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diff --git a/10893-0.txt b/10893-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f0d517 --- /dev/null +++ b/10893-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7830 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10893 *** + +A COMPILATION OF THE MESSAGES AND PAPERS OF THE PRESIDENTS. + +BY JAMES D. RICHARDSON + + +Thomas Jefferson + +March 4, 1801, to March 4, 1809 + + + + + + +Thomas Jefferson + +Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Va., on April +2 (old style), 1743. He was the oldest son of Peter Jefferson, who died +in 1757. After attending private schools, he entered William and Mary +College in 1760. In 1767 began the practice of the law. In 1769 was +chosen to represent his county in the Virginia house of burgesses, a +station he continued to fill up to the period of the Revolution. He +married Mrs. Martha Skelton in 1772, she being a daughter of John +Wayles, an eminent lawyer of Virginia. On March 12, 1773, was chosen +a member of the first committee of correspondence established by the +Colonial legislature. Was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress +in 1775; was placed on the Committee of Five to prepare the Declaration +of Independence, and at the request of that committee he drafted the +Declaration, which, with slight amendments, was adopted July 4, 1776. +Resigned his seat in Congress and occupied one in the Virginia +legislature in October, 1776. Was elected governor of Virginia by the +legislature on June 1, 1779, to succeed Patrick Henry. Retired to +private life at the end of his term as governor, but was the same year +elected again to the legislature. Was appointed commissioner with others +to negotiate treaties with France in 1776, but declined. In 1782 he was +appointed by Congress minister plenipotentiary to act with others in +Europe in negotiating a treaty of peace with Great Britain. Was again +elected a Delegate to Congress in 1783, and as a member of that body +he advocated and had adopted the dollar as the unit and the present +system of coins and decimals. In May, 1784, was appointed minister +plenipotentiary to Europe to assist John Adams and Benjamin Franklin +in negotiating treaties of commerce. In March, 1785, was appointed by +Congress minister at the French Court to succeed Dr. Franklin, and +remained in France until September, 1789. On his arrival at Norfolk, +November 23, 1789, received a letter from Washington offering him the +appointment of Secretary of State in his Cabinet. Accepted and became +the first Secretary of State under the Constitution. December 31, 1793, +resigned his place in the Cabinet and retired to private life at his +home. In 1796 was brought forward by his friends as a candidate for +President, but Mr. Adams, receiving the highest number of votes, was +elected President, and Jefferson became Vice-President for four years +from March 4, 1797. In 1800 was again voted for by his party for +President. He and Mr. Burr received an equal number of electoral votes, +and under the Constitution the House of Representatives was called upon +to elect. Mr. Jefferson was chosen on the thirty-sixth ballot. Was +reelected in 1804, and retired finally from public life March 4, 1809. +He died on the 4th day of July, 1826, and was buried at Monticello, Va. + + + + + +NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION. + + +Mr. Pinckney, from the committee instructed on the 18th instant to wait +on the President elect to notify him of his election, reported that the +committee had, according to order, performed that service, and addressed +the President elect in the following words, to wit: + +The committee beg leave to express their wishes for the prosperity of +your Administration and their sincere desire that it may promote your +own happiness and the welfare of our country. + +To which the President elect was pleased to make the following reply: + +I receive, gentlemen, with profound thankfulness this testimony of +confidence from the great representative council of our nation. It fills +up the measure of that grateful satisfaction which had already been +derived from the suffrages of my fellow-citizens themselves, designating +me as one of those to whom they were willing to commit this charge, the +most important of all others to them. In deciding between the candidates +whom their equal vote presented to your choice, I am sensible that age +has been respected rather than more active and useful qualifications. + +I know the difficulties of the station to which I am called, and feel +and acknowledge my incompetence to them. But whatsoever of +understanding, whatsoever of diligence, whatsoever of justice or of +affectionate concern for the happiness of man, it has pleased Providence +to place within the compass of my faculties shall be called forth for +the discharge of the duties confided to me, and for procuring to my +fellow-citizens all the benefits which our Constitution has placed under +the guardianship of the General Government. + +Guided by the wisdom and patriotism of those to whom it belongs to +express the legislative will of the nation, I will give to that will +a faithful execution. + +I pray you, gentlemen, to convey to the honorable body from which you +are deputed the homage of my humble acknowledgments and the sentiments +of zeal and fidelity by which I shall endeavor to merit these proofs of +confidence from the nation and its Representatives; and accept +yourselves my particular thanks for the obliging terms in which you have +been pleased to communicate their will. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +FEBRUARY 20, 1801. + + + + +LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT ELECT. + + +The President laid before the Senate a letter from the President elect +of the United States, which was read, as follows: + +WASHINGTON, _March 2, 1801_. + +The PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE. + +SIR: I beg leave through you to inform the honorable the Senate of the +United States that I propose to take the oath which the Constitution +prescribes to the President of the United States before he enters on the +execution of his office on Wednesday, the 4th instant, at 12 o'clock, in +the Senate Chamber. + +I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, sir, your most +obedient and most humble servant, + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +(The same letter was sent to the House of Representatives.) + + + + +FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS. + + +AT WASHINGTON, D.C. + +_Friends and Fellow-Citizens_. + +Called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our +country, I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my +fellow-citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks +for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward me, to +declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents, and +that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentiments which the +greatness of the charge and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire. +A rising nation, spread over a wide and fruitful land, traversing all +the seas with the rich productions of their industry, engaged in +commerce with nations who feel power and forget right, advancing rapidly +to destinies beyond the reach of mortal eye--when I contemplate these +transcendent objects, and see the honor, the happiness, and the hopes of +this beloved country committed to the issue and the auspices of this +day, I shrink from the contemplation, and humble myself before the +magnitude of the undertaking. Utterly, indeed, should I despair did not +the presence of many whom I here see remind me that in the other high +authorities provided by our Constitution I shall find resources of +wisdom, of virtue, and of zeal on which to rely under all difficulties. +To you, then, gentlemen, who are charged with the sovereign functions of +legislation, and to those associated with you, I look with encouragement +for that guidance and support which may enable us to steer with safety +the vessel in which we are all embarked amidst the conflicting elements +of a troubled world. + +During the contest of opinion through which we have passed the animation +of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might +impose on strangers unused to think freely and to speak and to write +what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation, +announced according to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of +course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in +common efforts for the common good. All, too, will bear in mind this +sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases +to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the +minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and +to violate would be oppression. Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite +with one heart and one mind. Let us restore to social intercourse that +harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but +dreary things. And let us reflect that, having banished from our land +that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and +suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political +intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody +persecutions. During the throes and convulsions of the ancient world, +during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man, seeking through blood and +slaughter his long-lost liberty, it was not wonderful that the agitation +of the billows should reach even this distant and peaceful shore; that +this should be more felt and feared by some and less by others, and +should divide opinions as to measures of safety. But every difference of +opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different +names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all +Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this +Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as +monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated +where reason is left free to combat it. I know, indeed, that some honest +men fear that a republican government can not be strong, that this +Government is not strong enough; but would the honest patriot, in the +full tide of successful experiment, abandon a government which has so +far kept us free and firm on the theoretic and visionary fear that this +Government, the world's best hope, may by possibility want energy to +preserve itself? I trust not. I believe this, on the contrary, the +strongest Government on earth. I believe it the only one where every +man, at the call of the law, would fly to the standard of the law, and +would meet invasions of the public order as his own personal concern. +Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of +himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have +we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him? Let history answer +this question. + +Let us, then, with courage and confidence pursue our own Federal and +Republican principles, our attachment to union and representative +government. Kindly separated by nature and a wide ocean from the +exterminating havoc of one quarter of the globe; too high-minded to +endure the degradations of the others; possessing a chosen country, with +room enough for our descendants to the thousandth and thousandth +generation; entertaining a due sense of our equal right to the use of +our own faculties, to the acquisitions of our own industry, to honor and +confidence from our fellow-citizens, resulting not from birth, but from +our actions and their sense of them; enlightened by a benign religion, +professed, indeed, and practiced in various forms, yet all of them +inculcating honesty, truth, temperance, gratitude, and the love of man; +acknowledging and adoring an overruling Providence, which by all its +dispensations proves that it delights in the happiness of man here and +his greater happiness hereafter--with all these blessings, what more is +necessary to make us a happy and a prosperous people? Still one thing +more, fellow-citizens--a wise and frugal Government, which shall +restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free +to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall +not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the +sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our +felicities. + +About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the exercise of duties which +comprehend everything dear and valuable to you, it is proper you should +understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government, and +consequently those which ought to shape its Administration. I will +compress them within the narrowest compass they will bear, stating the +general principle, but not all its limitations. Equal and exact justice +to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; +peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling +alliances with none; the support of the State governments in all their +rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns +and the surest bulwarks against antirepublican tendencies; the +preservation of the General Government in its whole constitutional +vigor, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety abroad; a +jealous care of the right of election by the people--a mild and safe +corrective of abuses which are lopped by the sword of revolution where +peaceable remedies are unprovided; absolute acquiescence in the +decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which +is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of +despotism; a well-disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace and +for the first moments of war, till regulars may relieve them; the +supremacy of the civil over the military authority; economy in the +public expense, that labor may be lightly burthened; the honest payment +of our debts and sacred preservation of the public faith; encouragement +of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid; the diffusion of +information and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of the public +reason; freedom of religion; freedom of the press, and freedom of person +under the protection of the habeas corpus, and trial by juries +impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation +which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of +revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our +heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed +of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by +which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from +them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps +and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety. + +I repair, then, fellow-citizens, to the post you have assigned me. With +experience enough in subordinate offices to have seen the difficulties +of this the greatest of all, I have learnt to expect that it will rarely +fall to the lot of imperfect man to retire from this station with the +reputation and the favor which bring him into it. Without pretensions to +that high confidence you reposed in our first and greatest revolutionary +character, whose preeminent services had entitled him to the first place +in his country's love and destined for him the fairest page in the +volume of faithful history, I ask so much confidence only as may give +firmness and effect to the legal administration of your affairs. I shall +often go wrong through defect of judgment. When right, I shall often be +thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the +whole ground. I ask your indulgence for my own errors, which will never +be intentional, and your support against the errors of others, who may +condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts. The approbation +implied by your suffrage is a great consolation to me for the past, and +my future solicitude will be to retain the good opinion of those who +have bestowed it in advance, to conciliate that of others by doing them +all the good in my power, and to be instrumental to the happiness and +freedom of all. + +Relying, then, on the patronage of your good will, I advance with +obedience to the work, ready to retire from it whenever you become +sensible how much better choice it is in your power to make. And may +that Infinite Power which rules the destinies of the universe lead our +councils to what is best, and give them a favorable issue for your peace +and prosperity. + +MARCH 4, 1801. + + + + +PROCLAMATION. + + +[From the National Intelligencer, March 13, 1801.] + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. + +Whereas by the first article of the terms and conditions declared by the +President of the United States on the iyth day of October, 1791, for +regulating the materials and manner of buildings and improvements on the +lots in the city of Washington, it is provided "that the outer and party +walls of all houses in the said city shall be built of brick or stone;" +and by the third article of the same terms and conditions it is declared +"that the wall of no house shall be higher than 40 feet to the roof in +any part of the city, nor shall any be lower than 35 feet in any of the +avenues;" and + +Whereas the above-recited articles were found to impede the settlement +in the city of mechanics and others whose circumstances did not admit of +erecting houses authorized by the said regulations, for which cause the +President of the United States, by a writing under his hand, bearing +date the 25th day of June, 1796, suspended the operation of the said +articles until the first Monday of December, 1800, and the beneficial +effects arising from such suspension having been experienced, it is +deemed proper to revive the same: + +Wherefore I, Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, do +declare that the operation of the first and third articles above recited +shall be, and the same is hereby, suspended until the ist day of +January, 1802, and that all the houses which shall be erected in the +said city of Washington previous to the said 1st day of January, 1802, +conformable in other respects to the regulations aforesaid, shall be +considered as lawfully erected, except that no wooden house shall be +erected within 24 feet of any brick or stone house. + +Given under my hand this 11th day of March, 1801. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +In communicating his first message to Congress, President Jefferson +addressed the following letter to the presiding officer of each branch +of the National Legislature: + + +DECEMBER 8, 1801. + +The Honorable the PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. + +SIR: The circumstances under which we find ourselves at this place +rendering inconvenient the mode heretofore practiced of making by +personal address the first communications between the legislative and +executive branches, I have adopted that by message, as used on all +subsequent occasions through the session. In doing this I have had +principal regard to the convenience of the Legislature, to the economy +of their time, to their relief from the embarrassment of immediate +answers on subjects not yet fully before them, and to the benefits +thence resulting to the public affairs. Trusting that a procedure +founded in these motives will meet their approbation, I beg leave +through you, sir, to communicate the inclosed message, with the +documents accompanying it, to the honorable the Senate, and pray you +to accept for yourself and them the homage of my high respect and +consideration. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +DECEMBER 8, 1801. + +_Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives_: + +It is a circumstance of sincere gratification to me that on meeting the +great council of our nation I am able to announce to them on grounds of +reasonable certainty that the wars and troubles which have for so many +years afflicted our sister nations have at length come to an end, and +that the communications of peace and commerce are once more opening +among them. Whilst we devoutly return thanks to the beneficent Being who +has been pleased to breathe into them the spirit of conciliation and +forgiveness, we are bound with peculiar gratitude to be thankful to Him +that our own peace has been preserved through so perilous a season, and +ourselves permitted quietly to cultivate the earth and to practice and +improve those arts which tend to increase our comforts. The assurances, +indeed, of friendly disposition received from all the powers with whom +we have principal relations had inspired a confidence that our peace +with them would not have been disturbed. But a cessation of +irregularities which had affected the commerce of neutral nations and of +the irritations and injuries produced by them can not but add to this +confidence, and strengthens at the same time the hope that wrongs +committed on unoffending friends under a pressure of circumstances will +now be reviewed with candor, and will be considered as founding just +claims of retribution for the past and new assurance for the future. + +Among our Indian neighbors also a spirit of peace and friendship +generally prevails, and I am happy to inform yon that the continued +efforts to introduce among them the implements and the practice of +husbandry and of the household arts have not been without success; that +they are becoming more and more sensible of the superiority of this +dependence for clothing and subsistence over the precarious resources of +hunting and fishing, and already we are able to announce that instead of +that constant diminution of their numbers produced by their wars and +their wants, some of them begin to experience an increase of population. + +To this state of general peace with which we have been blessed, one only +exception exists. Tripoli, the least considerable of the Barbary States, +had come forward with demands unfounded either in right or in compact, +and had permitted itself to denounce war on our failure to comply before +a given day. The style of the demand admitted but one answer. I sent a +small squadron of frigates into the Mediterranean, with assurances to +that power of our sincere desire to remain in peace, but with orders to +protect our commerce against the threatened attack. The measure was +seasonable and salutary. The Bey had already declared war. His cruisers +were out. Two had arrived at Gibraltar. + +Our commerce in the Mediterranean was blockaded and that of the Atlantic +in peril. The arrival of our squadron dispelled the danger. One of the +Tripolitan cruisers having fallen in with and engaged the small schooner +_Enterprise_, commanded by Lieutenant Sterret, which had gone as a +tender to our larger vessels, was captured, after a heavy slaughter of +her men, without the loss of a single one on our part. The bravery +exhibited by our citizens on that element will, I trust, be a testimony +to the world that it is not the want of that virtue which makes us seek +their peace, but a conscientious desire to direct the energies of our +nation to the multiplication of the human race, and not to its +destruction. Unauthorized by the Constitution, without the sanction of +Congress, to go beyond the line of defense, the vessel, being disabled +from committing further hostilities, was liberated with its crew. The +Legislature will doubtless consider whether, by authorizing measures of +offense also, they will place our force on an equal footing with that of +its adversaries. I communicate all material information on this subject, +that in the exercise of this important function confided by the +Constitution to the Legislature exclusively their judgment may form +itself on a knowledge and consideration of every circumstance of weight. + +I wish I could say that our situation with all the other Barbary States +was entirely satisfactory. Discovering that some delays had taken place +in the performance of certain articles stipulated by us, I thought it my +duty, by immediate measures for fulfilling them, to vindicate to +ourselves the right of considering the effect of departure from +stipulation on their side. From the papers which will be laid before you +you will be enabled to judge whether our treaties are regarded by them +as fixing at all the measure of their demands or as guarding from the +exercise of force our vessels within their power, and to consider how +far it will be safe and expedient to leave our affairs with them in +their present posture. + +I lay before you the result of the census lately taken of our +inhabitants, to a conformity with which we are now to reduce the ensuing +ratio of representation and taxation. You will perceive that the +increase of numbers during the last ten years, proceeding in geometrical +ratio, promises a duplication in little more than twenty-two years. We +contemplate this rapid growth and the prospect it holds up to us, not +with a view to the injuries it may enable us to do others in some future +day, but to the settlement of the extensive country still remaining +vacant within our limits to the multiplication of men susceptible of +happiness, educated in the love of order, habituated to self-government, +and valuing its blessings above all price. + +Other circumstances, combined with the increase of numbers, have +produced an augmentation of revenue arising from consumption in a ratio +far beyond that of population alone; and though the changes in foreign +relations now taking place so desirably for the whole world may for a +season affect this branch of revenue, yet weighing all probabilities of +expense as well as of income, there is reasonable ground of confidence +that we may now safely dispense with all the internal taxes, +comprehending excise, stamps, auctions, licenses, carriages, and refined +sugars, to which the postage on newspapers may be added to facilitate +the progress of information, and that the remaining sources of revenue +will be sufficient to provide for the support of Government, to pay the +interest of the public debts, and to discharge the principals within +shorter periods than the laws or the general expectation had +contemplated. War, indeed, and untoward events may change this prospect +of things and call for expenses which the imposts could not meet; but +sound principles will not justify our taxing the industry of our +fellow-citizens to accumulate treasure for wars to happen we know not +when, and which might not, perhaps, happen but from the temptations +offered by that treasure. + +These views, however, of reducing our burthens are formed on the +expectation that a sensible and at the same time a salutary reduction +may take place in our habitual expenditures. For this purpose those of +the civil Government, the Army, and Navy will need revisal. + +When we consider that this Government is charged with the external, and +mutual relations only of these States; that the States themselves have +principal care of our persons, our property, and our reputation, +constituting the great field of human concerns, we may well doubt +whether our organization is not too complicated, too expensive; whether +offices and officers have not been multiplied unnecessarily and +sometimes injuriously to the service they were meant to promote. I will +cause to be laid before you an essay toward a statement of those who, +under public employment of various kinds, draw money from the Treasury +or from our citizens. Time has not permitted a perfect enumeration, the +ramifications of office being too multiplied and remote to be completely +traced in a first trial. Among those who are dependent on Executive +discretion I have begun the reduction of what was deemed unnecessary. +The expenses of diplomatic agency have been considerably diminished. The +inspectors of internal revenue who were found to obstruct the +accountability of the institution have been discontinued. Several +agencies created by Executive authority, on salaries fixed by that also, +have been suppressed, and should suggest the expediency of regulating +that power by law, so as to subject its exercises to legislative +inspection and sanction. Other reformations of the same kind will be +pursued with that caution which is requisite in removing useless things, +not to injure what is retained. But the great mass of public offices is +established by law, and therefore by law alone can be abolished. Should +the Legislature think it expedient to pass this roll in review and try +all its parts by the test of public utility, they may be assured of +every aid and light which Executive information can yield. Considering +the general tendency to multiply offices and dependencies and to +increase expense to the ultimate term of burthen which the citizen can +bear, it behooves us to avail ourselves of every occasion which presents +itself for taking off the surcharge, that it never may be seen here that +after leaving to labor the smallest portion of its earnings on which it +can subsist, Government shall itself consume the whole residue of what +it was instituted to guard. + +In our care, too, of the public contributions intrusted to our direction +it would be prudent to multiply barriers against their dissipation by +appropriating specific sums to every specific purpose susceptible of +definition; by disallowing all applications of money varying from the +appropriation in object or transcending it in amount; by reducing the +undefined field of contingencies and thereby circumscribing +discretionary powers over money, and by bringing back to a single +department all accountabilities for money, where the examinations may be +prompt, efficacious, and uniform. + +An account of the receipts and expenditures of the last year, as +prepared by the Secretary of the Treasury, will, as usual, be laid +before you. The success which has attended the late sales of the public +lands shews that with attention they may be made an important source of +receipt. Among the payments those made in discharge of the principal and +interest of the national debt will shew that the public faith has been +exactly maintained. To these will be added an estimate of appropriations +necessary for the ensuing year. This last will, of course, be affected +by such modifications of the system of expense as you shall think proper +to adopt. + +A statement has been formed by the Secretary of War, on mature +consideration, of all the posts and stations where garrisons will be +expedient and of the number of men requisite for each garrison. The +whole amount is considerably short of the present military +establishment. For the surplus no particular use can be pointed out. For +defense against invasion their number is as nothing, nor is it conceived +needful or safe that a standing army should be kept up in time of peace +for that purpose. Uncertain as we must ever be of the particular point +in our circumference where an enemy may choose to invade us, the only +force which can be ready at every point and competent to oppose them is +the body of neighboring citizens as formed into a militia. On these, +collected from the parts most convenient in numbers proportioned to the +invading force, it is best to rely not only to meet the first attack, +but if it threatens to be permanent to maintain the defense until +regulars may be engaged to relieve them. These considerations render it +important that we should at every session continue to amend the defects +which from time to time shew themselves in the laws for regulating the +militia until they are sufficiently perfect. Nor should we now or at any +time separate until we can say we have done everything for the militia +which we could do were an enemy at our door. + +The provision of military stores on hand will be laid before you, that +you may judge of the additions still requisite. + +With respect to the extent to which our naval preparations should be +carried some difference of opinion may be expected to appear, but just +attention to the circumstances of every part of the Union will doubtless +reconcile all. A small force will probably continue to be wanted for +actual service in the Mediterranean. Whatever annual sum beyond that you +may think proper to appropriate to naval preparations would perhaps be +better employed in providing those articles which may be kept without +waste or consumption, and be in readiness when any exigence calls them +into use. Progress has been made, as will appear by papers now +communicated, in providing materials for 74-gun ships as directed by +law. + +How far the authority given by the Legislature for procuring and +establishing sites for naval purposes has been perfectly understood and +pursued in the execution admits of some doubt. A statement of the +expenses already incurred on that subject is now laid before you. I have +in certain cases suspended or slackened these expenditures, that the +Legislature might determine whether so many yards are necessary as have +been contemplated. The works at this place are among those permitted to +go on, and five of the seven frigates directed to be laid up have been +brought and laid up here, where, besides the safety of their position, +they are under the eye of the Executive Administration, as well as of +its agents, and where yourselves also will be guided by your own view in +the legislative provisions respecting them which may from time to time +be necessary. They are preserved in such condition, as well the vessels +as whatever belongs to them, as to be at all times ready for sea on a +short warning. Two others are yet to be laid up so soon as they shall +have received the repairs requisite to put them also into sound +condition. As a superintending officer will be necessary at each yard, +his duties and emoluments, hitherto fixed by the Executive, will be a +more proper subject for legislation. A communication will also be made +of our progress in the execution of the law respecting the vessels +directed to be sold. + +The fortifications of our harbors, more or less advanced, present +considerations of great difficulty. While some of them are on a scale +sufficiently proportioned to the advantages of their position, to the +efficacy of their protection, and the importance of the points within +it, others are so extensive, will cost so much in their first erection, +so much in their maintenance, and require such a force to garrison them +as to make it questionable what is best now to be done. A statement of +those commenced or projected, of the expenses already incurred, and +estimates of their future cost, as far as can be foreseen, shall be laid +before you, that you may be enabled to judge whether any alteration is +necessary in the laws respecting this subject. + +Agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and navigation, the four pillars of +our prosperity, are then most thriving when left most free to individual +enterprise. Protection from casual embarrassments, however, may +sometimes be seasonably interposed. If in the course of your +observations or inquiries they should appear to need any aid within the +limits of our constitutional powers, your sense of their importance is a +sufficient assurance they will occupy your attention. We can not, +indeed, but all feel an anxious solicitude for the difficulties under +which our carrying trade will soon be placed. How far it can be +relieved, otherwise than by time, is a subject of important +consideration. + +The judiciary system of the United States, and especially that portion +of it recently erected, will of course present itself to the +contemplation of Congress, and, that they may be able to judge of the +proportion which the institution bears to the business it has to +perform, I have caused to be procured from the several States and now +lay before Congress an exact statement of all the causes decided since +the first establishment of the courts, and of those which were depending +when additional courts and judges were brought in to their aid. + +And while on the judiciary organization it will be worthy your +consideration whether the protection of the inestimable institution of +juries has been extended to all the cases involving the security of our +persons and property. Their impartial selection also being essential to +their value, we ought further to consider whether that is sufficiently +secured in those States where they are named by a marshal depending on +Executive will or designated by the court or by officers dependent on +them. + +I can not omit recommending a revisal of the laws on the subject of +naturalization. Considering the ordinary chances of human life, a denial +of citizenship under a residence of fourteen years is a denial to a +great proportion of those who ask it, and controls a policy pursued from +their first settlement by many of these States, and still believed of +consequence to their prosperity; and shall we refuse to the unhappy +fugitives from distress that hospitality which the savages of the +wilderness extended to our fathers arriving in this land? Shall +oppressed humanity find no asylum on this globe? The Constitution indeed +has wisely provided that for admission to certain offices of important +trust a residence shall be required sufficient to develop character and +design. But might not the general character and capabilities of a +citizen be safely communicated to everyone manifesting a bona fide +purpose of embarking his life and fortunes permanently with us, with +restrictions, perhaps, to guard against the fraudulent usurpation of our +flag, an abuse which brings so much embarrassment and loss on the +genuine citizen and so much danger to the nation of being involved in +war that no endeavor should be spared to detect and suppress it? + +These, fellow-citizens, are the matters respecting the state of the +nation which I have thought of importance to be submitted to your +consideration at this time. Some others of less moment or not yet ready +for communication will be the subject of separate messages. I am happy +in this opportunity of committing the arduous affairs of our Government +to the collected wisdom of the Union. Nothing shall be wanting on my +part to inform as far as in my power the legislative judgment, nor to +carry that judgment into faithful execution. The prudence and temperance +of your discussions will promote within your own walls that conciliation +which so much befriends rational conclusion, and by its example will +encourage among our constituents that progress of opinion which is +tending to unite them in object and in will. That all should be +satisfied with any one order of things is not to be expected; but I +indulge the pleasing persuasion that the great body of our citizens will +cordially concur in honest and disinterested efforts which have for +their object to preserve the General and State Governments in their +constitutional form and equilibrium; to maintain peace abroad, and order +and obedience to the laws at home; to establish principles and practices +of administration favorable to the security of liberty and property, and +to reduce expenses to what is necessary for the useful purposes of +Government. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +DECEMBER 11, 1801. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +Early in the last month I received the ratification by the First Consul +of France of the convention between the United States and that nation. +His ratification not being pure and simple in the ordinary form, I have +thought it my duty, in order to avoid all misconception, to ask a second +advice and consent of the Senate before I give it the last sanction by +proclaiming it to be a law of the land. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 22, 1801. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +The States of Georgia and Tennessee being peculiarly interested in our +carrying into execution the two acts passed by Congress on the 19th of +February, 1799 (chapter 115), and 13th May, 1800 (chapter 62), +commissioners were appointed early in summer and other measures taken +for the purpose. The objects of these laws requiring meetings with the +Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, and Creeks, the inclosed instructions +were prepared for the proceedings with the three first nations. Our +applications to the Cherokees failed altogether. Those to the Chickasaws +produced the treaty now laid before you for your advice and consent, +whereby we obtained permission to open a road of communication with the +Mississippi Territory. The commissioners are probably at this time in +conference with the Choctaws. Further information having been wanting +when these instructions were, formed to enable us to prepare those +respecting the Creeks, the commissioners were directed to proceed with +the others. We have now reason to believe the conferences with the +Creeks can not take place till the spring. + +The journals and letters of the commissioners relating to the subject of +the treaty now inclosed accompany it. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 22, 1801. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I now inclose sundry documents supplementary to those communicated to +you with my message at the commencement of the session. Two others of +considerable importance--the one relating to our transactions with the +Barbary Powers, the other presenting a view of the offices of the +Government--shall be communicated as soon as they can be completed. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 23, 1801. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +Another return of the census of the State of Maryland is just received +from the marshal of that State, which he desires may be substituted as +more correct than the one first returned by him and communicated by me +to Congress. This new return, with his letter, is now laid before you. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 11, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_. + +I now communicate to you a memorial of the commissioners of the city of +Washington, together with a letter of later date, which, with their +memorial of January 28, 1801, will possess the Legislature fully of the +state of the public interests and of those of the city of Washington +confided to them. The moneys now due, and soon to become due, to the +State of Maryland on the loan guaranteed by the United States call for +an early attention. The lots in the city which are chargeable with the +payment of these moneys are deemed not only equal to the indemnification +of the public, but to insure a considerable surplus to the city to be +employed for its improvement, provided they are offered for sale only in +sufficient numbers to meet the existing demand. But the act of 1796 +requires that they shall be positively sold in such numbers as shall be +necessary for the punctual payment of the loans. Nine thousand dollars +of interest are lately become due, $3,000 quarter yearly will continue +to become due, and $50,000, an additional loan, are reimbursable on the +1st day of November next. These sums would require sales so far beyond +the actual demand of the market that it is apprehended that the whole +property may be thereby sacrificed, the public security destroyed, and +the residuary interest of the city entirely lost. Under these +circumstances I have thought it my duty before I proceed to direct a +rigorous execution of the law to submit the subject to the consideration +of the Legislature. Whether the public interest will be better secured +in the end and that of the city saved by offering sales commensurate +only to the demand at market, and advancing from the Treasury in the +first instance what these may prove deficient, to be replaced by +subsequent sales, rests for the determination of the Legislature. If +indulgence for the funds can be admitted, they will probably form a +resource of great and permanent value; and their embarrassments have +been produced only by overstrained exertions to provide accommodations +for the Government of the Union + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 12, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +I now communicate to you a letter from the Secretary of State inclosing +an estimate of the expenses which appear at present necessary for +carrying into effect the convention between the United States of America +and the French Republic, which has been prepared at the request of the +House of Representatives. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 27, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I lay before you the accounts of our Indian trading houses, as rendered +up to the 1st day of January, 1801, with a report of the Secretary of +War thereon, explaining the effects and the situation of that commerce +and the reasons in favor of its further extension. But it is believed +that the act authorizing this trade expired so long ago as the 3d of +March, 1799. Its revival, therefore, as well as its extension, is +submitted to the consideration of the Legislature. + +The act regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes will +also expire on the 3d day of March next. While on the subject of its +continuance it will be worthy the consideration of the Legislature +whether the provisions of the law inflicting on Indians, in certain +cases, the punishment of death by hanging might not permit its +commutation into death by military execution, the form of the punishment +in the former way being peculiarly repugnant to their ideas and +increasing the obstacles to the surrender of the criminal. + +These people are becoming very sensible of the baneful effects produced +on their morals, their health, and existence by the abuse of ardent +spirits, and some of them earnestly desire a prohibition of that article +from being carried among them. The Legislature will consider whether the +effectuating that desire would not be in the spirit of benevolence and +liberality which they have hitherto practiced toward these our +neighbors, and which has had so happy an effect toward conciliating +their friendship. It has been found, too, in experience that the same +abuse gives frequent rise to incidents tending much to commit our peace +with the Indians. + +It is now become necessary to run and mark the boundaries between them +and us in various parts. The law last mentioned has authorized this to +be done, but no existing appropriation meets the expense. + +Certain papers explanatory of the grounds of this communication are +herewith inclosed. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 2, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I now lay before you-- + +1. A return of ordnance, arms, and military stores the property of the +United States. + +2. Returns of muskets and bayonets fabricated at the armories of the +United States at Springfield and Harpers Ferry, and of the expenditures +at those places; and + +3. An estimate of expenditures which may be necessary for fortifications +and barracks for the present year. + +Besides the permanent magazines established at Springfield, West Point, +and Harpers Ferry, it is thought one should be established in some point +convenient for the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, and +Georgia. Such a point will probably be found near the border of the +Carolinas, and some small provision by the Legislature preparatory to +the establishment will be necessary for the present year. + +We find the United States in possession of certain iron mines and works +in the county of Berkeley and State of Virginia, purchased, as is +presumable, on the idea of establishing works for the fabrication of +cannon and other military articles by the public. Whether this method of +supplying what may be wanted will be most advisable or that of +purchasing at market where competition brings everything to its proper +level of price and quality is for the Legislature to decide, and if the +latter alternative be preferred, it will rest for their further +consideration in what way the subjects of this purchase may be best +employed or disposed of. The Attorney-General's opinion on the subject +of the title accompanies this. + +There are in various parts of the United States small parcels of land +which have been purchased at different times for cantonments and other +military purposes. Several of them are in situations not likely to be +accommodated to future purposes. The loss of the records prevents a +detailed statement of these until they can be supplied by inquiry. In +the meantime, one of them, containing 88 acres, in the county of Essex, +in New Jersey, purchased in 1799 and sold the following year to +Cornelius Vermule and Andrew Codmas, though its price has been received, +can not be conveyed without authority from the Legislature. + +I inclose herewith a letter from the Secretary of War on the subject of +the islands in the lakes and rivers of our northern boundary, and of +certain lands in the neighborhood of some of our military posts, on +which it may be expedient for the Legislature to make some provisions. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 16, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I now transmit a statement of the expenses incurred by the United States +in their transactions with the Barbary Powers, and a roll of the persons +having office or employment under the United States, as was proposed in +my messages of December 7 and 22. Neither is as perfect as could have +been wished, and the latter not so much so as further time and inquiry +may enable us to make it. + +The great volume of these communications and the delay it would produce +to make out a second copy will, I trust, be deemed a sufficient reason +for sending one of them to the one House, and the other to the other, +with a request that they may be interchanged for mutual information +rather than to subject both to further delay. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 18, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +In a message of the 2d instant I inclosed a letter from the Secretary of +War on the subject of certain lands in the neighborhood of our military +posts on which it might be expedient for the Legislature to make some +provisions. A letter recently received from the governor of Indiana +presents some further views of the extent to which such provision may be +needed, I therefore now transmit it for the information of Congress. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 24, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I communicate to both Houses of Congress a report of the Secretary of +the Treasury on the subject of our marine hospitals, which appear to +require legislative attention. + +As connected with the same subject, I also inclose information +respecting the situation of our seamen and boatmen frequenting the port +of New Orleans and suffering there from sickness and the want of +accommodation. There is good reason to believe their numbers greater +than stated in these papers. When we consider how great a proportion of +the territory of the United States must communicate with that port +singly, and how rapidly that territory is increasing its population and +productions, it may perhaps be thought reasonable to make hospital +provisions there of a different order from those at foreign ports +generally. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 25, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +No occasion having arisen since the last account rendered by my +predecessor of making use of any part of the moneys heretofore granted +to defray the contingent charges of the Government, I now transmit to +Congress an official statement thereof to the 31st day of December last, +when the whole unexpended balance, amounting to $20,911.80, was carried +to the credit of the surplus fund, as provided for by law, and this +account consequently becomes finally closed, + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 26, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +Some statements have been lately received of the causes decided or +depending in the courts of the Union in certain States, supplementary or +corrective of those from which was formed the general statement +accompanying my message at the opening of the session. I therefore +communicate them to Congress, with a report of the Secretary of State +noting their effect on the former statement and correcting certain +errors in it which arose partly from inexactitude in some of the returns +and partly in analyzing, adding, and transcribing them while hurried in +preparing the other voluminous papers accompanying that message. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 1, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I transmit for the information of Congress letters recently received +from our consuls at Gibraltar and Algiers, presenting the latest view of +the state of our affairs with the Barbary Powers. The sums due to the +Government of Algiers are now fully paid up, and of the gratuity which +had been promised to that of Tunis, and was in a course of preparation, +a small portion only remains still to be finished and delivered. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 9, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +The governor of New York has desired that, in addition to the +negotiations with certain Indians already authorized under the +superintendence of John Taylor, further negotiations should be held with +the Oneidas and other members of the Confederacy of the Six Nations for +the purchase of lands in and for the State of New York, which they are +willing to sell, as explained in the letter from the Secretary of War +herewith sent. I have therefore thought it better to name a commissioner +to superintend the negotiations specified with the Six Nations +generally, or with any of them. + +I do accordingly nominate John Taylor, of New York, to be commissioner +for the United States, to hold a convention or conventions between the +State of New York and the Confederacy of the Six Nations of Indians, or +any of the nations composing it. + +This nomination, if advised and consented to by the Senate, will +comprehend and supersede that of February 1 of the same John Taylor so +far as it respected the Seneca Indians, + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 10, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +I now submit for the ratification of the Senate a treaty entered into +by the commissioners of the United States with the Choctaw Nation of +Indians, and I transmit therewith so much of the instructions to the +commissioners as related to the Choctaws, with the minutes of their +proceedings and the letter accompanying them. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 29, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +The Secretary of State, charged with the civil affairs of the several +Territories of the United States, has received from the marshal of +Columbia a statement of the condition, unavoidably distressing, of the +persons committed to his custody on civil or criminal process and the +urgency for some legislative provisions for their relief. There are +other important cases wherein the laws of the adjoining States under +which the Territory is placed, though adapted to the purposes of those +States, are insufficient for those of the Territory from the dissimilar +or defective organization of its authorities. The letter and statement +of the marshal and the disquieting state of the Territory generally are +now submitted to the wisdom and consideration of the Legislature. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 29, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +The commissioners who were appointed to carry into execution the sixth +article of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation between the +United States and His Britannic Majesty having differed in opinion as to +the objects of that article and discontinued their proceedings, the +Executive of the United States took early measures, by instructions to +our minister at the British Court, to negotiate explanations of that +article. This mode of resolving the difficulty, however, proved +unacceptable to the British Government, which chose rather to avoid all +further discussion and expense under that article by fixing at a given +sum the amount for which the United States should be held responsible +under it. Mr. King was consequently authorized to meet this proposition, +and a settlement in this way has been effected by a convention entered +into with the British Government, and now communicated for your advice +and consent, together with the instructions and correspondence relating +to it. The greater part of these papers being originals, the return of +them is requested at the convenience of the Senate. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 30, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +The Secretary of War has prepared an estimate of expenditures for the +Army of the United States during the year 1802, conformably to the act +fixing the military peace establishment, which estimate, with his letter +accompanying and explaining it, I now transmit to both Houses of +Congress. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 31, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_: + +According to the desire expressed in your resolution of the 23d instant, +I now transmit a report of the Secretary of State, with the letters it +refers to, shewing the proceedings which have taken place under the +resolution of Congress of the 16th of April, 1800. The term prescribed +for the execution of the resolution having elapsed before the person +appointed had sat out on the service, I did not deem it justifiable to +commence a course of expenditure after the expiration of the resolution +authorizing it. The correspondence which has taken place, having regard +to dates, will place this subject properly under the view of the House +of Representatives. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL, 8, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +In order to satisfy as far as it is in my power the desire expressed in +your resolution of the 6th instant, I now transmit you a letter from +John Read, agent for the United States before the board of commissioners +under the sixth article of the treaty with Great Britain, to the +Attorney-General, bearing date the 25th of April, 1801, in which he +gives a summary view of the proceedings of those commissioners and of +the principles established or insisted on by a majority of them. + +Supposing it might be practicable for us to settle by negotiation with +Great Britain the principles which ought to govern the decisions under +the treaty, I caused instructions to be given to Mr. Read to analyze +the claims before the board of commissioners, to class them under the +principles on which they respectively depended, and to state the sum +depending on each principle or the amount of each description of debt. +The object of this was that we might know what principles were most +important for us to contend for and what others might be conceded +without much injury. He performed this duty, and gave in such a +statement during the last summer, but the chief clerk of the Secretary +of State's office being absent on account of sickness, and the only +person acquainted with the arrangement of the papers of the office, this +particular document can not at this time be found. Having, however, +been myself in possession of it a few days after its receipt, I then +transcribed from it for my own use the recapitulation of the amount of +each description of debt. A copy of this transcript I shall subjoin +hereto, with assurances that it is substantially correct, and with the +hope that it will give a view of the subject sufficiently precise to +fulfill the wishes of the Senate. To save them the delay of waiting till +a copy of the agent's letter could be made, I send the original, with +the request that it may be returned at the convenience of the Senate. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 15, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_: + +I now transmit the papers desired in your resolution of the 6th +instant. Those respecting the _Berceau_ will sufficiently explain +themselves. The officer charged with her repairs states in his letter, +received August 27, 1801, that he had been led by circumstances, which +he explains, to go considerably beyond his orders. In questions between +nations, who have no common umpire but reason, something must often be +yielded of mutual opinion to enable them to meet in a common point. + +The allowance which had been proposed to the officers of that vessel +being represented as too small for their daily necessities, and still +more so as the means of paying before their departure debts contracted +with our citizens for subsistence, it was requested on their behalf that +the daily pay of each might be the measure of their allowance. + +This being solicited and reimbursement assumed by the agent of their +nation, I deemed that the indulgence would have a propitious effect in +the moment of returning friendship. The sum of $870.83 was accordingly +furnished them for the five months of past captivity and a proportional +allowance authorized until their embarkation. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 20, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_: + +I transmit you a report from the Secretary of State, with the +information desired by the House of Representatives, of the 8th of +January, relative to certain spoliations and other proceedings therein +referred to. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 26, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +In pursuance of the act entitled "An act supplemental to the act +entitled 'An act for an amicable settlement of limits with the State +of Georgia, and authorizing the establishment of a government in the +Mississippi Territory,'" James Madison, Secretary of State, Albert +Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, and Levi Lincoln, Attorney-General +of the United States, were appointed commissioners to settle by +compromise with the commissioners appointed by the State of Georgia the +claims and cession to which the said act has relation. + +Articles of agreement and cession have accordingly been entered into and +signed by the said commissioners of the United States and of Georgia, +which, as they leave a right to Congress to act upon them legislatively +at any time within six months after their date, I have thought it my +duty immediately to communicate to the Legislature. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 27, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +The commissioners who were appointed to carry into execution the sixth +article of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation between the +United States and Great Britain having differed in their construction +of that article, and separated in consequence of that difference, the +President of the United States took immediate measures for obtaining +conventional explanations of that article for the government of the +commissioners. Finding, however, great difficulties opposed to a +settlement in that way, he authorized our minister at the Court of +London to meet a proposition that the United States by the payment of a +fixed sum should discharge themselves from their responsibility for such +debts as can not be recovered from the individual debtors. A convention +has accordingly been signed, fixing the sum to be paid at £600,000 in +three equal and annual installments, which has been ratified by me with +the advice and consent of the Senate. + +I now transmit copies thereof to both Houses of Congress, trusting that +in the free exercise of the authority which the Constitution has given +them on the subject of public expenditures they will deem it for the +public interest to appropriate the sums necessary for carrying this +convention into execution. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SECOND ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +DECEMBER 15, 1802 + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +When we assemble together, fellow-citizens, to consider the state of our +beloved country, our just attentions are first drawn to those pleasing +circumstances which mark the goodness of that Being from whose favor +they flow and the large measure of thankfulness we owe for His bounty. +Another year has come around, and finds us still blessed with peace and +friendship abroad; law, order, and religion at home; good affection and +harmony with our Indian neighbors; our burthens lightened, yet our +income sufficient for the public wants, and the produce of the year +great beyond example. These, fellow-citizens, are the circumstances +under which we meet, and we remark with special satisfaction those which +under the smiles of Providence result from the skill, industry, and +order of our citizens, managing their own affairs in their own way and +for their own use, unembarrassed by too much regulation, unoppressed by +fiscal exactions. + +On the restoration of peace in Europe that portion of the general +carrying trade which had fallen to our share during the war was abridged +by the returning competition of the belligerent powers. This was to +be expected, and was just. But in addition we find in some parts of +Europe monopolizing discriminations, which in the form of duties tend +effectually to prohibit the carrying thither our own produce in our own +vessels. From existing amities and a spirit of justice it is hoped that +friendly discussion will produce a fair and adequate reciprocity. But +should false calculations of interest defeat our hope, it rests with the +Legislature to decide whether they will meet inequalities abroad with +countervailing inequalities at home, or provide for the evil in any +other way. + +It is with satisfaction I lay before you an act of the British +Parliament anticipating this subject so far as to authorize a mutual +abolition of the duties and countervailing duties permitted under the +treaty of 1794. It shows on their part a spirit of justice and friendly +accommodation which it is our duty and our interest to cultivate with +all nations. Whether this would produce a due equality in the navigation +between the two countries is a subject for your consideration. + +Another circumstance which claims attention as directly affecting the +very source of our navigation is the defect or the evasion of the law +providing for the return of seamen, and particularly of those belonging +to vessels sold abroad. Numbers of them, discharged in foreign ports, +have been thrown on the hands of our consuls, who, to rescue them from +the dangers into which their distresses might plunge them and save them +to their country, have found it necessary in some cases to return them +at the public charge. + +The cession of the Spanish Province of Louisiana to France, which took +place in the course of the late war, will, if carried into effect, make +a change in the aspect of our foreign relations which will doubtless +have just weight in any deliberations of the Legislature connected with +that subject. + +There was reason not long since to apprehend that the warfare in which +we were engaged with Tripoli might be taken up by some other of the +Barbary Powers. A reenforcement, therefore, was immediately ordered to +the vessels already there. Subsequent information, however, has removed +these apprehensions for the present. To secure our commerce in that sea +with the smallest force competent, we have supposed it best to watch +strictly the harbor of Tripoli. Still, however, the shallowness of their +coast and the want of smaller vessels on our part has permitted some +cruisers to escape unobserved, and to one of these an American vessel +unfortunately fell a prey. The captain, one American seaman, and two +others of color remain prisoners with them unless exchanged under an +agreement formerly made with the Bashaw, to whom, on the faith of that, +some of his captive subjects had been restored. + +The convention with the State of Georgia has been ratified by their +legislature, and a repurchase from the Creeks has been consequently made +of a part of the Talasscee country. In this purchase has been also +comprehended a part of the lands within the fork of Oconee and Oakmulgee +rivers. The particulars of the contract will be laid before Congress so +soon as they shall be in a state for communication. + +In order to remove every ground of difference possible with our Indian +neighbors, I have proceeded in the work of settling with them and +marking the boundaries between us. That with the Choctaw Nation is fixed +in one part and will be through the whole within a short time. The +country to which their title had been extinguished before the Revolution +is sufficient to receive a very respectable population, which Congress +will probably see the expediency of encouraging so soon as the limits +shall be declared. We are to view this position as an outpost of the +United States, surrounded by strong neighbors and distant from its +support; and how far that monopoly which prevents population should +here be guarded against and actual habitation made a condition of +the continuance of title will be for your consideration. A prompt +settlement, too, of all existing rights and claims within this territory +presents itself as a preliminary operation. + +In that part of the Indiana Territory which includes Vincennes the lines +settled with the neighboring tribes fix the extinction of their title +at a breadth of 24 leagues from east to west and about the same length +parallel with and including the Wabash. They have also ceded a tract of +4 miles square, including the salt springs near the mouth of that river. + +In the Department of Finance it is with pleasure I inform you that the +receipts of external duties for the last twelve months have exceeded +those of any former year, and that the ratio of increase has been also +greater than usual. This has enabled us to answer all the regular +exigencies of Government, to pay from the Treasury within one year +upward of $8,000,000, principal and interest, of the public debt, +exclusive of upward of one million paid by the sale of bank stock, and +making in the whole a reduction of nearly five millions and a half of +principal, and to have now in the Treasury $4,500,000, which are in a +course of application to the further discharge of debt and current +demands. Experience, too, so far, authorizes us to believe, if no +extraordinary event supervenes, and the expenses which will be actually +incurred shall not be greater than were contemplated by Congress +at their last session, that we shall not be disappointed in the +expectations then formed. But nevertheless, as the effect of peace +on the amount of duties is not yet fully ascertained, it is the more +necessary to practice every useful economy and to incur no expense which +may be avoided without prejudice. + +The collection of the internal taxes having been completed in some of +the States, the officers employed in it are of course out of commission. +In others they will be so shortly. But in a few, where the arrangements +for the direct tax had been retarded, it will be some time before the +system is closed. It has not yet been thought necessary to employ the +agent authorized by an act of the last session for transacting business +in Europe relative to debts and loans. Nor have we used the power +confided by the same act of prolonging the foreign debt by reloans, and +of redeeming instead thereof an equal sum of the domestic debt. Should, +however, the difficulties of remittance on so large a scale render it +necessary at any time, the power shall be executed and the money thus +unemployed abroad shall, in conformity with that law, be faithfully +applied here in an equivalent extinction of domestic debt. When effects +so salutary result from the plans you have already sanctioned; when +merely by avoiding false objects of expense we are able, without a +direct tax, without internal taxes, and without borrowing to make large +and effectual payments toward the discharge of our public debt and +the emancipation of our posterity from that mortal canker, it is an +encouragement, fellow-citizens, of the highest order to proceed as we +have begun in substituting economy for taxation, and in pursuing what is +useful for a nation placed as we are, rather than what is practiced by +others under different circumstances. And whensoever we are destined to +meet events which shall call forth all the energies of our countrymen, +we have the firmest reliance on those energies and the comfort of +leaving for calls like these the extraordinary resources of loans and +internal taxes. In the meantime, by payments of the principal of our +debt, we are liberating annually portions of the external taxes and +forming from them a growing fund still further to lessen the necessity +of recurring to extraordinary resources. + +The usual account of receipts and expenditures for the last year, with +an estimate of the expenses of the ensuing one, will be laid before you +by the Secretary of the Treasury. + +No change being deemed necessary in our military establishment, an +estimate of its expenses for the ensuing year on its present footing, +as also of the sums to be employed in fortifications and other objects +within that department, has been prepared by the Secretary of War, and +will make a part of the general estimates which will be presented you. + +Considering that our regular troops are employed for local purposes, +and that the militia is our general reliance for great and sudden +emergencies, you will doubtless think this institution worthy of a +review, and give it those improvements of which you find it susceptible. + +Estimates for the Naval Department, prepared by the Secretary of the +Navy, for another year will in like manner be communicated with the +general estimates. A small force in the Mediterranean will still be +necessary to restrain the Tripoline cruisers, and the uncertain tenure +of peace with some other of the Barbary Powers may eventually require +that force to be augmented. The necessity of procuring some smaller +vessels for that service will raise the estimate, but the difference +in their maintenance will soon make it a measure of economy. + +Presuming it will be deemed expedient to expend annually a convenient +sum toward providing the naval defense which our situation may require, +I can not but recommend that the first appropriations for that purpose +may go to the saving what we already possess. No cares, no attentions, +can preserve vessels from rapid decay which lie in water and exposed +to the sun. These decays require great and constant repairs, and will +consume, if continued, a great portion of the moneys destined to naval +purposes. To avoid this waste of our resources it is proposed to add +to our navy-yard here a dock within which our present vessels may be +laid up dry and under cover from the sun. Under these circumstances +experience proves that works of wood will remain scarcely at all +affected by time. The great abundance of running water which this +situation possesses, at heights far above the level of the tide, if +employed as is practiced for lock navigation, furnishes the means for +raising and laying up our vessels on a dry and sheltered bed. And should +the measure be found useful here, similar depositories for laying up as +well as for building and repairing vessels may hereafter be undertaken +at other navy-yards offering the same means. The plans and estimates +of the work, prepared by a person of skill and experience, will be +presented to you without delay, and from this it will be seen that +scarcely more than has been the cost of one vessel is necessary to save +the whole, and that the annual sum to be employed toward its completion +may be adapted to the views of the Legislature as to naval expenditure. + +To cultivate peace and maintain commerce and navigation in all their +lawful enterprises; to foster our fisheries as nurseries of navigation +and for the nurture of man, and protect the manufactures adapted to our +circumstances; to preserve the faith of the nation by an exact discharge +of its debts and contracts, expend the public money with the same care +and economy we would practice with our own, and impose on our citizens +no unnecessary burthens; to keep in all things within the pale of our +constitutional powers, and cherish the federal union as the only rock +of safety--these, fellow-citizens, are the landmarks by which we are to +guide our selves in all our proceedings. By continuing to make these the +rule of our action we shall endear to our countrymen the true principles +of their Constitution and promote an union of sentiment and of action +equally auspicious to their happiness and safety. On my part, you may +count on a cordial concurrence in every measure for the public good and +on all the information I possess which may enable you to discharge to +advantage the high functions with which you are invested by your +country. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +DECEMBER 22, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_: + +I now transmit a report from the Secretary of State with the information +requested in your resolution of the 17th instant. + +In making this communication I deem it proper to observe that I was led +by the regard due to the rights and interests of the United States and +to the just sensibility of the portion of our fellow-citizens more +immediately affected by the irregular proceeding at New Orleans to lose +not a moment in causing every step to be taken which the occasion +claimed from me, being equally aware of the obligation to maintain in +all cases the rights of the nation and to employ for that purpose those +just and honorable means which belong to the character of the United +States. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 23, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_. + +In pursuance of the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 3d +of May last, desiring a statement of expenditures from January 1, 1797, +by the Quartermaster-General and the navy agents, for the contingencies +of the naval and military establishments and the navy contracts for +timber and stores, I now transmit such statements from the offices of +the Secretaries of the Treasury, War, and Navy, where alone these +expenditures are entered. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 27, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +I lay before you a treaty, which has been agreed to by commissioners +duly authorized on the part of the United States and the Creek Nation +of Indians, for the extinguishment of the native title to lands in the +Talassee County, and others between the forks of Oconce and Oakmulgee +rivers, in Georgia, in pursuance of the convention with that State, +together with the documents explanatory thereof; and it is submitted +to your determination whether you will advise and consent to the +ratification thereof. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 27, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +I lay before you a treaty, which has been concluded between the State of +New York and the Oneida Indians, for the purchase of lands within that +State. + +One other, between the same State and the Seneca Indians, for the +purchase of other lands within the same State. + +One other, between certain individuals styled the Holland Company with +the Senecas, for the exchange of certain lands in the same State. + +And one other, between Oliver Phelps, a citizen of the United States, +and the Senecas, for the exchange of lands in the same State; with +sundry explanatory papers, all of them conducted under the +superintendence of a commissioner on the part of the United States, who +reports that they have been adjusted with the fair and free consent +and understanding of the parties. It is therefore submitted to your +determination whether you will advise and consent to their respective +ratifications. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 27, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +In my message of the 15th instant I mentioned that plans and estimates +of a dry dock for the preservation of our ships of war, prepared by a +person of skill and experience, should be laid before you without delay. +These are now transmitted, the report and estimates by duplicates; but +the plans being single only, I must request an intercommunication of +them between the Houses and their return when they shall no longer be +wanting for their consideration. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 30, 1802. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_: + +In addition to the information accompanying my message of the 22d +instant, I now transmit the copy of a letter on the same subject, +recently received. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +WASHINGTON, _December 30, 1802_. + +The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. + +SIR: Although an informal communication to the public of the substance +of the inclosed letter may be proper for quieting the public mind, yet I +refer to the consideration of the House of Representatives whether the +publication of it in form might not give dissatisfaction to the writer +and tend to discourage the freedom and confidence of communications +between the agents of the two Governments. Accept assurances of my high +consideration and respect. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NATCHEZ, _November 25, 1802_. + +The Honorable the Secretary of State, + +_Washington_. + +SIR: I have the honor to inclose you an original copy of a communication +(together with a translation thereof) which I this morning received +from the governor-general of the Province of Louisiana in answer to my +letters of the 28th ultimo. + +I am, sir, with respect and esteem, your humble servant, + +WILLIAM C.C. CLAIBORNE. + + + +[Translation.] + +New Orleans, _November 15, 1802_. + +His Excellency WILLIAM C.C. CLAIBORNE. + +Most Excellent Sir: I received a few days past your excellency's +esteemed letter of the 28th ultimo, in which your excellency, referring +to the twenty-second article of the treaty of friendship, navigation, +and limits agreed upon between the King, my master, and the United +States of America, has been pleased to inquire, after transcribing the +literal text of said article (which you find so explicit as not to +require any comment nor to admit of dubious construction), if His +Majesty has been pleased to designate any other position on the banks +of the Mississippi, and where that is, if his royal pleasure does not +continue the permission stipulated by the said treaty which entitled the +citizens of the United States to deposit their merchandise and effects +in the port of New Orleans; and you request at the same time that, as +the affair is so interesting to the commerce of the United States and +to the welfare of its citizens, I may do you the favor to send you an +answer as early as possible. I can now assure your excellency that His +Catholic Majesty has not hitherto issued any order for suspending the +deposit, and consequently has not designated any other position on the +banks of the Mississippi for that purpose. But I must inform you, in +answer to your inquiry, that the intendant of these provinces (who +in the affairs of his own department is independent of the general +Government), at the same time that, in conformity with the royal +commands (the peace in Europe having been published since the 4th of May +last), he suspended the commerce of neutrals, also thought proper to +suspend the tacit prolongation which continued, and to put a stop to +the infinite abuses which resulted from the deposit, contrary to the +interest of the State and of the commerce of these colonies, in +consequence of the experience he acquired of the frauds which have been +committed and which it has been endeavored to excuse under the pretext +of ignorance, as is manifested by the number of causes which now await +the determination of His Majesty, as soon as they can be brought to his +royal knowledge, besides many others which have been dropt because the +individuals have absconded who introduced their properties into the +deposit and did not extract them, thus defrauding the royal interests. + +It might appear on the first view that particular cases like these ought +not to operate against a general privilege granted by a solemn treaty, +and it is an incontestable principle that the happiness of nations +consists in a great measure in maintaining a good harmony and +correspondence with their neighbors by respecting their rights, by +supporting their own, without being deficient in what is required by +humanity and civil intercourse; but it is also indubitable that for a +treaty, although solemn, to be entirely valid it ought not to contain +any defect; and if it be pernicious and of an injurious tendency, +although it has been effectuated with good faith but without a knowledge +of its bad consequence, it will be necessary to undo it, because +treaties ought to be viewed like other acts of public will, in which +more attention ought to be paid to the intention than to the words in +which they are expressed; and thus it will not appear so repugnant +that the term of three years fixed by the twenty-second article being +completed without the King's having granted a prolongation, the +intendancy should not, after putting a stop to the commerce of neutrals, +take upon itself the responsibility of continuing that favor without the +express mandate of the King, a circumstance equally indispensable for +designating another place on the banks of the Mississippi. + +From the foregoing I trust that you will infer that as it is the duty of +the intendant, who conducts the business of his ministry with a perfect +independence of the Government, to have informed the King of what he has +done in fulfillment of what has been expressly stipulated, it is to be +hoped that His Majesty will take the measures which are convenient to +give effect to the deposit, either in this capital, if he should not +find it prejudicial to the interests of Spain, or in the place on +the banks of the Mississippi which it may be his royal pleasure to +designate; as it ought to be confided that the justice and generosity +of the King will not refuse to afford to the American citizens all +the advantages they can desire, a measure which does not depend upon +discretion, nor can an individual chief take it upon himself. Besides +these principles on which the regulation of the intendant is founded, I +ought at the same time to inform you that I myself opposed on my part, +as far as I reasonably could, the measure of suspending the deposit, +until the reasons adduced by the intendant brought it to my view; that +as all events can not be prevented, and as with time and different +circumstances various others occur which can not be foreseen, a just +and rational interpretation is always necessary. Notwithstanding the +foregoing, the result of my own reflections, I immediately consulted on +the occasion with my captain-general, whose answer, which can not be +long delayed, will dissipate every doubt that may be raised concerning +the steps which are to be taken, By all means your excellency may live +in the firm persuasion that as there has subsisted, and does subsist, +the most perfect and constant good harmony between the King, my master, +and the United States of America, I will spare no pains to preserve it +by all the means in my power, being assured of a reciprocity of equal +good offices in observing the treaty with good faith, ever keeping it in +view that the felicity and glory of nations are deeply concerned in the +advantages of a wise and prudently conducted commerce. + +I have the honor to assure your excellency of the respect and high +consideration which I profess for you; and I pray the Most High to +preserve your life many years. + +I kiss your excellency's hands. + +Your most affectionate servant, + +MANUEL DE SALCEDO. + + + +JANUARY 5, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_: + +Agreeably to the request of the House of Representatives, I now transmit +a statement of the militia of those States from which any returns have +been made to the War Office. They are, as you will perceive, but a small +proportion of the whole. I send you also the copy of a circular letter +written some time since for the purpose of obtaining returns from all +the States. Should any others in consequence of this be made during the +session of Congress, they shall be immediately communicated. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 7, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +I submit for your approbation and consent a convention entered into with +the Choctaw Nation of Indians for ascertaining and marking the limits of +the territory ceded to our nation while under its former government, and +lying between the Tombigbee and Mobile rivers on the east and the +Chickasawhay River on the west. + +We are now engaged in ascertaining and marking in like manner the limits +of the former cessions of the Choctaws from the river Yazoo to our +southern boundary, which will be the subject of another convention, +and we expect to obtain from the same nation a new cession of lands +of considerable extent between the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers. + +These several tracts of country will compose that portion of the +Mississippi Territory which, so soon as certain individual claims are +arranged, the United States will be free to sell and settle immediately. + +TH. JEFFERSON + + + +JANUARY 11, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +The cession of the Spanish Province of Louisiana to France, and perhaps +of the Floridas, and the late suspension of our right of deposit at New +Orleans are events of primary interest to the United States. On both +occasions such measures were promptly taken as were thought most +likely amicably to remove the present and to prevent future causes of +inquietude. The objects of these measures were to obtain the territory +on the left bank of the Mississippi and eastward of that, if +practicable, on conditions to which the proper authorities of our +country would agree, or at least to prevent any changes which might +lessen the secure exercise of our rights. While my confidence in our +minister plenipotentiary at Paris is entire and undiminished, I still +think that these objects might be promoted by joining with him a person +sent from hence directly, carrying with him the feelings and sentiments +of the nation excited on the late occurrence, impressed by full +communications of all the views we entertain on this interesting +subject, and thus prepared to meet and to improve to an useful result +the counter propositions of the other contracting party, whatsoever form +their interests may give to them, and to secure to us the ultimate +accomplishment of our object. + +I therefore nominate Robert R. Livingston to be minister plenipotentiary +and James Monroe to be minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary, with +full powers to both jointly, or to either on the death of the other, to +enter into a treaty or convention with the First Consul of France for +the purpose of enlarging and more effectually securing our rights and +interests in the river Mississippi and in the Territories eastward +thereof. + +But as the possession of these provinces is still in Spain, and the +course of events may retard or prevent the cession to France being +carried into effect, to secure our object it will be expedient to +address equal powers to the Government of Spain also, to be used only +in the event of its being necessary. + +I therefore nominate Charles Pinckney to be minister plenipotentiary, +and James Monroe, of Virginia, to be minister extraordinary and +plenipotentiary, with full powers to both jointly, or to either on the +death of the other, to enter into a treaty or convention with His +Catholic Majesty for the purpose of enlarging and more effectually +securing our rights and interests in the river Mississippi and in the +Territories eastward thereof. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 11, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +The spoliations and irregularities committed on our commerce during +the late war by subjects of Spain or by others deemed within her +responsibility having called for attention, instructions were +accordingly given to our minister at Madrid to urge our right to just +indemnifications, and to propose a convention for adjusting them. The +Spanish Government listened to our proposition with an honorable +readiness and agreed to a convention, which I now submit for your advice +and consent. It does not go to the satisfaction of all our claims, but +the express reservation of our right to press the validity of the +residue has been made the ground of further instructions to our minister +on the subject of an additional article, which it is to be hoped will +not be without effect. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 18, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +As the continuance of the act for establishing trading houses with the +Indian tribes will be under the consideration of the Legislature at its +present session, I think it my duty to communicate the views which have +guided me in the execution of that act, in order that you may decide +on the policy of continuing it in the present or any other form, or +discontinue it altogether if that shall, on the whole, seem most for +the public good. + +The Indian tribes residing within the limits of the United States +have for a considerable time been growing more and more uneasy at the +constant diminution of the territory they occupy, although effected by +their own voluntary sales, and the policy has long been gaining strength +with them of refusing absolutely all further sale on any conditions, +insomuch that at this time it hazards their friendship and excites +dangerous jealousies and perturbations in their minds to make any +overture for the purchase of the smallest portions of their land. A +very few tribes only are not yet obstinately in these dispositions. In +order peaceably to counteract this policy of theirs and to provide an +extension of territory which the rapid increase of our numbers will call +for, two measures are deemed expedient. First. To encourage them to +abandon hunting, to apply to the raising stock, to agriculture, and +domestic manufacture, and thereby prove to themselves that less land and +labor will maintain them in this better than in their former mode of +living. The extensive forests necessary in the hunting life will then +become useless, and they will see advantage in exchanging them for +the means of improving their farms and of increasing their domestic +comforts. Secondly. To multiply trading houses among them, and place +within their reach those things which will contribute more to their +domestic comfort than the possession of extensive but uncultivated +wilds. Experience and reflection will develop to them the wisdom of +exchanging what they can spare and we want for what we can spare and +they want. In leading them thus to agriculture, to manufactures, and +civilization; in bringing together their and our sentiments, and +in preparing them ultimately to participate in the benefits of our +Government, I trust and believe we are acting for their greatest good. +At these trading houses we have pursued the principles of the act of +Congress which directs that the commerce shall be carried on liberally, +and requires only that the capital stock shall not be diminished. We +consequently undersell private traders, foreign and domestic, drive them +from the competition, and thus, with the good will of the Indians, rid +ourselves of a description of men who are constantly endeavoring to +excite in the Indian mind suspicions, fears, and irritations toward us. +A letter now inclosed shows the effect of our competition on the +operations of the traders, while the Indians, perceiving the advantage +of purchasing from us, are soliciting generally our establishment +of trading houses among them. In one quarter this is particularly +interesting. The legislature, reflecting on the late occurrences on +the Mississippi, must be sensible how desirable it is to possess a +respectable breadth of country on that river, from our southern limit to +the Illinois, at least, so that we may present as firm a front on that +as on our eastern border. We possess what is below the Yazoo, and can +probably acquire a certain breadth from the Illinois and Wabash to the +Ohio; but between the Ohio and Yazoo the country all belongs to the +Chickasaws, the most friendly tribe within our limits, but the most +decided against the alienation of lands. The portion of their country +most important for us is exactly that which they do not inhabit. Their +settlements are not on the Mississippi, but in the interior country. +They have lately shown a desire to become agricultural, and this leads +to the desire of buying implements and comforts. In the strengthening +and gratifying of these wants I see the only prospect of planting on the +Mississippi itself the means of its own safety. Duty has required me to +submit these views to the judgment of the Legislature, but as their +disclosure might embarrass and defeat their effect, they are committed +to the special confidence of the two Houses. + +While the extension of the public commerce among the Indian tribes may +deprive of that source of profit such of our citizens as are engaged +in it, it might be worthy the attention of Congress in their care of +individual as well as of the general interest to point in another +direction the enterprise of these citizens, as profitably for themselves +and more usefully for the public. The river Missouri and the Indians +inhabiting it are not as well known as is rendered desirable by their +connection with the Mississippi, and consequently with us. It is, +however, understood that the country on that river is inhabited by +numerous tribes, who furnish great supplies of furs and peltry to the +trade of another nation, carried on in a high latitude through an +infinite number of portages and lakes shut up by ice through a long +season. The commerce on that line could bear no competition with that of +the Missouri, traversing a moderate climate, offering, according to the +best accounts, a continued navigation from its source, and possibly with +a single portage from the Western Ocean, and finding to the Atlantic a +choice of channels through the Illinois or Wabash, the Lakes and Hudson, +through the Ohio and Susquehanna, or Potomac or James rivers, and +through the Tennessee and Savannah rivers. An intelligent officer, +with ten or twelve chosen men, fit for the enterprise and willing to +undertake it, taken from our posts where they may be spared without +inconvenience, might explore the whole line, even to the Western +Ocean, have conferences with the natives on the subject of commercial +intercourse, get admission among them for our traders as others are +admitted, agree on convenient deposits for an interchange of articles, +and return with the information acquired in the course of two summers. +Their arms and accouterments, some instruments of observation, and light +and cheap presents for the Indians would be all the apparatus they could +carry, and with an expectation of a soldier's portion of land on their +return would constitute the whole expense. Their pay would be going on +whether here or there. While other civilized nations have encountered +great expense to enlarge the boundaries of knowledge by undertaking +voyages of discovery, and for other literary purposes, in various parts +and directions, our nation seems to owe to the same object, as well +as to its own interests, to explore this the only line of easy +communication across the continent, and so directly traversing our own +part of it. The interests of commerce place the principal object within +the constitutional powers and care of Congress, and that it should +incidentally advance the geographical knowledge of our own continent +can not but be an additional gratification. The nation claiming the +territory, regarding this as a literary pursuit, which it is in the +habit of permitting within its dominions, would not be disposed to view +it with jealousy, even if the expiring state of its interests there did +not render it a matter of indifference. The appropriation of $2,500 "for +the purpose of extending the external commerce of the United States," +while understood and considered by the Executive as giving the +legislative sanction, would cover the undertaking from notice and +prevent the obstructions which interested individuals might otherwise +previously prepare in its way. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 18, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I inclose a report of the Secretary of War, stating the trading houses +established in the Indian territories, the progress which has been made +in the course of the last year in settling and marking boundaries with +the different tribes, the purchases of lands recently made from them, +and the prospect of further progress in marking boundaries and in new +extinguishments of title in the year to come, for which some +appropriations of money will be wanting. + +To this I have to add that when the Indians ceded to us the salt springs +on the Wabash they expressed a hope that we would so employ them as to +enable them to procure there the necessary supplies of salt. Indeed, it +would be the most proper and acceptable form in which the annuity could +be paid which we propose to give them for the cession. These springs +might at the same time be rendered eminently serviceable to our Western +inhabitants by using them as the means of counteracting the monopolies +of supplies of salt and of reducing the price in that country to a just +level. For these purposes a small appropriation would be necessary to +meet the first expenses, after which they should support themselves and +repay those advances. These springs are said to possess the advantage of +being accompanied with a bed of coal. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 19, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I now lay before Congress the annual account of the fund established +for defraying the contingent charges of Government. A single article of +$1,440, paid for bringing home 72 seamen discharged in foreign ports +from vessels sold abroad, is the only expenditure from that fund, +leaving an unexpended balance of $18,560 in the Treasury. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 24. 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I transmit a report by the superintendent of the city of Washington on +the affairs of the city committed to his care. By this you will perceive +that the resales of lots prescribed by an act of the last session of +Congress did not produce a sufficiency to pay the debt to Maryland +to which they are appropriated, and as it was evident that the sums +necessary for the interest and installments due to that State could not +be produced by a sale of the other public lots without an unwarrantable +sacrifice of the property, the deficiencies were of necessity drawn from +the Treasury of the United States. + +The office of the surveyor for the city, created during the former +establishment, being of indispensable necessity, it has been continued, +and to that of the superintendent, substituted instead of the board of +commissioners at the last session of Congress, no salary was annexed by +law. These offices being permanent, I have supposed it more agreeable to +principle that their salaries should be fixed by the Legislature, and +therefore have assigned them none. Their services to be compensated are +from the 1st day of June last. + +The marshal of the District of Columbia has, as directed by law, caused +a jail to be built in the city of Washington. I inclose his statements +of the expenses already incurred and of what remains to be finished. The +portion actually completed has rendered the situation of the persons +confined much more comfortable and secure than it has been heretofore. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 3, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_: + +The inclosed letter and affidavits exhibiting matter of complaint against +John Pickering, district judge of New Hampshire, which is not within +Executive cognizance, I transmit them to the House of Representatives, +to whom the Constitution has confided a power of instituting proceedings +of redress, if they shall be of opinion that the case calls for them. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 14, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +In obedience to the ordinance for the government of the Territories of +the United States requiring that the laws adopted by the governor and +judges thereof shall be reported to Congress from time to time, I now +transmit those which have been adopted in the Indiana Territory from +January, 1801, to February, 1802, as forwarded to the office of the +Secretary of State. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 21, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +The Tuscarora Indians, having an interest in some lands within the State +of North Carolina, asked the superintendence of the Government of the +United States over a treaty to be held between them and the State of +North Carolina respecting these lands. William Richardson Davie was +appointed a commissioner for this purpose, and a treaty was concluded +under his superintendence. This, with his letter on the subject, is now +laid before the Senate for their advice and consent whether it shall be +ratified. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 23, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_: + +I lay before you a report of the Secretary of State on the case of +the Danish brigantine _Henrick_, taken by a French privateer in 1799, +retaken by an armed vessel of the United States, carried into a British +island, and there adjudged to be neutral, but under allowance of such +salvage and costs as absorbed nearly the whole amount of sales of +the vessel and cargo. Indemnification for these losses occasioned +by our officers is now claimed by the sufferers, supported by the +representations of their Government. I have no doubt the legislature +will give to the subject that just attention and consideration which +it is useful as well as honorable to practice in our transactions with +other nations, and particularly with one which has observed toward us +the most friendly treatment and regard. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + + +PROCLAMATION. + + +[From the National Intelligencer, July 18, 1803.] + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + +A PROCLAMATION. + + +Whereas great and weighty matters claiming the consideration of the +Congress of the United States form an extraordinary occasion for +convening them, I do by these presents appoint Monday, the 17th day +of October next, for their meeting at the city of Washington, hereby +requiring their respective Senators and Representatives then and there +to assemble in Congress, in order to receive such communications as may +then be made to them and to consult and determine on such measures as in +their wisdom may be deemed meet for the welfare of the United States. + +[SEAL.] + +In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be +hereunto affixed, and signed the same with my hand. + +Done at the city of Washington, the 16th day of July, A.D. 1803, and +in the twenty-eighth year of the Independence of the United States. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +By the President: + JAMES MADISON, + _Secretary_. + + + + +THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +OCTOBER 17, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In calling you together, fellow-citizens, at an earlier day than was +contemplated by the act of the last session of Congress, I have not been +insensible to the personal inconveniences necessarily resulting from +an unexpected change in your arrangements. But matters of great public +concernment have rendered this call necessary, and the interests you +feel in these will supersede in your minds all private considerations. + +Congress witnessed at their late session the extraordinary agitation +produced in the public mind by the suspension of our right of deposit at +the port of New Orleans, no assignment of another place having been made +according to treaty. They were sensible that the continuance of that +privation would be more injurious to our nation than any consequences +which could flow from any mode of redress, but reposing just confidence +in the good faith of the Government whose officer had committed the +wrong, friendly and reasonable representations were resorted to, and +the right of deposit was restored. + +Previous, however, to this period we had not been unaware of the danger +to which our peace would be perpetually exposed whilst so important a +key to the commerce of the Western country remained under foreign power. +Difficulties, too, were presenting themselves as to the navigation of +other streams which, arising within our territories, pass through those +adjacent. Propositions had therefore been authorized for obtaining on +fair conditions the sovereignty of New Orleans and of other possessions +in that quarter interesting to our quiet to such extent as was deemed +practicable, and the provisional appropriation of $2,000,000 to be +applied and accounted for by the President of the United States, +intended as part of the price, was considered as conveying the sanction +of Congress to the acquisition proposed. The enlightened Government of +France saw with just discernment the importance to both nations of such +liberal arrangements as might best and permanently promote the peace, +friendship, and interests of both, and the property and sovereignty of +all Louisiana which had been restored to them have on certain conditions +been transferred to the United States by instruments bearing date the +30th of April last. When these shall have received the constitutional +sanction of the Senate, they will without delay be communicated to the +Representatives also for the exercise of their functions as to those +conditions which are within the powers vested by the Constitution in +Congress. + +Whilst the property and sovereignty of the Mississippi and its waters +secure an independent outlet for the produce of the Western States +and an uncontrolled navigation through their whole course, free from +collision with other powers and the dangers to our peace from that +source, the fertility of the country, its climate and extent, promise +in due season important aids to our Treasury, an ample provision for +our posterity, and a wide spread for the blessings of freedom and +equal laws. + +With the wisdom of Congress it will rest to take those ulterior measures +which may be necessary for the immediate occupation and temporary +government of the country; for its incorporation into our Union; for +rendering the change of government a blessing to our newly adopted +brethren; for securing to them the rights of conscience and of property; +for confirming to the Indian inhabitants their occupancy and +self-government, establishing friendly and commercial relations with +them, and for ascertaining the geography of the country acquired. Such +materials, for your information, relative to its affairs in general as +the short space of time has permitted me to collect will be laid before +you when the subject shall be in a state for your consideration. + +Another important acquisition of territory has also been made since the +last session of Congress. The friendly tribe of Kaskaskia Indians, with +which we have never had a difference, reduced by the wars and wants of +savage life to a few individuals unable to defend themselves against the +neighboring tribes, has transferred its country to the United States, +reserving only for its members what is sufficient to maintain them in an +agricultural way. The considerations stipulated are that we shall extend +to them our patronage and protection and give them certain annual +aids in money, in implements of agriculture, and other articles of +their choice. This country, among the most fertile within our limits, +extending along the Mississippi from the mouth of the Illinois to and up +the Ohio, though not so necessary as a barrier since the acquisition of +the other bank, may yet be well worthy of being laid open to immediate +settlement, as its inhabitants may descend with rapidity in support of +the lower country should future circumstances expose that to foreign +enterprise. As the stipulations in this treaty also involve matters +within the competence of both Houses only, it will be laid before +Congress as soon as the Senate shall have advised its ratification. + +With many of the other Indian tribes improvements in agriculture +and household manufacture are advancing, and with all our peace and +friendship are established on grounds much firmer than heretofore. +The measure adopted of establishing trading houses among them and of +furnishing them necessaries in exchange for their commodities at such +moderate prices as leave no gain, but cover us from loss, has the most +conciliatory and useful effect on them, and is that which will best +secure their peace and good will. + +The small vessels authorized by Congress with a view to the +Mediterranean service have been sent into that sea, and will be able +more effectually to confine the Tripoline cruisers within their harbors +and supersede the necessity of convoy to our commerce in that quarter. +They will sensibly lessen the expenses of that service the ensuing year. + +A further knowledge of the ground in the northeastern and northwestern +angles of the United States has evinced that the boundaries established +by the treaty of Paris between the British territories and ours in those +parts were too imperfectly described to be susceptible of execution. +It has therefore been thought worthy of attention for preserving and +cherishing the harmony and useful intercourse subsisting between the +two nations to remove by timely arrangements what unfavorable incidents +might otherwise render a ground of future misunderstanding. A convention +has therefore been entered into which provides for a practicable +demarcation of those limits to the satisfaction of both parties. + +An account of the receipts and expenditures of the year ending the 30th +of September last, with the estimates for the service of the ensuing +year, will be laid before you by the Secretary of the Treasury so soon +as the receipts of the last quarter shall be returned from the more +distant States. It is already ascertained that the amount paid into the +Treasury for that year has been between $11,000,000 and $12,000,000, and +that the revenue accrued during the same term exceeds the sum counted on +as sufficient for our current expenses and to extinguish the public debt +within the period heretofore proposed. + +The amount of debt paid for the same year is about $3,100,000, exclusive +of interest, and making, with the payment of the preceding year, a +discharge of more than $8,500,000 of the principal of that debt, +besides the accruing interest; and there remain in the Treasury nearly +$6,000,000. Of these, $880,000 have been reserved for payment of the +first installment due under the British convention of January 8, 1802, +and two millions are what have been before mentioned as placed by +Congress under the power and accountability of the President toward the +price of New Orleans and other territories acquired, which, remaining +untouched, are still applicable to that object and go in diminution of +the sum to be funded for it. + +Should the acquisition of Louisiana be constitutionally confirmed and +carried into effect, a sum of nearly $13,000,000 will then be added to +our public debt, most of which is payable after fifteen years, before +which term the present existing debts will all be discharged by the +established operation of the sinking fund. When we contemplate the +ordinary annual augmentation of impost from increasing population and +wealth, the augmentation of the same revenue by its extension to the new +acquisition, and the economies which may still be introduced into our +public expenditures, I can not but hope that Congress in reviewing their +resources will find means to meet the intermediate interest of this +additional debt without recurring to new taxes, and applying to this +object only the ordinary progression of our revenue. Its extraordinary +increase in times of foreign war will be the proper and sufficient fund +for any measures of safety or precaution which that state of things may +render necessary in our neutral position. + +Remittances for the installments of our foreign debt having been found +practicable without loss, it has not been thought expedient to use the +power given by a former act of Congress of continuing them by reloans, +and of redeeming instead thereof equal sums of domestic debt, although +no difficulty was found in obtaining that accommodation. + +The sum of $50,000 appropriated by Congress for providing gunboats +remains unexpended. The favorable and peaceable turn of affairs on the +Mississippi rendered an immediate execution of that law unnecessary, +and time was desirable in order that the institution of that branch of +our force might begin on models the most approved by experience, The +same issue of events dispensed with a resort to the appropriation of +$1,500,000, contemplated for purposes which were effected by happier +means. + +We have seen with sincere concern the flames of war lighted up again +in Europe, and nations with which we have the most friendly and useful +relations engaged in mutual destruction. While we regret the miseries +in which we see others involved, let us bow with gratitude to that +kind Providence which, inspiring with wisdom and moderation our late +legislative councils while placed under the urgency of the greatest +wrongs, guarded us from hastily entering into the sanguinary contest and +left us only to look on and to pity its ravages. These will be heaviest +on those immediately engaged. Yet the nations pursuing peace will not +be exempt from all evil. In the course of this conflict let it be our +endeavor, as it is our interest and desire, to cultivate the friendship +of the belligerent nations by every act of justice and of innocent +kindness; to receive their armed vessels with hospitality from the +distresses of the sea, but to administer the means of annoyance to none; +to establish in our harbors such a police as may maintain law and order; +to restrain our citizens from embarking individually in a war in which +their country takes no part; to punish severely those persons, citizen +or alien, who shall usurp the cover of our flag for vessels not entitled +to it, infecting thereby with suspicion those of real Americans and +committing us into controversies for the redress of wrongs not our +own; to exact from every nation the observance toward our vessels and +citizens of those principles and practices which all civilized people +acknowledge; to merit the character of a just nation, and maintain +that of an independent one, preferring every consequence to insult and +habitual wrong. Congress will consider whether the existing laws enable +us efficaciously to maintain this course with our citizens in all places +and with others while within the limits of our jurisdiction, and will +give them the new modifications necessary for these objects. Some +contraventions of right have already taken place, both within our +jurisdictional limits and on the high seas. The friendly disposition of +the Governments from whose agents they have proceeded, as well as their +wisdom and regard for justice, leave us in reasonable expectation that +they will be rectified and prevented in future, and that no act will +be countenanced by them which threatens to disturb our friendly +intercourse. Separated by a wide ocean from the nations of Europe +and from the political interests which entangle them together, with +productions and wants which render our commerce and friendship useful to +them and theirs to us, it can not be the interest of any to assail us, +nor ours to disturb them. We should be most unwise, indeed, were we to +cast away the singular blessings of the position in which nature has +placed us, the opportunity she has endowed us with of pursuing, at a +distance from foreign contentions, the paths of industry, peace, and +happiness, of cultivating general friendship, and of bringing collisions +of interest to the umpirage of reason rather than of force. How +desirable, then, must it be in a Government like ours to see its +citizens adopt individually the views, the interests, and the conduct +which their country should pursue, divesting themselves of those +passions and partialities which tend to lessen useful friendships and to +embarrass and embroil us in the calamitous scenes of Europe. Confident, +fellow-citizens, that you will duly estimate the importance of neutral +dispositions toward the observance of neutral conduct, that you will +be sensible how much it is our duty to look on the bloody arena spread +before us with commiseration indeed, but with no other wish than to see +it closed, I am persuaded you will cordially cherish these dispositions +in all discussions among yourselves and in all communications with your +constituents; and I anticipate with satisfaction the measures of wisdom +which the great interests now committed to you will give _you_ an +opportunity of providing, and _myself_ that of approving and of +carrying into execution with the fidelity I owe to my country, + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +OCTOBER 17, 1803. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate_: + +In my message of this day to both Houses of Congress I explained the +circumstances which had led to the conclusion of conventions with France +for the cession of the Province of Louisiana to the United States. Those +conventions are now laid before you with such communications relating to +them as may assist in deciding whether you will advise and consent to +their ratification. + +The ratification of the First Consul of France is in the hands of his +chargé d'affaires here, to be exchanged for that of the United States +whensoever, before the 30th instant, it shall be in readiness. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +OCTOBER 21, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In my communication to you of the 17th instant I informed you that +conventions had been entered into with the Government of France for the +cession of Louisiana to the United States. These, with the advice and +consent of the Senate, having now been ratified and my ratification +exchanged for that of the First Consul of France in due form, they are +communicated to you for consideration in your legislative capacity. You +will observe that some important conditions can not be carried into +execution but with the aid of the Legislature, and that time presses +a decision on them without delay. + +The ulterior provisions, also suggested in the same communication, +for the occupation and government of the country will call for early +attention. Such information relative to its government as time and +distance have permitted me to obtain will be ready to be laid before you +within a few days; but as permanent arrangements for this object may +require time and deliberation, it is for your consideration whether you +will not forthwith make such temporary provisions for the preservation +in the meanwhile of order and tranquillity in the country as the case +may require. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +OCTOBER 24, 1803. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +I lay before you the convention signed on the 12th day of May last +between the United States and Great Britain for settling their +boundaries in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the United +States, which was mentioned in my general message of the 17th instant, +together with such papers relating thereto as may enable you to +determine whether you will advise and consent to its ratification. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +OCTOBER 31, 1803. + +_To the Senate of the United States of America_: + +I now lay before you the treaty mentioned im my general message at the +opening of the session as having been concluded with the Kaskaskia +Indians for the transfer of their country to us under certain +reservations and conditions. + +Progress having been made in the demarcation of Indian boundaries, I am +now able to communicate, to you a treaty with the Delawares, Shawanese, +Potawatamies, Miamis, Eel-rivers, Weeas, Kickapoos, Piankeshaws, and +Kaskaskias, establishing the boundaries of the territory around St. +Vincennes. + +Also a supplementary treaty with the Eel-rivers, Wyandots, Piankeshaws, +Kaskaskias, and Kickapoos, in confirmation of the fourth article of the +preceding treaty. + +Also a treaty with the Choctaws, describing and establishing our +demarcation of boundaries with them. + +Which several treaties are accompanied by the papers relating to them, +and are now submitted to the Senate for consideration whether they will +advise and consent to their ratification. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 4, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +By the copy now communicated of a letter from Captain Bainbridge, of +the _Philadelphia_ frigate, to our consul at Gibraltar, you will learn +that an act of hostility has been committed on a merchant vessel of the +United States by an armed ship of the Emperor of Morocco. This conduct +on the part of that power is without cause and without explanation. It +is fortunate that Captain Bainbridge fell in with and took the capturing +vessel and her prize, and I have the satisfaction to inform you that +about the date of this transaction such a force would be arriving in +the neighborhood of Gibraltar, both from the east and from the west, +as leaves less to be feared for our commerce from the suddenness of +the aggression. + +On the 4th of September the _Constitution_ frigate, Captain Preble, +with Mr. Lear on board, was within two days' sail of Gibraltar, where +the _Philadelphia_ would then be arrived with her prize, and such +explanations would probably be instituted as the state of things +required, and as might perhaps arrest the progress of hostilities. + +In the meanwhile it is for Congress to consider the provisional +authorities which may be necessary to restrain the depredations of +this power should they be continued, + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 14, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now communicate a digest of the information I have received relative +to Louisiana, which may be useful to the Legislature in providing for +the government of the country. A translation of the most important laws +in force in that province, now in press, shall be the subject of a +supplementary communication, with such further and material information +as may yet come to hand. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 24, 1803. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In conformity with the desire expressed in the resolution of the House +of Representatives of the 15th instant, I now lay before them copies of +such documents as are in possession of the Executive relative to the +arrest and confinement of Zachariah Cox by officers in the service of +the United States in the year 1798. From the nature of the transaction +some documents relative to it might have been expected from the War +Office; but if any ever existed there they were probably lost when the +office and its papers were consumed by fire. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 25, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The treaty with the Kaskaskia Indians being ratified with the advice +and consent of the Senate, it is now laid before both Houses in their +legislative capacity. It will inform them of the obligations which the +United States thereby contract, and particularly that of taking the +tribe under their future protection, and that the ceded country is +submitted to their immediate possession and disposal. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 29, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now communicate an appendix to the information heretofore given on +the subject of Louisiana. You will be sensible, from the face of these +papers, as well as of those to which they are a sequel, that they +are not and could not be official, but are furnished by different +individuals as the result of the best inquiries they had been able +to make, and now given as received from them, only digested under +heads to prevent repetitions. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 5, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I have the satisfaction to inform you that the act of hostility +mentioned in my message of the 4th of November to have been committed by +a cruiser of the Emperor of Morocco on a vessel of the United States has +been disavowed by the Emperor. All differences in consequence thereof +have been amicably adjusted, and the treaty of 1786 between this country +and that has been recognized and confirmed by the Emperor, each party +restoring to the other what had been detained or taken. I inclose the +Emperor's orders given on this occasion. + +The conduct of our officers generally who have had a part in these +transactions has merited entire approbation. + +The temperate and correct course pursued by our consul, Mr. Simpson, the +promptitude and energy of Commodore Preble, the efficacious cooperation +of Captains Rodgers and Campbell, of the returning squadron, the proper +decision of Captain Bainbridge that a vessel which had committed an open +hostility was of right to be detained for inquiry and consideration, +and the general zeal of the other officers and men are honorable facts +which I make known with pleasure. And to these I add what was indeed +transacted in another quarter--the gallant enterprise of Captain Rodgers +in destroying on the coast of Tripoli a corvette of that power of 22 +guns. + +I recommend to the consideration of Congress a just indemnification +for the interest acquired by the captors of the _Mishouda_ and +_Mirboha_, yielded by them for the public accommodation. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 5, 1803, + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +In compliance with the desire of the Senate expressed in their +resolution of the 22d of November, on the impressment of seamen in +the service of the United States by the agents of foreign nations, +I now lay before the Senate a letter from the Secretary of State with +a specification of the cases of which information has been received. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 21, 1803. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +On the 11th of January last I laid before the Senate, for their +consideration and advice, a convention with Spain on the subject of +indemnities for spoliations on our commerce committed by her subjects +during the late war, which convention is still before the Seriate. As +this instrument did not embrace French seizures and condemnations of +our vessels in the ports of Spain, for which we deemed the latter power +responsible, our minister at that Court was instructed to press for +an additional article, comprehending that branch of wrongs. I now +communicate what has since passed on that subject. The Senate will judge +whether the prospect it offers will justify a longer suspension of +that portion of indemnities conceded by Spain should she now take no +advantage of the lapse of the period for ratification. As the settlement +of the boundaries of Louisiana will call for new negotiations on our +receiving possession of that Province, the claims not obtained by the +convention now before the Senate may be incorporated into those +discussions. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 31, 1803. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before Congress the annual account of the fund established +for defraying the contingent charges of Government. No occasion having +arisen for making use of any part of it in the present year, the balance +of $18,560 unexpended at the end of the last year remains now in the +Treasury. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 16, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In execution of the act of the present session of Congress for taking +possession of Louisiana, as ceded to us by France, and for the temporary +government thereof, Governor Claiborne, of the Mississippi Territory, +and General Wilkinson were appointed commissioners to receive +possession. They proceeded with such regular troops as had been +assembled at Fort Adams from the nearest posts and with some militia of +the Mississippi Territory to New Orleans, To be prepared for anything +unexpected which might arise out of the transaction, a respectable +body of militia was ordered to be in readiness in the States of Ohio, +Kentucky, and Tennessee, and a part of those of Tennessee was moved +on to the Natchez. No occasion, however, arose for their sendees. Our +commissioners, on their arrival at New Orleans, found the Province +already delivered by the commissioners of Spain to that of France, who +delivered it over to them on the 20th day of December, as appears by +their declaratory act accompanying this. Governor Claiborne, being +duly invested with the powers heretofore exercised by the governor and +intendant of Louisiana, assumed the government on the same day, and for +the maintenance of law and order immediately issued the proclamation and +address now communicated. + +On this important acquisition, so favorable to the immediate interests +of our Western citizens, so auspicious to the peace and security of the +nation in general, which adds to our country territories so extensive +and fertile and to our citizens new brethren to partake of the blessings +of freedom and self-government, I offer to Congress and our country my +sincere congratulations, + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 24, 1804. + +_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + +I communicate for your information a letter just received from Governor +Claiborne, which may throw light on the subject of the government of +Louisiana, under contemplation of the Legislature. The paper being +original, a return is asked. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 16, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Information having been received some time ago that the public lands in +the neighborhood of Detroit required particular attention, the agent +appointed to transact business with the Indians in that quarter was +instructed to inquire into and report the situation of the titles +and occupation of the lands, private and public, in the neighboring +settlements. His report is now communicated, that the Legislature may +judge how far its interposition is necessary to quiet the legal titles, +confirm the equitable, to remove the past and prevent future intrusions +which have neither law nor justice for the basis. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 22, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate to Congress, for their information, a report of the +surveyor of the public buildings at Washington, stating what has been +done under the act of the last session concerning the city of Washington +on the Capitol and other public buildings, and the highway between them. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 29, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate, for the information of Congress, a letter stating certain +fraudulent practices for monopolizing lands in Louisiana, which may +perhaps require legislative provisions. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 20, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate to Congress a letter received from Captain Bainbridge, +commander of the _Philadelphia_ frigate, informing us of the wreck +of that vessel on the coast of Tripoli, and that himself, his officers +and men, had fallen into the hands of the Tripolitans. This accident +renders it expedient to increase our force and enlarge our expenses +in the Mediterranean beyond what the last appropriation for the naval +service contemplated. I recommend, therefore, to the consideration of +Congress such an addition to that appropriation as they may think the +exigency requires. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 22, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I lay before Congress the last returns of the militia of the United +States. Their incompleteness is much to be regretted, and its remedy +may at some future time be a subject worthy the attention of Congress. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +PROCLAMATION. + + +[From Annals of Congress, Eighth Congress, second session, 1234.] + +_To all whom these presents shall come_: + +Whereas by an act of Congress authority has been given to the President +of the United States, whenever he shall deem it expedient, to erect the +shores, waters, and inlets of the bay and river of Mobile, and of the +other rivers, creeks, inlets, and bays emptying into the Gulf of Mexico +east of the said river Mobile and west thereof to the Pascagoula, +inclusive, into a separate district for the collection of duties on +imports and tonnage; and to establish such place within the same as he +shall deem it expedient to be the port of entry and delivery for such +district; and to designate such other places within the same district, +not exceeding two, to be ports of delivery only: + +Now know ye that I, Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, +do hereby decide that all the above-mentioned shores, waters, inlets, +creeks, and rivers lying within the boundaries of the United States +shall constitute and form a separate district, to be denominated "the +district of Mobile;" and do also designate Fort Stoddert, within the +district aforesaid, to be the port of entry and delivery for the said +district. + +Given under my hand this 20th day of May, 1804. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +FOURTH ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +NOVEMBER 8, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +To a people, fellow-citizens, who sincerely desire the happiness and +prosperity of other nations; to those who justly calculate that their +own well-being is advanced by that of the nations with which they have +intercourse, it will be a satisfaction to observe that the war which +was lighted up in Europe a little before our last meeting has not yet +extended its flames to other nations, nor been marked by the calamities +which sometimes stain the footsteps of war. The irregularities, too, on +the ocean, which generally harass the commerce of neutral nations, have, +in distant parts, disturbed ours less than on former occasions; but in +the American seas they have been greater from peculiar causes, and even +within our harbors and jurisdiction infringements on the authority of +the laws have been committed which have called for serious attention. +The friendly conduct of the Governments from whose officers and subjects +these acts have proceeded, in other respects and in places more under +their observation and control, gives us confidence that our +representations on this subject will have been properly regarded. + +While noticing the irregularities committed on the ocean by others, +those on our own part should not be omitted nor left unprovided for. +Complaints have been received that persons residing within the United +States have taken on themselves to arm merchant vessels and to force a +commerce into certain ports and countries in defiance of the laws of +those countries. That individuals should undertake to wage private war, +independently of the authority of their country, can not be permitted in +a well-ordered society. Its tendency to produce aggression on the laws +and rights of other nations and to endanger the peace of our own is so +obvious that I doubt not you will adopt measures for restraining it +effectually in future. + +Soon after the passage of the act of the last session authorizing the +establishment of a district and port of entry on the waters of the +Mobile we learnt that its object was misunderstood on the part of +Spain. Candid explanations were immediately given and assurances +that, reserving our claims in that quarter as a subject of discussion +and arrangement with Spain, no act was meditated in the meantime +inconsistent with the peace and friendship existing between the two +nations, and that conformably to these intentions would be the execution +of the law. That Government had, however, thought proper to suspend the +ratification of the convention of 1802; but the explanations which would +reach them soon after, and still more the confirmation of them by +the tenor of the instrument establishing the port and district, may +reasonably be expected to replace them in the dispositions and views +of the whole subject which originally dictated the convention. + +I have the satisfaction to inform you that the objections which had +been urged by that Government against the validity of our title to the +country of Louisiana have been withdrawn, its exact limits, however, +remaining still to be settled between us; and to this is to be added +that, having prepared and delivered the stock created in execution of +the convention of Paris of April 30, 1803, in consideration of the +cession of that country, we have received from the Government of France +an acknowledgment, in due form, of the fulfillment of that stipulation. + +With the nations of Europe in general our friendship and intercourse +are undisturbed, and from the Governments of the belligerent powers +especially we continue to receive those friendly manifestations which +are justly due to an honest neutrality and to such good offices +consistent with that as we have opportunities of rendering. + +The activity and success of the small force employed in the +Mediterranean in the early part of the present year, the reenforcements +sent into that sea, and the energy of the officers having command in +the several vessels will, I trust, by the sufferings of war, reduce the +barbarians of Tripoli to the desire of peace on proper terms. Great +injury, however, ensues to ourselves, as well as to others interested, +from the distance to which prizes must be brought for adjudication and +from the impracticability of bringing hither such as are not seaworthy. + +The Bey of Tunis having made requisitions unauthorized by our treaty, +their rejection has produced from him some expressions of discontent. +But to those who expect us to calculate whether a compliance with unjust +demands will not cost us less than a war we must leave as a question of +calculation for them also whether to retire from unjust demands will +not cost them less than a war. We can do to each other very sensible +injuries by war, but the mutual advantages of peace make that the best +interest of both. + +Peace and intercourse with the other powers on the same coast continue +on the footing on which they are established by treaty. + +In pursuance of the act providing for the temporary government of +Louisiana, the necessary officers for the Territory of Orleans were +appointed in due time to commence the exercise of their functions on +the 1st day of October. The distance, however, of some of them and +indispensable previous arrangements may have retarded its commencement +in some of its parts. The form of government thus provided having been +considered but as temporary, and open to such future improvements as +further information of the circumstances of our brethren there might +suggest, it will of course be subject to your consideration. + +In the district of Louisiana it has been thought best to adopt the +division into subordinate districts which had been established under its +former government. These being five in number, a commanding officer has +been appointed to each, according to the provisions of the law, and so +soon as they can be at their stations that district will also be in its +due state of organization. In the meantime their places are supplied by +the officers before commanding there. And the functions of the governor +and judges of Indiana having commenced, the government, we presume, is +proceeding in its new form. The lead mines in that district offer so +rich a supply of that metal as to merit attention. The report now +communicated will inform you of their state and of the necessity of +immediate inquiry into their occupation and titles. + +With the Indian tribes established within our newly acquired limits, +I have deemed it necessary to open conferences for the purpose of +establishing a good understanding and neighborly relations between us. +So far as we have yet learned, we have reason to believe that their +dispositions are generally favorable and friendly; and with these +dispositions on their part, we have in our own hands means which can +not fail us for preserving their peace and friendship. By pursuing +an uniform course of justice toward them, by aiding them in all the +improvements which may better their condition, and especially by +establishing a commerce on terms which shall be advantageous to them and +only not losing to us, and so regulated as that no incendiaries of our +own or any other nation may be permitted to disturb the natural effects +of our just and friendly offices, we may render ourselves so necessary +to their comfort and prosperity that the protection of our citizens +from their disorderly members will become their interest and their +voluntary care. Instead, therefore, of an augmentation of military +force proportioned to our extension of frontier, I propose a moderate +enlargement of the capital employed in that commerce as a more +effectual, economical, and humane instrument for preserving peace and +good neighborhood with them. + +On this side the Mississippi an important relinquishment of native title +has been received from the Delawares. That tribe, desiring to extinguish +in their people the spirit of hunting and to convert superfluous lands +into the means of improving what they retain, has ceded to us all the +country between the Wabash and Ohio south of and including the road from +the rapids toward Vincennes, for which they are to receive annuities in +animals and implements for agriculture and in other necessaries. This +acquisition is important, not only for its extent and fertility, but as +fronting 300 miles on the Ohio, and near half that on the Wabash. The +produce of the settled country descending those rivers will no longer +pass in review of the Indian frontier but in a small portion, and, with +the cession heretofore made by the Kaskaskias, nearly consolidates our +possessions north of the Ohio, in a very respectable breadth--from +Lake Erie to the Mississippi. The Piankeshaws having some claim to the +country ceded by the Delawares, it has been thought best to quiet that +by fair purchase also. So soon as the treaties on this subject shall +have received their constitutional sanctions they shall be laid before +both Houses. + +The act of Congress of February 28, 1803, for building and employing +a number of gunboats, is now in a course of execution to the extent +there provided for. The obstacle to naval enterprise which vessels of +this construction offer for our seaport towns, their utility toward +supporting within our waters the authority of the laws, the promptness +with which they will be manned by the seamen and militia of the place +in the moment they are wanting, the facility of their assembling from +different parts of the coast to any point where they are required in +greater force than ordinary, the economy of their maintenance and +preservation from decay when not in actual service, and the competence +of our finances to this defensive provision without any new burthen are +considerations which will have due weight with Congress in deciding +on the expediency of adding to their number from year to year, as +experience shall test their utility, until all our important harbors, +by these and auxiliary means, shall be secured against insult and +opposition to the laws. + +No circumstance has arisen since your last session which calls for any +augmentation of our regular military force. Should any improvement occur +in the militia system, that will be always seasonable. + +Accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the last year, with +estimates for the ensuing one, will as usual be laid before you. + +The state of our finances continues to fulfill our expectations. Eleven +millions and a half of dollars, received in the course of the year +ending the 30th of September last, have enabled us, after meeting all +the ordinary expenses of the year, to pay upward of $3,600,000 of the +public debt, exclusive of interest. This payment, with those of the +two preceding years, has extinguished upward of twelve millions of the +principal and a greater sum of interest within that period, and by a +proportionate diminution of interest renders already sensible the effect +of the growing sum yearly applicable to the discharge of the principal. + +It is also ascertained that the revenue accrued during the last year +exceeds that of the preceding, and the probable receipts of the ensuing +year may safely be relied on as sufficient, with the sum already in the +Treasury, to meet all the current demands of the year, to discharge +upward of three millions and a half of the engagements incurred under +the British and French conventions, and to advance in the further +redemption of the funded debt as rapidly as had been contemplated. +These, fellow-citizens, are the principal matters which I have thought +it necessary at this time to communicate for your consideration and +attention. Some others will be laid before you in the course of the +session; but in the discharge of the great duties confided to you by +our country you will take a broader view of the field of legislation. +Whether the great interests of agriculture, manufactures, commerce, or +navigation can within the pale of your constitutional powers be aided +in any of their relations; whether laws are provided in all cases where +they are wanting; whether those provided are exactly what they should +be; whether any abuses take place in their administration, or in that of +the public revenues; whether the organization of the public agents or of +the public force is perfect in all its parts; in fine, whether anything +can be done to advance the general good, are questions within the limits +of your functions which will necessarily occupy your attention. In these +and all other matters which you in your wisdom may propose for the good +of our country you may count with assurance on my hearty cooperation and +faithful execution. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +November 15, 1804. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +I now lay before you a treaty, entered into on the 18th day of August of +the present year, between the United States on one part and the Delaware +Indians on the other, for the extinguishment of their title to a tract +of country between the Ohio and Wabash rivers. + +And another of the 27th day of the same month, between the United States +and the Piankeshaws, for a confirmation of the same by the latter, +together with a letter from Governor Harrison on the same subject; which +treaties are submitted for your advice and consent. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 15, 1804. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Agreeably to your resolution of the 9th instant, I now lay before you a +statement of the circumstances attending the destruction of the frigate +_Philadelphia_, with the names of the officers and the number of men +employed on the occasion, to which I have to add that Lieutenant Decatur +was thereupon advanced to be a captain in the Navy of the United States. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 30, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before you copies of the treaties concluded with the Delaware +and Piankeshaw Indians for the extinguishment of their title to the +lands therein described, and I recommend to the consideration of +Congress the making provision by law for carrying them into execution. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 13. 1804. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +I present for your advice a treaty entered into on behalf of the United +States with the Creek Indians for the extinguishment of their right in +certain lands in the forks of Oconee and Okmulgee rivers, within the +State of Georgia. For the purpose of enabling you to form a satisfactory +judgment on the subject, it is accompanied with the instructions of +1802, April 12, to James Wilkinson, Benjamin Hawkins, and Andrew +Pickens, commissioners; those of 1803, May 5, to James Wilkinson, +Benjamin Hawkins, and Robert Anderson, commissioners, and those of 1804, +April 2, to Benjamin Hawkins, sole commissioner. The negotiations for +obtaining the whole of the lands between the Oconee and Okmulgee have +now been continued through three successive seasons under the original +instructions and others supplementary to them given from time to time, +as circumstances required, and the unity of the negotiation has been +preserved not only by the subject, but by continuing Colonel Hawkins +always one of the commissioners, and latterly the sole one. The extent +of the cession to be obtained being uncertain, the limitation of price +was what should be thought _reasonable according to the usual rate of +compensation_. The commissioner has been induced to go beyond this +limit probably by the just attentions due to the strong interest which +the State of Georgia feels in making this particular acquisition, and by +a despair of procuring it on more reasonable terms from a tribe which +is one of those most fixed in the policy of holding fast their lands. +To this may be added that if, by an alteration in the first article, +instead of giving them stock which may be passed into other hands and +render them the prey of speculators, an annuity shall be paid them in +this case, as has hitherto been practiced in all similar cases, the +price of these lands will become a pledge and guaranty for our future +peace with this important tribe, and eventually an indemnity for the +breach of it. + +On the whole, I rest with entire satisfaction on the wisdom and counsel +of those whose sanctions the Constitution has rendered necessary to the +final validity of this act. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 31, 1804. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The inclosed letter, written from Malta by Richard O'Brien, our late +consul at Algiers, giving some details of transactions before Tripoli, +is communicated for the information of Congress. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 31, 1804. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +Most of the Indians residing within our northern boundary on this +side of the Mississippi receiving from us annual aids in money and +necessaries, it was a subject of complaint with the Sacs that they +received nothing and were connected with us by no treaty. As they owned +the country in the neighborhood of our settlements of Kaskaskia and St. +Louis, it was thought expedient to engage their friendship, and Governor +Harrison was accordingly instructed in June last to propose to them an +annuity of $500 or $600, stipulating in return an adequate cession of +territory and an exact definition of boundaries. The Sacs and Foxes +acting generally as one nation, and coming forward together, he found +it necessary to add an annuity for the latter tribe also, enlarging +proportionably the cession of territory, which was accordingly done by +the treaty now communicated, of November the 3d, with those two tribes. + +This cession, giving us a perfect title to such a breadth of country on +the eastern side of the Mississippi, with a command of the Ouisconsin, +strengthens our means of retaining exclusive commerce with the Indians +on the western side of the Mississippi--a right indispensable to the +policy of governing those Indians by commerce rather than by arms. + +The treaty is now submitted to the Senate for their advice and consent. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 31, 1805. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In compliance with the desire of the House of Representatives, expressed +in their resolution of yesterday, I have to inform them that by a letter +of the 30th of May last from the Secretary of War to Samuel Hammond, a +member of the House, it was proposed to him to accept a commission of +colonel-commandant for the district of Louisiana when the new government +there should commence. By a letter of the 30th of June he signified a +willingness to accept, but still more definitively by one of October 26, +a copy of which is therefore now communicated. A commission had been +made out for him bearing date the ist day of October last, and forwarded +before the receipt of his letter of October 26. No later communication +has been received from him, nor is anything later known of his +movements. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 1, 1805. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +For some weeks past I have had reason to expect by every mail from New +Orleans information which would have fully met the views of the House of +Representatives, expressed in their resolution of December 31, on the +subject of a post-road from the city of Washington to New Orleans; but +this being not yet received, I think it my duty without further delay to +communicate to the House the information I possess, however imperfect. + +Isaac Briggs, one of the surveyors-general of the United States, being +about to return in July last to his station at Natchez, and apprised of +the anxiety existing to have a practicable road explored for forwarding +the mail to New Orleans without crossing the mountains, offered his +services voluntarily to return by the route contemplated, taking as +he should go such observations of longitude and latitude as would +enable him to delineate it exactly, and by protraction to show of what +shortenings it would admit, The offer was accepted and he was furnished +with an accurate sextant for his observations. The route proposed was +from Washington by Fredericksburg, Cartersville, Lower Sauratown, +Salisbury, Franklin Court-House in Georgia, Tuckabachee, Fort Stoddert, +and the mouth of Pearl River to New Orleans. It is believed he followed +this route generally, deviating at times only for special purposes, and +returning again into it. His letters, herewith communicated, will +shew his opinion to have been, after completing his journey, that the +practicable distance between Washington and New Orleans will be a little +over 1,000 miles. He expected to forward his map and special report +within one week from the date of his last letter, but a letter of +December 10, from another person, informs me he had been unwell, but +would forward them within a week from that time. So soon as they shall +be received they shall be communicated to the House of Representatives. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 5, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The Secretary of State has lately received a note from the Danish chargé +d'affaires, claiming, _in the name of his Government_, restitution +in the case of the brig _Henrich_, communicated to Congress at a +former session, in which note were transmitted sundry documents chiefly +relating to the value and neutral character of the vessel, and to the +question whether the judicial proceedings were instituted and conducted +without the concurrence of the captain of the _Henrich_. As these +documents appear to form a necessary appendage to those already before +Congress, and throw additional light on the subject, I transmit copies +of them herewith. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 13, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In the message to Congress at the opening of the present session I +informed them that treaties had been entered into with the Delaware and +Piankeshaw Indians for the purchase of their right to certain lands on +the Ohio. I have since received another, entered into with the Sacs and +Foxes, for a portion of country on both sides of the river Mississippi. +These treaties, having been advised and consented to by the Senate, have +accordingly been ratified, but as they involve conditions which require +legislative provision, they are now submitted to both branches for +consideration. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 20, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate, for the information of Congress, a letter of September 18 +from Commodore Preble, giving a detailed account of the transactions of +the vessels under his command from July the 9th to the 10th of September +last past. + +The energy and judgment displayed by this excellent officer through the +whole course of the service lately confided to him and the zeal and +valor of his officers and men in the several enterprises executed by +them can not fail to give high satisfaction to Congress and their +country, of whom they have deserved well. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 28, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United +States, according to the returns last received from the several States. +It will be perceived that some of these are not of recent dates, and +that from the States of Maryland, Delaware, and Tennessee no returns are +stated. As far as appears from our records, none were ever rendered from +either of these States. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 28, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now render to Congress the account of the fund established by the act +of May 1, 1802, for defraying the contingent charges of Government. No +occasion having arisen for making use of any part of the balance of +$18,560 unexpended on the 31st day of December, 1803, when the last +account was rendered by message, that balance has been carried to the +credit of the surplus fund. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS. + + +Proceeding, fellow-citizens, to that qualification which the +Constitution requires before my entrance on the charge again conferred +on me, it is my duty to express the deep sense I entertain of this new +proof of confidence from my fellow-citizens at large, and the zeal with +which it inspires me so to conduct myself as may best satisfy their just +expectations. + +On taking this station on a former occasion I declared the principles +on which I believed it my duty to administer the affairs of our +Commonwealth. My conscience tells me I have on every occasion acted +up to that declaration according to its obvious import and to the +understanding of every candid mind. + +In the transaction of your foreign affairs we have endeavored to +cultivate the friendship of all nations, and especially of those with +which we have the most important relations. We have clone them justice +on all occasions, favored where favor was lawful, and cherished mutual +interests and intercourse on fair and equal terms. We are firmly +convinced, and we act on that conviction, that with nations as with +individuals our interests soundly calculated will ever be found +inseparable from our moral duties, and history bears witness to the +fact that a just nation is trusted on its word when recourse is had +to armaments and wars to bridle others. + +At home, fellow-citizens, you best know whether we have done well or +ill. The suppression of unnecessary offices, of useless establishments +and expenses, enabled us to discontinue our internal taxes. These, +covering our land with officers and opening our doors to their +intrusions, had already begun that process of domiciliary vexation which +once entered is scarcely to be restrained from reaching successively +every article of property and produce. If among these taxes some minor +ones fell which had not been inconvenient, it was because their amount +would not have paid the officers who collected them, and because, if +they had any merit, the State authorities might adopt them instead of +others less approved. + +The remaining revenue on the consumption of foreign articles is paid +chiefly by those who can afford to add foreign luxuries to domestic +comforts, being collected on our seaboard and frontiers only, and, +incorporated with the transactions of our mercantile citizens, it may be +the pleasure and the pride of an American to ask, What farmer, what +mechanic, what laborer ever sees a taxgatherer of the United States? +These contributions enable us to support the current expenses of the +Government, to fulfill contracts with foreign nations, to extinguish the +native right of soil within our limits, to extend those limits, and to +apply such a surplus to our public debts as places at a short day their +final redemption, and that redemption once effected the revenue thereby +liberated may, by a just repartition of it among the States and a +corresponding amendment of the Constitution, be applied _in time +of peace_ to rivers, canals, roads, arts, manufactures, education, +and other great objects within each State. _In time of war_, if +injustice by ourselves or others must sometimes produce war, increased +as the same revenue will be by increased population and consumption, and +aided by other resources reserved for that crisis, it may meet within +the year all the expenses of the year without encroaching on the rights +of future generations by burthening them with the debts of the past. War +will then be but a suspension of useful works, and a return to a state +of peace a return to the progress of improvement. + +I have said, fellow-citizens, that the income reserved had enabled us to +extend our limits, but that extension may possibly pay for itself before +we are called on, and in the meantime may keep down the accruing +interest; in all events, it will replace the advances we shall have +made. I know that the acquisition of Louisiana has been disapproved by +some from a candid apprehension that the enlargement of our territory +would endanger its union. But who can limit the extent to which the +federative principle may operate effectively? The larger our association +the less will it be shaken by local passions; and in any view is it not +better that the opposite bank of the Mississippi should be settled by +our own brethren and children than by strangers of another family? With +which should we be most likely to live in harmony and friendly +intercourse? + +In matters of religion I have considered that its free exercise is +placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the General +Government. I have therefore undertaken on no occasion to prescribe +the religious exercises suited to it, but have left them, as the +Constitution found them, under the direction and discipline of the +church or state authorities acknowledged by the several religious +societies. + +The aboriginal inhabitants of these countries I have regarded with the +commiseration their history inspires. Endowed with the faculties and the +rights of men, breathing an ardent love of liberty and independence, and +occupying a country which left them no desire but to be undisturbed, the +stream of overflowing population from other regions directed itself on +these shores; without power to divert or habits to contend against +it, they have been overwhelmed by the current or driven before it; +now reduced within limits too narrow for the hunter's state, humanity +enjoins us to teach them agriculture and the domestic arts; to encourage +them to that industry which alone can enable them to maintain their +place in existence and to prepare them in time for that state of society +which to bodily comforts adds the improvement of the mind and morals. We +have therefore liberally furnished them with the implements of husbandry +and household use; we have placed among them instructors in the arts of +first necessity, and they are covered with the aegis of the law against +aggressors from among ourselves. + +But the endeavors to enlighten them on the fate which awaits their +present course of life, to induce them to exercise their reason, follow +its dictates, and change their pursuits with the change of circumstances +have powerful obstacles to encounter; they are combated by the habits +of their bodies, prejudices of their minds, ignorance, pride, and the +influence of interested and crafty individuals among them who feel +themselves something in the present order of things and fear to become +nothing in any other. These persons inculcate a sanctimonious reverence +for the customs of their ancestors; that whatsoever they did must be +done through all time; that reason is a false guide, and to advance +under its counsel in their physical, moral, or political condition is +perilous innovation; that their duty is to remain as their Creator made +them, ignorance being safety and knowledge full of danger; in short, +my friends, among them also is seen the action and counteraction of +good sense and of bigotry; they too have their antiphilosophists who +find an interest in keeping things in their present state, who dread +reformation, and exert all their faculties to maintain the ascendency of +habit over the duty of improving our reason and obeying its mandates. + +In giving these outlines I do not mean, fellow-citizens, to arrogate to +myself the merit of the measures. That is due, in the first place, to +the reflecting character of our citizens at large, who, by the weight of +public opinion, influence and strengthen the public measures. It is due +to the sound discretion with which they select from among themselves +those to whom they confide the legislative duties. It is due to the zeal +and wisdom of the characters thus selected, who lay the foundations of +public happiness in wholesome laws, the execution of which alone remains +for others, and it is due to the able and faithful auxiliaries, whose +patriotism has associated them with me in the executive functions. + +During this course of administration, and in order to disturb it, +the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with +whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of +an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be +regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap +its safety. They might, indeed, have been corrected by the wholesome +punishments reserved to and provided by the laws of the several States +against falsehood and defamation, but public duties more urgent press on +the time of public servants, and the offenders have therefore been left +to find their punishment in the public indignation. + +Nor was it uninteresting to the world that an experiment should be +fairly and fully made, whether freedom of discussion, unaided by power, +is not sufficient for the propagation and protection of truth--whether +a government conducting itself in the true spirit of its constitution, +with zeal and purity, and doing no act which it would be unwilling +the whole world should witness, can be written down by falsehood and +defamation. The experiment has been tried: you have witnessed the scene; +our fellow-citizens looked on, cool and collected; they saw the latent +source from which these outrages proceeded; they gathered around their +public functionaries, and when the Constitution called them to the +decision by suffrage, they pronounced their verdict, honorable to those +who had served them and consolatory to the friend of man who believes +that he may be trusted with the control of his own affairs. + +No inference is here intended that the laws provided by the States +against false and defamatory publications should not be enforced; he +who has time renders a service to public morals and public tranquillity +in reforming these abuses by the salutary coercions of the law; but +the experiment is noted to prove that, since truth and reason have +maintained their ground against false opinions in league with false +facts, the press, confined to truth, needs no other legal restraint; +the public judgment will correct false reasonings and opinions on a +full hearing of all parties; and no other definite line can be drawn +between the inestimable liberty of the press and its demoralizing +licentiousness. If there be still improprieties which this rule would +not restrain, its supplement must be sought in the censorship of public +opinion. + +Contemplating the union of sentiment now manifested so generally as +auguring harmony and happiness to our future course, I offer to our +country sincere congratulations. With those, too, not yet rallied to +the same point the disposition to do so is gaining strength; facts are +piercing through the veil drawn over them, and our doubting brethren +will at length see that the mass of their fellow-citizens with whom they +can not yet resolve to act as to principles and measures, think as they +think and desire what they desire; that our wish as well as theirs is +that the public efforts may be directed honestly to the public good, +that peace be cultivated, civil and religious liberty unassailed, law +and order preserved, equality of rights maintained, and that state of +property, equal or unequal, which results to every man from his own +industry or that of his father's. When satisfied of these views it is +not in human nature that they should not approve and support them. In +the meantime let us cherish them with patient affection, let us do them +justice, and more than justice, in all competitions of interest, and we +need not doubt that truth, reason, and their own interests will at +length prevail, will gather them into the fold of their country, and +will complete that entire union of opinion which gives to a nation the +blessing of harmony and the benefit of all its strength. + +I shall now enter on the duties to which my fellow-citizens have again +called me, and shall proceed in the spirit of those principles which +they have approved. I fear not that any motives of interest may lead me +astray; I am sensible of no passion which could seduce me knowingly from +the path of justice, but the weaknesses of human nature and the limits +of my own understanding will produce errors of judgment sometimes +injurious to your interests. I shall need, therefore, all the indulgence +which I have heretofore experienced from my constituents; the want of +it will certainly not lessen with increasing years. I shall need, too, +the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our fathers, as +Israel of old, from their native land and planted them in a country +flowing with all the necessaries and comforts of life; who has covered +our infancy with His providence and our riper years with His wisdom and +power, and to whose goodness I ask you to join in supplications with +me that He will so enlighten the minds of your servants, guide their +councils, and prosper their measures that whatsoever they do shall +result in your good, and shall secure to you the peace, friendship, +and approbation of all nations. + +MARCH 4, 1805. + + + + +FIFTH ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +DECEMBER 3, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_. + +At a moment when the nations of Europe are in commotion and arming +against each other, and when those with whom we have principal +intercourse are engaged in the general contest, and when the countenance +of some of them toward our peaceable country threatens that even that +may not be unaffected by what is passing on the general theater, a +meeting of the representatives of the nation in both Houses of Congress +has become more than usually desirable. Coming from every section of our +country, they bring with them the sentiments and the information of the +whole, and will be enabled to give a direction to the public affairs +which the will and the wisdom of the whole will approve and support. + +In taking a view of the state of our country we in the first place +notice the late affliction of two of our cities under the fatal fever +which in latter times has occasionally visited our shores. Providence in +His goodness gave it an early termination on this occasion and lessened +the number of victims which have usually fallen before it. In the course +of the several visitations by this disease it has appeared that it +is strictly local, incident to cities and on the tide waters only, +incommunicable in the country either by persons under the disease or by +goods carried from diseased places; that its access is with the autumn +and it disappears with the early frosts. These restrictions within +narrow limits of time and space give security even to our maritime +cities during three-fourths of the year, and to the country always. +Although from these facts it appears unnecessary, yet to satisfy the +fears of foreign nations and cautions on their part not to be complained +of in a danger whose limits are yet unknown to them I have strictly +enjoined on the officers at the head of the customs to certify with +exact truth for every vessel sailing for a foreign port the state of +health respecting this fever which prevails at the place from which she +sails. Under every motive from character and duty to certify the truth, +I have no doubt they have faithfully executed this injunction. Much real +injury has, however, been sustained from a propensity to identify with +this endemic and to call by the same name fevers of very different +kinds, which have been known at all times and in all countries, and +never have been placed among those deemed contagious. As we advance in +our knowledge of this disease, as facts develop the source from which +individuals receive it, the State authorities charged with the care of +the public health, and Congress with that of the general commerce, will +become able to regulate with effect their respective functions in these +departments. The burthen of quarantines is felt at home as well as +abroad; their efficacy merits examination. Although the health laws of +the States should be found to need no present revisal by Congress, yet +commerce claims that their attention be ever awake to them. + +Since our last meeting the aspect of our foreign relations has +considerably changed. Our coasts have been infested and our harbors +watched by private armed vessels, some of them without commissions, +some with illegal commissions, others with those of legal form, but +committing piratical acts beyond the authority of their commissions. +They have captured in the very entrance of our harbors, as well as +on the high seas, not only the vessels of our friends coming to trade +with us, but our own also. They have carried them off under pretense of +legal adjudication, but not daring to approach a court of justice, they +have plundered and sunk them by the way or in obscure places where no +evidence could arise against them, maltreated the crews, and abandoned +them in boats in the open sea or on desert shores without food or +covering. These enormities appearing to be unreached by any control of +their sovereigns, I found it necessary to equip a force to cruise within +our own seas, to arrest all vessels of these descriptions found hovering +on our coasts within the limits of the Gulf Stream and to bring the +offenders in for trial as pirates. + +The same system of hovering on our coasts and harbors under color of +seeking enemies has been also carried on by public armed ships to the +great annoyance and oppression of our commerce. New principles, too, +have been interpolated into the law of nations, founded neither in +justice nor the usage or acknowledgment of nations. According to these +a belligerent takes to itself a commerce with its own enemy which it +denies to a neutral on the ground of its aiding that enemy in the war; +but reason revolts at such an inconsistency, and the neutral having +equal right with the belligerent to decide the question, the interests +of our constituents and the duty of maintaining the authority of reason, +the only umpire between just nations, impose on us the obligation of +providing an effectual and determined opposition to a doctrine so +injurious to the rights of peaceable nations. Indeed, the confidence +we ought to have in the justice of others still countenances the hope +that a sounder view of those rights will of itself induce from every +belligerent a more correct observance of them. + +With Spain our negotiations for a settlement of differences have not +had a satisfactory issue. Spoliations during a former war, for which +she had formally acknowledged herself responsible, have been refused +to be compensated but on conditions affecting other claims in no wise +connected with them. Yet the same practices are renewed in the present +war and are already of great amount. On the Mobile, our commerce passing +through that river continues to be obstructed by arbitrary duties and +vexatious searches. Propositions for adjusting amicably the boundaries +of Louisiana have not been acceded to. While, however, the right is +unsettled, we have avoided changing the state of things by taking new +posts or strengthening ourselves in the disputed territories, in the +hope that the other power would not by a contrary conduct oblige us to +meet their example and endanger conflicts of authority the issue of +which may not be easily controlled. But in this hope we have now reason +to lessen our confidence. Inroads have been recently made into the +Territories of Orleans and the Mississippi, our citizens have been +seized and their property plundered in the very parts of the former +which had been actually delivered up by Spain, and this by the regular +officers and soldiers of that Government. I have therefore found it +necessary at length to give orders to our troops on that frontier to be +in readiness to protect our citizens, and to repel by arms any similar +aggressions in future. Other details necessary for your full information +of the state of things between this country and that shall be the +subject of another communication. + +In reviewing these injuries from some of the belligerent powers the +moderation, the firmness, and the wisdom of the Legislature will all be +called into action. We ought still to hope that time and a more correct +estimate of interest as well as of character will produce the justice +we are bound to expect. But should any nation deceive itself by false +calculations, and disappoint that expectation, we must join in the +unprofitable contest of trying which party can do the other the most +harm. Some of these injuries may perhaps admit a peaceable remedy. Where +that is competent it is always the most desirable. But some of them are +of a nature to be met by force only, and all of them may lead to it. +I can not, therefore, but recommend such preparations as circumstances +call for. The first object is to place our seaport towns out of the +danger of insult. Measures have been already taken for furnishing them +with heavy cannon for the service of such land batteries as may make a +part of their defense against armed vessels approaching them. In aid of +these it is desirable we should have a competent number of gunboats, and +the number, to be competent, must be considerable. If immediately begun, +they may be in readiness for service at the opening of the next season. +Whether it will be necessary to augment our land forces will be decided +by occurrences probably in the course of your session. In the meantime +you will consider whether it would not be expedient for a state of peace +as well as of war so to organize or class the militia as would enable +us on any sudden emergency to call for the services of the younger +portions, unencumbered with the old and those having families. Upward +of 300,000 able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 26 years, which +the last census shews we may now count within our limits, will furnish +a competent number for offense or defense in any point where they may +be wanted, and will give time for raising regular forces after the +necessity of them shall become certain; and the reducing to the early +period of life all its active service can not but be desirable to our +younger citizens of the present as well as future times, inasmuch as it +engages to them in more advanced age a quiet and undisturbed repose in +the bosom of their families. I can not, then, but earnestly recommend +to your early consideration the expediency of so modifying our militia +system as, by a separation of the more active part from that which is +less so, we may draw from it when necessary an efficient corps fit for +real and active service, and to be called to it in regular rotation. + +Considerable provision has been made under former authorities from +Congress of materials for the construction of ships of war of 74 guns. +These materials are on hand subject to the further will of the +Legislature. + +An immediate prohibition of the exportation of arms and ammunition is +also submitted to your determination. + +Turning from these unpleasant views of violence and wrong, I +congratulate you on the liberation of our fellow-citizens who were +stranded on the coast of Tripoli and made prisoners of war. In a +government bottomed on the will of all the life and liberty of every +individual citizen become interesting to all. In the treaty, therefore, +which has concluded our warfare with that State an article for the +ransom of our citizens has been agreed to. An operation by land by a +small band of our countrymen and others, engaged for the occasion in +conjunction with the troops of the ex-Bashaw of that country, gallantly +conducted by our late consul, Eaton, and their successful enterprise +on the city of Derne, contributed doubtless to the impression which +produced peace, and the conclusion of this prevented opportunities of +which the officers and men of our squadron destined for Tripoli would +have availed themselves to emulate the acts of valor exhibited by +their brethren in the attack of the last year. Reflecting with high +satisfaction on the distinguished bravery displayed whenever occasions +permitted in the late Mediterranean service, I think it would be an +useful encouragement as well as a just reward to make an opening for +some present promotion by enlarging our peace establishment of captains +and lieutenants. + +With Tunis some misunderstandings have arisen not yet sufficiently +explained, but friendly discussions with their ambassador recently +arrived and a mutual disposition to do whatever is just and reasonable +can not fail of dissipating these, so that we may consider our peace on +that coast, generally, to be on as sound a footing as it has been at any +preceding time. Still, it will not be expedient to withdraw immediately +the whole of our force from that sea. + +The law providing for a naval peace establishment fixes the number of +frigates which shall be kept in constant service in time of peace, and +prescribes that they shall be manned by not more than two-thirds of +their complement of seamen and ordinary seamen. Whether a frigate may +be trusted to two-thirds only of her proper complement of men must +depend on the nature of the service on which she is ordered; that may +sometimes, for her safety as well as to insure her object, require her +fullest complement. In adverting to this subject Congress will perhaps +consider whether the best limitation on the Executive discretion in +this case would not be by the number of seamen which may be employed in +the whole service rather than by the number of the vessels. Occasions +oftener arise for the employment of small than of large vessels, and it +would lessen risk as well as expense to be authorized to employ them of +preference. The limitation suggested by the number of seamen would admit +a selection of vessels best adapted to the service. + +Our Indian neighbors are advancing, many of them with spirit, and +others beginning to engage in the pursuits of agriculture and household +manufacture. They are becoming sensible that the earth yields +subsistence with less labor and more certainty than the forest, and find +it their interest from time to time to dispose of parts of their surplus +and waste lands for the means of improving those they occupy and of +subsisting their families while they are preparing their farms. Since +your last session the Northern tribes have sold to us the lands between +the Connecticut Reserve and the former Indian boundary and those on the +Ohio from the same boundary to the rapids and for a considerable depth +inland. The Chickasaws and Cherokees have sold us the country between +and adjacent to the two districts of Tennessee, and the Creeks the +residue of their lands in the fork of Ocmulgee up to the Ulcofauhatche. +The three former purchases are important, inasmuch as they consolidate +disjoined parts of our settled country and render their intercourse +secure; and the second particularly so, as, with the small point on +the river which we expect is by this time ceded by the Piankeshaws, it +completes our possession of the whole of both banks of the Ohio from its +source to near its mouth, and the navigation of that river is thereby +rendered forever safe to our citizens settled and settling on its +extensive waters. The purchase from the Creeks, too, has been for some +time particularly interesting to the State of Georgia. + +The several treaties which have been mentioned will be submitted to both +Houses of Congress for the exercise of their respective functions. + +Deputations now on their way to the seat of Government from various +nations of Indians inhabiting the Missouri and other parts beyond the +Mississippi come charged with assurances of their satisfaction with the +new relations in which they are placed with us, of their dispositions +to cultivate our peace and friendship, and their desire to enter into +commercial intercourse with us. A state of our progress in exploring the +principal rivers of that country, and of the information respecting them +hitherto obtained, will be communicated so soon as we shall receive some +further relations which we have reason shortly to expect. + +The receipts at the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of +September last have exceeded the sum of $13,000,000, which, with not +quite five millions in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have +enabled us after meeting other demands to pay nearly two millions of the +debt contracted under the British treaty and convention, upward of four +millions of principal of the public debt, and four millions of interest. +These payments, with those which had been made in three years and a half +preceding, have extinguished of the funded debt nearly eighteen millions +of principal. Congress by their act of November 10, 1803, authorized us +to borrow $1,750,000 toward meeting the claims of our citizens assumed +by the convention with France. We have not, however, made use of this +authority, because the sum of four millions and a half, which remained +in the Treasury on the same 30th day of September last, with the +receipts which we may calculate on for the ensuing year, besides paying +the annual sum of $8,000,000 appropriated to the funded debt and meeting +all the current demands which may be expected, will enable us to pay +the whole sum of $3,750,000 assumed by the French convention and still +leave us a surplus of nearly $1,000,000 at our free disposal. Should +you concur in the provisions of arms and armed vessels recommended by +the circumstances of the times, this surplus will furnish the means of +doing so. + +On this first occasion of addressing Congress since, by the choice of +my constituents, I have entered on a second term of administration, I +embrace the opportunity to give this public assurance that I will exert +my best endeavors to administer faithfully the executive department, +and will zealously cooperate with you in every measure which may +tend to secure the liberty, property, and personal safety of our +fellow-citizens, and to consolidate the republican forms and principles +of our Government. + +In the course of your session you shall receive all the aid which I +can give for the dispatch of public business, and all the information +necessary for your deliberations, of which the interests of our own +country and the confidence reposed in us by others will admit a +communication. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +DECEMBER 6, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The depredations which had been committed on the commerce of the United +States during a preceding war by persons under the authority of Spain +are sufficiently known to all. These made it a duty to require from that +Government indemnifications for our injured citizens. A convention was +accordingly entered into between the minister of the United States at +Madrid and the minister of that Government for foreign affairs, by which +it was agreed that spoliations committed by Spanish subjects and carried +into ports of Spain should be paid for by that nation, and that those +committed by French subjects and carried into Spanish ports should +remain for further discussion. Before this convention was returned +to Spain with our ratification the transfer of Louisiana by France to +the United States took place, an event as unexpected as disagreeable +to Spain. From that moment she seemed to change her conduct and +dispositions toward us. It was first manifested by her protest against +the right of France to alienate Louisiana to us, which, however, was +soon retracted and the right confirmed. Then high offense was manifested +at the act of Congress establishing a collection district on the Mobile, +although by an authentic declaration immediately made it was expressly +confined to our acknowledged limits; and she now refused to ratify the +convention signed by her own minister under the eye of his Sovereign +unless we would consent to alterations of its terms which would have +affected our claims against her for the spoliations by French subjects +carried into Spanish ports. + +To obtain justice as well as to restore friendship I thought a special +mission advisable, and accordingly appointed James Monroe minister +extraordinary and plenipotentiary to repair to Madrid, and in +conjunction with our minister resident there to endeavor to procure a +ratification of the former convention and to come to an understanding +with Spain as to the boundaries of Louisiana. It appeared at once that +her policy was to reserve herself for events, and in the meantime to +keep our differences in an undetermined state. This will be evident +from the papers now communicated to you. After nearly five months of +fruitless endeavor to bring them to some definite and satisfactory +result, our ministers ended the conferences without having been able to +obtain indemnity for spoliations of any description or any satisfaction +as to the boundaries of Louisiana, other than a declaration that we had +no rights eastward of the Iberville, and that our line to the west was +one which would have left us but a string of land on that bank of the +river Mississippi. Our injured citizens were thus left without any +prospect of retribution from the wrongdoer, and as to boundary each +party was to take its own course. That which they have chosen to pursue +will appear from the documents now communicated. They authorize the +inference that it is their intention to advance on our possessions until +they shall be repressed by an opposing force. Considering that Congress +alone is constitutionally invested with the power of changing our +condition from peace to war, I have thought it my duty to await their +authority for using force in any degree which could be avoided. I have +barely instructed the officers stationed in the neighborhood of the +aggressions to protect our citizens from violence, to patrol within the +borders actually delivered to us, and not to go out of them but when +necessary to repel an inroad or to rescue a citizen or his property; and +the Spanish officers remaining at New Orleans are required to depart +without further delay. It ought to be noted here that since the late +change in the state of affairs in Europe Spain has ordered her cruisers +and courts to respect our treaty with her. + +The conduct of France and the part she may take in the misunderstandings +between the United States and Spain are too important to be +unconsidered. She was prompt and decided in her declarations that our +demands on Spain for French spoliations carried into Spanish ports were +included in the settlement between the United States and France. She +took at once the ground that she had acquired no right from Spain, and +had meant to deliver us none eastward of the Iberville, her silence as +to the western boundary leaving us to infer her opinion might be against +Spain in that quarter. Whatever direction she might mean to give to +these differences, it does not appear that she has contemplated their +proceeding to actual rupture, or that at the date of our last advices +from Paris her Government had any suspicion of the hostile attitude +Spain had taken here; on the contrary, we have reason to believe that +she was disposed to effect a settlement on a plan analogous to what our +ministers had proposed, and so comprehensive as to remove as far as +possible the grounds of future collision and controversy on the eastern +as well as western side of the Mississippi. + +The present crisis in Europe is favorable for pressing such a +settlement, and not a moment should be lost in availing ourselves of +it. Should it pass unimproved, our situation would become much more +difficult. Formal war is not necessary--it is not probable it will +follow; but the protection of our citizens, the spirit and honor of our +country require that force should be interposed to a certain degree it +will probably contribute to advance the object of peace, + +But the course to be pursued will require the command of means which +it belongs to Congress exclusively to yield or to deny. To them I +communicate every fact material for their information and the documents +necessary to enable them to judge for themselves. To their wisdom, then, +I look for the course I am to pursue, and will pursue with sincere zeal +that which they shall approve. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 11, 1805. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +I now lay before the Senate the several treaties and conventions +following, which have been entered into on the part of the United +States since their last session: + +1. A treaty of peace and amity between the United States of America +and the Bashaw, Bey, and subjects of Tripoli, in Barbary. + +2. A treaty between the United States and the Wyandot, Ottawa, Chippewa, +Munsee, and Delaware, Shawnee, and Potawatamie nations of Indians. + +3. A treaty between the United States and the agents of the Connecticut +Land Companies on one part and the Wyandot, Ottawa, Chippewa, Munsee, +and Delaware, Shawnee, and Potawatamie nations of Indians. + +4. A treaty between the United States and the Delawares, Potawatamies, +Miamis, Eel-rivers, and Weeas. + +5. A treaty between the United States and the Chickasaw Nation of +Indians. + +6. A treaty between the United States of America and the Cherokee +Indians. + +7. A convention between the United States and the Creek Nation of +Indians; with the several documents necessary for their explanation. + +The Senate having dissented to the ratification of the treaty with the +Creeks submitted to them at their last session, which gave a sum of +$200,000 for the country thereby conveyed, it is proper now to observe +that instead of that sum, which was equivalent to a perpetual annuity of +$12,000, the present purchase gives them an annuity of $12,000 for eight +years only and of $11,000 for ten years more, the payments of which +would be effected by a present sum of $130,000 placed at an annual +interest of 6 per cent. If from this sum we deduct the reasonable +value of the road ceded through the whole length of their country from +Ocmulgee toward New Orleans, a road of indispensable necessity to us, +the present convention will be found to give little more than the half +of the sum which was formerly proposed to be given. This difference is +thought sufficient to justify the presenting this subject a second time +to the Senate. On these several treaties I have to request that the +Senate will advise whether I shall ratify them or not. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 23, 1805. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The governor and presiding judge of the Territory of Michigan have made +a report to me of the state of that Territory, several matters in which +being within the reach of the legislative authority only, I lay the +report before Congress. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 31, 1805. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now communicate to the House of Representatives all the information +which the executive offices furnish on the subject of their resolution +of the 23d instant respecting the States indebted to the United States. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 10, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +In compliance with the request of the Senate expressed in their +resolution of December 27, I now lay before them such documents and +papers (there being no other information in my possession) as relate to +complaints by the Government of France against the commerce carried on +by the citizens of the United States to the French island of St. +Domingo. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 13, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +According to the request of the Senate of December 30, I now lay before +them the correspondence of the naval commanders Barron and Rodgers and +of Mr. Eaton, late consul at Tunis, respecting the progress of the +war with Tripoli, antecedent to the treaty with the Bey and Regency +of Tripoli, and respecting the negotiations for the same, and the +commission and instructions of Mr. Eaton, with such other correspondence +in possession of the offices as I suppose may be useful to the Senate in +their deliberations upon the said treaty. + +The instructions which were given to Mr. Lear, the consul-general at +Algiers, respecting the negotiations for the said treaty accompanied +the treaty and the message concerning the same, and are now with them +in possession of the Senate. + +So much of these papers has been extracted and communicated to the House +of Representatives as relates to the principles of the cooperation +between the United States and Hamet Caramalli, which is the subject +of a joint message to both Houses of Congress bearing equal date with +the present, and as those now communicated to the Senate comprehend +the whole of that matter, I request that they may be considered as +comprising the documents stated in that message as accompanying it. +Being mostly originals or sole copies, a return of them is requested +at the convenience of the Senate. + +We have no letter from Mr. Lear respecting Tripoline affairs of later +date than that of July 5, which was transmitted to the Senate with the +treaty, nor, consequently, any later information what steps have been +taken to carry into effect the stipulation for the delivery of the wife +and children of the brother of the reigning Bashaw of Tripoli. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 13, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I lay before Congress the application of Hamet Caramalli, elder brother +of the reigning Bashaw of Tripoli, soliciting from the United States +attention to his services and sufferings in the late war against +that State; and in order to possess them of the ground on which that +application stands, the facts shall be stated according to the views +and information of the Executive. + +During the war with Tripoli it was suggested that Hamet Caramalli, elder +brother of the reigning Bashaw, and driven by him from his throne, +meditated the recovery of his inheritance, and that a concert in action +with us was desirable to him. We considered that concerted operations +by those who have a common enemy were entirely justifiable, and might +produce effects favorable to both without binding either to guarantee +the objects of the other. But the distance of the scene, the +difficulties of communication, and the uncertainty of our information +inducing the less confidence in the measure, it was committed to our +agents as one which might be resorted to if it promised to promote our +success. + +Mr. Eaton, however (our late consul), on his return from the +Mediterranean, possessing personal knowledge of the scene and having +confidence in the effect of a joint operation, we authorized Commodore +Barron, then proceeding with his squadron, to enter into an +understanding with Hamet if he should deem it useful; and as it was +represented that he would need some aids of arms and ammunition, and +even of money, he was authorized to furnish them to a moderate extent, +according to the prospect of utility to be expected from it. In order to +avail him of the advantages of Mr. Eaton's knowledge of circumstances, +an occasional employment was provided for the latter as an agent for the +Navy in that sea. Our expectation was that an intercourse should be kept +up between the ex-Bashaw and the commodore; that while the former moved +on by land our squadron should proceed with equal pace, so as to arrive +at their destination together and to attack the common enemy by land and +sea at the same time. The instructions of June 6 to Commodore Barron +shew that a cooperation only was intended, and by no means an union +of our object with the fortune of the ex-Bashaw, and the commodore's +letters of March 22 and May 19 prove that he had the most correct idea +of our intentions. His verbal instructions, indeed, to Mr. Eaton and +Captain Hull, if the expressions are accurately committed to writing +by those gentlemen, do not limit the extent of his cooperation as +rigorously as he probably intended; but it is certain from the +ex-Bashaw's letter of January 3, written when he was proceeding to join +Mr. Eaton, and in which he says, "Your operations should be carried on +by sea, mine by land," that he left the position in which he was with a +proper idea of the nature of the cooperation. If Mr. Eaton's subsequent +convention should appear to bring forward other objects, his letter of +April 29 and May 1 views this convention but as provisional, the second +article, as he expressly states, guarding it against any ill effect; and +his letter of June 30 confirms this construction. + +In the event it was found that after placing the ex-Bashaw in possession +of Derne, one of the most important cities and provinces of the country, +where he had resided himself as governor, lie was totally unable to +command any resources or to bear any part in cooperation with us. This +hope was then at an end, and we certainly had never contemplated, nor +were we prepared, to land an army of our own, or to raise, pay, or +subsist an army of Arabs to march from Derne to Tripoli and to carry +on a land war at such a distance from our resources. Our means and our +authority were merely naval, and that such were the expectations of +Hamet his letter of June 29 is an unequivocal acknowledgment. While, +therefore, an impression from the capture of Derne might still operate +at Tripoli, and an attack on that place from our squadron was daily +expected. Colonel Lear thought it the best moment to listen to overtures +of peace then made by the Bashaw. He did so, and while urging provisions +for the United States he paid attention also to the interests of Hamet, +but was able to effect nothing more than to engage the restitution of +his family, and even the persevering in this demand suspended for some +time the conclusion of the treaty. + +In operations at such a distance it becomes necessary to leave much to +the discretion of the agents employed, but events may still turn up +beyond the limits of that discretion. Unable in such a case to consult +his Government, a zealous citizen will act as he believes that would +direct him were it apprised of the circumstances, and will take on +himself the responsibility. In all these cases the purity and patriotism +of the motives should shield the agent from blame, and even secure a +sanction where the error is not too injurious. Should it be thought by +any that the verbal instructions said to have been given by Commodore +Barron to Mr. Eaton amount to a stipulation that the United States +should place Hamet Caramalli on the throne of Tripoli--a stipulation so +entirely unauthorized, so far beyond our views, and so onerous could not +be sanctioned by our Government--or should Hamet Caramalli, contrary +to the evidence of his letters of January 3 and June 29, be thought to +have left the position which he now seems to regret, under a mistaken +expectation that we were at all events to place him on his throne, on +an appeal to the liberality of the nation something equivalent to the +replacing him in his former situation might be worthy its consideration. + +A nation by establishing a character of liberality and magnanimity gains +in the friendship and respect of others more than the worth of mere +money. This appeal is now made by Hamet Caramalli to the United States. +The ground he has taken being different not only from our views but from +those expressed by himself on former occasions, Mr. Eaton was desired to +state whether any verbal communications passed from him to Hamet which +had varied what we saw in writing. His answer of December 5 is herewith +transmitted, and has rendered it still more necessary that in presenting +to the Legislature the application of Hamet I should present them at +the same time an exact statement of the views and proceedings of the +Executive through this whole business, that they may clearly understand +the ground on which we are placed. It is accompanied by all the papers +which bear any relation to the principles of the cooperation, and which +can inform their judgment in deciding on the application of Hamet +Caramalli. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 15, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now render to Congress an account of the grant of $20,000 for the +contingent charges of Government by an act making appropriations for the +support of Government for the year 1805. Of that sum $1,987.50 have been +necessarily applied to the support of the Territorial governments of +Michigan and Louisiana until an opportunity could occur of making a +specific appropriation for that purpose. The balance of $18,012.50 +remains in the Treasury. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 17, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In my message to both Houses of Congress at the opening of their present +session I submitted to their attention, among other subjects, the +oppression of our commerce and navigation by the irregular practices +of armed vessels, public and private, and by the introduction of new +principles derogatory of the rights of neutrals and unacknowledged by +the usage of nations. + +The memorials of several bodies of merchants of the United States are +now communicated, and will develop these principles and practices which +are producing the most ruinous effects on our lawful commerce and +navigation. + +The rights of a neutral to carry on commercial intercourse with every +part of the dominions of a belligerent permitted by the laws of the +country (with the exception of blockaded ports and contraband of war) +was believed to have been decided between Great Britain and the United +States by the sentence of their commissioners mutually appointed +to decide on that and other questions of difference between the two +nations, and by the actual payment of the damages awarded by them +against Great Britain for the infractions of that right. When, +therefore, it was perceived that the same principle was revived with +others more novel and extending the injury, instructions were given +to the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of +London, and remonstrances duly made by him on this subject, as will +appear by documents transmitted herewith. These were followed by a +partial and temporary suspension only, without any disavowal of the +principle. He has therefore been instructed to urge this subject anew, +to bring it more fully to the bar of reason, and to insist on rights too +evident and too important to be surrendered. In the meantime the evil is +proceeding under adjudications founded on the principle which is denied. +Under these circumstances the subject presents itself for the +consideration of Congress. + +On the impressment of our seamen our remonstrances have never been +intermitted. A hope existed at one moment of an arrangement which might +have been submitted to, but it soon passed away, and the practice, +though relaxed at times in the distant seas, has been constantly pursued +in those in our neighborhood. The grounds on which the reclamations on +this subject have been urged will appear in an extract from instructions +to our minister at London now communicated. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 17, 1806 + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The inclosed letter from the minister plenipotentiary of the United +States at the Court of London contains interesting information on +the subjects of my other message of this date. It is sent separately +and confidentially because its publication may discourage frank +communications between our ministers generally and the Governments +with which they reside, and especially between the same ministers. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 24, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +A convention has been entered into between the United States and the +Cherokee Nation for the extinguishment of the rights of the latter, and +of some unsettled claims in the country north of the river Tennessee, +therein described. This convention is now laid before the Senate for +their advice and consent as to its ratification. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 27, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +According to the desire of the Senate expressed in their resolution of +the 10th instant, I now communicate to them a report of the Secretary of +State, with its documents, stating certain new principles attempted to +be introduced on the subject of neutral rights, injurious to the rights +and interests of the United States. These, with my message to both +Houses of the 17th instant and the documents accompanying it, fulfill +the desires of the Senate as far as it can be done by any information +in my possession which is authentic and not publicly known. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 29, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Having received from sundry merchants at Baltimore a memorial on the +same subject with those I communicated to Congress with my message of +the 17th instant, I now communicate this also as a proper sequel to the +former, and as making a part of the mass of evidence of the violations +of our rights on the ocean. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 3, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +A letter has been received from the governor of South Carolina covering +an act of the legislature of that State ceding to the United States +various forts and fortifications and sites for the erection of forts in +that State on the conditions therein expressed. This letter and the act +it covered are now communicated to Congress. + +I am not informed whether the positions ceded are the best which +can be taken for securing their respective objects. No doubt is +entertained that the legislature deemed them such. The river of Beaufort, +particularly, said to be accessible to ships of very large size and +capable of yielding them a protection which they can not find elsewhere +but very far to the north, is from these circumstances so interesting to +the Union in general as to merit particular attention and inquiry as to +the positions on it best calculated for health as well as safety. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 3, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In the course of the last year the following treaties and conventions +for the extinguishment of Indian title to lands within our limits were +entered into on behalf of the United States: + +A treaty between the United States and the Wyandot, Ottawa, Chippeway, +Munsee and Delaware, Shawanee and Pottawatamy nations of Indians. + +A treaty between the United States and the agents of the Connecticut +Land Company on one part and the Wyandot and Ottawa, Chippeway, Munsey +and Delaware, Shawanee and Pottawatamy nations of Indians. + +A treaty between the United States and the Delawares, Pottawatamies, +Miamis, Eel-rivers, and Weas. + +A treaty between the United States and the Chickasaw Nation of Indians. + +Two treaties between the United States and the Cherokee Indians. + +A convention between the United States and the Creek Nation of Indians. + +The Senate having advised and consented to the ratification of these +several treaties and conventions, I now lay them before both Houses of +Congress for the exercise of their constitutional powers as to the means +of fulfilling them. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 6, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Since the date of my message of January 17 a letter of the 26th of +November has been received from the minister plenipotentiary of the +United States at London, covering one from the secretary for foreign +affairs of that Government, which, being on the subject of that message, +is now transmitted for the information of Congress. Although nothing +forbids the substance of these letters from being communicated without +reserve, yet so many ill effects proceed from the publications of +correspondences between ministers remaining still in office that I can +not but recommend that these letters be not permitted to be formally +published. + +TH; JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 19, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In pursuance of a measure proposed to Congress by a message of January +18, 1803, and sanctioned by their approbation for carrying it into +execution, Captain Meriwether Lewis, of the First Regiment of infantry, +was appointed, with a party of men, to explore the river Missouri from +its mouth to its source, and, crossing the highlands by the shortest +portage, to seek the best water communication thence to the Pacific +Ocean; and Lieutenant Clarke was appointed second in command. They were +to enter into conference with the Indian nations on their route with +a view to the establishment of commerce with them. They entered the +Missouri May 14, 1804, and on the 1st of November took up their winter +quarters near the Mandan towns, 1,609 miles above the mouth of the +river, in latitude 47° 21' 47" north and longitude 99° 24' 45" west from +Greenwich. On the 8th of April, 1805, they proceeded up the river in +pursuance of the objects prescribed to them. A letter of the preceding +day, April 7th, from Captain Lewis is herewith communicated. During +his stay among the Mandans he had been able to lay down the Missouri +according to courses and distances taken on his passage up it, corrected +by frequent observations of longitude and latitude, and to add to the +actual survey of this portion of the river a general map of the country +between the Mississippi and Pacific from the thirty-fourth to the +fifty-fourth degree of latitude. These additions are from information +collected from Indians with whom he had opportunities of communicating +during his journey and residence with them. Copies of this map are now +presented to both Houses of Congress. With these I communicate also a +statistical view, procured and forwarded by him, of the Indian nations +inhabiting the Territory of Louisiana and the countries adjacent to +its northern and western borders, of their commerce, and of other +interesting circumstances respecting them. + +In order to render the statement as complete as may be of the Indians +inhabiting the country west of the Mississippi, I add Dr. Sibley's +account of those residing in and adjacent to the Territory of Orleans. + +I communicate also, from the same person, an account of the Red River, +according to the best information he had been able to collect. + +Having been disappointed, after considerable preparation, in the purpose +of sending an exploring party up that river in the summer of 1804, it +was thought best to employ the autumn of that year in procuring a +knowledge of an interesting branch of the river called the Washita. + +This was undertaken under the direction of Mr. Dunbar, of Natchez, a +citizen of distinguished science, who had aided and continues to aid +us with his disinterested and valuable services in the prosecution of +these enterprises. He ascended the river to the remarkable hot springs +near it, in latitude 34° 31' 4.16", longitude 92° 50' 45" west from +Greenwich, taking its courses and distances, and correcting them by +frequent celestial observations. Extracts from his observations and +copies of his map of the river from its mouth to the hot springs make +part of the present communications. The examination of the Red River +itself is but now commencing. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 5, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +According to the request of the Senate expressed in their resolution of +3d instant, I now transmit the extract of a letter from the Secretary of +State to the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Paris, the +answer to that letter, and two letters from Henry Waddell, a citizen of +the United States, relative to the interference of the said minister +in the case of the ship _New Jersey_ and to the principles alleged to +have been laid down on that occasion. + +There are in the office of the Department of State several printed +documents in this case by the agent of those interested in the ship, +which are voluminous and in French. If these be within the scope of the +request of the Senate, the printed copies can be sent in immediately, +but if translations be necessary some considerable time will be +requisite for their execution. On this subject any further desire which +the Senate shall think proper to express shall be complied with. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 7, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +According to the request of the Senate of yesterday, I now transmit +the five printed memorials of the agent for the ship _New Jersey_, in +the one of which marked B, at the ninth page, will be found the letter +relative to it from the minister plenipotentiary of the United States +at Paris to the French minister of the treasury, supposed to be the one +designated in the resolution. We have no information of this letter but +through the channel of the party interested in the ship, nor any proof +of it more authentic than that now communicated. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 19, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +It was reasonably expected that while the limits between the territories +of the United States and of Spain were unsettled neither party would +have innovated on the existing state of their respective positions. +Some time since, however, we learnt that the Spanish authorities were +advancing into the disputed country to occupy new posts and make new +settlements. Unwilling to take any measures which might preclude a +peaceable accommodation of differences, the officers of the United +States were ordered to confine themselves within the country on this +side of the Sabine River which, by delivery of its principal post, +Natchitoches, was understood to have been itself delivered up by Spain, +and at the same time to permit no adverse post to be taken nor armed +men to remain within it. In consequence of these orders the commanding +officer of Natchitoches, learning that a party of Spanish troops had +crossed the Sabine River and were posting themselves on this side the +Adais, sent a detachment of his force to require them to withdraw to +the other side of the Sabine, which they accordingly did. + +I have thought it proper to communicate to Congress the letter detailing +this incident, that they may fully understand the state of things in +that quarter and be enabled to make such provision for its security as, +in their wisdom, they shall deem sufficient. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 11, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United +States according to the returns last received from the several States +and Territories. It will be perceived that some of these are not of +recent dates, and that from the States of Maryland and Delaware no +returns are stated. As far as appears from our records, none were ever +rendered from either of these States. From the Territories of Orleans, +Louisiana, and Michigan complete returns have not yet been received. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 14, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +During the blockade of Tripoli by the squadron of the United States +a small cruiser, under the flag of Tunis, with two prizes, all of +trifling value, attempted to enter Tripoli; was turned back, warned, +and, attempting again to enter, was taken and detained as prize by the +squadron. Her restitution was claimed by the Bey of Tunis with a threat +of war in terms so serious that on withdrawing from the blockade of +Tripoli the commanding officer of the squadron thought it his duty +to repair to Tunis with his squadron and to require a categorical +declaration whether peace or war was intended. The Bey preferred +explaining himself by an ambassador to the United States, who on his +arrival renewed the request that the vessel and her prizes should be +restored. It was deemed proper to give this proof of friendship to the +Bey, and the ambassador was informed the vessels would be restored. +Afterwards he made a requisition of naval stores to be sent to the Bey, +in order to secure a peace for the term of three years, with a threat +of war if refused. It has been refused, and the ambassador is about to +depart without receding from his threat or demand. + +Under these circumstances, and considering that the several provisions +of the act of March 25, 1804, will cease in consequence of the +ratification of the treaty of peace with Tripoli, now advised and +consented to by the Senate, I have thought it my duty to communicate +these facts, in order that Congress may consider the expediency of +continuing the same provisions for a limited time or making others +equivalent. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 15, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The Senate having advised and consented to the ratification of a treaty +concluded with the Piankeshaw Indians for extinguishing their claim to +the country between the Wabash and Kaskaskia cessions, it is now laid +before both Houses for the exercise of their constitutional powers as +to the means of fulfilling it on our part. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 17, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The Senate having advised and consented to the ratification of a +convention between the United States and the Cherokee Indians, concluded +at Washington on the 7th day of January last, for the cession of their +right to the tract of country therein described, it is now laid before +both Houses of Congress for the exercise of their constitutional powers +toward the fulfillment thereof. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 18, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +In compliance with the request of the Senate of yesterday's date, I now +communicate the entire correspondence between the ambassador of Tunis +and the Secretary of State, from which the Senate will see that the +first application by the ambassador for restitution of the vessels taken +in violation of blockade having been yielded to, the only remaining +cause of difference brought forward by him is the requisition of a +present of naval stores to secure a peace for three years, after which +the inference is obvious that a renewal of the presents is to be +expected to renew the prolongation of peace for another term. But this +demand has been pressed in verbal conferences much more explicitly and +pertinaciously than appears in the written correspondence. To save the +delay of copying, some originals are inclosed, with a request that they +be returned. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 19, 1806. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +I nominate James Monroe, now minister plenipotentiary of the United +States at the Court of London, and William Pinkney, of Maryland, to be +commissioners plenipotentiary and extraordinary for settling all matters +of difference between the United States and the United Kingdoms of Great +Britain and Ireland relative to wrongs committed between the parties on +the high seas or other waters, and for establishing the principles of +navigation and commerce between them. + +James Houston, of Maryland, to be judge of the court of the United +States for the district of Maryland. + +Willis W. Parker, of Virginia, to be collector of the district and +inspector of the revenue for the port of South Quay. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +PROCLAMATIONS. + + +[From Annals of Congress, Ninth Congress, second session, 685.] + + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + +A PROCLAMATION. + +Whereas satisfactory information has been received that Henry Whitby, +commanding a British armed vessel called the _Leander_, did on the +25th day of the month of April last, within the waters and jurisdiction +of the United States, and near to the entrance of the harbor of New +York, by a cannon shot fired from the said vessel _Leander_, commit +a murder on the body of John Pierce, a citizen of the United States, +then pursuing his lawful vocation within the same waters and +jurisdiction of the United States and near to their shores; and that +the said Henry Whitby can not at this time be brought to justice by +the ordinary process of law; and + +Whereas it does further appear that both before and after the said day +sundry trespasses, wrongs, and unlawful interruptions and vexations on +trading vessels coming to the United States, and within their waters and +vicinity, were committed by the said armed vessel the _Leander_, her +officers and people; by one other armed vessel called the _Cambrian_, +commanded by John Nairne, her officers and people; and by one other +armed vessel called the _Driver_, commanded by Slingsby Simpson, her +officers and people; which vessels, being all of the same nation, were +aiding and assisting each other in the trespasses, interruptions, and +vexations aforesaid: + +Now, therefore, to the end that the said Henry Whitby may be brought to +justice and due punishment inflicted for the said murder, I do hereby +especially enjoin and require all officers having authority, civil or +military, and all other persons within the limits or jurisdiction of the +United States, wheresoever the said Henry Whitby may be found, now or +hereafter, to apprehend and secure the said Henry Whitby, and him safely +and diligently to deliver to the civil authority of the place, to be +proceeded against according to law. + +And I do hereby further require that the said armed vessel the +_Leander_, with her officers and people, and the said armed vessels the +_Cambrian_ and _Driver_, their officers and people, immediately and +without any delay depart from the harbors and wraters of the United +States. And I do forever interdict the entrance of all other vessels +which shall be commanded by the said Henry Whitby, John Nairne, and +Slingsby Simpson, or either of them. + +And if the said vessels, or any of them, shall fail to depart as +aforesaid, or shall reenter the harbors or waters aforesaid, I do +in that case forbid all intercourse with the said armed vessels the +_Leander_, the _Cambrian_, and the _Driver_, or with any of them, and +the officers and crews thereof, and do prohibit all supplies and aid +from being furnished them, or any of them. And I do declare and make +known that if any person from or within the jurisdictional limits of the +United States shall afford any aid to either of the said armed vessels +contrary to the prohibition contained in this proclamation, either in +repairing such vessel or in furnishing her, her officers or crew, with +supplies of any kind or in any manner whatever; or if any pilot shall +assist in navigating any of the said armed vessels, unless it be for +the purpose of carrying them in the first instance beyond the limits +and jurisdiction of the United States, such person or persons shall on +conviction suffer all the pains and penalties by the laws provided for +such offenses. And I do hereby enjoin and require all persons bearing +office, civil or military, within the United States, and all others +citizens or inhabitants thereof, or being within the same, with +vigilance and promptitude to exert their respective authorities and +to be aiding and assisting to the carrying this proclamation and every +part thereof into full effect. + +[SEAL.] + +In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be +affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. + +Given at the city of Washington, the 3d day of May, A.D. 1806, and of +the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States the thirtieth. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +By the President: + JAMES MADISON, + _Secretary of State_. + + + +[From Annals of Congress, Ninth Congress, second session, 686.] + + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + +A PROCLAMATION. + +Whereas information has been received that sundry persons, citizens of +the United States or residents within the same, are conspiring and +confederating together to begin and set on foot, provide, and prepare +the means for a military expedition or enterprise against the dominions +of Spain; that for this purpose they are fitting out and arming vessels +in the western waters of the United States, collecting provisions, +arms, military stores, and means; are deceiving and seducing honest +and well-meaning citizens, under various pretenses, to engage in their +criminal enterprises; are organizing, officering, and arming themselves +for the same, contrary to the laws in such cases made and provided: + +I have therefore thought proper to issue this my proclamation, warning +and enjoining all faithful citizens who have been led without due +knowledge or consideration to participate in the said unlawful +enterprises to withdraw from the same without delay, and commanding all +persons whatsoever engaged or concerned in the same to cease all further +proceedings therein, as they will answer the contrary at their peril and +incur prosecution with all the rigors of the law. And I hereby enjoin +and require all officers, civil and military, of the United States, or +of any of the States or Territories, and especially all governors and +other executive authorities, all judges, justices, and other officers +of the peace, all military officers of the Army or Navy of the United +States, or officers of the militia, to be vigilant, each within his +respective department and according to his functions, in searching out +and bringing to condign punishment all persons engaged or concerned in +such enterprise, in seizing and detaining, subject to the disposition of +the law, all vessels, arms, military stores, or other means provided or +providing for the same, and, in general, in preventing the carrying on +such expedition or enterprise by all lawful means within their power; +and I require all good and faithful citizens and others within the +United States to be aiding and assisting herein, and especially in the +discovery, apprehension, and bringing to justice of all such offenders, +in preventing the execution of their unlawful designs, and in giving +information against them to the proper authorities. + +In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to +be affixed to these presents, and have signed the same with my hand. + +[SEAL.] + +Given at the city of Washington on the 27th day of November, 1806, and +in the year of the Sovereignty of the United States the thirty-first. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +By the President: + JAMES MADISON, + _Secretary of State_. + + + + +SIXTH ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +DECEMBER 2, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of +America in Congress assembled_: + +It would have given me, fellow-citizens, great satisfaction to announce +in the moment of your meeting that the difficulties in our foreign +relations existing at the time of your last separation had been amicably +and justly terminated. I lost no time in taking those measures which +were most likely to bring them to such a termination--by special +missions charged with such powers and instructions as in the event +of failure could leave no imputation on either our moderation or +forbearance. The delays which have since taken place in our negotiations +with the British Government appear to have proceeded from causes which +do not forbid the expectation that during the course of the session I +may be enabled to lay before you their final issue. What will be that of +the negotiations for settling our differences with Spain nothing which +had taken place at the date of the last dispatches enables us to +pronounce. On the western side of the Mississippi she advanced in +considerable force, and took post at the settlement of Bayou Pierre, on +the Red River. This village was originally settled by France, was held +by her as long as she held Louisiana, and was delivered to Spain only +as a part of Louisiana. Being small, insulated, and distant, it was not +observed at the moment of redelivery to France and the United States +that she continued a guard of half a dozen men which had been stationed +there. A proposition, however, having been lately made by our commander +in chief to assume the Sabine River as a temporary line of separation +between the troops of the two nations until the issue of our +negotiations shall be known, this has been referred by the Spanish +commandant to his superior, and in the meantime he has withdrawn his +force to the western side of the Sabine River. The correspondence on +this subject now communicated will exhibit more particularly the present +state of things in that quarter. + +The nature of that country requires indispensably that an unusual +proportion of the force employed there should be cavalry or mounted +infantry. In order, therefore, that the commanding officer might be +enabled to act with effect, I had authorized him to call on the +governors of Orleans and Mississippi for a corps of 500 volunteer +cavalry. The temporary arrangement he has proposed may perhaps render +this unnecessary; but I inform you with great pleasure of the +promptitude with which the inhabitants of those Territories have +tendered their services in defense of their country. It has done honor +to themselves, entitled them to the confidence of their fellow-citizens +in every part of the Union, and must strengthen the general +determination to protect them efficaciously under all circumstances +which may occur. + +Having received information that in another part of the United States +a great number of private individuals were combining together, arming +and organizing themselves contrary to law, to carry on a military +expedition against the territories of Spain, I thought it necessary, +by proclamation as well as by special orders, to take measures for +preventing and suppressing this enterprise, for seizing the vessels, +arms, and other means provided for it, and for arresting and bringing +to justice its authors and abettors. It was due to that good faith +which ought ever to be the rule of action in public as well as in +private transactions, it was due to good order and regular government, +that while the public force was acting strictly on the defensive and +merely to protect our citizens from aggression the criminal attempts +of private individuals to decide for their country the question of +peace or war by commencing active and unauthorized hostilities should +be promptly and efficaciously suppressed. + +Whether it will be necessary to enlarge our regular force will depend on +the result of our negotiations with Spain; but as it is uncertain when +that result will be known, the provisional measures requisite for that, +and to meet any pressure intervening in that quarter, will be a subject +for your early consideration. + +The possession of both banks of the Mississippi reducing to a single +point the defense of that river, its waters, and the country adjacent, +it becomes highly necessary to provide for that point a more adequate +security. Some position above its mouth, commanding the passage of the +river, should be rendered sufficiently strong to cover the armed vessels +which may be stationed there for defense, and in conjunction with them +to present an insuperable obstacle to any force attempting to pass. The +approaches to the city of New Orleans from the eastern quarter also will +require to be examined and more effectually guarded. For the internal +support of the country the encouragement of a strong settlement on the +western side of the Mississippi, within reach of New Orleans, will be +worthy the consideration of the Legislature. + +The gunboats authorized by an act of the last session are so advanced +that they will be ready for service in the ensuing spring. Circumstances +permitted us to allow the time necessary for their more solid +construction. As a much larger number will still be wanting to place +our seaport towns and waters in that state of defense to which we are +competent and they entitled, a similar appropriation for a further +provision for them is recommended for the ensuing year. + +A further appropriation will also be necessary for repairing +fortifications already established and the erection of such other works +as may have real effect in obstructing the approach of an enemy to our +seaport towns, or their remaining before them. + +In a country whose constitution is derived from the will of the people, +directly expressed by their free suffrages; where the principal +executive functionaries and those of the legislature are renewed by them +at short periods; where under the character of jurors they exercise in +person the greatest portion of the judiciary powers; where the laws are +consequently so formed and administered as to bear with equal weight and +favor on all, restraining no man in the pursuits of honest industry and +securing to everyone the property which that acquires, it would not be +supposed that any safeguards could be needed against insurrection or +enterprise on the public peace or authority. The lawrs, however, aware +that these should not be trusted to moral restraints only, have wisely +provided punishment for these crimes when committed. But would it not be +salutary to give also the means of preventing their commission? Where an +enterprise is meditated by private individuals against a foreign nation +in amity with the United States, powers of prevention to a certain +extent are given by the laws. Would they not be as reasonable and useful +where the enterprise preparing is against the United States? While +adverting to this branch of law it is proper to observe that in +enterprises meditated against foreign nations the ordinary process of +binding to the observance of the peace and good behavior, could it +be extended to acts to be done out of the jurisdiction of the United +States, would be effectual in some cases where the offender is able to +keep out of sight every indication of his purpose which could draw on +him the exercise of the powers now given by law. + +The States on the coast of Barbary seem generally disposed at present +to respect our peace and friendship; with Tunis alone some uncertainty +remains. Persuaded that it is our interest to maintain our peace with +them on equal terms or not at all, I propose to send in due time a +reen-forcement into the Mediterranean unless previous information shall +shew it to be unnecessary. + +We continue to receive proofs of the growing attachment of our Indian +neighbors and of their disposition to place all their interests under +the patronage of the United States. These dispositions are inspired by +their confidence in our justice and in the sincere concern we feel for +their welfare; and as long as we discharge these high and honorable +functions with the integrity and good faith which alone can entitle us +to their continuance we may expect to reap the just reward in their +peace and friendship. + +The expedition of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke for exploring the river +Missouri and the best communication from that to the Pacific Ocean has +had all the success which could have been expected. They have traced the +Missouri nearly to its source, descended the Columbia to the Pacific +Ocean; ascertained with accuracy the geography of that interesting +communication across our continent, learnt the character of the country, +of its commerce and inhabitants; and it is but justice to say that +Messrs. Lewis and Clarke and their brave companions have by this arduous +service deserved well of their country. + +The attempt to explore the Red River, under the direction of Mr. +Freeman, though conducted with a zeal and prudence meriting entire +approbation, has not been equally successful. After proceeding up it +about 600 miles, nearly as far as the French settlements had extended +while the country was in their possession, our geographers were obliged +to return without completing their work. + +Very useful additions have also been made to our knowledge of the +Mississippi by Lieutenant Pike, who has ascended it to its source, and +whose journal and map, giving the details of his journey, will shortly +be ready for communication to both Houses of Congress. Those of Messrs. +Lewis, Clarke, and Freeman will require further time to be digested +and prepared. These important surveys, in addition to those before +possessed, furnish materials for commencing an accurate map of the +Mississippi and its western waters. Some principal rivers, however, +remain still to be explored, toward which the authorization of Congress +by moderate appropriations will be requisite. + +I congratulate you, fellow-citizens, on the approach of the period at +which you may interpose your authority constitutionally to withdraw +the citizens of the United States from all further participation in +those violations of human rights which have been so long continued on +the unoffending inhabitants of Africa, and which the morality, the +reputation, and the best interests of our country have long been eager +to proscribe. Although no law you may pass can take prohibitory effect +till the first day of the year 1808, yet the intervening period is +not too long to prevent by timely notice expeditions which can not +be completed before that day. + +The receipts at the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of +September last have amounted to near $15,000,000, which have enabled us, +after meeting the current demands, to pay $2,700,000 of the American +claims in part of the price of Louisiana; to pay of the funded debt +upward of three millions of principal and nearly four of interest, and, +in addition, to reimburse in the course of the present month near two +millions of 5-1/2 per cent stock. These payments and reimbursements of +the funded debt, with those which had been made in the four years and a +half preceding, will at the close of the present year have extinguished +upward of twenty-three millions of principal. + +The duties composing the Mediterranean fund will cease by law at the +end of the present session. Considering, however, that they are levied +chiefly on luxuries and that we have an impost on salt, a necessary +of life, the free use of which otherwise is so important, I recommend +to your consideration the suppression of the duties on salt and the +continuation of the Mediterranean fund instead thereof for a short time, +after which that also will become unnecessary for any purpose now within +contemplation. + +When both of these branches of revenue shall in this way be relinquished +there will still ere long be an accumulation of moneys in the Treasury +beyond the installments of public debt which we are permitted by +contract to pay. They can not then, without a modification assented to +by the public creditors, be applied to the extinguishment of this debt +and the complete liberation of our revenues, the most desirable of all +objects. Nor, if our peace continues, will they be wanting for any other +existing purpose. The question therefore now comes forward, To what +other objects shall these surpluses be appropriated, and the whole +surplus of impost, after the entire discharge of the public debt, and +during those intervals when the purposes of war shall not call for them? +Shall we suppress the impost and give that advantage to foreign over +domestic manufactures? On a few articles of more general and necessary +use the suppression in due season will doubtless be right, but the great +mass of the articles on which impost is paid are foreign luxuries, +purchased by those only who are rich enough to afford themselves the +use of them. Their patriotism would certainly prefer its continuance +and application to the great purposes of the public education, roads, +rivers, canals, and such other objects of public improvement as it may +be thought proper to add to the constitutional enumeration of Federal +powers. By these operations new channels of communication will be opened +between the States, the lines of separation will disappear, their +interests will be identified, and their union cemented by new and +indissoluble ties. Education is here placed among the articles of public +care, not that it would be proposed to take its ordinary branches out +of the hands of private enterprise, which manages so much better all +the concerns to which it is equal, but a public institution can alone +supply those sciences which though rarely called for are yet necessary +to complete the circle, all the parts of which contribute to the +improvement of the country and some of them to its preservation. The +subject is now proposed for the consideration of Congress, because if +approved by the time the State legislatures shall have deliberated on +this extension of the Federal trusts, and the laws shall be passed and +other arrangements made for their execution, the necessary funds will +be on hand and without employment. I suppose an amendment to the +Constitution, by consent of the States, necessary, because the objects +now recommended are not among those enumerated in the Constitution, and +to which it permits the public moneys to be applied. + +The present consideration of a national establishment for education +particularly is rendered proper by this circumstance also, that if +Congress, approving the proposition, shall yet think it more eligible +to found it on a donation of lands, they have it now in their power to +endow it with those which will be among the earliest to produce the +necessary income. This foundation would have the advantage of being +independent of war, which may suspend other improvements by requiring +for its own purposes the resources destined for them. + +This, fellow-citizens, is the state of the public interests at the +present moment and according to the information now possessed. But such +is the situation of the nations of Europe and such, too, the predicament +in which we stand with some of them that we can not rely with certainty +on the present aspect of our affairs, that may change from moment +to moment during the course of your session or after you shall have +separated. Our duty is, therefore, to act upon things as they are and +to make a reasonable provision for whatever they may be. Were armies to +be raised whenever a speck of war is visible in our horizon, we never +should have been without them. Our resources would have been exhausted +on dangers which have never happened, instead of being reserved for +what is really to take place. A steady, perhaps a quickened, pace in +preparations for the defense of our seaport towns and waters; an early +settlement of the most exposed and vulnerable parts of our country; a +militia so organized that its effective portions can be called to any +point in the Union, or volunteers instead of them to serve a sufficient +time, are means which may always be ready, yet never preying on our +resources until actually called into use. They will maintain the +public interests while a more permanent force shall be in course of +preparation. But much will depend on the promptitude with which these +means can be brought into activity. If war be forced upon us, in spite +of our long and vain appeals to the justice of nations, rapid and +vigorous movements in its outset will go far toward securing us in its +course and issue, and toward throwing its burthens on those who render +necessary the resort from reason to force. + +The result of our negotiations, or such incidents in their course as may +enable us to infer their probable issue; such further movements also +on our western frontiers as may shew whether war is to be pressed there +while negotiation is protracted elsewhere, shall be communicated to +you from time to time as they become known to me, with whatever other +information I possess or may receive, which may aid your deliberations +on the great national interests committed to your charge. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +DECEMBER 3, 1806. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I have the satisfaction to inform you that the negotiation depending +between the United States and the Government of Great Britain is +proceeding in a spirit of friendship and accommodation which promises a +result of mutual advantage. Delays, indeed, have taken place, occasioned +by the long illness and subsequent death of the British minister charged +with that duty. But the commissioners appointed by that Government +to resume the negotiation have shewn every disposition to hasten its +progress. It is, however, a work of time, as many arrangements are +necessary to place our future harmony on stable grounds. In the meantime +we find by the communications of our plenipotentiaries that a temporary +suspension of the act of the last session prohibiting certain +importations would, as a mark of candid disposition on our part and of +confidence in the temper and views with which they have been met, have +a happy effect on its course. A step so friendly will afford further +evidence that all our proceedings have flowed from views of justice and +conciliation, and that we give them willingly that form which may best +meet corresponding dispositions. + +Add to this that the same motives which produced the postponement of +the act till the 15th of November last are in favor of its further +suspension, and as we have reason to hope that it may soon yield to +arrangements of mutual consent and convenience, justice seems to require +that the same measure may be dealt out to the few cases which may fall +within its short course as to all others preceding and following it. +I can not, therefore, but recommend the suspension of this act for a +reasonable time, on considerations of justice, amity, and the public +interests. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 15, 1806, + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I lay before Congress a report of the surveyor of the public buildings, +stating the progress made on them during the last season and what is +proposed for the ensuing one. + +I took every measure within my power for carrying into effect the +request of the House of Representatives of the 17th of April last +to cause the south wing of the Capitol to be prepared for their +accommodation by the commencement of the present session. With great +regret I found it was not to be accomplished. The quantity of freestone +necessary, with the size and quality of many of the blocks, was +represented as beyond what could be obtained from the quarries by any +exertions which could be commanded. The other parts of the work, which +might all have been completed in time, were necessarily retarded by the +insufficient progress of the stonework. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 5, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I transmit to each House of Congress a copy of the laws of the Territory +of Michigan passed by the governor and judges of the Territory during +the year 1805. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 22, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Agreeably to the request of the House of Representatives communicated +in their resolution of the 16th instant, I proceed to state, under the +reserve therein expressed, information received touching an illegal +combination of private individuals against the peace and safety of the +Union, and a military expedition planned by them against the territories +of a power in amity with the United States, with the measures I have +pursued for suppressing the same. + +I had for some time been in the constant expectation of receiving +such further information as would have enabled me to lay before the +Legislature the termination as well as the beginning and progress of +this scene of depravity so far as it has been acted on the Ohio and its +waters. From this the state of safety of the lower country might have +been estimated on probable grounds, and the delay was indulged the +rather because no circumstance had yet made it necessary to call in the +aid of the legislative functions. Information now recently communicated +has brought us nearly to the period contemplated. The mass of what I +have received in the course of these transactions is voluminous, but +little has been given under the sanction of an oath so as to constitute +formal and legal evidence. It is chiefly in the form of letters, often +containing such a mixture of rumors, conjectures, and suspicions +as renders it difficult to sift out the real facts and unadvisable +to hazard more than general outlines, strengthened by concurrent +information or the particular credibility of the relator. In this state +of the evidence, delivered sometimes, too, under the restriction of +private confidence, neither safety nor justice will permit the exposing +names, except that of the principal actor, whose guilt is placed beyond +question. + +Some time in the latter part of September I received intimations that +designs were in agitation in the Western country unlawful and unfriendly +to the peace of the Union, and that the prime mover in these was Aaron +Burr, heretofore distinguished by the favor of his country. The grounds +of these intimations being inconclusive, the objects uncertain, and the +fidelity of that country known to be firm, the only measure taken was to +urge the informants to use their best endeavors to get further insight +into the designs and proceedings of the suspected persons and to +communicate them to me. + +It was not till the latter part of October that the objects of the +conspiracy began to be perceived, but still so blended and involved in +mystery that nothing distinct could be singled out for pursuit. In this +state of uncertainty as to the crime contemplated, the acts done, and +the legal course to be pursued, I thought it best to send to the scene +where these things were principally in transaction a person in whose +integrity, understanding, and discretion entire confidence could be +reposed, with instructions to investigate the plots going on, to enter +into conference (for which he had sufficient credentials) with the +governors and all other officers, civil and military, and with their +aid to do on the spot whatever should be necessary to discover the +designs of the conspirators, arrest their means, bring their persons +to punishment, and to call out the force of the country to suppress any +unlawful enterprise in which it should be found they were engaged. +By this time it was known that many boats were under preparation, +stores of provisions collecting, and an unusual number of suspicious +characters in motion on the Ohio and its waters. Besides dispatching +the confidential agent to that quarter, orders were at the same time +sent to the governors of the Orleans and Mississippi Territories and +to the commanders of the land and naval forces there to be on their +guard against surprise and in constant readiness to resist any enterprise +which might be attempted on the vessels, posts, or other objects under +their care; and on the 8th of November instructions were forwarded to +General Wilkinson to hasten an accommodation with the Spanish commandant +on the Sabine, and as soon as that was effected to fall back with his +principal force to the hither bank of the Mississippi for the defense +of the interesting points on that river. By a letter received from +that officer on the 25th of November, but dated October 21, we learnt +that a confidential agent of Aaron Burr had been deputed to him with +communications, partly written in cipher and partly oral, explaining his +designs, exaggerating his resources, and making such offers of emolument +and command to engage him and the army in his unlawful enterprise as he +had flattered himself would be successful. The General, with the honor +of a soldier and fidelity of a good citizen, immediately dispatched a +trusty officer to me with information of what had passed, proceeding +to establish such an understanding with the Spanish commandant on the +Sabine as permitted him to withdraw his force across the Mississippi +and to enter on measures for opposing the projected enterprise. + +The General's letter, which came to hand on the 25th of November, as has +been mentioned, and some other information received a few days earlier, +when brought together developed Burr's general designs, different parts +of which only had been revealed to different informants. It appeared +that he contemplated two distinct objects, which might be carried on +either jointly or separately, and either the one or the other first, +as circumstances should direct. One of these was the severance of the +Union of these States by the Alleghany Mountains; the other an attack +on Mexico. A third object was provided, merely ostensible, to wit, the +settlement of a pretended purchase of a tract of country on the Washita +claimed by a Baron Bastrop. This was to serve as the pretext for all +his preparations, an allurement for such followers as really wished to +acquire settlements in that country and a cover under which to retreat +in the event of a final discomfiture of both branches of his real +design. + +He found at once that the attachment of the Western country to the +present Union was not to be shaken; that its dissolution could not be +effected with the consent of its inhabitants, and that his resources +were inadequate as yet to effect it by force. He took his course then +at once, determined to seize on New Orleans, plunder the bank there, +possess himself of the military and naval stores, and proceed on his +expedition to Mexico, and to this object all his means and preparations +were now directed. He collected from all the quarters where himself or +his agents possessed influence all the ardent, restless, desperate, +and disaffected persons who were ready for any enterprise analogous to +their characters. He seduced good and well-meaning citizens, some by +assurances that he possessed the confidence of the Government and was +acting under its secret patronage, a pretense which procured some credit +from the state of our differences with Spain, and others by offers of +land in Bastrop's claim on the Washita. + +This was the state of my information of his proceedings about the last +of November, at which time, therefore, it was first possible to take +specific measures to meet them. The proclamation of November 27, two +days after the receipt of General Wilkinson's information, was now +issued. Orders were dispatched to every interesting point on the Ohio +and Mississippi from Pittsburg to New Orleans for the employment of such +force either of the regulars or of the militia and of such proceedings +also of the civil authorities as might enable them to seize on all the +boats and stores provided for the enterprise, to arrest the persons +concerned, and to suppress effectually the further progress of the +enterprise. A little before the receipt of these orders in the State +of Ohio our confidential agent, who had been diligently employed in +investigating the conspiracy, had acquired sufficient information to +open himself to the governor of that State and apply for the immediate +exertion of the authority and power of the State to crush the +combination. Governor Tiffin and the legislature, with a promptitude, +an energy, and patriotic zeal which entitle them to a distinguished +place in the affection of their sister States, effected the seizure +of all the boats, provisions, and other preparations within their +reach, and thus gave a first blow, materially disabling the enterprise +in its outset. + +In Kentucky a premature attempt to bring Burr to justice without +sufficient evidence for his conviction had produced a popular impression +in his favor and a general disbelief of his guilt. This gave him an +unfortunate opportunity of hastening his equipments. The arrival of +the proclamation and orders and the application and information of our +confidential agent at length awakened the authorities of that State +to the truth, and then produced the same promptitude and energy of +which the neighboring State had set the example. Under an act of their +legislature of December 23 militia was instantly ordered to different +important points, and measures taken for doing whatever could yet be +done. Some boats (accounts vary from five to double or treble that +number) and persons (differently estimated from 100 to 300) had in +the meantime passed the Falls of Ohio to rendezvous at the mouth of +Cumberland with others expected down that river. + +Not apprised till very late that any boats were building on Cumberland, +the effect of the proclamation had been trusted to for some time in the +State of Tennessee; but on the *19th of December similar communications +and instructions with those to the neighboring States were dispatched by +express to the governor and a general officer of the western division +ofthe State, and on the 23d of December our confidential agent left +Frankfort for Nashville to put into activity the means of that State +also. But by information received yesterday I learn that on the 22d of +December Mr. Burr descended the Cumberland with two boats merely of +accommodation, carrying with him from that State no quota toward his +unlawful enterprise. Whether after the arrival of the proclamation, of +the orders, or of our agent any exertion which could be made by that +State or the orders of the governor of Kentucky for calling out the +militia at the mouth of Cumberland would be in time to arrest these +boats and those from the Falls of Ohio is still doubtful. + +On the whole, the fugitives from the Ohio, with their associates from +Cumberland or any other place in that quarter, can not threaten serious +danger to the city of New Orleans. + +By the same express of December 19 orders were sent to the governors of +Orleans and Mississippi, supplementary to those which had been given +onthe 25th of November, to hold the militia of their Territories in +readiness to cooperate for their defense with the regular troops and +armed vessels then under command of General Wilkinson. Great alarm, +indeed, was excited at New Orleans by the exaggerated accounts of Mr. +Burr, disseminated through his emissaries, of the armies and navies +he was to assemble there. General Wilkinson had arrived there himself +on the 24th of November, and had immediately put into activity the +resources of the place for the purpose of its defense, and on the 10th +of December he was joined by his troops from the Sabine. Great zeal was +shewn by the inhabitants generally, the merchants of the place readily +agreeing to the most laudable exertions and sacrifices for manning the +armed vessels with their seamen, and the other citizens manifesting +unequivocal fidelity to the Union and a spirit of determined resistance +to their expected assailants. + +Surmises have been hazarded that this enterprise is to receive aid +from certain foreign powers; but these surmises are without proof or +probability. The wisdom of the measures sanctioned by Congress at its +last session has placed us in the paths of peace and justice with the +only powers with whom we had any differences, and nothing has happened +since which makes it either their interest or ours to pursue another +course. No change of measures has taken place on our part; none ought +to take place at this time. With the one, friendly arrangement was then +proposed, and the law deemed necessary on the failure of that was +suspended to give time for a fair trial of the issue. With the same +power friendly arrangement is now proceeding under good expectations, +and the same law deemed necessary on failure of that is still suspended, +to give time for a fair trial of the issue. With the other, negotiation +was in like manner then preferred, and provisional measures only taken +to meet the event of rupture. With the same power negotiation is still +preferred, and provisional measures only are necessary to meet the event +of rupture. While, therefore, we do not deflect in the slightest degree +from the course we then assumed and are still pursuing with mutual +consent to restore a good understanding, we arc not to impute to them +practices as irreconcilable to interest as to good faith, and changing +necessarily the relations of peace and justice between us to those of +war. These surmises are therefore to be imputed to the vauntings of the +author of this enterprise to multiply his partisans by magnifying the +belief of his prospects and support. + +By letters from General Wilkinson of the 14th and 18th of December, +which came to hand two days after the date of the resolution of the +House of Representatives--that is to say, on the morning of the 18th +instant--I received the important affidavit a copy of which I now +communicate, with extracts of so much of the letters as comes within the +scope of the resolution. By these it will be seen that of three of the +principal emissaries of Mr. Burr whom the General had caused to be +apprehended, one had been liberated by habeas corpus, and two others, +being those particularly employed in the endeavor to corrupt the general +and army of the United States, have been embarked by him for ports in +the Atlantic States, probably on the consideration that an impartial +trial could not be expected during the present agitations of New +Orleans, and that that city was not as yet a safe place of confinement. +As soon as these persons shall arrive they will be delivered to the +custody of the law and left to such course of trial, both as to place +and process, as its functionaries may direct. The presence of the +highest judicial authorities, to be assembled at this place within a few +days, the means of pursuing a sounder course of proceedings here than +elsewhere, and the aid of the Executive means, should the judges have +occasion to use them, render it equally desirable for the criminals as +for the public that, being already removed from the place where they +were first apprehended, the first regular arrest should take place here, +and the course of proceedings receive here its proper direction. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 26, 1807. + +_To the Senate, and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I received from General Wilkinson on the 23d instant his affidavit +charging Samuel Swartwout, Peter V. Ogden, and James Alexander with the +crimes described in the affidavit a copy of which is now communicated +to both Houses of Congress. + +It was announced to me at the same time that Swartwout and Bollman, two +of the persons apprehended by him, were arrived in this city in custody +each of a military officer. I immediately delivered to the attorney of +the United States in this district the evidence received against them, +with instructions to lay the same before the judges and apply for their +process to bring the accused to justice, and put into his hands orders +to the officers having them in custody to deliver them to the marshal +on his application. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 27, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now render to Congress the account of the fund established for +defraying the contingent expenses of Government for the year 1806. +No occasion having arisen for making use of any part of the balance of +$18,012.50, unexpended on the 31st day of December, 1805, that balance +remains in the Treasury. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 28, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +By the letters of Captain Bissel, who commands at Fort Massac, and of +Mr. Murrell, to General Jackson, of Tennessee, copies of which are now +communicated to Congress, it will be seen that Aaron Burr passed Fort +Massac on the 31st December with about ten boats, navigated by about six +hands each, without any military appearance, and that three boats with +ammunition were said to have been arrested by the militia at Louisville. + +As the guards of militia posted on various points of the Ohio will be +able to prevent any further aids passing through that channel, should +any be attempted, we may now estimate with tolerable certainty the means +derived from the Ohio and its waters toward the accomplishment of the +purposes of Mr. Burr. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 31, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In execution of the act of the last session of Congress entitled "An +act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland, in +the State of Maryland, to the State of Ohio," I appointed Thomas Moore, +of Maryland; Joseph Kerr, of Ohio, and Eli Williams, of Maryland, +commissioners to lay out the said road, and to perform the other duties +assigned to them by the act. The progress which they made in the +execution of the work during the last season will appear in their report +now communicated to Congress. On the receipt of it I took measures +to obtain consent for making the road of the States of Pennsylvania, +Maryland, and Virginia, through which the commissioners proposed to +lay it out. I have received acts of the legislatures of Maryland and +Virginia giving the consent desired; that of Pennsylvania has the +subject still under consideration, as is supposed. Until I receive full +consent to a free choice of route through the whole distance I have +thought it safest neither to accept nor reject finally the partial +report of the commissioners. Some matters suggested in the report belong +exclusively to the Legislature. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 6, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I lay before Congress the laws for the government of Louisiana, passed +by the governor and judges of the Indiana Territory at their session at +Vincennes begun on the 1st of October, 1804. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 6, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The Government of France having examined into the claim of M. de +Beaumarchais against the United States, and considering it as just and +legal, has instructed its minister here to make representations on the +subject to the Government of the United States. I now lay his memoir +thereon before the Legislature, the only authority competent to a final +decision on the same. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 10, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate, for the information of Congress, a letter from Cowles +Mead, secretary of the Mississippi Territory, to the Secretary of War, +by which it will be seen that Mr. Burr had reached that neighborhood +on the 13th of January. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + +FEBRUARY 10, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In compliance with the request of the House of Representatives expressed +in their resolution of the 5th instant, I proceed to give such +information as is possessed of the effect of gunboats in the protection +and defense of harbors, of the numbers thought necessary, and of the +proposed distribution of them among the ports and harbors of the United +States. + +Under present circumstances, and governed by the intentions of the +Legislature as manifested by their annual appropriations of money for +the purposes of defense, it has been concluded to combine, first, land +batteries furnished with heavy cannon and mortars, and established on +all the points around the place favorable for preventing vessels from +lying before it; second, movable artillery, which may be carried, as +occasion may require, to points unprovided with fixed batteries; third, +floating batteries, and fourth, gunboats which may oppose an enemy at +his entrance and cooperate with the batteries for his expulsion. + +On this subject professional men were consulted as far as we had +opportunity. General Wilkinson and the late General Gates gave their +opinions in writing in favor of the system, as will be seen by their +letters now communicated. The higher officers of the Navy gave the same +opinions in separate conferences, as their presence at the seat of +Government offered occasions of consulting them, and no difference of +judgment appeared on the subject. Those of Commodore Barren and Captain +Tingey, now here, are recently furnished in writing, and transmitted +herewith to the Legislature. + +The efficacy of gunboats for the defense of harbors and of other smooth +and inclosed waters may be estimated in part from that of galleys +formerly much used but less powerful, more costly in their construction +and maintenance, and requiring more men. But the gunboat itself is +believed to be in use with every modern maritime nation for the purposes +of defense. In the Mediterranean, on which are several small powers +whose system, like ours, is peace and defense, few harbors are without +this article of protection. Our own experience there of the effect of +gunboats for harbor service is recent. Algiers is particularly known +to have owed to a great provision of these vessels the safety of its +city since the epoch of their construction, Before that it had been +repeatedly insulted and injured. The effect of gunboats at present in +the neighborhood of Gibraltar is well known, and how much they were used +both in the attack and defense of that place during a former war. The +extensive resort to them by the two greatest naval powers in the world +on an enterprise of invasion not long since in prospect shews their +confidence in their efficacy for the purposes for which they are suited. +By the northern powers of Europe, whose seas are particularly adapted +to them, they are still more used. The remarkable action between the +Russian flotilla of gunboats and galleys and a Turkish fleet of ships +of the line and frigates in the Liman Sea in 1788 will be readily +recollected. The latter, commanded by their most celebrated admiral, +were completely defeated, and several of their ships of the line +destroyed. + +From the opinions given as to the number of gunboats necessary for some +of the principal seaports, and from a view of all the towns and ports +from Orleans to Maine, inclusive, entitled to protection in proportion +to their situation and circumstances, it is concluded that to give them +a due measure of protection in times of war about 200 gunboats will be +requisite. + +According to first ideas the following would be their general +distribution, liable to be varied on more mature examination and +as circumstances shall vary; that is to say: + +To the Mississippi and its neighboring waters, 40 gunboats. + +To Savannah and Charleston, and the harbors on each side from St. Marys +to Currituck, 25. + +To the Chesapeake and its waters, 20. + +To Delaware Bay and River, 15. + +To New York, the Sound, and waters as far as Cape Cod, 50. + +To Boston and the harbors north of Cape Cod, 50. + +The flotillas assigned to these several stations might each be under +the care of a particular commandant, and the vessels composing them +would in ordinary be distributed among the harbors within the station +in proportion to their importance. + +Of these boats a proper proportion would be of the larger size, such +as those heretofore built, capable of navigating any seas and of +reenforcing occasionally the strength of even the most distant ports +when menaced with danger. The residue would be confined to their own +or the neighboring harbors, would be smaller, less furnished for +accommodation, and consequently less costly. Of the number supposed +necessary, 73 are built or building, and the 127 still to be provided +would cost from $500,000 to $600,000. Having regard to the convenience +of the Treasury as well as to the resources for building, it has been +thought that the one-half of these might be built in the present year +and the other half the next. With the Legislature, however, it will rest +to stop where we are, or at any further point, when they shall be of +opinion that the number provided shall be sufficient for the object. + +At times when Europe as well as the United States shall be at peace +it would not be proposed that more than six or eight of these vessels +should be kept afloat. When Europe is in war, treble that number might +be necessary, to be distributed among those particular harbors which +foreign vessels of war are in the habit of frequenting for the purpose +of preserving order therein. But they would be manned in ordinary, with +only their complement for navigation, relying on the seamen and militia +of the port if called into action on any sudden emergency. It would be +only when the United States should themselves be at war that the whole +number would be brought into active service, and would be ready in the +first moments of the war to cooperate with the other means for covering +at once the line of our seaports. At all times those unemployed would be +withdrawn into places not exposed to sudden enterprise, hauled up under +sheds from the sun and weather, and kept in preservation with little +expense for repairs or maintenance. + +It must be superfluous to observe that this species of naval armament +is proposed merely for defensive operation; that it can have but little +effect toward protecting our commerce in the open seas, even on our own +coast; and still less can it become an excitement to engage in offensive +maritime war, toward which it would furnish no means. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 11, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United +States according to the latest returns received by the Department +of War. From two of the States no returns have ever been received. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 19, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I transmit to Congress a letter from our ministers plenipotentiary +at London, informing us that they have agreed with the British +commissioners to conclude a treaty on all the points which had formed +the object of their negotiation, and on terms which they trusted we +would approve. + +Also a letter from our minister plenipotentiary at Paris covering one +to him from the minister of marine of that Government assuring him that +the imperial decree lately passed was not to affect our commerce, which +would still be governed by the rules of the treaty established between +the two countries. + +Also a letter from Cowles Mead, secretary of the Mississippi Territory, +acting as governor, informing us that Aaron Burr had surrendered himself +to the civil authority of that Territory. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +PROCLAMATIONS. + + +BY THOMAS JEFFERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + +A PROCLAMATION. + +During the wars which for some time have unhappily prevailed among the +powers of Europe the United States of America, firm in their principles +of peace, have endeavored, by justice, by a regular discharge of all +their national and social duties, and by every friendly office their +situation has admitted, to maintain with all the belligerents their +accustomed relations of friendship, hospitality, and commercial +intercourse. Taking no part in the questions which animate these powers +against each other, nor permitting themselves to entertain a wish but +for the restoration of general peace, they have observed with good faith +the neutrality they assumed, and they believe that no instance of a +departure from its duties can be justly imputed to them by any nation. +A free use of their harbors and waters, the means of refitting and of +refreshment, of succor to their sick and suffering, have at all times +and on equal principles been extended to all, and this, too, amidst a +constant recurrence of acts of insubordination to the laws, of violence +to the persons, and of trespasses on the property of our citizens +committed by officers of one of the belligerent parties received among +us. In truth, these abuses of the laws of hospitality have, with few +exceptions, become habitual to the commanders of the British armed +vessels hovering on our coasts and frequenting our harbors. They have +been the subject of repeated representations to their Government. +Assurances have been given that proper orders should restrain them +within the limits of the rights and of the respect due to a friendly +nation; but those orders and assurances have been without effect--no +instance of punishment for past wrongs has taken place. At length a deed +transcending all we have hitherto seen or suffered brings the public +sensibility to a serious crisis and our forbearance to a necessary +pause. A frigate of the United States, trusting to a state of peace, and +leaving her harbor on a distant service, has been surprised and attacked +by a British vessel of superior force--one of a squadron then lying in +our waters and covering the transaction--and has been disabled from +service, with the loss of a number of men killed and wounded. This +enormity was not only without provocation or justifiable cause, but was +committed with the avowed purpose of taking by force from a ship of war +of the United States a part of her crew; and that no circumstance might +be wanting to mark its character, it had been previously ascertained +that the seamen demanded were native citizens of the United States. +Having effected her purpose, she returned to anchor with her squadron +within our jurisdiction. Hospitality under such circumstances ceases to +be a duty, and a continuance of it with such uncontrolled abuses would +tend only, by multiplying injuries and irritations, to bring on a +rupture between the two nations. This extreme resort is equally opposed +to the interests of both, as it is to assurances of the most friendly +dispositions on the part of the British Government, in the midst of +which this outrage has been committed. In this light the subject can not +but present itself to that Government and strengthen the motives to +an honorable reparation of the wrong which has been done, and to that +effectual control of its naval commanders which alone can justify the +Government of the United States in the exercise of those hospitalities +it is now constrained to discontinue. + +In consideration of these circumstances and of the right of every nation +to regulate its own police, to provide for its peace and for the safety +of its citizens, and consequently to refuse the admission of armed +vessels into its harbors or waters, either in such numbers or of such +descriptions as are inconsistent with these or with the maintenance +of the authority of the laws, I have thought proper, in pursuance of +the authorities specially given by law, to issue this my proclamation, +hereby requiring all armed vessels bearing commissions under the +Government of Great Britain now within the harbors or waters of the +United States immediately and without any delay to depart from the same, +and interdicting the entrance of all the said harbors and waters to the +said armed vessels and to all others bearing commissions under the +authority of the British Government. + +And if the said vessels, or any of them, shall fail to depart as +aforesaid, or if they or any others so interdicted shall hereafter +enter the harbors or waters aforesaid, I do in that case forbid all +intercourse with them, or any of them, their officers or crews, and +do prohibit all supplies and aid from being furnished to them, or any +of them. + +And I do declare and make known that if any person from or within the +jurisdictional limits of the United States shall afford any aid to any +such vessel contrary to the prohibition contained in this proclamation, +either in repairing any such vessel or in furnishing her, her officers +or crew, with supplies of any kind or in any manner whatsoever; or if +any pilot shall assist in navigating any of the said armed vessels, +unless it be for the purpose of carrying them in the first instance +beyond the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, or unless it +be in the case of a vessel forced by distress or charged with public +dispatches, as hereinafter provided for, such person or persons shall +on conviction suffer all the pains and penalties by the laws provided +for such offenses. + +And I do hereby enjoin and require all persons bearing office, civil or +military, within or under the authority of the United States, and all +others citizens or inhabitants thereof, or being within the same, with +vigilance and promptitude to exert their respective authorities and to +be aiding and assisting to the carrying this proclamation and every part +thereof into full effect. + +Provided, nevertheless, that if any such vessel shall be forced into the +harbors or waters of the United States by distress, by the dangers of +the sea, or by the pursuit of an enemy, or shall enter them charged +with dispatches or business from their Government, or shall be a public +packet for the conveyance of letters and dispatches, the commanding +officer, immediately reporting his vessel to the collector of the +district, stating the object or causes of entering the said harbors +or waters, and conforming himself to the regulations in that case +prescribed under the authority of the laws, shall be allowed the benefit +of such regulations respecting repairs, supplies, stay, intercourse, and +departure as shall be permitted under the same authority. + +[SEAL.] + +In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be +affixed to these presents, and signed the same. + +Given at the city of Washington, the 2d day of July, A.D. 1807, and of +the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States the thirty-first. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +By the President: + JAMES MADISON, + _Secretary of State_. + + + +[From Annals of Congress, Tenth Congress, first session, vol. i, 9.] + + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + +A PROCLAMATION. + +Whereas great and weighty matters claiming the consideration of the +Congress of the United States form an extraordinary occasion for +convening them, I do by these presents appoint Monday, the 26th day +of October next, for their meeting at the city of Washington, hereby +requiring the respective Senators and Representatives then and there to +assemble in Congress, in order to receive such communications as may +then be made to them, and to consult and determine on such measures as +in their wisdom may be deemed meet for the welfare of the United States. + +[SEAL.] + +In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be +hereunto affixed, and signed the same with my hand. + +Done at the city of Washington, the 30th day of July, A.D. 1807, and in +the thirty-second year of the Independence of the United States. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +By the President: + JAMES MADISON, + _Secretary of State_. + + + +[From the National Intelligencer, October 19, 1807.] + + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + +A PROCLAMATION. + +Whereas information has been received that a number of individuals who +have deserted from the Army of the United States and sought shelter +without the jurisdiction thereof have become sensible of their offense +and are desirous of returning to their duty, a full pardon is hereby +proclaimed to each and all of such individuals as shall within four +months from the date hereof surrender themselves to the commanding +officer of any military post within the United States or the Territories +thereof. + +[SEAL.] + +In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be +affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. + +Done at the city of Washington, the 15th day of October, A.D. 1807, and +of the Independence of the United States of America the thirty-second. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +By the President: + JAMES MADISON, + _Secretary of State_. + + + + +SEVENTH ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +OCTOBER 27, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Circumstances, fellow-citizens, which seriously threatened the peace +of our country have made it a duty to convene you at an earlier period +than usual. The love of peace so much cherished in the bosoms of our +citizens, which has so long guided the proceedings of their public +councils and induced forbearance under so many wrongs, may not insure +our continuance in the quiet pursuits of industry. The many injuries +and depredations committed on our commerce and navigation upon the high +seas for years past, the successive innovations on those principles +of public law which have been established by the reason and usage of +nations as the rule of their intercourse and the umpire and security +of their rights and peace, and all the circumstances which induced +the extraordinary mission to London are already known to you. The +instructions given to our ministers were framed in the sincerest spirit +of amity and moderation. They accordingly proceeded, in conformity +therewith, to propose arrangements which might embrace and settle all +the points in difference between us, which might bring us to a mutual +understanding on our neutral and national rights and provide for a +commercial intercourse on conditions of some equality. After long and +fruitless endeavors to effect the purposes of their mission and to +obtain arrangements within the limits of their instructions, they +concluded to sign such as could be obtained and to send them for +consideration, candidly declaring to the other negotiators at the same +time that they were acting against their instructions, and that their +Government, therefore, could not be pledged for ratification. Some +of the articles proposed might have been admitted on a principle +of compromise, but others were too highly disadvantageous, and no +sufficient provision was made against the principal source of the +irritations and collisions which were constantly endangering the peace +of the two nations. The question, therefore, whether a treaty should +be accepted in that form could have admitted but of one decision, even +had no declarations of the other party impaired our confidence in it. +Still anxious not to close the door against friendly adjustment, new +modifications were framed and further concessions authorized than could +before have been supposed necessary; and our ministers were instructed +to resume their negotiations on these grounds. On this new reference to +amicable discussion we were reposing in confidence, when on the 22d day +of June last by a formal order from a British admiral the frigate +_Chesapeake_, leaving her port for a distant service, was attacked +by one of those vessels which had been lying in our harbors under the +indulgences of hospitality, was disabled from proceeding, had several +of her crew killed and four taken away. On this outrage no commentaries +are necessary. Its character has been pronounced by the indignant voice +of our citizens with an emphasis and unanimity never exceeded. I +immediately, by proclamation, interdicted our harbors and waters to all +British armed vessels, forbade intercourse with them, and uncertain how +far hostilities were intended, and the town of Norfolk, indeed, being +threatened with immediate attack, a sufficient force was ordered for +the protection of that place, and such other preparations commenced and +pursued as the prospect rendered proper. An armed vessel of the United +States was dispatched with instructions to our ministers at London to +call on that Government for the satisfaction and security required by +the outrage. A very short interval ought now to bring the answer, which +shall be communicated to you as soon as received; then also, or as soon +after as the public interests shall be found to admit, the unratified +treaty and proceedings relative to it shall be made known to you. + +The aggression thus begun has been continued on the part of the British +commanders by remaining within our waters in defiance of the authority +of the country, by habitual violations of its jurisdiction, and at +length by putting to death one of the persons whom they had forcibly +taken from on board the _Chesapeake_. These aggravations necessarily +lead to the policy either of never admitting an armed vessel into our +harbors or of maintaining in every harbor such an armed force as may +constrain obedience to the laws and protect the lives and property +of our citizens against their armed guests; but the expense of such +a standing force and its inconsistence with our principles dispense +with those courtesies which would necessarily call for it, and leave +us equally free to exclude the navy, as we are the army, of a foreign +power from entering our limits. + +To former violations of maritime rights another is now added of very +extensive effect. The Government of that nation has issued an order +interdicting all trade by neutrals between ports not in amity with +them; and being now at war with nearly every nation on the Atlantic and +Mediterranean seas, our vessels are required to sacrifice their cargoes +at the first port they touch or to return home without the benefit of +going to any other market. Under this new law of the ocean our trade +on the Mediterranean has been swept away by seizures and condemnations, +and that in other seas is threatened with the same fate. + +Our differences with Spain remain still unsettled, no measure having +been taken on her part since my last communications to Congress to +bring them to a close. But under a state of things which may favor +reconsideration they have been recently pressed, and an expectation is +entertained that they may now soon be brought to an issue of some sort. +With their subjects on our borders no new collisions have taken place +nor seem immediately to be apprehended. To our former grounds of +complaint has been added a very serious one, as you will see by the +decree a copy of which is now communicated. Whether this decree, which +professes to be conformable to that of the French Government of November +21, 1806, heretofore communicated to Congress, will also be conformed +to that in its construction and application in relation to the United +States had not been ascertained at the date of our last communications. +These, however, gave reason to expect such a conformity. + +With the other nations of Europe our harmony has been uninterrupted, +and commerce and friendly intercourse have been maintained on their +usual footing. + +Our peace with the several states on the coast of Barbary appears as +firm as at any former period and as likely to continue as that of any +other nation. + +Among our Indian neighbors in the northwestern quarter some fermentation +was observed soon after the late occurrences, threatening the +continuance of our peace. Messages were said to be interchanged and +tokens to be passing, which usually denote a state of restlessness among +them, and the character of the agitators pointed to the sources of +excitement. Measures were immediately taken for providing against that +danger; instructions were given to require explanations, and, with +assurances of our continued friendship, to admonish the tribes to remain +quiet at home, taking no part in quarrels not belonging to them. As +far as we are yet informed, the tribes in our vicinity, who are most +advanced in the pursuits of industry, are sincerely disposed to adhere +to their friendship with us and to their peace with all others, while +those more remote do not present appearances sufficiently quiet to +justify the intermission of military precaution on our part. + +The great tribes on our southwestern quarter, much advanced beyond +the others in agriculture and household arts, appear tranquil and +identifying their views with ours in proportion to their advancement. +With the whole of these people, in every quarter, I shall continue to +inculcate peace and friendship with all their neighbors and perseverance +in those occupations and pursuits which will best promote their own +well-being. + +The appropriations of the last session for the defense of our seaport +towns and harbors were made under expectation that a continuance of +our peace would permit us to proceed in that work according to our +convenience. It has been thought better to apply the sums then given +toward the defense of New York, Charleston, and New Orleans chiefly, as +most open and most likely first to need protection, and to leave places +less immediately in danger to the provisions of the present session. + +The gunboats, too, already provided have on a like principle been +chiefly assigned to New York, New Orleans, and the Chesapeake. Whether +our movable force on the water, so material in aid of the defensive +works on the land, should be augmented in this or any other form is +left to the wisdom of the Legislature. For the purpose of manning +these vessels in sudden attacks on our harbors it is a matter for +consideration whether the seamen of the United States may not justly +be formed into a special militia, to be called on for tours of duty +in defense of the harbors where they shall happen to be, the ordinary +militia of the place furnishing that portion which may consist of +landsmen. + +The moment our peace was threatened I deemed it indispensable to secure +a greater provision of those articles of military stores with which our +magazines were not sufficiently furnished. To have awaited a previous +and special sanction by law would have lost occasions which might not +be retrieved. I did not hesitate, therefore, to authorize engagements +for such supplements to our existing stock as would render it adequate +to the emergencies threatening us, and I trust that the Legislature, +feeling the same anxiety for the safety of our country, so materially +advanced by this precaution, will approve, when done, what they would +have seen so important to be done if then assembled. Expenses, also +unprovided for, arose out of the necessity of calling all our gunboats +into actual service for the defense of our harbors; of all which +accounts will be laid before you. + +Whether a regular army is to be raised, and to what extent, must depend +on the information so shortly expected. In the meantime I have called +on the States for quotas of militia, to be in readiness for present +defense, and have, moreover, encouraged the acceptance of volunteers; +and I am happy to inform you that these have offered themselves with +great alacrity in every part of the Union. They are ordered to be +organized and ready at a moment's warning to proceed on any service to +which they may be called, and every preparation within the Executive +powers has been made to insure us the benefit of early exertions. + +I informed Congress at their last session of the enterprises against the +public peace which were believed to be in preparation by Aaron Burr and +his associates, of the measures taken to defeat them and to bring the +offenders to justice. Their enterprises were happily defeated by the +patriotic exertions of the militia whenever called into action, by the +fidelity of the Army, and energy of the commander in chief in promptly +arranging the difficulties presenting themselves on the Sabine, +repairing to meet those arising on the Mississippi, and dissipating +before their explosion plots engendering there. I shall think it my duty +to lay before you the proceedings and the evidence publicly exhibited on +the arraignment of the principal offenders before the circuit court of +Virginia. You will be enabled to judge whether the defect was in the +testimony, in the law, or in the administration of the law; and wherever +it shall be found, the Legislature alone can apply or originate the +remedy. The framers of our Constitution certainly supposed they had +guarded as well their Government against destruction by treason as their +citizens against oppression under pretense of it, and if these ends are +not attained it is of importance to inquire by what means more effectual +they may be secured. + +The accounts of the receipts of revenue during the year ending on the +30th day of September last being not yet made up, a correct statement +will be hereafter transmitted from the Treasury. In the meantime, it is +ascertained that the receipts have amounted to near $16,000,000, which, +with the five millions and a half in the Treasury at the beginning +of the year, have enabled us, after meeting the current demands and +interest incurred, to pay more than four millions of the principal of +our funded debt. These payments, with those of the preceding five and a +half years, have extinguished of the funded debt $25,500,000, being the +whole which could be paid or purchased within the limits of the law and +of our contracts, and have left us in the Treasury $8,500,000. A portion +of this sum may be considered as a commencement of accumulation of the +surpluses of revenue which, after paying the installments of debt as +they shall become payable, will remain without any specific object. It +may partly, indeed, be applied toward completing the defense of the +exposed points of our country, on such a scale as shall be adapted to +our principles and circumstances. This object is doubtless among the +first entitled to attention in such a state of our finances, and it is +one which, whether we have peace or war, will provide security where it +is due. Whether what shall remain of this, with the future surpluses, +may be usefully applied to purposes already authorized or more usefully +to others requiring new authorities, or how otherwise they shall be +disposed of, are questions calling for the notice of Congress, unless, +indeed, they shall be superseded by a change in our public relations now +awaiting the determination of others. Whatever be that determination, it +is a great consolation that it will become known at a moment when the +supreme council of the nation is assembled at its post, and ready to +give the aids of its wisdom and authority to whatever course the good +of our country shall then call us to pursue. + +Matters of minor importance will be the subjects of future +communications, and nothing shall be wanting on my part which may give +information or dispatch to the proceedings of the Legislature in the +exercise of their high duties, and at a moment so interesting to the +public welfare. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +NOVEMBER 11, 1807. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +Some time had elapsed after the receipt of the late treaty between +the United States and Tripoli before the circumstance drew particular +attention that, although by the third article the wife and children of +the ex-Bashaw were to be restored to him, this did not appear either +to have been done or demanded; still, it was constantly expected that +explanations on the subject would be received. None, however, having +arrived when Mr. Davis went as consul to Tripoli, he was instructed to +demand the execution of the article. He did so, but was answered by the +exhibition of a declaration, signed by our negotiator the day after the +signature of the treaty, allowing four years for the restoration of the +family. This declaration and the letter of Mr. Davis stating what passed +on the occasion are now communicated to the Senate. On the receipt of +this letter I caused the correspondence of Mr. Lear to be diligently +reexamined in order to ascertain whether there might have been a +communication of this paper made and overlooked or forgotten. None such, +however, is found. There appears only in a journalized account of the +transaction by Mr. Lear, under date of June 3, a passage intimating that +he should be disposed to give time rather than suffer the business to be +broken off and our countrymen left in slavery; and again, that on the +return of the person who passed between himself and the Bashaw, and +information that the Bashaw would require time for the delivery of the +family, he consented, and went ashore to consummate the treaty. This was +done the next day, and being forwarded to us as ultimately signed, and +found to contain no allowance of time nor any intimation that there was +any stipulation but what was in the public treaty, it was supposed that +the Bashaw had, in fine, abandoned the proposition, and the instructions +before mentioned were consequently given to Mr. Davis. + +An extract of so much of Mr. Lear's communication as relates to this +circumstance is now transmitted to the Senate, the whole of the papers +having been laid before them on a former occasion. How it has happened +that the declaration of June 5 has never before come to our knowledge +can not with certainty be said, but whether there has been a miscarriage +of it or a failure of the ordinary attention and correctness of that +officer in making his communications, I have thought it due to the +Senate as well as to myself to explain to them the circumstances +which have withheld from their knowledge, as they did from my own, +a modification which, had it been placed in the public treaty, would +have been relieved from the objections which candor and good faith can +not but feel in its present form. + +As the restoration of the family has probably been effected, a just +regard to the character of the United States will require that I make +to the Bashaw a candid statement of facts, and that the sacrifices of +his right to the peace and friendship of the two countries, by yielding +finally to the demand of Mr. Davis, be met by proper acknowledgments and +reparation on our part. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 19, 1807. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +According to the request expressed in your resolution of the 18th +instant, I now transmit a copy of my proclamation interdicting our +harbors and waters to British armed vessels and forbidding intercourse +with them, referred to in my message of the 27th of October last. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 23, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Agreeably to the assurance given in my message at the opening of +the present session of Congress, I now lay before you a copy of the +proceedings and of the evidence exhibited on the arraignment of Aaron +Burr and others before the circuit court of the United States held in +Virginia in the course of the present year, in as authentic form as +their several parts have admitted. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 23, 1807. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +Some circumstance, which can not now be ascertained, induced a belief +that an act had passed at the last session of Congress for establishing +a surveyor and inspector of revenue for the port of Stonington, in +Connecticut, and commissions were signed appointing Jonathan Palmer, +of Connecticut, to those offices. The error was discovered at the +Treasury, and the commissions were retained; but not having been +notified to me, I renewed the nomination in my message of the 9th +instant to the Senate. In order to correct the error, I have canceled +the temporary commissions, and now revoke the nomination which I made +of the said Jonathan Palmer to the Senate. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 2, 1807. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +In compliance with the request made in the resolution of the Senate +of November 30, I must inform them that when the prosecutions against +Aaron Burr and his associates were instituted I delivered to the +Attorney-General all the evidence on the subject, formal and informal, +which I had received, to be used by those employed in the prosecutions. +On the receipt of the resolution of the Senate I referred it to the +Attorney-General, with a request that he would enable me to comply with +it by putting into my hands such of the papers as might give information +relative to the conduct of John Smith, a Senator from the State of Ohio, +as an alleged associate of Aaron Burr, and having this moment received +from him the affidavit of Elias Glover, with an assurance that it is the +only paper in his possession which is within the term of the request of +the Senate, I now transmit it for their use. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 7, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Having recently received from our late minister plenipotentiary at +the Court of London a duplicate of dispatches, the original of which +has been sent by the _Revenge_ schooner, not yet arrived, I hasten +to lay them before both Houses of Congress. They contain the whole +of what has passed between the two Governments on the subject of +the outrage committed by the British ship _Leopard_ on the frigate +_Chesapeake_. Congress will learn from these papers the present +state of the discussion on that transaction, and that it is to be +transferred to this place by the mission of a special minister. + +While this information will have its proper effect on their +deliberations and proceedings respecting the relations between the two +countries, they will be sensible that, the negotiation being still +depending, it is proper for me to request that the communications may +be considered as confidential. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 18, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The communications now made, shewing the great and increasing dangers +with which our vessels, our seamen, and merchandise are threatened +on the high seas and elsewhere from the belligerent powers of Europe, +and it being of the greatest importance to keep in safety these +essential resources, I deem it my duty to recommend the subject to +the consideration of Congress, who will doubtless perceive all the +advantages which may be expected from an inhibition of the departure +of our vessels from the ports of the United States. + +Their wisdom will also see the necessity of making every preparation +for whatever events may grow out of the present crisis. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 30, 1807. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate to Congress the inclosed letters from Governor Hull, +respecting the Indians in the vicinity of Detroit residing within our +lines. They contain information of the state of things in that quarter +which will properly enter into their view in estimating the means to +be provided for the defense of our country generally. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 8, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now render to Congress the account of the fund established for +defraying the contingent expenses of Government for the year 1807. +Of the sum of $18,012.50, which remained unexpended at the close +of the year 1806, $8,731.11 have been placed in the hands of the +Attorney-General of the United States, to enable him to defray sundry +expenses incident to the prosecution of Aaron Burr and his accomplices +for treasons and misdemeanors alleged to have been committed by them, +and the unexpended balance of $9,275.39 is now carried according to +law to the credit of the surplus fund. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 15, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +The posts of Detroit and Mackinac having been originally intended by the +Governments which established and held them as mere depots for commerce +with the Indians, very small cessions of land around them were obtained +or asked from the native proprietors, and these posts depended for +protection on the strength of their garrisons. The principles of our +Government leading us to the employment of such moderate garrisons in +time of peace as may merely take care of the post, and to a reliance on +the neighboring militia for its support in the first moments of war, +I have thought it would be important to obtain from the Indians such a +cession in the neighborhood of these posts as might maintain a militia +proportioned to this object; and I have particularly contemplated, with +this view, the acquisition of the eastern moiety of the peninsula +between lakes Michigan and Huron, comprehending the waters of the latter +and of Detroit River, so soon as it could be effected with the perfect +good will of the natives. Governor Hull was therefore appointed a +commissioner to treat with them on this subject, but was instructed to +confine his propositions for the present to so much of the tract before +described as lay south of Saguina Bay and round to the Connecticut +Reserve, so as to consolidate the new with the present settled country. +The result has been an acquisition of so much only of what would have +been acceptable as extends from the neighborhood of Saguina Bay to the +Miami of the Lakes, with a prospect of soon obtaining a breadth of 2 +miles for a communication from the Miami to the Connecticut Reserve. +The treaty for this purpose entered into with the Ottoways, Chippeways, +Wyandots, and Pottawattamies at Detroit on the 17th of November last is +now transmitted to the Senate, and I ask their advice and consent as to +its ratification. + +I communicate herewith such papers as bear any material relation to +the subject. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 15, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +Although it is deemed very desirable that the United States should +obtain from the native proprietors the whole left bank of the +Mississippi to a certain breadth, yet to obliterate from the Indian +mind an impression deeply made in it that we are constantly forming +designs on their lands I have thought it best where urged by no +peculiar necessity to leave to themselves and to the pressure of +their own convenience only to come forward with offers of sale to +the United States. + +The Choctaws, being indebted to certain mercantile characters beyond +what could be discharged by the ordinary proceeds of their huntings, and +pressed for payment by those creditors, proposed at length to the United +States to cede lands to the amount of their debts, and designated them +in two different portions of their country. These designations not at +all suiting us, their proposals were declined for that reason, and with +an intimation that if their own convenience should ever dispose them to +cede their lands on the Mississippi we should be willing to purchase. +Still urged by their creditors, as well as by their own desire to be +liberated from debt, they at length proposed to make a cession which +should be to our convenience. James Robertson, of Tennessee, and Silas +Dinsmore were thereupon appointed commissioners to treat with them on +that subject, with instructions to purchase only on the Mississippi. On +meeting their chiefs, however, it was found that such was the attachment +of the nation to their lands on the Mississippi that their chiefs could +not undertake to cede them; but they offered all their lands south of +a line to be run from their and our boundary at the Omochita eastwardly +to their boundary with the Creeks, on the ridge between the Tombigbee +and Alabama, which would unite our possessions there from Natchez +to Tombigbee. A treaty to this effect was accordingly signed at +Pooshapekanuk on the 16th of November, 1805; but this being against +express instructions, and not according with the object then in view, +I was disinclined to its ratification, and therefore did not at the last +session of Congress lay it before the Senate for their advice, but have +suffered it to lie unacted on. + +Progressive difficulties, however, in our foreign relations have brought +into view considerations other than those which then prevailed. It is +now, perhaps, become as interesting to obtain footing for a strong +settlement of militia along our southern frontier eastward of the +Mississippi as on the west of that river, and more so than higher up +the river itself. The consolidation of the Mississippi Territory and +the establishing a barrier of separation between the Indians and our +Southern neighbors are also important objects. The cession is supposed +to contain about 5,000,000 acres, of which the greater part is said to +be fit for cultivation, and no inconsiderable proportion of the first +quality, on the various waters it includes; and the Choctaws and their +creditors are still anxious for the sale. + +I therefore now transmit the treaty for the consideration of the Senate, +and I ask their advice and consent as to its ratification. I communicate +at the same time such papers as bear any material relation to the +subject, together with a map on which is sketched the northern limit of +the cession, rather to give a general idea than with any pretension to +exactness, which our present knowledge of the country would not warrant. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 20, 1808. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Some days previous to your resolutions of the 13th instant a court of +inquiry had been instituted at the request of General Wilkinson, charged +to make the inquiry into his conduct which the first resolution desires, +and had commenced their proceedings. To the judge-advocate of that court +the papers and information on that subject transmitted to me by the +House of Representatives have been delivered, to be used according to +the rules and powers of that court. + +The request of a communication of any information which may have been +received at any time since the establishment of the present Government +touching combinations with foreign agents for dismembering the Union +or the corrupt receipt of money by any officer of the United States +from the agents of foreign governments can be complied with but in a +partial degree. + +It is well understood that in the first or second year of the Presidency +of General Washington information was given to him relating to +certain combinations with the agents of a foreign government for the +dismemberment of the Union, which combinations had taken place before +the establishment of the present Federal Government. This information, +however, is believed never to have been deposited in any public office, +or left in that of the President's secretary, these having been duly +examined, but to have been considered as personally confidential, and +therefore retained among his private papers. A communication from the +governor of Virginia to President Washington is found in the office +of the President's secretary, which, although not strictly within the +terms of the request of the House of Representatives, is communicated, +inasmuch as it may throw some light on the subjects of the +correspondence of that time between certain foreign agents and citizens +of the United States. + +In the first or second year of the Administration of President Adams +Andrew Ellicott, then employed in designating, in conjunction with the +Spanish authorities, the boundaries between the territories of the +United States and Spain, under the treaty with that nation, communicated +to the Executive of the United States papers and information respecting +the subjects of the present inquiry, which were deposited in the +Office of State. Copies of these are now transmitted to the House of +Representatives, except of a single letter and a reference from the +said Andrew Ellicott, which, being expressly desired to be kept secret, +is therefore not communicated, but its contents can be obtained from +himself in a more legal form, and directions have been given to summon +him to appear as a witness before the court of inquiry. + +A paper on "The Commerce of Louisiana," bearing date the 18th of +April, 1798, is found in the Office of State, supposed to have been +communicated by Mr. Daniel Clark, of New Orleans, then a subject of +Spain, and now of the House of Representatives of the United States, +stating certain commercial transactions of General Wilkinson in New +Orleans. An extract from this is now communicated, because it contains +facts which may have some bearing on the questions relating to him. + +The destruction of the War Office by fire in the close of 1800 involved +all information it contained at that date. + +The papers already described therefore constitute the whole of the +information on the subjects deposited in the public offices during the +preceding Administrations, as far as has yet been found; but it can +not be affirmed that there may be no other, because, the papers of the +office being filed for the most part alphabetically, unless aided by the +suggestion of any particular name which may have given such information, +nothing short of a careful examination of the papers in the offices +generally could authorize such an affirmation. + +About a twelvemonth after I came to the administration of the Government +Mr. Clark gave some verbal information to myself, as well as to the +Secretary of State, relating to the same combinations for the +dismemberment of the Union. He was listened to freely, and he then +delivered the letter of Governor Gayoso, addressed to himself, of which +a copy is now communicated. After his return to New Orleans he forwarded +to the Secretary of State other papers, with a request that after +perusal they should be burnt. This, however, was not done, and he was so +informed by the Secretary of State, and that they would be held subject +to his orders. These papers have not yet been found in the office. +A letter, therefore, has been addressed to the former chief clerk, who +may perhaps give information respecting them. As far as our memories +enable us to say, they related only to the combinations before spoken +of, and not at all to the corrupt receipt of money by any officer of +the United States; consequently they respected what was considered as +a dead matter, known to the preceding Administrations, and offering +nothing new to call for investigations, which those nearest the dates +of the transactions had not thought proper to institute. + +In the course of the communications made to me on the subject of the +conspiracy of Aaron Burr I sometimes received letters, some of them +anonymous, some under names true or false, expressing suspicions and +insinuations against General Wilkinson; but one only of them, and that +anonymous, specified any particular fact, and that fact was one of those +which had been already communicated to a former Administration. + +No other information within the purview of the request of the House is +known to have been received by any department of the Government from the +establishment of the present Federal Government. That which has been +recently communicated to the House of Representatives, and by them +to me, is the first direct testimony ever made known to me charging +General Wilkinson with the corrupt receipt of money, and the House of +Representatives may be assured that the duties which this information +devolves on me shall be exercised with rigorous impartiality. Should any +want of power in the court to compel the rendering of testimony obstruct +that full and impartial inquiry which alone can establish guilt or +innocence and satisfy justice, the legislative authority only will be +competent to the remedy. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 30, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The Choctaws, being indebted to their merchants beyond what could be +discharged by the ordinary proceeds of their buntings, and pressed for +payment, proposed to the United States to cede lands to the amount of +their debts, and designated them in two different portions of their +country. These designations, not at all suiting us, were declined. Still +urged by their creditors, as well as by their own desire to be liberated +from debt, they at length proposed to make a cession which should be to +our convenience. By a treaty signed at Pooshapuckanuck on the 16th of +November, 1805, they accordingly ceded all their lands south of a line +to be run from their and our boundary at the Omochita eastwardly to +their boundary with the Creeks, on the ridge between the Tombigbee and +Alabama, as is more particularly described in the treaty, containing +about 5,000,000 acres, as is supposed, and uniting our possessions there +from Adams to Washington County. + +The location contemplated in the instructions to the commissioners was +on the Mississippi. That in the treaty being entirely different, I was +at that time disinclined to its ratification, and I have suffered it to +lie unacted on. But progressive difficulties in our foreign relations +have brought into view considerations other than those which then +prevailed. It is now, perhaps, as interesting to obtain footing for a +strong settlement of militia along our southern frontier eastward of the +Mississippi as on the west of that river, and more so than higher up the +river itself. The consolidation of the Mississippi Territory and the +establishment of a barrier of separation between the Indians and our +Southern neighbors are also important objects; and the Choctaws and +their creditors being still anxious that the sale should be made, I +submitted the treaty to the Senate, who have advised and consented to +its ratification. I therefore now lay it before both Houses of Congress +for the exercise of their constitutional powers as to the means of +fulfilling it. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 30, 1808. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The posts of Detroit and Mackinac having been originally intended by the +Governments which established and held them as mere depots for commerce +with the Indians, very small cessions of land around them were obtained +or asked from the native proprietors, and these posts depended for +protection on the strength of their garrisons. The principles of our +Government leading us to the employment of such moderate garrisons in +time of peace as may merely take care of the post, and to a reliance on +the neighboring militia for its support in the first moments of war, +I have thought it would be important to obtain from the Indians such a +cession in the neighborhood of these posts as might maintain a militia +proportioned to this object; and I have particularly contemplated, +with this view, the acquisition of the eastern moiety of the peninsula +between the lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie, extending it to the +Connecticut Reserve so soon as it could be effected with the perfect +good will of the natives. + +By a treaty concluded at Detroit on the 17th of November last with the +Ottoways, Chippeways, Wyandots, and Pattawatimas so much of this country +has been obtained as extends from about Saguina Bay southwardly to the +Miami of the Lakes, supposed to contain upward of 5,000,000 acres, with +a prospect of obtaining for the present a breadth of 2 miles for a +communication from the Miami to the Connecticut Reserve. + +The Senate having advised and consented to the ratification of this +treaty, I now lay it before both Houses of Congress for the exercise +of their constitutional powers as to the means of fulfilling it. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 2, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Having received an official communication of certain orders of the +British Government against the maritime rights of neutrals, bearing date +the 11th of November, 1807, I transmit them to Congress, as a further +proof of the increasing dangers to our navigation and commerce, which +led to the provident measure of the act of the present session laying an +embargo on our own vessels, + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 4, 1808. + +_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In my message of January 20 I stated that some papers forwarded by Mr. +Daniel Clark, of New Orleans, to the Secretary of State in 1803 had not +then been found in the Office of State, and that a letter had been +addressed to the former chief clerk, in the hope that he might advise +where they should be sought for. By indications received from him they +are now found. Among them are two letters from the Baron de Carondelet +to an officer serving under him at a separate post, in which his views +of a dismemberment of our Union are expressed. Extracts of so much of +these letters as are within the scope of the resolution of the House are +now communicated. With these were found the letters written by Mr. Clark +to the Secretary of State in 1803. A part of one only of these relates +to this subject, and is extracted and inclosed for the information of +the House. In no part of the papers communicated by Mr. Clark, which are +voluminous and in different languages, nor in his letters, have we found +any intimation of the corrupt receipt of money by any officer of the +United States from any foreign agent. As to the combinations with +foreign agents for dismembering the Union, these papers and letters +offer nothing which was not probably known to my predecessors, or which +could call anew for inquiries, which they had not thought necessary to +institute, when the facts were recent and could be better proved. They +probably believed it best to let pass into oblivion transactions which, +however culpable, had commenced before this Government existed, and had +been finally extinguished by the treaty of 1795. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 9, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate to Congress, for their information, a letter from the +person acting in the absence of our consul at Naples, giving reason +to believe, on the affidavit of a Captain Sheffield, of the American +schooner _Mary Ann_, that the Dey of Algiers has commenced war +against the United States. For this no just cause has been given on +our part within my knowledge. We may daily expect more authentic and +particular information on the subject from Mr. Lear, who was residing +as our consul at Algiers. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 15, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate for the information of Congress a letter from the consul +of the United States at Malaga to the Secretary of State, covering one +from Mr. Lear, our consul at Algiers, which gives information that the +rupture threatened on the part of the Dey of Algiers has been amicably +settled, and the vessels seized by him are liberated. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 19, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia having by their +several acts consented that the road from Cumberland to the State of +Ohio, authorized by the act of Congress of the 29th of March, 1806, +should pass through those States, and the report of the commissioners, +communicated to Congress with my message of the 31st January, 1807, +having been duly considered, I have approved of the route therein +proposed for the said road as far as Brownsville, with a single +deviation, since located, which carries it through Uniontown. + +From thence the course to the Ohio and the point within the legal limits +at which it shall strike that river is still to be decided. In forming +this decision I shall pay material regard to the interests and wishes of +the populous parts of the State of Ohio and to a future and convenient +connection with the road which is to lead from the Indian boundary near +Cincinnati by Vincennes to the Mississippi at St. Louis, under authority +of the act of the 21st April, 1806. In this way we may accomplish a +continued and advantageous line of communication from the seat of the +General Government to St. Louis, passing through several very +interesting points of the Western country. + +I have thought it advisable also to secure from obliteration the trace +of the road so far as it has been approved, which has been executed at +such considerable expense, by opening one-half of its breadth through +its whole length. + +The report of the commissioners, herewith transmitted, will give +particular information of their proceedings under the act of the 29th +March, 1806, since the date of my message of the 31st January, 1807, and +will enable Congress to adopt such further measures relative thereto as +they may deem proper under existing circumstances. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 25, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The dangers to our country arising from the contests of other nations +and the urgency of making preparation for whatever events might affect +our relations with them have been intimated in preceding messages to +Congress. To secure ourselves by due precautions an augmentation of our +military force, as well regular as of volunteer militia, seems to be +expedient. The precise extent of that augmentation can not as yet be +satisfactorily suggested, but that no time may be lost, and especially +at a season deemed favorable to the object, I submit to the wisdom of +the Legislature whether they will authorize a commencement of this +precautionary work by a present provision for raising and organizing +some additional force, reserving to themselves to decide its ultimate +extent on such views of our situation as I may be enabled to present +at a future day of the session. + +If an increase of force be now approved, I submit to their consideration +the outlines of a plan proposed in the inclosed letter from the +Secretary of War. + +I recommend also to the attention of Congress the term at which the act +of April 18, 1806, concerning the militia, will expire, and the effect +of that expiration. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 26, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I inclose, for the information of Congress, letters recently received +from our ministers at Paris and London, communicating their +representations against the late decrees and orders of France and Great +Britain, heretofore transmitted to Congress. These documents will +contribute to the information of Congress as to the dispositions of +those powers and the probable course of their proceedings toward +neutrals, and will doubtless have their due influence in adopting +the measures of the Legislature to the actual crisis. + +Although nothing forbids the general matter of these letters from being +spoken of without reserve, yet as the publication of papers of this +description would restrain injuriously the freedom of our foreign +correspondence, they are communicated so far confidentially and with +a request that after being read to the satisfaction of both Houses +they may be returned. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 1, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of February 26, I +now lay before them such memorials and petitions for the district of +Detroit, and such other information as is in my possession, in relation +to the conduct of William Hull, governor of the Territory of Michigan, +and Stanley Griswold, esq., while acting as secretary of that Territory. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 2, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of November 30, 1807, +I now transmit a report of the Secretary of State on the subject of +impressments, as requested in that resolution. The great volume of the +documents and the time necessary for the investigation will explain to +the Senate the causes of the delay which has intervened. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 7, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In the city of New Orleans and adjacent to it are sundry parcels of +ground, some of them with buildings and other improvements on them, +which it is my duty to present to the attention of the Legislature. +The title to these grounds appears to have been retained in the former +sovereigns of the Province of Louisiana as public fiduciaries and for +the purposes of the Province. Some of them were used for the residence +of the governor, for public offices, hospitals, barracks, magazines, +fortifications, levees, etc., others for the townhouse, schools, +markets, landings, and other purposes of the city of New Orleans; some +were held by religious corporations or persons, others seem to have +been reserved for future disposition. To these must be added a parcel +called the Batture, which requires more particular description. It is +understood to have been a shoal or elevation of the bottom of the river +adjacent to the bank of the suburbs of St. Mary, produced by the +successive depositions of mud during the annual inundations of the +river, and covered with water only during those inundations. At all +other seasons it has been used by the city immemorially to furnish +earth for raising their streets and courtyards, for mortar, and other +necessary purposes, and as a landing or quay for unlading firewood, +lumber, and other articles brought by water. This having been lately +claimed, by a private individual, the city opposed the claim on a +supposed legal title in itself; but it has been adjudged that the legal +title was not in the city. It is, however, alleged that that title, +originally in the former sovereigns, was never parted with by them, +but was retained in them for the uses of the city and Province, and +consequently has now passed over to the United States. Until this +question can be decided under legislative authority, measures have been +taken according to law to prevent any change in the state of things and +to keep the grounds clear of intruders. The settlement of this title, +the appropriation of the grounds and improvements formerly occupied for +provincial purposes to the same or such other objects as may be better +suited to present circumstances, the confirmation of the uses in other +parcels to such bodies, corporate or private, as may of right or on +other reasonable considerations expect them, are matters now submitted +to the determination of the legislature. + +The papers and plans now transmitted will give them such information on +the subject as I possess, and being mostly originals, I must request +that they may be communicated from the one to the other House, to answer +the purposes of both. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 10, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +A purchase having lately been made from the Cherokee Indians of a +tract of land 6 miles square at the mouth of the Chickamogga, on the +Tennessee, I now lay the treaty and papers relating to it before the +Senate, with an explanation of the views which have led to it. + +It was represented that there was within that tract a great abundance of +iron ore of excellent quality, with a stream and fall of water suitable +for iron works; that the Cherokees were anxious to have works +established there, in the hope of having a better supply of those +implements of household and agriculture of which they have learned the +use and necessity, but on the condition that they should be under the +authority and control of the United States. + +As such an establishment would occasion a considerable and certain +demand for corn and other provisions and necessaries, it seemed +probable that it would immediately draw around it a close settlement +of the Cherokees, would encourage them to enter on a regular life of +agriculture, familiarize them with the practice and value of the arts, +attach them to property, lead them of necessity and without delay to +the establishment of laws and government, and thus make a great and +important advance toward assimilating their condition to ours. At the +same time it offers considerable accommodation to the Government by +enabling it to obtain more conveniently than it now can the necessary +supplies of cast and wrought iron for all the Indians south of the +Tennessee, and for those also to whom St. Louis is a convenient deposit, +and will benefit such of our own citizens likewise as shall be within +its reach. Under these views the purchase has been made, with the +consent and desire of the great body of the nation, although not without +some dissenting members, as must be the case will all collections of +men. But it is represented that the dissentients are few, and under +the influence of one or two interested individuals. It is by no means +proposed that these works should be conducted on account of the United +States. It is understood that there are private individuals ready +to erect them, subject to such reasonable rent as may secure a +reimbursement to the United States, and to such other conditions as +shall secure to the Indians their rights and tranquillity. + +The instrument is now submitted to the Senate, with a request of their +advice and consent as to its ratification. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 17, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I have heretofore communicated to Congress the decrees of the Government +of France of November 21, 1806, and of Spain of February 19, 1807, with +the orders of the British Government of January and November, 1807. + +I now transmit a decree of the Emperor of France of December 17,1807, +and a similar decree of the 3d of January last by His Catholic Majesty. +Although the decree of France has not been received by official +communication, yet the different channels of promulgation through which +the public are possessed of it, with the formal testimony furnished by +the Government of Spain in their decree, leave us without a doubt that +such a one has been issued. These decrees and orders, taken together, +want little of amounting to a declaration that every neutral vessel +found on the high seas, whatsoever be her cargo and whatsoever foreign +port be that of her departure or destination, shall be deemed lawful +prize; and they prove more and more the expediency of retaining our +vessels, our seamen, and property within our own harbors until the +dangers to which they are exposed can be removed or lessened. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 18, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The scale on which the Military Academy at West Point was +originally established is become too limited to furnish the number +of well-instructed subjects in the different branches of artillery +and engineering which the public service calls for. The want of such +characters is already sensibly felt, and will be increased with the +enlargement of our plans of military preparation. The chief engineer, +having been instructed to consider the subject and to propose an +augmentation which might render the establishment commensurate with +the present circumstances of our country, has made the report which +I now transmit for the consideration of Congress. + +The idea suggested by him of removing the institution to this place is +also worthy of attention. Besides the advantage of placing it under the +immediate eye of the Government, it may render its benefits common to +the Naval Department, and will furnish opportunities of selecting on +better information the characters most qualified to fulfill the duties +which the public service may call for. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 22, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +At the opening of the present session I informed the Legislature that +the measures which had been taken with the Government of Great Britain +for the settlement of our neutral and national rights and of the +conditions of commercial intercourse with that nation had resulted in +articles of a treaty which could not be acceded to on our part; that +instructions had been consequently sent to our ministers there to resume +the negotiations, and to endeavor to obtain certain alterations, +and that this was interrupted by the transaction which took place +betweenthe frigates _Leopard_ and _Chesapeake_. The call on that +Government for reparation of this wrong produced, as Congress has been +already informed, the mission of a special minister to this country, +and the occasion is now arrived when the public interest permits and +requires that the whole of these proceedings should be made known to +you. + +I therefore now communicate the instructions given to our minister +resident at London and his communications with that Government on +the subject of the _Chesapeake_, with the correspondence which has +taken place here between the Secretary of State and Mr. Rose, the +special minister charged with the adjustment of that difference; the +instructions to our ministers for the formation of a treaty; their +correspondence with the British commissioners and with their own +Government on that subject; the treaty itself and written declaration of +the British commissioners accompanying it, and the instructions given by +us for resuming the negotiation, with the proceedings and correspondence +subsequent thereto. To these I have added a letter lately addressed to +the Secretary of State from one of our late ministers, which, though +not strictly written in an official character, I think it my duty to +communicate, in order that his views of the proposed treaty and of its +several articles may be fairly presented and understood. + +Although I have heretofore and from time to time made such +communications to Congress as to keep them possessed of a general and +just view of the proceedings and dispositions of the Government of +France toward this country, yet in our present critical situation, when +we find that no conduct on our part, however impartial and friendly, has +been sufficient to insure from either belligerent a just respect for our +rights, I am desirous that nothing shall be omitted on my part which may +add to your information on this subject or contribute to the correctness +of the views which should be formed. The papers which for these reasons +I now lay before you embrace all the communications, official or verbal, +from the French Government respecting the general relations between the +two countries which have been transmitted through our minister there, +or through any other accredited channel, since the last session of +Congress, to which time all information of the same kind had from +time to time been given them. Some of these papers have already been +submitted to Congress, but it is thought better to offer them again in +order that the chain of communications of which they make a part may be +presented unbroken. + +When, on the 26th of February, I communicated to both Houses the letter +of General Armstrong to M. Champagny, I desired it might not be +published because of the tendency of that practice to restrain +injuriously the freedom of our foreign correspondence. But perceiving +that this caution, proceeding purely from a regard to the public good, +has furnished occasion for disseminating unfounded suspicions and +insinuations, I am induced to believe that the good which will now +result from its publication, by confirming the confidence and union of +our fellow-citizens, will more than countervail the ordinary objection +to such publications. It is my wish, therefore, that it may be now +published. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 22, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In a separate message of this date I have communicated to Congress +so much as may be made public of papers which give a full view of +the present state of our relations with the two contending powers, +France and England. Everyone must be sensible that in the details of +instructions for negotiating a treaty and in the correspondence and +conferences respecting it matters will occur which interest sometimes +and sometimes respect or other proper motives forbid to be made public. +To reconcile my duty in this particular with my desire of letting +Congress know everything which can give them a full understanding of the +subjects on which they are to act, I have suppressed in the documents +of the other message the parts which ought not to be made public and +have given them in the supplementary and confidential papers herewith +inclosed, with such references as that they may be read in their +original places as if still standing in them; and when these +confidential papers shall have been read to the satisfaction of the +House, I request their return, and that their contents may not be made +public. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 25, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +In proceeding to carry into execution the act for fortifying our forts +and harbors it is found that the sites most advantageous for their +defense, and sometimes the only sites competent to that defense, are in +some cases the property of minors incapable of giving a valid consent to +their alienation; in others belong to persons who may refuse altogether +to alienate, or demand a compensation far beyond the liberal justice +allowable in such cases. From these causes the defense of our seaboard, +so necessary to be pressed during the present season, will in various +parts be defeated unless a remedy can be applied. With a view to this +I submit the case to the consideration of Congress, who, estimating its +importance and reviewing the powers vested in them by the Constitution, +combined with the amendment providing that private property shall not +be taken for public use without just compensation, will decide on the +course most proper to be pursued. + +I am aware that as the consent of the legislature of the State to the +purchase of the site may not in some instances have been previously +obtained, exclusive legislation can not be exercised therein by Congress +until that consent is given. But in the meantime it will be held under +the same laws which protect the property of individuals and other +property of the United States in the same State, and the legislatures +at their next meetings will have opportunities of doing what will be +so evidently called for by the particular interest of their own State. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 25, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United +States according to the latest returns received by the Department of +War. From the State of Delaware alone no return has been made. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 25, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I transmit to both Houses of Congress a report from the surveyor on the +public buildings of the progress made on them during the last session, +of their present state, and of that of the funds appropriated to them. +These have been much exceeded by the cost of the work done, a fact not +known to me till the close of the season. The circumstances from which +it arose are stated in the report of the surveyor. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 29, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +When the convention of the 7th of January, 1806, was entered into with +the Cherokees for the purchase of certain lands, it was believed +by both parties that the eastern limit, when run in the direction +therein prescribed, would have included all the waters of Elk River. +On proceeding to run that line, however, it was found to omit a +considerable extent of those waters, on which were already settled +about 200 families. The Cherokees readily consented, for a moderate +compensation, that the line should be so run as to include all the +waters of that river. Our commissioners accordingly entered into an +explanatory convention for that purpose, which I now lay before the +Senate for consideration whether they will advise and consent to its +ratification. A letter from one of the commissioners, now also inclosed, +will more fully explain the circumstances which led to it. + +Lieutenant Pike on his journey up the Mississippi in 1805-6, being at +the village of the Sioux, between the rivers St. Croix and St. Peters, +conceived that the position was favorable for a military and commercial +post for the United States whenever it should be thought expedient to +advance in that quarter. He therefore proposed to the chiefs a cession +of lands for that purpose. Their desire of entering into connection +with the United States and of getting a trading house established there +induced a ready consent to the proposition, and they made, by articles +of agreement now inclosed, a voluntary donation to the United States of +two portions of land, the one of 9 miles square at the mouth of the St. +Croix, the other from below the mouth of St. Peters up the Mississippi +to St. Anthonys Falls, extending 9 miles in width on each side of the +Mississippi. These portions of land are designated on the map now +inclosed. Lieutenant Pike on his part made presents to the Indians to +some amount. This convention, though dated the 23d of September, 1805, +is but lately received, and although we have no immediate view of +establishing a trading post at that place, I submit it to the Senate for +the sanction of their advice and consent to its ratification, in order +to give to our title a full validity on the part of the United States, +whenever it may be wanting, for the special purpose which constituted +in the mind of the donors the sole consideration and inducement to the +cession. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +MARCH 30, 1808, + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Since my message of the 22d instant letters have been received from our +ministers at Paris and London, extracts from which, with a letter to +General Armstrong from the French minister of foreign relations, and a +letter from the British envoy residing here to the Secretary of State, +I now communicate to Congress. They add to the materials for estimating +the dispositions of those Governments toward this country. + +The proceedings of both indicate designs of drawing us, if possible, +into the vortex of their contests; but every new information confirms +the prudence of guarding against these designs as it does of adhering +to the precautionary system hitherto contemplated. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 2, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +Believing that the confidence and union of our fellow-citizens at the +present crisis will be still further confirmed by the publication of the +letter of Mr. Champagny to General Armstrong and that of Mr. Erskine to +the Secretary of State, communicated with my message of the 30th ultimo, +and therefore that it may be useful to except them from the confidential +character of the other documents accompanying that message, I leave to +the consideration of Congress the expediency of making them public. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 8, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +Agreeably to the request of the Senate in their resolution of yesterday, +I have examined my papers and find no letter from Matthew Nimmo of +the date of November 28, 1806, nor any other from him of any date but +that of January 23, 1807, now transmitted, with all the papers in my +possession which accompanied it. Nor do I find any letter from John +Smith, of Ohio, bearing date at any time in the month of January, 1807. + +Having delivered to the Attorney-General all the papers respecting the +conspiracy of Aaron Burr which came to my hands during or before his +prosecution, I might suppose the letters above requested had been +delivered to him; but I must add my belief that I never received such +letters, and the ground of it. I am in the habit of noting daily in the +list kept for that purpose the letters I receive daily by the names of +the writers, and dates of time, and place, and this has been done with +such exactness that I do not recollect ever to have detected a single +omission. I have carefully examined that list from the 1st of November, +1806, to the last of June, 1807, and I find no note within that +period of the receipt of any letter from Matthew Nimmo but that now +transmitted, nor of any one of the date of January, 1807, from John +Smith, of Ohio. The letters noted as received from him within that +period are dated at Washington, February 2, 2, 7, and 21, which I have +examined, and find relating to subjects entirely foreign to the objects +of the resolution of the 7th instant; and others, dated at Cincinnati, +March 27, April 6, 13, and 17, which, not being now in my possession, +I presume have related to Burr's conspiracy, and have been delivered to +the Attorney-General. I recollect nothing of their particular contents. +I must repeat, therefore, my firm belief that the letters of Nimmo of +November 28, 1806, and of John Smith of January, 1807, never came to +my hands, and that if such were written (and Nimmo's letter expressly +mentions his of November 28), they have been intercepted or otherwise +miscarried. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +APRIL 22, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I transmit to both Houses of Congress a letter from the envoy of His +Britannic Majesty at this place to the Secretary of State on the subject +of certain British claims to lands in the Territory of Mississippi, +relative to which several acts have been heretofore passed by the +Legislature. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +PROCLAMATION. + + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + +A PROCLAMATION. + +Whereas information has been received that sundry persons are combined +or combining and confederating together on Lake Champlain and the +country thereto adjacent for the purposes of forming insurrections +against the authority of the laws of the United States, for opposing the +same and obstructing their execution, and that such combinations are too +powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings +or by the powers vested in the marshals by the laws of the United +States: + +Now, therefore, to the end that the authority of the laws may be +maintained, and that those concerned, directly or indirectly, in any +insurrection or combination against the same may be duly warned, I have +issued this my proclamation, hereby commanding such insurgents and all +concerned in such combination instantly and without delay to disperse +and retire peaceably to their respective abodes. And I do hereby further +require and command all officers having authority, civil or military, +and all other persons, civil or military, who shall be found within +the vicinage of such insurrections or combinations to be aiding +and assisting by all the means in their power, by force of arms or +otherwise, to quell and subdue such insurrections or combinations, +to seize upon all those therein concerned who shall not instantly and +without delay disperse and retire to their respective abodes, and to +deliver them over to the civil authority of the place, to be proceeded +against according to law. + +[SEAL.] + +In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to +be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. + +Given at the city of Washington, the 19th day of April, 1808, and in +the year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States the +thirty-second. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + +By the President: + JAMES MADISON, + _Secretary of State_. + + + + +EIGHTH ANNUAL MESSAGE. + + +NOVEMBER 8, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +It would have been a source, fellow-citizens, of much gratification if +our last communications from Europe had enabled me to inform you that +the belligerent nations, whose disregard of neutral rights has been so +destructive to our commerce, had become awakened to the duty and true +policy of revoking their unrighteous edicts. That no means might be +omitted to produce this salutary effect, I lost no time in availing +myself of the act authorizing a suspension, in whole or in part, of the +several embargo laws. Our ministers at London and Paris were instructed +to explain to the respective Governments there our disposition to +exercise the authority in such manner as would withdraw the pretext on +of which the aggressions were originally founded and open the way for +a renewal of that commercial intercourse which it was alleged on all +sides had been reluctantly obstructed. As each of those Governments had +pledged its readiness to concur in renouncing a measure which reached +its adversary through the incontestable rights of neutrals only, and as +the measure had been assumed by each as a retaliation for an asserted +acquiescence in the aggressions of the other, it was reasonably expected +that the occasion would have been seized by both for evincing the +sincerity of their professions, and for restoring to the commerce of the +United States its legitimate freedom. The instructions to our ministers +with respect to the different belligerents were necessarily modified +with a reference to their different circumstances, and to the condition +annexed by law to the Executive power of suspension, requiring a decree +of security to our commerce which would not result from a repeal of the +decrees of France. Instead of a pledge, therefore, of a suspension of +the embargo as to her in case of such a repeal, it was presumed that +a sufficient inducement might be found in other considerations, and +particularly in the change produced by a compliance with our just +demands by one belligerent and a refusal by the other in the relations +between the other and the United States. To Great Britain, whose power +on the ocean is so ascendant, it was deemed not inconsistent with that +condition to state explicitly that on her rescinding her orders in +relation to the United States their trade would be opened with her, and +remain shut to her enemy in case of his failure to rescind his decrees +also. From France no answer has been received, nor any indication that +the requisite change in her decrees is contemplated. The favorable +reception of the proposition to Great Britain was the less to be +doubted, as her orders of council had not only been referred for +their vindication to an acquiescence on the part of the United States +no longer to be pretended, but as the arrangement proposed, whilst +it resisted the illegal decrees of France, involved, moreover, +substantially the precise advantages professedly aimed at by the +British orders. The arrangement has nevertheless been rejected. + +This candid and liberal experiment having thus failed, and no other +event having occurred on which a suspension of the embargo by the +Executive was authorized, it necessarily remains in the extent +originally given to it. We have the satisfaction, however, to reflect +that in return for the privations imposed by the measure, and which +our fellow-citizens in general have borne with patriotism, it has had +the important effects of saving our mariners and our vast mercantile +property, as well as of affording time for prosecuting the defensive and +provisional measures called for by the occasion. It has demonstrated to +foreign nations the moderation and firmness which govern our councils, +and to our citizens the necessity of uniting in support of the laws +and the rights of their country, and has thus long frustrated those +usurpations and spoliations which, if resisted, involved war; if +submitted to, sacrificed a vital principle of our national independence. + +Under a continuance of the belligerent measures which, in defiance of +laws which consecrate the rights of neutrals, overspread the ocean with +danger, it will rest with the wisdom of Congress to decide on the course +best adapted to such a state of things; and bringing with them, as they +do, from every part of the Union the sentiments of our constituents, my +confidence is strengthened that in forming this decision they will, with +an unerring regard to the essential rights and interests of the nation, +weigh and compare the painful alternatives out of which a choice is to +be made. Nor should I do justice to the virtues which on other occasions +have marked the character of our fellow-citizens if I did not cherish an +equal confidence that the alternative chosen, whatever it may be, will +be maintained with all the fortitude and patriotism which the crisis +ought to inspire. + +The documents containing the correspondences on the subject of the +foreign edicts against our commerce, with the instructions given to +our ministers at London and Paris, are now laid before you. + +The communications made to Congress at their last session explained the +posture in which the close of the discussions relating to the attack +by a British ship of war on the frigate _Chesapeake_ left a subject on +which the nation had manifested so honorable a sensibility. Every view +of what had passed authorized a belief that immediate steps would be +taken by the British Government for redressing a wrong which the more it +was investigated appeared the more clearly to require what had not been +provided for in the special mission. It is found that no steps have been +taken for the purpose. On the contrary, it will be seen in the documents +laid before you that the inadmissible preliminary which obstructed the +adjustment is still adhered to, and, moreover, that it is now brought +into connection with the distinct and irrelative case of the orders in +council. The instructions which had been given to our minister at London +with a view to facilitate, if necessary, the reparation claimed by the +United States are included in the documents communicated. + +Our relations with the other powers of Europe have undergone no material +changes since your last session. The important negotiations with Spain +which had been alternately suspended and resumed necessarily experience +a pause under the extraordinary and interesting crisis which +distinguishes her internal situation. + +With the Barbary Powers we continue in harmony, with the exception of an +unjustifiable proceeding of the Dey of Algiers toward our consul to that +Regency. Its character and circumstances are now laid before you, and +will enable you to decide how far it may, either now or hereafter, call +for any measures not within the limits of the Executive authority. + +With our Indian neighbors the public peace has been steadily maintained. +Some instances of individual wrong have, as at other times, taken +place, but in no wise implicating the will of the nation. Beyond the +Mississippi the loways, the Sacs, and the Alabamas have delivered up +for trial and punishment individuals from among themselves accused of +murdering citizens of the United States. On this side of the Mississippi +the Creeks are exerting themselves to arrest offenders of the same kind, +and the Choctaws have manifested their readiness and desire for amicable +and just arrangements respecting depredations committed by disorderly +persons of their tribe. And, generally, from a conviction that we +consider them as a part of ourselves, and cherish with sincerity their +rights and interests, the attachment of the Indian tribes is gaining +strength daily--is extending from the nearer to the more remote, and +will amply requite us for the justice and friendship practiced toward +them. Husbandry and household manufacture are advancing among them more +rapidly with the Southern than Northern tribes, from circumstances of +soil and climate, and one of the two great divisions of the Cherokee +Nation have now under consideration to solicit the citizenship of the +United States, and to be identified with us in laws and government in +such progressive manner as we shall think best. + +In consequence of the appropriations of the last session of Congress for +the security of our seaport towns and harbors, such works of defense +have been erected as seemed to be called for by the situation of the +several places, their relative importance, and the scale of expense +indicated by the amount of the appropriation. These works will chiefly +be finished in the course of the present season, except at New York and +New Orleans, where most was to be done; and although a great proportion +of the last appropriation has been expended on the former place, yet +some further views will be submitted to Congress for rendering its +security entirely adequate against naval enterprise. A view of what has +been done at the several places, and of what is proposed to be done, +shall be communicated as soon as the several reports are received. + +Of the gunboats authorized by the act of December last, it has been +thought necessary to build only 103 in the present year. These, with +those before possessed, are sufficient for the harbors and waters most +exposed, and the residue will require little time for their construction +when it shall be deemed necessary. + +Under the act of the last session for raising an additional military +force so many officers were immediately appointed as were necessary for +carrying on the business of recruiting, and in proportion as it advanced +others have been added. We have reason to believe their success has been +satisfactory, although such returns have not yet been received as enable +me to present you a statement of the numbers engaged. + +I have not thought it necessary in the course of the last season to call +for any general detachments of militia or of volunteers under the laws +passed for that purpose. For the ensuing season, however, they will be +required to be in readiness should their service be wanted, Some small +and special detachments have been necessary to maintain trie laws of +embargo on that portion of our northern frontier which offered peculiar +facilities for evasion, but these were replaced as soon as it could be +done by bodies of new recruits. By the aid of these and of the armed +vessels called into service in other quarters the spirit of disobedience +and abuse, which manifested itself early and with sensible effect while +we were unprepared to meet it, has been considerably repressed. + +Considering the extraordinary character of the times in which we live, +our attention should unremittingly be fixed on the safety of our +country. For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well +organized and armed militia is their best security. It is therefore +incumbent on us at every meeting to revise the condition of the militia, +and to ask ourselves if it is prepared to repel a powerful enemy at +every point of our territories exposed to invasion. Some of the States +have paid a laudable attention to this object, but every degree of +neglect is to be found among others. Congress alone having the power to +produce an uniform state of preparation in this great organ of defense, +the interests which they so deeply feel in their own and their country's +security will present this as among the most important objects of their +deliberation. + +Under the acts of March 11 and April 23 respecting arms, the difficulty +of procuring them from abroad during the present situation and +dispositions of Europe induced us to direct our whole efforts to the +means of internal supply. The public factories have therefore been +enlarged, additional machineries erected, and, in proportion as +artificers can be found or formed, their effect, already more than +doubled, may be increased so as to keep pace with the yearly increase +of the militia. The annual sums appropriated by the latter act have +been directed to the encouragement of private factories of arms, and +contracts have been entered into with individual undertakers to nearly +the amount of the first year's appropriation. + +The suspension of our foreign commerce, produced by the injustice of +the belligerent powers, and the consequent losses and sacrifices of our +citizens are subjects of just concern. The situation into which we have +thus been forced has impelled us to apply a pbrtion of our industry and +capital to internal manufactures and improvements. The extent of this +conversion is daily increasing, and little doubt remains that the +establishments formed and forming will, under the auspices of cheaper +materials and subsistence, the freedom of labor from taxation with us, +and of protecting duties and prohibitions, become permanent. The +commerce with the Indians, too, within our own boundaries is likely to +receive abundant aliment from the same internal source, and will secure +to them peace and the progress of civilization, undisturbed by practices +hostile to both. + +The accounts of the receipts and expenditures during the year ending +the 30th of September last being not yet made up, a correct statement +will hereafter be transmitted from the Treasury. In the meantime it is +ascertained that the receipts have amounted to near $18,000,000, which, +with the eight millions and a half in the Treasury at the beginning +of the year, have enabled us, after meeting the current demands and +interest incurred, to pay $2,300,000 of the principal of our funded +debt, and left us in the Treasury on that day near $14,000,000. Of +these, $5,350,000 will be necessary to pay what will be clue on the 1st +day of January next, which will complete the reimbursement of the 8 per +cent stock. These payments, with those made in the six years and a half +preceding, will have extinguished $33,580,000 of the principal of the +funded debt, being the whole which could be paid or purchased within the +limits of the law and of our contracts, and the amount of principal thus +discharged will have liberated the revenue from about $2,000,000 of +interest and added that sum annually to the disposable surplus. The +probable accumulation of the surpluses of revenue beyond what can be +applied to the payment of the public debt whenever the freedom and +safety of our commerce shall be restored merits the consideration of +Congress. Shall it lie unproductive in the public vaults? Shall the +revenue be reduced? Or shall it not rather be appropriated to the +improvements of roads, canals, rivers, education, and other great +foundations of prosperity and union under the powers which Congress may +already possess or such amendment of the Constitution as may be approved +by the States? While uncertain of the course of things, the time may be +advantageously employed in obtaining the powers necessary for a system +of improvement, should that be thought best. + +Availing myself of this the last occasion which will occur of addressing +the two Houses of the Legislature at their meeting, I can not omit the +expression of my sincere gratitude for the repeated proofs of confidence +manifested to me by themselves and their predecessors since my call to +the administration and the many indulgences experienced at their hands. +The same grateful acknowledgments are due to my fellow-citizens +generally, whose support has been my great encouragement under all +embarrassments. In the transaction of their business I can not have +escaped error. It is incident to out imperfect nature. But I may say +with truth my errors have been of the understanding, not of intention, +and that the advancement of their rights and interests has been the +constant motive for every measure. On these considerations I solicit +their indulgence. Looking forward with anxiety to their future destinies, +I trust that in their steady character, unshaken by difficulties, in +their love of liberty, obedience to law, and support of the public +authorities I see a sure guaranty of the permanence of our Republic; +and, retiring from the charge of their affairs, I carry with me the +consolation of a firm persuasion that Heaven has in store for our +beloved country long ages to come of prosperity and happiness. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +SPECIAL MESSAGES. + + +NOVEMBER 8, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +The documents communicated with my public message of this day contain +such portions of the correspondences therein referred to, of the +ministers of the United States at Paris and London, as relate to the +present state of affairs between those Governments and the United +States, and as may be made public. I now communicate, confidentially, +such supplementary portions of the same correspondences as I deem +improper for publication, yet necessary to convey to Congress full +information on a subject of their deliberations so interesting to +our country. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +NOVEMBER 11, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + + * * * * * + +The governor of the Mississippi Territory having thought it expedient +to dissolve the general assembly of that Territory, according to the +authority vested in him by the ordinance of July 13, 1787, and having +declared it dissolved accordingly, some doubt was suggested whether that +declaration effected the dissolution of the legislative council. On +mature consideration and advice I approved of the proceeding of the +governor. The house of representatives of the Territory, since chosen, +have consequently nominated ten persons out of whom a legislative +council should be appointed. I do accordingly nominate and, by and with +the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint John Flood McGrew, +Thomas Calvit, James Lea, Alexander Montgomery, and Daniel Burnet, being +five of the said ten persons, to serve as a legislative council for the +said Territory, to continue in office five years, unless sooner removed +according to law. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 13, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now transmit to both Houses of Congress a report of the commissioners +appointed under the act of March 29, 1806, concerning a road from +Cumberland to Ohio, being a statement of the proceedings under the said +act since their last report communicated to Congress, in order that +Congress may be enabled to adopt such further measures as may be proper +under existing circumstances. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 23, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +According to the request of the Senate in their resolution of November +14, that copies should be laid before them of all the orders and decrees +of the belligerent powers of Europe, passed since 1791, affecting the +commercial rights of the United States, I now transmit them a report of +the Secretary of State of such of them as have been attainable in the +Department of State and are supposed to have entered into the views of +the Senate. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 27, 1808. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +According to the request expressed by the Senate in their resolution of +November 14, I now transmit a report of the Secretary of the Treasury +and statement showing, as far as returns have been received from the +collectors, the number of vessels which have departed from the United +States with permission, and specifying the other particulars +contemplated by that resolution. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 30, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +At the request of the governor, the senate, and house of representatives +of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I communicate certain resolutions +entered into by the said senate and house of representatives, and +approved by the governor, on the 23d instant. It can not but be +encouraging to those whom the nation has placed in the direction of +their affairs to see that their fellow-citizens will press forward +in support of their country in proportion as it is threatened by the +disorganizing conflicts of the other hemisphere. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +DECEMBER 30, 1808. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I lay before the Legislature a letter from Governor Claiborne on the +subject of a small tribe of Alabama Indians on the western side of the +Mississippi, consisting of about a dozen families. Like other erratic +tribes in that country, it is understood that they have hitherto +moved from place to place according to their convenience, without +appropriating to themselves exclusively any particular territory; but +having now become habituated to some of the occupations of civilized +life, they wish for a fixed residence. I suppose it will be the interest +of the United States to encourage the wandering tribes of that country +to reduce themselves to fixed habitations whenever they are so disposed. +The establishment of towns and growing attachments to them will furnish +in some degree pledges of their peaceable and friendly conduct. The case +of this particular tribe is now submitted to the consideration of +Congress. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 6, 1809. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before Congress a statement of the works of defense which it +has been thought necessary to provide in the first instance for the +security of our seaport towns and harbors, and of the progress toward +their completion. Their extent has been adapted to the scale of the +appropriation and to the circumstances of the several places. + +The works undertaken at New York are calculated to annoy and endanger +any naval force which shall enter the harbor, and, still more, one +which should attempt to lie before the city. To prevent altogether the +entrance of large vessels, a line of blocks across the harbor has been +contemplated, and would, as is believed, with the auxiliary means +already provided, render that city safe against naval enterprise. The +expense as well as the importance of the work renders it a subject +proper for the special consideration of Congress. + +At New Orleans two separate systems of defense are necessary--the one +for the river, the other for the lake, which at present can give no aid +to one another. The canal now leading from the lake, if continued into +the river, would enable the armed vessels in both stations to unite, and +to meet in conjunction an attack from either side. Half the aggregate +force would then have the same effect as the whole, or the same force +double the effect of what either can now have. It would also enable the +vessels stationed in the lake when attacked by superior force to retire +to a safer position in the river. The same considerations of expense and +importance render this also a question for the special decision of +Congress. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 13, 1809. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now render to Congress the account of the fund established for +defraying the contingent expenses of Government for the year 1808. +Of the $20,000 appropriated for that purpose, $2,000 were deposited in +the hands of the Attorney-General of the United States to pay expenses +incident to the prosecution of Aaron Burr and his accomplices for +treason and misdemeanors alleged to have been committed by them; $990 +were paid to the order of Governor Williams on the same account, and +the balance of $17,010 remains in the Treasury unexpended. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 17, 1809. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I communicate to Congress certain letters which passed between the +British secretary of state, Mr. Canning, and Mr. Pinkney, our minister +plenipotentiary at London. When the documents concerning the relations +between the United States and Great Britain were laid before Congress at +the commencement of the session, the answer of Mr. Pinkney to the letter +of Mr. Canning had not been received, and a communication of the latter +alone would have accorded neither with propriety nor with the wishes of +Mr. Pinkney. When that answer afterwards arrived it was considered that, +as what had passed by conversation had been superseded by the written +and formal correspondence on the subject, the variance in the two +statements of what had verbally passed was not of sufficient importance +to be made the matter of a distinct and special communication. The +letter of Mr. Canning, however, having lately appeared in print, +unaccompanied by that of Mr. Pinkney in reply, and having a tendency +to make impressions not warranted by the statements of Mr. Pinkney, +it has become proper that the whole should be brought into public view. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 24, 1809. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +According to the resolution of the Senate of the 17th instant, I +now transmit them the information therein requested, respecting the +execution of the act of Congress of February 21, 1806, appropriating +$2,000,000 for defraying any extraordinary expenses attending the +intercourse between the United States and foreign nations. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +JANUARY 30, 1809. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I transmit to Congress a letter recently received from our minister at +the Court of St. James, covering one to him from the British secretary +of state, with his reply. These are communicated as forming a sequel to +the correspondence which accompanied my message to both Houses of the +17th instant. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 18, 1809. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +I submit a treaty, concluded at Brownstown, in the Territory of +Michigan, between the United States and the Chippewas, Ottawas, +Potawattamies, Wyandots, and Shawnees, on the 25th day of November +last, whereby those tribes grant to the United States two roads, +therein described, for the decision of the Senate whether they will +advise and consent to the ratification of it. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 24, 1809. + +_To the Senate of the United States_: + +The Emperor of Russia has on several occasions indicated sentiments +particularly friendly to the United States, and expressed a wish through +different channels that a diplomatic intercourse should be established +between the two countries. His high station and the relations of +Russia to the predominant powers of Europe must give him weight with +them according to the vicissitudes of the war, and his influence in +negotiations for peace may be of value to the United States should +arrangements of any sort affecting them be contemplated by other powers +in the present extraordinary state of the world; and under the constant +possibility of sudden negotiations for peace I have thought that the +friendly dispositions of such a power might be advantageously cherished +by a mission which should manifest our willingness to meet his good +will. I accordingly commissioned in the month of August last William +Short, formerly minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Madrid, +to proceed as minister plenipotentiary to the Court of St. Petersburg, +and he proceeded accordingly; and I now nominate him to the Senate for +that appointment. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + +FEBRUARY 25, 1809. + +_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: + +I now lay before Congress a statement of the militia of the United +States according to the latest returns received by the Department +of War. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + +PROCLAMATION. + + +[From Annals of Congress, Tenth Congress, second session, 462.] + + +WASHINGTON, _December 30, 1808_. + +_The President of the United States to_ ------, _Senator for the +State of_ ------. + +Certain matters touching the public good requiring that the Senate +should be convened on Saturday, 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 deliberate on such communications as +shall be made to you. + +TH. JEFFERSON. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Compilation of the Messages and +Papers of the Presidents, by Edited by James D. Richardson + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10893 *** |