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diff --git a/old/sujef10.txt b/old/sujef10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6464658 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/sujef10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2380 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of State of the Union Addresses +by Thomas Jefferson +(#3 in our series of US Presidential State of the Union Addresses) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: State of the Union Addresses of Thomas Jefferson + +Author: Thomas Jefferson + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5012] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 11, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY THOMAS JEFFERSON *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by James Linden. + +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** + +Dates of addresses by Thomas Jefferson in this eBook: + December 8, 1801 + December 15, 1802 + October 17, 1803 + November 8, 1804 + December 3, 1805 + December 2, 1806 + October 27, 1807 + November 8, 1808 + + + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +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 principle +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 you that the continued efforts to +introduce among them the implements and the practice of husbandry and 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 1 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 circumstances 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 ration of +representation and taxation. You will perceive that the increase of numbers +during the last 10 years, proceeding in geometric ratio, promises a +duplication in little more than 22 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 +news papers 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 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 1st 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 authorities, 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 the 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 1st 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 +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 +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 5 of the 7 +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 of 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 1st 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 4 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 on 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 1st 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 14 years is a denial to a great proportion +of those who ask it, and controls a policy pursued from their 1st +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. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +December 15, 1802 + +To the Senate and House of Representatives: + +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 Parliamant +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 circumstances 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 sea men, 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 prey. +The captain, one American sea man, 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 12 months have exceeded those of +any former year, and that the ration 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 1 year upward of $8M, principal +and interest, of the public debt, exclusive of upward of $1M paid by the +sale of bank stock, and making in the whole a reduction of nearly $5.5M of +principal, and to have now in the Treasury $4.5M 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 employed 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 when so ever we are destined to meet +events which shall call forth all the energies of our country-men, 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 +mean time, 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 1 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 land-marks by which we are to +guide ourselves in all proceedings. By continuing to make these the rule of +our action we shall endear to our country-men 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +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 $2M 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 to 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 involve matters with 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 $11M and $12M, 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 $3.1M exclusive of +interest, and making, with the payment of the preceding year, a discharge +of more than $8.5M of the principal of that debt, besides the accruing +interest; and there remain in the Treasury nearly $6M. Of these, $880K have +been reserved for payment of the first installment due under the British +convention of 1802 January 08, and $2 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 $13M will then be added to our public +debt, most of which is payable after 15 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 $50K appropriated by Congress for providing gun boats 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 $1.5M, 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 sanguinity contest and left us only to look +on and 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, citizens 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 carrying into execution with the fidelity +I owe to my country. TH. JEFFERSON + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +November 8, 1804 + +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 foot-steps 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 mean time inconsistent with the peace +and friendship existing between the 2 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 1803 April 30, 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 sea worthy. + +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 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 5 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 mean time, their places are supplied by the +officers before commanding there, and the function 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 of 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 1803 February 28, for building and employing a +number of gun boats, 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 sea port towns, their utility toward supporting +within our waters the authority of the laws, the promptness with which they +will be manned by the sea men 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. $11.5M, +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 $3.6M of the public debt, exclusive of interest. This payment, +with those of the two preceding years, has extinguished up ward of $12M 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 probably 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 $3.5M 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 you 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +December 3, 1805 + +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 quarter 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 practical 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 clothing. 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 in 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 +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 +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 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 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 sea port 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 gun boats, 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 mean time 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 # 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, in as much 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 material 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 country-men 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 it 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-third of their +complement of sea men and ordinary sea men. Whether a frigate may be +trusted to two-third 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 # of sea men which may be employed in the whole service rather than by +the # of 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 # +of sea men 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 the Ocmulgee up to the Ulcofauhatche. The three former purchases +are important, in as much 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 as soon as we shall receive some further relations which we +have reason shortly to expect. + +The receipts of the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of +September last have exceeded the sum of $13M, which, with not quite $5M in +the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us after meeting +other demands to pay nearly $2M of the debt contracted under the British +treaty and convention, upward of $4M of principal of the public debt, and +$4M of interest. These payments, with those which had been made in 3 years +and a half preceding, have extinguished of the funded debt nearly $18M of +principal. Congress by their act of 1803 November 10, authorized us to +borrow $1.75M 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 $4.5M, which remained in the Treasury on the same 30th +day of September last, with the receipts of which we may calculate on for +the ensuing year, besides paying the annual sum of $8M appropriated to the +funded debt and meeting all the current demands which may be expected, will +enable us to pay the whole sum of $3.75M assumed by the French convention +and still leave us a surplus of nearly $1M 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +December 2, 1806 + +The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: + +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 mean time 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 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 forces 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 gun boats 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 sea port 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 sea port 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 safe-guards could be needed against insurrection or enterprise on the +public peace or authority. The laws, 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 reenforcement +into the Mediterranean unless previous information shall show it to be +necessary. + +We continue to receive proofs of the growing attachment of our Indian +neighbors and of their dispositions 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 +of our country have long been eager to proscribe. Although no law you may +pass can take prohibitory effect Ôtil the 1st 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 $15M, which have enabled us, after +meeting the current demands, to pay $2.7M of the American claims in part of +the price of Louisiana; to pay of the funded debt upward of $3M of +principal and nearly $4M of interest, and, in addition, to reimburse in the +course of the present month near $2M of 5.5% stock. These payments and +reimbursements of the funded debt, with those which had been made in the 4 +years and a half preceding, will at the close of the present year have +extinguished upward of $23M 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 communications 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 is 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 preparation for the defense +of our sea port 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 e 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 probably 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +October 27, 1807 + +The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: + +Circumstance, 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 22nd 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 4 taken away. On this outrage no +commentaries are necessary. Its character has been pronounced by the +indignant voices 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 1806 November 21, 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 restless 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 sea port +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 gun boats, 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 sea men 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 gun boats into actual service for the +defense of our harbors; all of 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 mean time 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 +momentÕs 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 mean time, it is +ascertained that the receipts have amounted to near $16M, which, with the +$5.5M in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us, after +meeting the current demands and interest incurred, to pay more than $4M of +the principal of our funded debt. These payments, with those of the +preceding 5.5 years, have extinguished of the funded debt $25.5M, 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 $8.5M. + +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 1st +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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +November 8, 1808 + +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 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 aggression 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 believe 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 Ioways, 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 sea port 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 gun boats 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 residents 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 the 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 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 portion 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 mean time it is +ascertained that the receipts have amounted to near $18M, which, with the +$8.5M in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us, after +meeting the current demands and interest incurred, to pay $2.3M of the +principal of our funded debt, and left us in the Treasury on that day near +$14M. Of these, $5.35M will be necessary to pay what will be due on the 1st +day of January next, which will complete the reimbursement of the 8% stock. +These payments, with those made in the 6.5 years preceding, will have +extinguished $33.58M 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 $2M 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 to 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. These +same grateful acknowledgements 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 our 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 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 + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY THOMAS JEFFERSON *** + +This file should be named sujef10.txt or sujef10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, sujef11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sujef10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: State of the Union Addresses of Thomas Jefferson + +Author: Thomas Jefferson + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5012] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 11, 2002] +[Date last updated: December 16, 2004] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY THOMAS JEFFERSON *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by James Linden. + +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** + +Dates of addresses by Thomas Jefferson in this eBook: + December 8, 1801 + December 15, 1802 + October 17, 1803 + November 8, 1804 + December 3, 1805 + December 2, 1806 + October 27, 1807 + November 8, 1808 + + + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +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 principle +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 you that the continued efforts to +introduce among them the implements and the practice of husbandry and 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 ration of +representation and taxation. You will perceive that the increase of numbers +during the last 10 years, proceeding in geometric ratio, promises a +duplication in little more than 22 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 +news papers 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 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 authorities, 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 the 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 +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 +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 5 of the 7 +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 on 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 14 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. + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +December 15, 1802 + +To the Senate and House of Representatives: + +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 sea men, 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 prey. +The captain, one American sea man, 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 12 months have exceeded those of +any former year, and that the ration 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 millions, +principal and interest, of the public debt, exclusive of upward of $1 +million paid by the sale of bank stock, and making in the whole a +reduction of nearly $5.5 millions of principal, and to have now in the +Treasury $4.5 millions 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 employed 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 when so ever we are destined to meet +events which shall call forth all the energies of our country-men, 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 +mean time, 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 land-marks by which we are to +guide ourselves in all proceedings. By continuing to make these the rule of +our action we shall endear to our country-men 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +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 millions 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 to 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 involve matters with 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 millions and $12 millions, 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 $3.1 millions exclusive +of interest, and making, with the payment of the preceding year, a +discharge of more than $8.5 millions of the principal of that debt, +besides the accruing interest; and there remain in the Treasury nearly +$6 millions. Of these, $880 thousands have been reserved for payment of +the first installment due under the British convention of January 8th, +1802, and $2 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 millions 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 thousands appropriated by Congress for providing gun boats +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 $1.5 +millions, 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 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, citizens 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 carrying into execution with the fidelity +I owe to my country. + +TH. JEFFERSON + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +November 8, 1804 + +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 foot-steps 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 mean time 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 30th, 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 sea worthy. + +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 +first 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 mean time, their places are supplied by the +officers before commanding there, and the function 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 of 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 three +hundred 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 28th, 1803, for building and employing a +number of gun boats, 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 sea port towns, their utility toward supporting +within our waters the authority of the laws, the promptness with which they +will be manned by the sea men 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. $11.5 +millions, 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 $3.6 millions of the public debt, exclusive of +interest. This payment, with those of the two preceding years, has +extinguished upward of $12 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 $3.5 millions 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +December 3, 1805 + +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 quarter 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 practical 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 clothing. 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 in 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 +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 +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 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 sea port 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 gun boats, 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 mean time 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 three +hundred thousand 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, in as much 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 material 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 country-men 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 it 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 sea men and ordinary sea men. 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 sea men which may be employed in the whole service rather +than by the number of 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 sea men 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 the Ocmulgee up to the Ulcofauhatche. The three former purchases +are important, in as much 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 as soon as we shall receive some further relations which we +have reason shortly to expect. + +The receipts of the Treasury during the year ending on the 30th day of +September last have exceeded the sum of $13 millions, which, with not +quite $5 millions in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have +enabled us after meeting other demands to pay nearly $2 millions of the +debt contracted under the British treaty and convention, upward of $4 +millions of principal of the public debt, and $4 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 $18 millions of +principal. Congress by their act of November 10th, 1803, authorized us to +borrow $1.75 millions 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 $4.5 millions, which remained in the +Treasury on the same 30th day of September last, with the receipts of +which we may calculate on for the ensuing year, besides paying the annual +sum of $8 millions appropriated to the funded debt and meeting all the +current demands which may be expected, will enable us to pay the whole +sum of $3.75 millions assumed by the French convention and still leave +us a surplus of nearly $1 million 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +December 2, 1806 + +The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: + +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 mean time 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 five hundred 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 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 forces 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 gun boats 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 sea port 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 sea port 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 safe-guards could be needed against insurrection or enterprise on the +public peace or authority. The laws, 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 reenforcement +into the Mediterranean unless previous information shall show it to be +unnecessary. + +We continue to receive proofs of the growing attachment of our Indian +neighbors and of their dispositions 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 six hundred +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 +of our country have long been eager to proscribe. Although no law you may +pass can take prohibitory effect until 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 millions, which have enabled us, +after meeting the current demands, to pay $2.7 millions of the American +claims in part of the price of Louisiana; to pay of the funded debt upward +of $3 millions of principal and nearly $4 millions of interest, and, in +addition, to reimburse in the course of the present month near $2 +millions of 5.5% 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 $23 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 communications 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 preparation for the defense +of our sea port 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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +October 27, 1807 + +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 22nd 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 voices 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 21st, 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 restless 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 sea port +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 gun boats, 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 sea men 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 gun boats into actual service for the +defense of our harbors; all of 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 mean time 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 mean time, it is +ascertained that the receipts have amounted to near $16 millions, which, +with the $5.5 millions in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have +enabled us, after meeting the current demands and interest incurred, to +pay more than $4 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 $25.5 millions, 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 $8.5 millions. + +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 + +*** + +State of the Union Address +Thomas Jefferson +November 8, 1808 + +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 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 aggression 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 Ioways, 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 sea port 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 gun boats authorized by the act of December last, it has been +thought necessary to build only one hundred and three in the present year. +These, with those before possessed, are sufficient for the harbors and +waters most exposed, and the residents 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 the 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 11th and April 23rd 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 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 portion 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 mean time it is +ascertained that the receipts have amounted to near $18 millions, which, +with the $8.5 millions in the Treasury at the beginning of the year, have +enabled us, after meeting the current demands and interest incurred, to +pay $2.3 millions of the principal of our funded debt, and left us in +the Treasury on that day near $14 millions. Of these, $5.35 millions will +be necessary to pay what will be due on the 1st day of January next, which +will complete the reimbursement of the 8% stock. These payments, with +those made in the six and a half years preceding, will have extinguished +$33.58 millions 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 millions 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 to 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. These +same grateful acknowledgements 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 our 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 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 + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY THOMAS JEFFERSON *** + +This file should be named sujef11.txt or sujef11.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, sujef12.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sujef10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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