hanover and vessels of
+the United States are suspended and discontinued so far as the same
+respect the produce or manufacture of the said Kingdom of Hanover, the
+said suspension to take effect this day and to continue henceforward so
+long as the reciprocal exemption of the vessels of the United States and
+of the merchandise laden therein as aforesaid shall be continued in the
+ports of the Kingdom of Hanover.
+
+Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this 1st day of July, A.
+D. 1828, and the fifty-second year of the Independence of the United
+States.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+By the President:
+
+H. Clay,
+_Secretary of State_.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+EXECUTIVE ORDER.
+
+
+
+Department of War,
+_February 28, 1828_.
+
+
+The Secretary of War, by direction of the President of the United
+States, announces to the Army the painful intelligence of the decease
+(the 24th of February) of Major-General Brown.
+
+To say that he was one of the men who have rendered most important
+services to his country would fall far short of the tribute due to his
+character. Uniting with the most unaffected simplicity the highest
+degree of personal valor and of intellectual energy, he stands
+preeminent before the world and for after ages in that band of heroic
+spirits who upon the ocean and the land formed and sustained during the
+second war with Great Britain the martial reputation of their country.
+To this high and honorable purpose General Brown may be truly said to
+have sacrificed his life, for the disease which abridged his days and
+has terminated his career at a period scarcely beyond the meridian of
+manhood undoubtedly originated in the hardships of his campaigns on the
+Canada frontier, and in that glorious wound which, though desperate,
+could not remove him from the field of battle till it was won.
+
+Quick to perceive, sagacious to anticipate, prompt to decide, and daring
+in execution, he was born with the qualities which constitute a great
+commander. His military _coup d'oeil_ his intuitive penetration, his
+knowledge of men and his capacity to control them were known to all his
+companions in arms, and commanded their respect; while the gentleness of
+his disposition, the courtesy of his deportment, his scrupulous regard
+to their rights, his constant attention to their wants, and his
+affectionate attachment to their persons universally won their hearts
+and bound them to him as a father.
+
+Calm and collected in the presence of the enemy, he was withal tender of
+human life; in the hour of battle more sparing of the blood of the
+soldier than his own. In the hour of victory the vanquished enemy found
+in him a humane and compassionate friend. Not one drop of blood shed in
+wantonness or cruelty sullies the purity of his fame. Defeat he was
+never called to endure, but in the crisis of difficulty and danger he
+displayed untiring patience and fortitude not to be overcome.
+
+Such was the great and accomplished captain whose loss the Army has now,
+in common with their fellow-citizens of all classes, to deplore. While
+indulging the kindly impulses of nature and yielding the tribute of a
+tear upon his grave, let it not be permitted to close upon his bright
+example as it must upon his mortal remains. Let him be more nobly
+sepulchered in the hearts of his fellow-soldiers, and his imperishable
+monument be found in their endeavors to emulate his virtues.
+
+The officers of the Army will wear the badge of mourning for six months
+on the left arm and hilt of the sword. Guns will be fired at each
+military post at intervals of thirty minutes from the rising to the
+setting of the sun on the day succeeding the arrival of this order,
+during which the National flag will be suspended at half-mast.
+
+James Barbour.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+FOURTH ANNUAL MESSAGE.
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 2, 1828_.
+
+
+_Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_:
+
+If the enjoyment in profusion of the bounties of Providence forms a
+suitable subject of mutual gratulation and grateful acknowledgment, we
+are admonished at this return of the season when the representatives of
+the nation are assembled to deliberate upon their concerns to offer up
+the tribute of fervent and grateful hearts for the never-failing mercies
+of Him who ruleth over all. He has again favored us with healthful
+seasons and abundant harvests; He has sustained us in peace with foreign
+countries and in tranquillity within our borders; He has preserved us in
+the quiet and undisturbed possession of civil and religious liberty; He
+has crowned the year with His goodness, imposing on us no other
+conditions than of improving for our own happiness the blessings
+bestowed by His hands, and, in the fruition of all His favors, of
+devoting the faculties with which we have been endowed by Him to His
+glory and to our own temporal and eternal welfare.
+
+In the relations of our Federal Union with our brethren of the human
+race the changes which have occurred since the close of your last
+session have generally tended to the preservation of peace and to the
+cultivation of harmony. Before your last separation a war had unhappily
+been kindled between the Empire of Russia, one of those with which our
+intercourse has been no other than a constant exchange of good offices,
+and that of the Ottoman Porte, a nation from which geographical
+distance, religious opinions and maxims of government on their part
+little suited to the formation of those bonds of mutual benevolence
+which result from the benefits of commerce had kept us in a state,
+perhaps too much prolonged, of coldness and alienation. The extensive,
+fertile, and populous dominions of the Sultan belong rather to the
+Asiatic than the European division of the human family. They enter but
+partially into the system of Europe, nor have their wars with Russia and
+Austria, the European States upon which they border, for more than a
+century past disturbed the pacific relations of those States with the
+other great powers of Europe. Neither France nor Prussia nor Great
+Britain has ever taken part in them, nor is it to be expected that they
+will at this time. The declaration of war by Russia has received the
+approbation or acquiescence of her allies, and we may indulge the hope
+that its progress and termination will be signalized by the moderation
+and forbearance no less than by the energy of the Emperor Nicholas, and
+that it will afford the opportunity for such collateral agency in behalf
+of the suffering Greeks as will secure to them ultimately the triumph of
+humanity and of freedom.
+
+The state of our particular relations with France has scarcely varied in
+the course of the present year. The commercial intercourse between the
+two countries has continued to increase for the mutual benefit of both.
+The claims of indemnity to numbers of our fellow-citizens for
+depredations upon their property, heretofore committed during the
+revolutionary governments, remain unadjusted, and still form the subject
+of earnest representation and remonstrance. Recent advices from the
+minister of the United States at Paris encourage the expectation that
+the appeal to the justice of the French Government will ere long receive
+a favorable consideration.
+
+The last friendly expedient has been resorted to for the decision of the
+controversy with Great Britain relating to the northeastern boundary of
+the United States. By an agreement with the British Government, carrying
+into effect the provisions of the fifth article of the treaty of Ghent,
+and the convention of 29th September, 1827, His Majesty the King of the
+Netherlands has by common consent been selected as the umpire between
+the parties. The proposal to him to accept the designation for the
+performance of this friendly office will be made at an early day, and
+the United States, relying upon the justice of their cause, will
+cheerfully commit the arbitrament of it to a prince equally
+distinguished for the independence of his spirit, his indefatigable
+assiduity to the duties of his station, and his inflexible personal
+probity.
+
+Our commercial relations with Great Britain will deserve the serious
+consideration of Congress and the exercise of a conciliatory and
+forbearing spirit in the policy of both Governments. The state of them
+has been materially changed by the act of Congress, passed at their last
+session, in alteration of the several acts imposing duties on imports,
+and by acts of more recent date of the British Parliament. The effect of
+the interdiction of direct trade, commenced by Great Britain and
+reciprocated by the United States, has been, as was to be foreseen, only
+to substitute different channels for an exchange of commodities
+indispensable to the colonies and profitable to a numerous class of our
+fellow-citizens. The exports, the revenue, the navigation of the United
+States have suffered no diminution by our exclusion from direct access
+to the British colonies. The colonies pay more dearly for the
+necessaries of life which their Government burdens with the charges of
+double voyages, freight, insurance, and commission, and the profits of
+our exports are somewhat impaired and more injuriously transferred from
+one portion of our citizens to another. The resumption of this old and
+otherwise exploded system of colonial exclusion has not secured to the
+shipping interest of Great Britain the relief which, at the expense of
+the distant colonies and of the United States, it was expected to
+afford. Other measures have been resorted to more pointedly bearing upon
+the navigation of the United States, and which, unless modified by the
+construction given to the recent acts of Parliament, will be manifestly
+incompatible with the positive stipulations of the commercial convention
+existing between the two countries. That convention, however, may be
+terminated with twelve months' notice, at the option of either party.
+
+A treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce between the United States
+and His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, has
+been prepared for signature by the Secretary of State and by the Baron
+de Lederer, intrusted with full powers of the Austrian Government.
+Independently of the new and friendly relations which may be thus
+commenced with one of the most eminent and powerful nations of the
+earth, the occasion has been taken in it, as in other recent treaties
+concluded by the United States, to extend those principles of liberal
+intercourse and of fair reciprocity which intertwine with the exchanges
+of commerce the principles of justice and the feelings of mutual
+benevolence. This system, first proclaimed to the world in the first
+commercial treaty ever concluded by the United States--that of 6th
+February, 1778, with France--has been invariably the cherished policy of
+our Union. It is by treaties of commerce alone that it can be made
+ultimately to prevail as the established system of all civilized
+nations. With this principle our fathers extended the hand of friendship
+to every nation of the globe, and to this policy our country has ever
+since adhered. Whatever of regulation in our laws has ever been adopted
+unfavorable to the interest of any foreign nation has been essentially
+defensive and counteracting to similar regulations of theirs operating
+against us.
+
+Immediately after the close of the War of Independence commissioners
+were appointed by the Congress of the Confederation authorized to
+conclude treaties with every nation of Europe disposed to adopt them.
+Before the wars of the French Revolution such treaties had been
+consummated with the United Netherlands, Sweden, and Prussia. During
+those wars treaties with Great Britain and Spain had been effected, and
+those with Prussia and France renewed. In all these some concessions to
+the liberal principles of intercourse proposed by the United States had
+been obtained; but as in all the negotiations they came occasionally in
+collision with previous internal regulations or exclusive and excluding
+compacts of monopoly with which the other parties had been trammeled,
+the advances made in them toward the freedom of trade were partial and
+imperfect. Colonial establishments, chartered companies, and
+shipbuilding influence pervaded and encumbered the legislation of all
+the great commercial states; and the United States, in offering free
+trade and equal privilege to all, were compelled to acquiesce in many
+exceptions with each of the parties to their treaties, accommodated to
+their existing laws and anterior engagements.
+
+The colonial system by which this whole hemisphere was bound has fallen
+into ruins, totally abolished by revolutions converting colonies into
+independent nations throughout the two American continents, excepting a
+portion of territory chiefly at the northern extremity of our own, and
+confined to the remnants of dominion retained by Great Britain over the
+insular archipelago, geographically the appendages of our part of the
+globe. With all the rest we have free trade, even with the insular
+colonies of all the European nations, except Great Britain. Her
+Government also had manifested approaches to the adoption of a free and
+liberal intercourse between her colonies and other nations, though by a
+sudden and scarcely explained revulsion the spirit of exclusion has been
+revived for operation upon the United States alone.
+
+The conclusion of our last treaty of peace with Great Britain was
+shortly afterwards followed by a commercial convention, placing the
+direct intercourse between the two countries upon a footing of more
+equal reciprocity than had ever before been admitted. The same principle
+has since been much further extended by treaties with France, Sweden,
+Denmark, the Hanseatic cities, Prussia, in Europe, and with the
+Republics of Colombia and of Central America, in this hemisphere. The
+mutual abolition of discriminating duties and charges upon the
+navigation and commercial intercourse between the parties is the general
+maxim which characterizes them all. There is reason to expect that it
+will at no distant period be adopted by other nations, both of Europe
+and America, and to hope that by its universal prevalence one of the
+fruitful sources of wars of commercial competition will be extinguished.
+
+Among the nations upon whose Governments many of our fellow-citizens
+have had long-pending claims of indemnity for depredations upon their
+property during a period when the rights of neutral commerce were
+disregarded was that of Denmark. They were soon after the events
+occurred the subject of a special mission from the United States, at the
+close of which the assurance was given by His Danish Majesty that at a
+period of more tranquillity and of less distress they would be
+considered, examined, and decided upon in a spirit of determined purpose
+for the dispensation of justice. I have much pleasure in informing
+Congress that the fulfillment of this honorable promise is now in
+progress; that a small portion of the claims has already been settled to
+the satisfaction of the claimants, and that we have reason to hope that
+the remainder will shortly be placed in a train of equitable adjustment.
+This result has always been confidently expected, from the character of
+personal integrity and of benevolence which the Sovereign of the Danish
+dominions has through every vicissitude of fortune maintained.
+
+The general aspect of the affairs of our highborn American nations of
+the south has been rather of approaching than of settled tranquillity.
+Internal disturbances have been more frequent among them than their
+common friends would have desired. Our intercourse with all has
+continued to be that of friendship and of mutual good will. Treaties of
+commerce and of boundaries with the United Mexican States have been
+negotiated, but, from various successive obstacles, not yet brought to a
+final conclusion.
+
+The civil war which unfortunately still prevails in the Republics of
+Central America has been unpropitious to the cultivation of our
+commercial relations with them; and the dissensions and revolutionary
+changes in the Republics of Colombia and of Peru have been seen with
+cordial regret by us, who would gladly contribute to the happiness of
+both. It is with great satisfaction, however, that we have witnessed the
+recent conclusion of a peace between the Governments of Buenos Ayres and
+of Brazil, and it is equally gratifying to observe that indemnity has
+been obtained for some of the injuries which our fellow-citizens had
+sustained in the latter of those countries. The rest are in a train of
+negotiation, which we hope may terminate to mutual satisfaction, and
+that it may be succeeded by a treaty of commerce and navigation, upon
+liberal principles, propitious to a great and growing commerce, already
+important to the interests of our country.
+
+The condition and prospects of the revenue are more favorable than our
+most sanguine expectations had anticipated. The balance in the Treasury
+on the 1st of January last, exclusive of the moneys received under the
+convention of 13th of November, 1826, with Great Britain, was
+$5,861,972.83. The receipts into the Treasury from the 1st of January to
+the 30th of September last, so far as they have been ascertained to form
+the basis of an estimate, amount to $18,633,580.27, which, with the
+receipts of the present quarter, estimated at $5,461,283.40, form an
+aggregate of receipts during the year of $24,094,863.67. The
+expenditures of the year may probably amount to $25,637,111.63, and
+leave in the Treasury on the 1st of January next the sum of
+$5,125,638.14.
+
+The receipts of the present year have amounted to near two millions more
+than was anticipated at the commencement of the last session of
+Congress.
+
+The amount of duties secured on importations from the 1st of January to
+the 30th of September was about $22,997,000, and that of the estimated
+accruing revenue is five millions, forming an aggregate for the year of
+near twenty-eight millions. This is one million more than the estimate
+made last December for the accruing revenue of the present year, which,
+with allowances for drawbacks and contingent deficiencies, was expected
+to produce an actual revenue of $22,300,000. Had these only been
+realized the expenditures of the year would have been also
+proportionally reduced, for of these twenty-four millions received
+upward of nine millions have been applied to the extinction of public
+debt, bearing an interest of 6 per cent a year, and of course reducing
+the burden of interest annually payable in future by the amount of more
+than half a million. The payments on account of interest during the
+current year exceed $3,000,000, presenting an aggregate of more than
+twelve millions applied during the year to the discharge of the public
+debt, the whole of which remaining due on the 1st of January next will
+amount only to $58,362,135.78.
+
+That the revenue of the ensuing year will not fall short of that
+received in the one now expiring there are indications which can
+scarcely prove deceptive. In our country an uniform experience of forty
+years has shown that whatever the tariff of duties upon articles
+imported from abroad has been, the amount of importations has always
+borne an average value nearly approaching to that of the exports, though
+occasionally differing in the balance, sometimes being more and
+sometimes less. It is, indeed, a general law of prosperous commerce that
+the real value of exports should by a small, and only a small, balance
+exceed that of imports, that balance being a permanent addition to the
+wealth of the nation. The extent of the prosperous commerce of the
+nation must be regulated by the amount of its exports, and an important
+addition to the value of these will draw after it a corresponding
+increase of importations. It has happened in the vicissitudes of the
+seasons that the harvests of all Europe have in the late summer and
+autumn fallen short of their usual average. A relaxation of the
+interdict upon the importation of grain and flour from abroad has
+ensued, a propitious market has been opened to the granaries of our
+country, and a new prospect of reward presented to the labors of the
+husbandman, which for several years has been denied. This accession to
+the profits of agriculture in the middle and western portions of our
+Union is accidental and temporary. It may continue only for a single
+year. It may be, as has been often experienced in the revolutions of
+time, but the first of several scanty harvests in succession. We may
+consider it certain that for the approaching year it has added an item
+of large amount to the value of our exports and that it will produce a
+corresponding increase of importations. It may therefore confidently be
+foreseen that the revenue of 1829 will equal and probably exceed that of
+1828, and will afford the means of extinguishing ten millions more of
+the principal of the public debt.
+
+This new element of prosperity to that part of our agricultural industry
+which is occupied in producing the first article of human subsistence is
+of the most cheering character to the feelings of patriotism. Proceeding
+from a cause which humanity will view with concern, the sufferings of
+scarcity in distant lands, it yields a consolatory reflection that this
+scarcity is in no respect attributable to us; that it comes from the
+dispensation of Him who ordains all in wisdom and goodness, and who
+permits evil itself only as an instrument of good; that, far from
+contributing to this scarcity, our agency will be applied only to the
+alleviation of its severity, and that in pouring forth from the
+abundance of our own garners the supplies which will partially restore
+plenty to those who are in heed we shall ourselves reduce our stores and
+add to the price of our own bread, so as in some degree to participate
+in the wants which it will be the good fortune of our country to
+relieve.
+
+The great interests of an agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing
+nation are so linked in union together that no permanent cause of
+prosperity to one of them can operate without extending its influence to
+the others. All these interests are alike under the protecting power of
+the legislative authority, and the duties of the representative bodies
+are to conciliate them in harmony together. So far as the object of
+taxation is to raise a revenue for discharging the debts and defraying
+the expenses of the community, its operation should be adapted as much
+as possible to suit the burden with equal hand upon all in proportion
+with their ability of bearing it without oppression. But the legislation
+of one nation is sometimes intentionally made to bear heavily upon the
+interests of another. That legislation, adapted, as it is meant to be,
+to the special interests of its own people, will often press most
+unequally upon the several component interests of its neighbors. Thus
+the legislation of Great Britain, when, as has recently been avowed,
+adapted to the depression of a rival nation, will naturally abound with
+regulations of interdict upon the productions of the soil or industry of
+the other which come in competition with its own, and will present
+encouragement, perhaps even bounty, to the raw material of the other
+State which it can not produce itself, and which is essential for the
+use of its manufactures, competitors in the markets of the world with
+those of its commercial rival. Such is the state of the commercial
+legislation of Great Britain as it bears upon our interests. It excludes
+with interdicting duties all importation (except in time of approaching
+famine) of the great staple of productions of our Middle and Western
+States; it proscribes with equal rigor the bulkier lumber and live stock
+of the same portion and also of the Northern and Eastern part of our
+Union. It refuses even the rice of the South unless aggravated with a
+charge of duty upon the Northern carrier who brings it to them. But the
+cotton, indispensable for their looms, they will receive almost duty
+free to weave it into a fabric for our own wear, to the destruction of
+our own manufactures, which they are enabled thus to undersell.
+
+Is the self-protecting energy of this nation so helpless that there
+exists in the political institutions of our country no power to
+counteract the bias of this foreign legislation; that the growers of
+grain must submit to this exclusion from the foreign markets of their
+produce; that the shippers must dismantle their ships, the trade of the
+North stagnate at the wharves, and the manufacturers starve at their
+looms, while the whole people shall pay tribute to foreign industry to
+be clad in a foreign garb; that the Congress of the Union are impotent
+to restore the balance in favor of native industry destroyed by the
+statutes of another realm? More just and more generous sentiments will,
+I trust, prevail. If the tariff adopted at the last session of Congress
+shall be found by experience to bear oppressively upon the interests of
+any one section of the Union, it ought to be, and I can not doubt will
+be, so modified as to alleviate its burden. To the voice of just
+complaint from any portion of their constituents the representatives of
+the States and of the people will never turn away their ears. But so
+long as the duty of the foreign shall operate only as a bounty upon the
+domestic article; while the planter and the merchant and the shepherd
+and the husbandman shall be found thriving in their occupations under
+the duties imposed for the protection of domestic manufactures, they
+will not repine at the prosperity shared with themselves by their
+fellow-citizens of other professions, nor denounce as violations of the
+Constitution the deliberate acts of Congress to shield from the wrongs
+of foreign laws the native industry of the Union. While the tariff of
+the last session of Congress was a subject of legislative deliberation
+it was foretold by some of its opposers that one of its necessary
+consequences would be to impair the revenue. It is yet too soon to
+pronounce with confidence that this prediction was erroneous. The
+obstruction of one avenue of trade not unfrequently opens an issue to
+another. The consequence of the tariff will be to increase the
+exportation and to diminish the importation of some specific articles;
+but by the general law of trade the increase of exportation of one
+article will be followed by an increased importation of others, the
+duties upon which will supply the deficiencies which the diminished
+importation would otherwise occasion. The effect of taxation upon
+revenue can seldom be foreseen with certainty. It must abide the test of
+experience. As yet no symptom? of diminution are perceptible in the
+receipts of the Treasury. As yet little addition of cost has even been
+experienced upon the articles burdened with heavier duties by the last
+tariff. The domestic manufacturer supplies the same or a kindred article
+at a diminished price, and the consumer pays the same tribute to the
+labor of his own countryman which he must otherwise have paid to foreign
+industry and toil.
+
+The tariff of the last session was in its details not acceptable to the
+great interests of any portion of the Union, not even to the interest
+which it was specially intended to subserve. Its object was to balance
+the burdens upon native industry imposed by the operation of foreign
+laws, but not to aggravate the burdens of one section of the Union by
+the relief afforded to another. To the great principle sanctioned by
+that act--one of those upon which the Constitution itself was formed--I
+hope and trust the authorities of the Union will adhere. But if any of
+the duties imposed by the act only relieve the manufacturer by
+aggravating the burden of the planter, let a careful revisal of its
+provisions, enlightened by the practical experience of its effects, be
+directed to retain those which impart protection to native industry and
+remove or supply the place of those which only alleviate one great
+national interest by the depression of another.
+
+The United States of America and the people of every State of which they
+are composed are each of them sovereign powers. The legislative
+authority of the whole is exercised by Congress under authority granted
+them in the common Constitution. The legislative power of each State is
+exercised by assemblies deriving their authority from the constitution
+of the State. Each is sovereign within its own province. The
+distribution of power between them presupposes that these authorities
+will move in harmony with each other. The members of the State and
+General Governments are all under oath to support both, and allegiance
+is due to the one and to the other. The case of a conflict between these
+two powers has not been supposed, nor has any provision been made for it
+in our institutions; as a virtuous nation of ancient times existed more
+than five centuries without a law for the punishment of parricide.
+
+More than once, however, in the progress of our history have the people
+and the legislatures of one or more States, in moments of excitement,
+been instigated to this conflict; and the means of effecting this
+impulse have been allegations that the acts of Congress to be resisted
+were _unconstitutional_. The people of no one State have ever delegated
+to their legislature the power of pronouncing an act of Congress
+unconstitutional, but they have delegated to them powers by the exercise
+of which the execution of the laws of Congress within the State may be
+resisted. If we suppose the case of such conflicting legislation
+sustained by the corresponding executive and judicial authorities,
+patriotism and philanthropy turn their eyes from the condition in which
+the parties would be placed, and from that of the people of both, which
+must be its victims.
+
+The reports from the Secretary of War and the various subordinate
+offices of the resort of that Department present an exposition of the
+public administration of affairs connected with them through the course
+of the current year. The present state of the Army and the distribution
+of the force of which it is composed will be seen from the report of the
+Major-General. Several alterations in the disposal of the troops have
+been found expedient in the course of the year, and the discipline of
+the Army, though not entirely free from exception, has been generally
+good.
+
+The attention of Congress is particularly invited to that part of the
+report of the Secretary of War which concerns the existing system of our
+relations with the Indian tribes. At the establishment of the Federal
+Government under the present Constitution of the United States the
+principle was adopted of considering them as foreign and independent
+powers and also as proprietors of lands. They were, moreover, considered
+as savages, whom it was our policy and our duty to use our influence in
+converting to Christianity and in bringing within the pale of
+civilization.
+
+As independent powers, we negotiated with them by treaties; as
+proprietors, we purchased of them all the lands which we could prevail
+upon them to sell; as brethren of the human race, rude and ignorant, we
+endeavored to bring them to the knowledge of religion and of letters.
+The ultimate design was to incorporate in our own institutions that
+portion of them which could be converted to the state of civilization.
+In the practice of European States, before our Revolution, they had been
+considered _as children_ to be governed; as tenants at discretion, to be
+dispossessed as occasion might require; as hunters to be indemnified by
+trifling concessions for removal from the grounds from which their game
+was extirpated. In changing the system it would seem as if a full
+contemplation of the consequences of the change had not been taken. We
+have been far more successful in the acquisition of their lands than in
+imparting to them the principles or inspiring them with the spirit of
+civilization. But in appropriating to ourselves their hunting grounds we
+have brought upon ourselves the obligation of providing them with
+subsistence; and when we have had the rare good fortune of teaching them
+the arts of civilization and the doctrines of Christianity we have
+unexpectedly found them forming in the midst of ourselves communities
+claiming to be independent of ours and rivals of sovereignty within the
+territories of the members of our Union. This state of things requires
+that a remedy should be provided--a remedy which, while it shall do
+justice to those unfortunate children of nature, may secure to the
+members of our confederation their rights of sovereignty and of soil. As
+the outline of a project to that effect, the views presented in the
+report of the Secretary of War are recommended to the consideration of
+Congress.
+
+The report from the Engineer Department presents a comprehensive view of
+the progress which has been made in the great systems promotive of the
+public interest, commenced and organized under authority of Congress,
+and the effects of which have already contributed to the security, as
+they will hereafter largely contribute to the honor and dignity, of the
+nation.
+
+The first of these great systems is that of fortifications, commenced
+immediately after the close of our last war, under the salutary
+experience which the events of that war had impressed upon our
+countrymen of its necessity. Introduced under the auspices of my
+immediate predecessor, it has been continued with the persevering and
+liberal encouragement of the Legislature, and, combined with
+corresponding exertions for the gradual increase and improvement of the
+Navy, prepares for our extensive country a condition of defense adapted
+to any critical emergency which the varying course of events may bring
+forth. Our advances in these concerted systems have for the last ten
+years been steady and progressive, and in a few years more will be so
+completed as to leave no cause for apprehension that our seacoast will
+ever again offer a theater of hostile invasion.
+
+The next of these cardinal measures of policy is the preliminary to
+great and lasting works of public improvement in the surveys of roads,
+examination for the course of canals, and labors for the removal of the
+obstructions of rivers and harbors, first commenced by the act of
+Congress of 30th of April, 1824.
+
+The report exhibits in one table the funds appropriated at the last and
+preceding sessions of Congress for all these fortifications, surveys,
+and works of public improvement, the manner in which these funds have
+been applied, the amount expended upon the several works under
+construction, and the further sums which may be necessary to complete
+them; in a second, the works projected by the Board of Engineers which
+have not been commenced, and the estimate of their cost; in a third, the
+report of the annual Board of Visitors at the Military Academy at West
+Point.
+
+For thirteen fortifications erecting on various points of our Atlantic
+coast, from Rhode Island to Louisiana, the aggregate expenditure of the
+year has fallen little short of $1,000,000. For the preparation of five
+additional reports of reconnaissances and surveys since the last session
+of Congress, for the civil constructions upon thirty-seven different
+public works commenced, eight others for which specific appropriations
+have been made by acts of Congress, and twenty other incipient surveys
+under the authority given by the act of 30th April, 1824, about one
+million more of dollars has been drawn from the Treasury.
+
+To these $2,000,000 is to be added the appropriation of $250,000 to
+commence the erection of a breakwater near the mouth of the Delaware
+River, the subscriptions to the Delaware and Chesapeake, the Louisville
+and Portland, the Dismal Swamp, and the Chesapeake and Ohio canals, the
+large donations of lands to the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and
+Alabama for objects of improvements within those States, and the sums
+appropriated for light-houses, buoys, and piers on the coast; and a full
+view will be taken of the munificence of the nation in the application
+of its resources to the improvement of its own condition.
+
+Of these great national undertakings the Academy at West Point is among
+the most important in itself and the most comprehensive in its
+consequences. In that institution a part of the revenue of the nation is
+applied to defray the expense of educating a competent portion of her
+youth chiefly to the knowledge and the duties of military life. It is
+the living armory of the nation. While the other works of improvement
+enumerated in the reports now presented to the attention of Congress are
+destined to ameliorate the face of nature, to multiply the facilities of
+communication between the different parts of the Union, to assist the
+labors, increase the comforts, and enhance the enjoyments of
+individuals, the instruction acquired at West Point enlarges the
+dominion and expands the capacities of the mind. Its beneficial results
+are already experienced in the composition of the Army, and their
+influence is felt in the intellectual progress of society. The
+institution is susceptible still of great improvement from benefactions
+proposed by several successive Boards of Visitors, to whose earnest and
+repeated recommendations I cheerfully add my own.
+
+With the usual annual reports from the Secretary of the Navy and the
+Board of Commissioners will be exhibited to the view of Congress the
+execution of the laws relating to that department of the public service.
+The repression of piracy in the West Indian and in the Grecian seas has
+been effectually maintained, with scarcely any exception. During the war
+between the Governments of Buenos Ayres and of Brazil frequent
+collisions between the belligerent acts of power and the rights of
+neutral commerce occurred. Licentious blockades, irregularly enlisted or
+impressed seamen, and the property of honest commerce seized with
+violence, and even plundered under legal pretenses, are disorders never
+separable from the conflicts of war upon the ocean. With a portion of
+them the correspondence of our commanders on the eastern aspect of the
+South American coast and among the islands of Greece discover how far we
+have been involved. In these the honor of our country and the rights of
+our citizens have been asserted and vindicated. The appearance of new
+squadrons in the Mediterranean and the blockade of the Dardanelles
+indicate the danger of other obstacles to the freedom of commerce and
+the necessity of keeping our naval force in those seas. To the
+suggestions repeated in the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and
+tending to the permanent improvement of this institution, I invite the
+favorable consideration of Congress.
+
+A resolution of the House of Representatives requesting that one of our
+small public vessels should be sent to the Pacific Ocean and South Sea
+to examine the coasts, islands, harbors, shoals, and reefs in those
+seas, and to ascertain their true situation and description, has been
+put in a train of execution. The vessel is nearly ready to depart. The
+successful accomplishment of the expedition may be greatly facilitated
+by suitable legislative provisions, and particularly by an appropriation
+to defray its necessary expense. The addition of a second, and perhaps a
+third, vessel, with a slight aggravation of the cost, would contribute
+much to the safety of the citizens embarked on this undertaking, the
+results of which may be of the deepest interest to our country.
+
+With the report of the Secretary of the Navy will be submitted, in
+conformity to the act of Congress of 3d March, 1827, for the gradual
+improvement of the Navy of the United States, statements of the
+expenditures under that act and of the measures taken for carrying the
+same into effect. Every section of that statute contains a distinct
+provision looking to the great object of the whole--the gradual
+improvement of the Navy. Under its salutary sanction stores of ship
+timber have been procured and are in process of seasoning and
+preservation for the future uses of the Navy. Arrangements have been
+made for the preservation of the live-oak timber growing on the lands of
+the United States, and for its reproduction, to supply at future and
+distant days the waste of that most valuable material for shipbuilding
+by the great consumption of it yearly for the commercial as well as for
+the military marine of our country. The construction of the two dry
+docks at Charlestown and at Norfolk is making satisfactory progress
+toward a durable establishment. The examinations and inquiries to
+ascertain the practicability and expediency of a marine railway at
+Pensacola, though not yet accomplished, have been postponed but to be
+more effectually made. The navy-yards of the United States have been
+examined, and plans for their improvement and the preservation of the
+public property therein at Portsmouth, Charlestown, Philadelphia,
+Washington, and Gosport, and to which two others are to be added, have
+been prepared and received my sanction; and no other portion of my
+public duties has been performed with a more intimate conviction of its
+importance to the future welfare and security of the Union.
+
+With the report from the Postmaster-General is exhibited a comparative
+view of the gradual increase of that establishment, from five to five
+years, since 1792 till this time in the number of post-offices, which
+has grown from less than 200 to nearly 8,000; in the revenue yielded by
+them, which from $67,000 has swollen to upward of a million and a half,
+and in the number of miles of post-roads, which from 5,642 have
+multiplied to 114,536. While in the same period of time the population
+of the Union has about thrice doubled, the rate of increase of these
+offices is nearly 40, and of the revenue and of traveled miles from 20
+to 25 for 1. The increase of revenue within the last five years has been
+nearly equal to the whole revenue of the Department in 1812.
+
+The expenditures of the Department during the year which ended on the
+1st of July last have exceeded the receipts by a sum of about $25,000.
+The excess has been occasioned by the increase of mail conveyances and
+facilities to the extent of near 800,000 miles. It has been supplied by
+collections from the postmasters of the arrearages of preceding years.
+While the correct principle seems to be that the income levied by the
+Department should defray all its expenses, it has never been the policy
+of this Government to raise from this establishment any revenue to be
+applied to any other purposes. The suggestion of the Postmaster-General
+that the insurance of the safe transmission of moneys by the mail might
+be assumed by the Department for a moderate and competent remuneration
+will deserve the consideration of Congress.
+
+A report from the commissioner of the public buildings in this city
+exhibits the expenditures upon them in the course of the current year.
+It will be seen that the humane and benevolent intentions of Congress in
+providing, by the act of 20th May, 1826, for the erection of a
+penitentiary in this district have been accomplished. The authority of
+further legislation is now required for the removal to this tenement of
+the offenders against the laws sentenced to atone by personal
+confinement for their crimes, and to provide a code for their employment
+and government while thus confined.
+
+The commissioners appointed, conformably to the act of 2d March, 1827,
+to provide for the adjustment of claims of persons entitled to
+indemnification under the first article of the treaty of Ghent, and for
+the distribution among such claimants of the sum paid by the Government
+of Great Britain under the convention of 13th of November, 1826, closed
+their labors on the 30th of August last by awarding to the claimants the
+sum of $1,197,422.18, leaving a balance of $7,537.82, which was
+distributed ratably amongst all the claimants to whom awards had been
+made, according to the directions of the act.
+
+The exhibits appended to the report from the Commissioner of the General
+Land Office present the actual condition of that common property of the
+Union. The amount paid into the Treasury from the proceeds of lands
+during the year 1827 and the first half of 1828 falls little short of
+$2,000,000. The propriety of further extending the time for the
+extinguishment of the debt due to the United States by the purchasers of
+the public lands, limited by the act of 21st March last to the 4th of
+July next, will claim the consideration of Congress, to whose vigilance
+and careful attention the regulation, disposal, and preservation of this
+great national inheritance has by the people of the United States been
+intrusted.
+
+Among the important subjects to which the attention of the present
+Congress has already been invited, and which may occupy their further
+and deliberate discussion, will be the provision to be made for taking
+the fifth census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States.
+The Constitution of the United States requires that this enumeration
+should be made within every term of ten years, and the date from which
+the last enumeration commenced was the first Monday of August of the
+year 1820. The laws under which the former enumerations were taken were
+enacted at the session of Congress immediately preceding the operation;
+but considerable inconveniences were experienced from the delay of
+legislation to so late a period. That law, like those of the preceding
+enumerations, directed that the census should be taken by the marshals
+of the several districts and Territories of the Union under instructions
+from the Secretary of State. The preparation and transmission to the
+marshals of those instructions required more time than was then allowed
+between the passage of the law and the day when the enumeration was to
+commence. The term of six months limited for the returns of the marshals
+was also found even then too short, and must be more so now, when an
+additional population of at least 3,000,000 must be presented upon the
+returns. As they are to be made at the short session of Congress, it
+would, as well as from other considerations, be more convenient to
+commence the enumeration from an earlier period of the year than the 1st
+of August. The most favorable season would be the spring. On a review of
+the former enumerations it will be found that the plan for taking every
+census has contained many improvements upon that of its predecessor. The
+last is still susceptible of much improvement. The Third Census was the
+first at which any account was taken of the manufactures of the country.
+It was repeated at the last enumeration, but the returns in both cases
+were necessarily very imperfect. They must always be so, resting, of
+course, only upon the communications voluntarily made by individuals
+interested in some of the manufacturing establishments. Yet they
+contained much valuable information, and may by some supplementary
+provision of the law be rendered more effective. The columns of age,
+commencing from infancy, have hitherto been confined to a few periods,
+all under the number of 45 years. Important knowledge would be obtained
+by extending these columns, in intervals of ten years, to the utmost
+boundaries of human life. The labor of taking them would be a trifling
+addition to that already prescribed, and the result would exhibit
+comparative tables of longevity highly interesting to the country. I
+deem it my duty further to observe that much of the imperfections in the
+returns of the last and perhaps of preceding enumerations proceeded from
+the inadequateness of the compensations allowed to the marshals and
+their assistants in taking them.
+
+In closing this communication it only remains for me to assure the
+Legislature of my continued earnest wish for the adoption of measures
+recommended by me heretofore and yet to be acted on by them, and of the
+cordial concurrence on my part in every constitutional provision which
+may receive their sanction during the session tending to the general
+welfare.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+SPECIAL MESSAGES.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 8, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+2d of April last, I transmit a copy of the letter from the Cherokee
+Council to Colonel Hugh Montgomery, the agent, requested by the
+resolution, with a report[018] from the Secretary of War.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 8, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+23d of May last, I transmit a report from the Secretary of War, with
+documents, containing the information requested, relating to the
+harbors, roads, and other works of internal improvements undertaken and
+projected since the 30th April, 1824.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 8, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I communicate to the Senate, for their advice with regard to its
+ratification, a treaty made and concluded at the missionary
+establishment upon the St. Joseph of Lake Michigan the 20th day of
+September last, between Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard, commissioners of
+the United States, and the Potawatamie tribe of Indians, the journal and
+report of the commissioners accompanying the treaty.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 8, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of War, with
+documents, prepared in compliance with their resolution of the 26th of
+May last, concerning the practicability and probable cost of
+constructing an artificial harbor, commonly called a "breakwater," at or
+near the mouth of the Mississippi.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 9, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+The inclosed report from the Secretary of State and subjoined documents
+are transmitted to the Senate in compliance with their resolution of
+25th April last, requesting information concerning the number of free
+taxable inhabitants _who are not freeholders_ in certain States and
+Territories of the Union.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 15, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+8th instant, referring to a negotiation of the British Government, by
+virtue of a resolution of the House of the 10th of May last, relative to
+the surrender of fugitive slaves, I transmit herewith a report from the
+Secretary of State, with copies of instructions and correspondence,
+containing the desired information.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 15, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their constitutional advice, an additional
+article, signed on the 4th day of June last, to the convention of
+friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and the
+Hanseatic Republics of Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburg concluded at this
+place on the 20th December, 1827. A copy of the article is likewise
+inclosed.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 16, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate, for their advice, articles of agreement
+concluded at Green Bay, in the Territory of Michigan, on the 20th of
+August last, between Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard, commissioners on the
+part of the United States, and the chiefs of the Winnebago tribe and of
+the united tribes of the Potawatamies, Chippewas, and Ottawas, being a
+temporary arrangement concerning the occupation of a certain portion of
+the mining country which has not heretofore been ceded to the United
+States.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_December 22, 1828_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
+of War, with documents, reported in compliance with the resolution of
+the House of the 10th instant, requesting a copy of the instructions
+given for the government of the agent of the United States
+superintendent of the lead mines in Missouri and Illinois.
+
+Also a report from the Secretary of War, in compliance with the
+resolution of the House of the 15th instant, setting forth the reasons
+upon which it has not been deemed expedient to nominate commissioners to
+hold a treaty with the Choctaw Nation of Indians for the purchase of a
+certain tract of land, as authorized by the act of Congress of the 24th
+of May last.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 1, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+18th ultimo, I communicate to the House a report from the Secretary of
+War, containing the information required in relation to the intended
+frauds upon the revenue, which has rendered expedient the stationing
+additional troops on the Niagara frontier. The other evidence embraced
+by the resolution, and in possession of the Government, does not, in my
+judgment, at present render any further employment of a regular armed
+force for the enforcement of the revenue laws necessary.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 7, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+19th May last, requesting a copy of the correspondence between the
+minister of the United States at the Court of Madrid and the Government
+of Spain on the subject of claims of citizens of the United States
+against the said Government, I transmit herewith a report from the
+Secretary of State, with the correspondence desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 14, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to the Senate a report from the Secretary of State,
+with supplemental returns of free taxable inhabitants not freeholders in
+certain States and Territories of the United States, which returns have
+been received since my message to the Senate of the 9th December last.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 17, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+13th instant, I transmit herewith a report[019] from the Secretary of
+War, with an application from the Creek Indians, through the agent of
+the United States, and an opinion of counsel in behalf of the Indians,
+having relation to the subject of the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 21, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with two resolutions of the House of Representatives of
+the 5th instant, requesting information received not heretofore
+communicated in relation to the arrest and trial in the British Province
+of New Brunswick of John Baker, a citizen of the United States, and the
+correspondence between the Government of the United States and that of
+Great Britain in relation to the said arrest and to the usurpation of
+jurisdiction by the British government of New Brunswick within the
+limits of the State of Maine, I transmit a report from the Secretary of
+State, with the information and correspondence requested by the House.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 21, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to Congress copies of two treaties with Indian tribes, which
+have been ratified:
+
+1. Articles of agreement between the United States of America and the
+Winnebago tribe and the united tribes of Potawatamie, Chippeways; and
+Ottawa Indians, concluded at Green Bay 25th August, 1828.
+
+2. Treaty between the United States of America and the Potawatamie tribe
+of Indians, concluded at the missionary establishment upon the St.
+Joseph of Lake Michigan 20th September, 1828.
+
+Both by Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard, commissioners on the part of the
+United States, with certain chiefs and warriors of the respective
+tribes.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 26, 1829_
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+17th instant, requesting copies of the instructions to the commissioners
+of the United States who made the treaty at the Indian Springs in 1821,
+I transmit to the House a report from the Secretary of War of the 22d
+instant, with copies of those instructions.
+
+And in compliance with a resolution of the House of the 20th instant,
+requesting a communication of the journal of the above-mentioned
+commissioners, I transmit a report from the Secretary of War of the 24th
+instant, with copies of the papers, which it is believed will supply the
+information desired by the resolution, no regular journal having been
+transmitted by the commissioners to the Department.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 26, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with
+voluminous documents prepared and collected in compliance with a
+resolution of the House of Representatives of the 13th January, 1825,
+calling for a statement of convictions, executions, and pardons for
+capital offenses under the authority of the Government of the United
+States since the adoption of the Constitution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 26, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to Congress copies of a convention of friendship, commerce,
+and navigation between the United States and the free Hanseatic
+Republics of Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburg, the ratifications of which
+were exchanged at this place on the 2d day of June last; and also of an
+additional article to the same convention, signed on the 4th day of June
+last, and the ratifications of which were exchanged at this city on the
+14th of the present month.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 29, 1829_
+
+
+_The President of the Senate of the United States_
+
+Sir:
+
+I transmit herewith a letter which I have received from Mr. David,
+member of the Institute of France, professor of the School of Painting
+at Paris, and member of the Legion of Honor, the artist who presents to
+Congress the bust of General Lafayette which has been received with it;
+and I have to request the favor that after it has been communicated to
+the Senate it may be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of
+Representatives for similar communication to that body.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 29, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I nominate Stephen Clin, of Georgia, to be secretary of the legation of
+the United States at the Court of Great Britain.
+
+Jesse H. Willis, of Florida, to be collector of the customs for the
+recently established district of St. Marks and inspector of the revenue
+for the port of Magnolia, in Florida.
+
+And I nominate for reappointment Callender Irvine, of Pennsylvania, to
+be Commissary-General of Purchases. It is proper to apprise the Senate
+that this office is one of those which by the act of Congress of 15th
+May, 1820, is limited to the term of four years; that it was held by Mr.
+Irvine at the time of the passage of that act, but that by some
+inadvertence he has not hitherto been nominated for reappointment. The
+fact having but just now been ascertained by me, I deem it my duty to
+make the nomination. Mr. Irvine has hitherto performed the duties of the
+office under his original appointment.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 30, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+13th instant, requesting information of the measures taken in execution
+of the act of 9th May last, making an appropriation for carrying into
+effect the articles of agreement and cession of 24th April, 1802,
+between the State of Georgia and the United States, and also in
+execution of certain provisions of the treaty of May last with the
+Cherokee Indians, I transmit to the House a report from the Secretary of
+War, with documents, comprising the desired information.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 2, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 20th ultimo,
+requesting information received since the last session of Congress from
+the Mexican Government respecting the recovery of debts in that country
+due to American citizens, I transmit a report from the Secretary of
+State, with copies of a letter of instructions to the minister of the
+United States in Mexico, and of his answer, relating to the subject of
+the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 6, 1829_
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 9th of December
+last, requesting a detailed statement of the amount expended by the
+Federal Government upon works of internal improvement within the limits
+of the several States, with an estimate of the amount necessary to
+complete any work begun and not yet completed, I transmit herewith
+reports from the Secretaries of the Treasury and of War, with documents,
+containing the information desired by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 6, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+4th instant, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War,
+with that of the commissioner appointed to locate the national road from
+Zanesville, in Ohio, to the seat of government of the State of Missouri.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 11, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+By the act of Congress of the 23d of May last, "supplementary to the
+several acts providing for the settlement and confirmation of private
+land claims in Florida," provision was made for the final adjudication
+of such claims by the judges of the superior courts of the districts
+wherein the lands claimed respectively lie, and by appeal from them to
+the Supreme Court of the United States; and the attorneys of the United
+States in the several districts were charged with the duty, in every
+case where the decision should be against the United States by the judge
+of the superior court of the district, to make out and transmit to the
+Attorney-General of the United States a statement containing the facts
+of the case and the points of law on which the same was decided, and it
+was made the duty of the Attorney-General in most of those cases to
+direct an appeal to be made to the Supreme Court of the United States
+and to appear for the United States and prosecute such appeals. By the
+same act the President of the United States was authorized to appoint a
+law agent to superintend the interests of the United States in the
+premises, and to employ assistant counsel if in his opinion the public
+interest should require the same.
+
+In the process of carrying into execution this law it was the opinion of
+the Attorney-General of the United States that a translated complete
+collection of all the Spanish and French ordinances, etc., affecting the
+land titles in Florida and the other territories heretofore belonging to
+France and Spain, would be indispensable to a just decision of those
+claims by the Supreme Court. At his suggestion the task of preparing
+this compilation was undertaken by Joseph M. White, of Florida, who was
+employed as assistant counsel in behalf of the United States. The
+collection has accordingly been made and is deposited in manuscript at
+the Department of State, subject to such order as Congress may see fit
+to take concerning it. The letter from Mr. White to the Secretary of
+State, with a descriptive list of the documents collected and thus
+deposited, is herewith transmitted to Congress.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 16, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 5th instant,
+requesting detailed statements of the expenses incurred and of those
+which may be necessary for the expedition proposed for exploring the
+Pacific Ocean and South Seas, and also of the several amounts
+transferred from the different heads of appropriation for the support of
+the Navy to this object and the authority by which such transfers have
+been made, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the Navy,
+with documents, from which the Senate will perceive that no such
+transfer has been made, and which contain the other information desired
+by the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 20, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant,
+requesting copies of correspondence and communications from 20th
+October, 1816, to 24th November, 1817, received at the Department of
+State from the American commissioner under the fourth article of the
+treaty of Ghent, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of
+State, with the copies of papers mentioned in the resolution.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 20, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of the Treasury,
+with documents, prepared in pursuance of their resolution of the 31st of
+December last, and showing the amount of expenses incurred in the
+survey, sale, and management of the public lands for the year 1827.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 25,1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+By the act of Congress of the 3d March, 1826, for the survey of a route
+for a canal between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, the President
+of the United States was authorized to cause to be made an accurate and
+minute examination of the country south of the St. Marys River, and
+including the same, with a view to ascertain the most eligible route for
+a canal admitting the transit of boats to connect the Atlantic with the
+Gulf of Mexico, and also with a view to ascertain the practicability of
+a ship channel; that he cause particularly to be examined the route to
+the Appalachicola River or Bay, with a view to both the above objects;
+that he cause the necessary surveys, both by land and along the coast,
+with estimates of the expense of each, accompanied with proper plans,
+notes, observations, explanations, and opinions of the Board of
+Engineers, and that he cause a full report of these proceedings to be
+made to Congress.
+
+In execution of this law I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary
+of War, with a copy of that of the Board of Engineers, upon this great
+and most desirable national work. The time not having allowed a copy to
+be taken of the map, one copy only of the whole report is transmitted to
+the Senate, with the request that it may be communicated to the House of
+Representatives, and that the map may be ultimately returned to the
+Department of War.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 26, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 20th instant, I
+transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War, with the
+inspection reports of Brevet Major-General Gaines for the years 1826 and
+1827, relating to the organization of the Army and militia of the United
+States, with the request that the original documents may be returned to
+the Department of War at the convenience of the Senate.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 26,1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to the Senate, for their constitutional advice with
+regard to its ratification, a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation
+between the United States and His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, signed
+by the plenipotentiaries of the respective Governments at Rio de Janeiro
+on the 12th day of December last. A copy of the treaty is likewise
+inclosed, with copies of the instructions under which it was negotiated
+and a letter from Mr. Tudor elucidating some of its provisions. It is
+requested that at the convenience of the Senate the original papers may
+be returned to the Department of State.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 28, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit to Congress copies of two Indian treaties, which have duly
+ratified:
+
+1. A treaty with the Chippewa, Menominie, and Winnebago Indians,
+concluded on the 11th of August, 1827, at the Butte des Morts, on Fox
+River, in the Territory of Michigan, between Lewis Cass and Thomas L.
+McKenney, commissioners on the part of the United States, and certain
+chiefs and warriors of the said tribes on their part.
+
+2. A treaty with the Potawatamie tribe of Indians, concluded the 19th of
+September, 1827, at St. Joseph, in the Territory of Michigan, between
+Lewis Cass, commissioner on the part of the United States, and the
+chiefs and warriors of the said tribes, on their part.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_February 28, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
+21st instant, requesting any information in my possession as to the
+practical operation of the recent act of the British Parliament entitled
+"The customs amendment act," purporting a discrimination of duties upon
+the importation of cotton from the British North American colonies and
+showing how far this discrimination may affect existing treaties, I
+transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with copies of
+the instructions and correspondence of the minister of the United States
+at London, containing the information requested.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+
+Washington,
+_March 3, 1829_.
+
+
+_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
+
+I transmit herewith to Congress a copy of the instructions prepared by
+the Secretary of State and furnished to the ministers of the United
+States appointed to attend at the assembly of American plenipotentiaries
+first held at Panama and thence transferred to Tacubaya. The occasion
+upon which they were given has passed away, and there is no present
+probability of the renewal of the negotiations; but the purposes for
+which they were intended are still of the deepest interest to our
+country and to the world, and may hereafter call again for the active
+efforts and beneficent energies of the Government of the United States.
+The motives for withholding them from general publication having ceased,
+justice to the Government from which they emanated and to the people for
+whose benefit it was instituted requires that they should be made known.
+With this view, and from the consideration that the subjects embraced by
+these instructions must probably engage hereafter the deliberations of
+our successors, I deem it proper to make this communication to both
+Houses of Congress. One copy only of the instructions being prepared, I
+send it to the Senate, requesting that it may be transmitted to the
+House of Representatives.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+PROCLAMATION.
+
+
+(From Senate Journal, Twentieth Congress, second session, p. 196.)
+
+
+Washington,
+_January 12, 1829_
+
+
+_The President of the United States to--, Senator for the State of--_:
+
+Certain matters touching the public good requiring that the Senate of
+the United States should be convened on Wednesday, the 4th day of March
+next, you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber, in the city of
+Washington, on that day, then and there to receive and deliberate on
+such communications as shall be made to you.
+
+John Quincy Adams.
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+
+
+[Footnote 001: See Vol. I, pp. 352 to 354, inclusive.]
+
+
+[Footnote 002: Relating to the proposed congress at Panama.]
+
+
+[Footnote 003: Relating to land warrants issued to soldiers of the
+Revolutionary war, etc.]
+
+
+[Footnote 004: Relating to intervention of the Emperor of Russia with
+Spain for a recognition of the independence of the South American
+States.]
+
+
+[Footnote 005: Relating to the proposed congress of the Spanish American
+States.]
+
+
+[Footnote 006: Relative to governments to be represented at the congress
+at Panama.]
+
+
+[Footnote 007 and 007a: Respecting the right of a foreign minister to
+retain money advanced by the President as an outfit beyond the sum
+appropriated by law.]
+
+
+[Footnote 008: Relating to the negotiations with Great Britain for a
+cession of certain keys on the Bahama Banks.]
+
+
+[Footnote 009: Referred to in the protocol of the third conference of
+the American and British plenipotentiaries on February 5, 1824, relating
+to trade with Great Britain.]
+
+
+[Footnote 010: Concerning the assembly of American ministers at
+Tacubaya, Mexico]
+
+
+[Footnote: 011 Relating to the conflicting claims of Georgia and the
+Creek Indians to lands in Georgia.]
+
+
+[Footnote 012: Relating to the conflicting claims of Georgia and the
+Creek Indians to lands in Georgia.]
+
+
+[Footnote 013: Relating to the northeastern boundary of the United
+States.]
+
+
+[Footnote 014: Relating to the detention of American vessels by the
+naval forces of Brazil.]
+
+
+[Footnote 015: Relating to the war between Spain and her colonies.]
+
+
+[Footnote 016: By the authorities of the Province of New Brunswick.]
+
+
+[Footnote 017: Relating to alleged blockade by the naval forces of
+Brazil, imprisonment of American citizens by Brazil, etc.]
+
+
+[Footnote 018: Relating to a survey for a canal through the Cherokee
+country.]
+
+
+[Footnote 019: Relating to claims of Georgia and the Creek Indians under
+the treaty of 1821, held at Indian Springs.]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Compilation of Messages and Letters
+of the Presidents, by Editor: James D. Richardson
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ***
+
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