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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 John Quincy Adams + +Author: John Quincy Adams + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5015] +[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 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by James Linden. + +The addresses are separated by three asterisks: *** + +Dates of addresses by John Quincy Adams in this eBook: + December 6, 1825 + December 5, 1826 + December 4, 1827 + December 2, 1828 + + + +*** + +State of the Union Address +John Quincy Adams +December 6, 1825 + +Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: + +In taking a general survey of the concerns of our beloved country, with +reference to subjects interesting to the common welfare, the first +sentiment which impresses itself upon the mind is of gratitude to the +Omnipotent Disposer of All Good for the continuance of the signal blessings +of His providence, and especially for that health which to an unusual +extent has prevailed within our borders, and for that abundance which in +the vicissitudes of the seasons has been scattered with profusion over our +land. Nor ought we less to ascribe to Him the glory that we are permitted +to enjoy the bounties of His hand in peace and tranquillity -- in peace +with all the other nations of the earth, in tranquillity among our selves. +There has, indeed, rarely been a period in the history of civilized man in +which the general condition of the Christian nations has been marked so +extensively by peace and prosperity. + +Europe, with a few partial and unhappy exceptions, has enjoyed 10 years of +peace, during which all her Governments, what ever the theory of their +constitutions may have been, are successively taught to feel that the end +of their institution is the happiness of the people, and that the exercise +of power among men can be justified only by the blessings it confers upon +those over whom it is extended. + +During the same period our intercourse with all those nations has been +pacific and friendly; it so continues. Since the close of your last session +no material variation has occurred in our relations with any one of them. +In the commercial and navigation system of Great Britain important changes +of municipal regulation have recently been sanctioned by acts of +Parliament, the effect of which upon the interests of other nations, and +particularly upon ours, has not yet been fully developed. In the recent +renewal of the diplomatic missions on both sides between the two +Governments assurances have been given and received of the continuance and +increase of the mutual confidence and cordiality by which the adjustment of +many points of difference had already been effected, and which affords the +surest pledge for the ultimate satisfactory adjustment of those which still +remain open or may hereafter arise. + +The policy of the United States in their commercial intercourse with other +nations has always been of the most liberal character. In the mutual +exchange of their respective productions they have abstained altogether +from prohibitions; they have interdicted themselves the power of laying +taxes upon exports, and when ever they have favored their own shipping by +special preferences or exclusive privileges in their own ports it has been +only with a view to countervail similar favors and exclusions granted by +the nations with whom we have been engaged in traffic to their own people +or shipping, and to the disadvantage of ours. Immediately after the close +of the last war a proposal was fairly made by the act of Congress of +1815-03-03, to all the maritime nations to lay aside the system of +retaliating restrictions and exclusions, and to place the shipping of both +parties to the common trade on a footing of equality in respect to the +duties of tonnage and impost. This offer was partially and successively +accepted by Great Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Hanseatic cities, +Prussia, Sardinia, the Duke of Oldenburg, and Russia. It was also adopted, +under certain modifications, in our late commercial convention with France, +and by the act of Congress of 1824-01-08, it has received a new +confirmation with all the nations who had acceded to it, and has been +offered again to all those who are or may here after be willing to abide in +reciprocity by it. But all these regulations, whether established by treaty +or by municipal enactments, are still subject to one important +restriction. + +The removal of discriminating duties of tonnage and of impost is limited to +articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the country to which the +vessel belongs or to such articles as are most usually first shipped from +her ports. It will deserve the serious consideration of Congress whether +even this remnant of restriction may not be safely abandoned, and whether +the general tender of equal competition made in the act of 1824-01-08, may +not be extended to include all articles of merchandise not prohibited, of +what country so ever they may be the produce or manufacture. Propositions +of this effect have already been made to us by more than one European +Government, and it is probable that if once established by legislation or +compact with any distinguished maritime state it would recommend itself by +the experience of its advantages to the general accession of all. + +The convention of commerce and navigation between the United States and +France, concluded on 1822-06-24, was, in the understanding and intent of +both parties, as appears upon its face, only a temporary arrangement of the +points of difference between them of the most immediate and pressing +urgency. It was limited in the first instance to two years from 1822-10-01, +but with a proviso that it should further continue in force 'til the +conclusion of a general and definitive treaty of commerce, unless +terminated by a notice, 6 months in advance, of either of the parties to +the other. Its operation so far as it extended has been mutually +advantageous, and it still continues in force by common consent. But it +left unadjusted several objects of great interest to the citizens and +subjects of both countries, and particularly a mass of claims to +considerable amount of citizens of the United States upon the Government of +France of indemnity for property taken or destroyed under circumstances of +the most aggravated and outrageous character. In the long period during +which continual and earnest appeals have been made to the equity and +magnanimity of France in behalf of these claims their justice has not been, +as it could not be, denied. + +It was hoped that the accession of a new Sovereign to the throne would have +afforded a favorable opportunity for presenting them to the consideration +of his Government. They have been presented and urged hither to without +effect. The repeated and earnest representations of our minister at the +Court of France remain as yet even without an answer. Were the demands of +nations upon the justice of each other susceptible of adjudication by the +sentence of an impartial tribunal, those to which I now refer would long +since have been settled and adequate indemnity would have been obtained. + +There are large amounts of similar claims upon the Netherlands, Naples, and +Denmark. For those upon Spain prior to 1819 indemnity was, after many years +of patient forbearance, obtained; and those upon Sweden have been lately +compromised by a private settlement, in which the claimants themselves have +acquiesced. The Governments of Denmark and of Naples have been recently +reminded of those yet existing against them, nor will any of them be +forgotten while a hope may be indulged of obtaining justice by the means +within the constitutional power of the Executive, and without resorting to +those means of self-redress which, as well as the time, circumstances, and +occasion which may require them, are within the exclusive competency of the +Legislature. + +It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to bear witness to the +liberal spirit with which the Republic of Colombia has made satisfaction +for well-established claims of a similar character, and among the documents +now communicated to Congress will be distinguished a treaty of commerce and +navigation with that Republic, the ratifications of which have been +exchanged since the last recess of the Legislature. The negotiation of +similar treaties with all of the independent South American States has been +contemplated and may yet be accomplished. The basis of them all, as +proposed by the United States, has been laid in two principles -- the one +of entire and unqualified reciprocity, the other the mutual obligation of +the parties to place each other permanently upon the footing of the most +favored nation. These principles are, indeed, indispensable to the +effectual emancipation of the American hemisphere from the thralldom of +colonizing monopolies and exclusions, an event rapidly realizing in the +progress of human affairs, and which the resistance still opposed in +certain parts of Europe to the acknowledgment of the Southern American +Republics as independent States will, it is believed, contribute more +effectually to accomplish. The time has been, and that not remote, when +some of those States might, in their anxious desire to obtain a nominal +recognition, have accepted of a nominal independence, clogged with +burdensome conditions, and exclusive commercial privileges granted to the +nation from which they have separated to the disadvantage of all others. +They are all now aware that such concessions to any European nation would +be incompatible with that independence which they have declared and +maintained. + +Among the measures which have been suggested to them by the new relations +with one another, resulting from the recent changes in their condition, is +that of assembling at the Isthmus of Panama a congress, at which each of +them should be represented, to deliberate upon objects important to the +welfare of all. The Republics of Colombia, of Mexico, and of Central +America have already deputed plenipotentiaries to such a meeting, and they +have invited the United States to be also represented there by their +ministers. The invitation has been accepted, and ministers on the part of +the United States will be commissioned to attend at those deliberations, +and to take part in them so far as may be compatible with that neutrality +from which it is neither our intention nor the desire of the other American +States that we should depart. + +The commissioners under the 7th article of the treaty of Ghent have so +nearly completed their arduous labors that, by the report recently received +from the agent on the part of the United States, there is reason to expect +that the commission will be closed at their next session, appointed for May +22 of the ensuing year. + +The other commission, appointed to ascertain the indemnities due for slaves +carried away from the United States after the close of the late war, have +met with some difficulty, which has delayed their progress in the inquiry. +A reference has been made to the British Government on the subject, which, +it may be hoped, will tend to hasten the decision of the commissioners, or +serve as a substitute for it. + +Among the powers specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution are +those of establishing uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies +throughout the United States and of providing for organizing, arming, and +disciplining the militia and for governing such part of them as may be +employed in the services of the United States. The magnitude and complexity +of the interests affected by legislation upon these subjects may account +for the fact that, long and often as both of them have occupied the +attention and animated the debates of Congress, no systems have yet been +devised for fulfilling to the satisfaction of the community the duties +prescribed by these grants of power. + +To conciliate the claim of the individual citizen to the enjoyment of +personal liberty, with the effective obligation of private contracts, is +the difficult problem to be solved by a law of bankruptcy. These are +objects of the deepest interest to society, affecting all that is precious +in the existence of multitudes of persons, many of them in the classes +essentially dependent and helpless, of the age requiring nurture, and of +the sex entitled to protection from the free agency of the parent and the +husband. The organization of the militia is yet more indispensable to the +liberties of the country. It is only by an effective militia that we can at +once enjoy the repose of peace and bid defiance to foreign aggression; it +is by the militia that we are constituted an armed nation, standing in +perpetual panoply of defense in the presence of all the other nations of +the earth. To this end it would be necessary, if possible, so to shape its +organization as to give it a more united and active energy. There are laws +establishing an uniform militia throughout the United States and for arming +and equipping its whole body. But it is a body of dislocated members, +without the vigor of unity and having little of uniformity but the name. To +infuse into this most important institution the power of which it is +susceptible and to make it available for the defense of the Union at the +shortest notice and at the smallest expense possible of time, of life, and +of treasure are among the benefits to be expected from the persevering +deliberations of Congress. + +Among the unequivocal indications of our national prosperity is the +flourishing state of our finances. The revenues of the present year, from +all their principal sources, will exceed the anticipations of the last. The +balance in the Treasury on the first of January last was a little short of +$2,000,000, exclusive of $2,500,000, being the moiety of the loan of +$5,000,000 authorized by the act of 1824-05-26. The receipts into the +Treasury from the first of January to the 30th of September, exclusive of +the other moiety of the same loan, are estimated at $16,500,000, and it is +expected that those of the current quarter will exceed $5,000,000, forming +an aggregate of receipts of nearly $22,000,000, independent of the loan. +The expenditures of the year will not exceed that sum more than $2,000,000. +By those expenditures nearly $8,000,000 of the principal of the public debt +that have been discharged. + +More than $1,500,000 has been devoted to the debt of gratitude to the +warriors of the Revolution; a nearly equal sum to the construction of +fortifications and the acquisition of ordnance and other permanent +preparations of national defense; $500,000 to the gradual increase of the +Navy; an equal sum for purchases of territory from the Indians and payment +of annuities to them; and upward of $1,000,000 for objects of internal +improvement authorized by special acts of the last Congress. If we add to +these $4,000,000 for payment of interest upon the public debt, there +remains a sum of $7,000,000, which have defrayed the whole expense of the +administration of Government in its legislative, executive, and judiciary +departments, including the support of the military and naval establishments +and all the occasional contingencies of a government coextensive with the +Union. + +The amount of duties secured on merchandise imported since the commencement +of the year is about $25,500,000, and that which will accrue during the +current quarter is estimated at $5,500,000; from these $31,000,000, +deducting the draw-backs, estimated at less than $7,000,000, a sum +exceeding $24,000,000 will constitute the revenue of the year, and will +exceed the whole expenditures of the year. The entire amount of the public +debt remaining due on the first of January next will be short of +$81,000,000. + +By an act of Congress of the 3d of March last a loan of $12,000,000 was +authorized at 4.5%, or an exchange of stock to that amount of 4.5% for a +stock of 6%, to create a fund for extinguishing an equal amount of the +public debt, bearing an interest of 6%, redeemable in 1826. An account of +the measures taken to give effect to this act will be laid before you by +the Secretary of the Treasury. As the object which it had in view has been +but partially accomplished, it will be for the consideration of Congress +whether the power with which it clothed the Executive should not be renewed +at an early day of the present session, and under what modifications. + +The act of Congress of the 3d of March last, directing the Secretary of the +Treasury to subscribe, in the name and for the use of the United States, +for 1,500 shares of the capital stock of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal +Company, has been executed by the actual subscription for the amount +specified; and such other measures have been adopted by that officer, under +the act, as the fulfillment of its intentions requires. The latest accounts +received of this important undertaking authorize the belief that it is in +successful progress. + +The payments into the Treasury from the proceeds of the sales of the public +lands during the present year were estimated at $1,000,000. The actual +receipts of the first two quarters have fallen very little short of that +sum; it is not expected that the second half of the year will be equally +productive, but the income of the year from that source may now be safely +estimated at $1,500,000. The act of Congress of 1824-05-18, to provide for +the extinguishment of the debt due to the United States by the purchasers +of public lands, was limited in its operation of relief to the purchaser to +the 10th of April last. Its effect at the end of the quarter during which +it expired was to reduce that debt from $10,000,000 to $7,000,000 By the +operation of similar prior laws of relief, from and since that of +1821-03-02, the debt had been reduced from upward of $22,000,000 to +$10,000,000. + +It is exceedingly desirable that it should be extinguished altogether; and +to facilitate that consummation I recommend to Congress the revival for one +year more of the act of 1824-05-18, with such provisional modification as +may be necessary to guard the public interests against fraudulent practices +in the resale of the relinquished land. + +The purchasers of public lands are among the most useful of our fellow +citizens, and since the system of sales for cash alone has been introduced +great indulgence has been justly extended to those who had previously +purchased upon credit. The debt which had been contracted under the credit +sales had become unwieldy, and its extinction was alike advantageous to the +purchaser and to the public. Under the system of sales, matured as it has +been by experience, and adapted to the exigencies of the times, the lands +will continue as they have become, an abundant source of revenue; and when +the pledge of them to the public creditor shall have been redeemed by the +entire discharge of the national debt, the swelling tide of wealth with +which they replenish the common Treasury may be made to reflow in unfailing +streams of improvement from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. + +The condition of the various branches of the public service resorting from +the Department of War, and their administration during the current year, +will be exhibited in the report of the Secretary of War and the +accompanying documents herewith communicated. The organization and +discipline of the Army are effective and satisfactory. To counteract the +prevalence of desertion among the troops it has been suggested to withhold +from the men a small portion of their monthly pay until the period of their +discharge; and some expedient appears to be necessary to preserve and +maintain among the officers so much of the art of horsemanship as could +scarcely fail to be found wanting on the possible sudden eruption of a war, +which should take us unprovided with a single corps of cavalry. + +The Military Academy at West Point, under the restrictions of a severe but +paternal superintendence, recommends itself more and more to the patronage +of the nation, and the numbers of meritorious officers which it forms and +introduces to the public service furnishes the means of multiplying the +undertakings of the public improvements to which their acquirements at that +institution are peculiarly adapted. The school of artillery practice +established at Fortress Monroe Hampton, VA is well suited to the same +purpose, and may need the aid of further legislative provision to the same +end. The reports of the various officers at the head of the administrative +branches of the military service, connected with the quartering, clothing, +subsistence, health, and pay of the Army, exhibit the assiduous vigilance +of those officers in the performance of their respective duties, and the +faithful accountability which has pervaded every part of the system. + +Our relations with the numerous tribes of aboriginal natives of this +country, scattered over its extensive surface and so dependent even for +their existence upon our power, have been during the present year highly +interesting. An act of Congress of 1824-05-25, made an appropriation to +defray the expenses of making treaties of trade and friendship with the +Indian tribes beyond the Mississippi. An act of 1825-03-03, authorized +treaties to be made with the Indians for their consent to the making of a +road from the frontier of Missouri to that of New Mexico, and another act +of the same date provided for defraying the expenses of holding treaties +with the Sioux, Chippeways, Menomenees, Sauks, Foxes, etc., for the purpose +of establishing boundaries and promoting peace between said tribes. + +The first and last objects of these acts have been accomplished, and the +second is yet in a process of execution. The treaties which since the last +session of Congress have been concluded with the several tribes will be +laid before the Senate for their consideration conformably to the +Constitution. They comprise large and valuable acquisitions of territory, +and they secure an adjustment of boundaries and give pledges of permanent +peace between several tribes which had been long waging bloody wars against +each other. + +On the 12th of February last a treaty was signed at the Indian Springs +between commissioners appointed on the part of the United States and +certain chiefs and individuals of the Creek Nation of Indians, which was +received at the seat of Government only a very few days before the close of +the last session of Congress and of the late Administration. The advice and +consent of the Senate was given to it on the 3d of March, too late for it +to receive the ratification of the then President of the United States; it +was ratified on the 7th of March, under the unsuspecting impression that it +had been negotiated in good faith and in the confidence inspired by the +recommendation of the Senate. The subsequent transactions in relation to +this treaty will form the subject of a separate communication. + +The appropriations made by Congress for public works, as well in the +construction of fortifications as for purposes of internal improvement, so +far as they have been expended, have been faithfuly applied. Their progress +has been delayed by the want of suitable officers for superintending them. +An increase of both the corps of engineers, military and topographical, was +recommended by my predecessor at the last session of Congress. The reasons +upon which that recommendation was founded subsist in all their force and +have acquired additional urgency since that time. The Military Academy at +West Point will furnish from the cadets there officers well qualified for +carrying this measure into effect. + +The Board of Engineers for Internal Improvement, appointed for carrying +into execution the act of Congress of 1824-04-30, "to procure the necessary +surveys, plans, and estimates on the subject of roads and canals", have +been actively engaged in that service from the close of the last session of +Congress. They have completed the surveys necessary for ascertaining the +practicability of a canal from the Chesapeake Bay to the Ohio River, and +are preparing a full report on that subject, which, when completed, will be +laid before you. The same observation is to be made with regard to the two +other objects of national importance upon which the Board have been +occupied, namely, the accomplishment of a national road from this city to +New Orleans, and the practicability of uniting the waters of Lake +Memphramagog with Connecticut River and the improvement of the navigation +of that river. The surveys have been made and are nearly completed. The +report may be expected at an early period during the present session of +Congress. + +The acts of Congress of the last session relative to the surveying, +marking, or laying out roads in the Territories of Florida, Arkansas, and +Michigan, from Missouri to Mexico, and for the continuation of the +Cumberland road, are, some of them, fully executed, and others in the +process of execution. Those for completing or commencing fortifications +have been delayed only so far as the Corps of Engineers has been inadequate +to furnish officers for the necessary superintendence of the works. Under +the act confirming the statutes of Virginia and Maryland incorporating the +Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, three commissioners on the part of the +United States have been appointed for opening books and receiving +subscriptions, in concert with a like number of commissioners appointed on +the part of each of those States. A meeting of the commissioners has been +post-poned, to await the definitive report of the board of engineers. + +The light-houses and monuments for the safety of our commerce and mariners, +the works for the security of Plymouth Beach and for the preservation of +the islands in Boston Harbor, have received the attention required by the +laws relating to those objects respectively. The continuation of the +Cumberland road, the most important of them all, after surmounting no +inconsiderable difficulty in fixing upon the direction of the road, has +commenced under the most promising of auspices, with the improvements of +recent invention in the mode of construction, and with advantage of a great +reduction in the comparative cost of the work. + +The operation of the laws relating to the Revolutionary pensioners may +deserve the renewed consideration of Congress. The act of 1818-03-18, while +it made provision for many meritorious and indigent citizens who had served +in the War of Independence, opened a door to numerous abuses and +impositions. To remedy this the act of 1820-05-01, exacted proofs of +absolute indigence, which many really in want were unable and all +susceptible of that delicacy which is allied to many virtues must be deeply +reluctant to give. The result has been that some among the least deserving +have been retained, and some in whom the requisites both of worth and want +were combined have been stricken from the list. As the numbers of these +venerable relics of an age gone by diminish; as the decays of body, mind, +and estate of those that survive must in the common course of nature +increase, should not a more liberal portion of indulgence be dealt out to +them? May not the want in most instances be inferred from the demand when +the service can be proved, and may not the last days of human infirmity be +spared the mortification of purchasing a pittance of relief only by the +exposure of its own necessities? I submit to Congress the expediency of +providing for individual cases of this description by special enactment, or +of revising the act of 1820-05-01, with a view to mitigate the rigor of its +exclusions in favor of persons to whom charity now bestowed can scarcely +discharge the debt of justice. + +The portion of the naval force of the Union in actual service has been +chiefly employed on three stations -- the Mediterranean, the coasts of +South America bordering on the Pacific Ocean, and the West Indies. An +occasional cruiser has been sent to range along the African shores most +polluted by the traffic of slaves; one armed vessel has been stationed on +the coast of our eastern boundary, to cruise along the fishing grounds in +Hudsons Bay and on the coast of Labrador, and the first service of a new +frigate has been performed in restoring to his native soil and domestic +enjoyments the veteran hero whose youthful blood and treasure had freely +flowed in the cause of our country's independence, and whose whole life has +been a series of services and sacrifices to the improvement of his fellow +men. + +The visit of General Lafayette, alike honorable to himself and to our +country, closed, as it had commenced, with the most affecting testimonials +of devoted attachment on his part, and of unbounded gratitude of this +people to him in return. It will form here-after a pleasing incident in the +annals of our Union, giving to real history the intense interest of romance +and signally marking the unpurchasable tribute of a great nation's social +affections to the disinterested champion of the liberties of human-kind. + +The constant maintenance of a small squadron in the Mediterranean is a +necessary substitute for the humiliating alternative of paying tribute for +the security of our commerce in that sea, and for a precarious peace, at +the mercy of every caprice of four Barbary States, by whom it was liable to +be violated. An additional motive for keeping a respectable force stationed +there at this time is found in the maritime war raging between the Greeks +and the Turks, and in which the neutral navigation of this Union is always +in danger of outrage and depredation. A few instances have occurred of such +depredations upon our merchant vessels by privateers or pirates wearing the +Grecian flag, but without real authority from the Greek or any other +Government. The heroic struggles of the Greeks themselves, in which our +warmest sympathies as free men and Christians have been engaged, have +continued to be maintained with vicissitudes of success adverse and +favorable. + +Similar motives have rendered expedient the keeping of a like force on the +coasts of Peru and Chile on the Pacific. The irregular and convulsive +character of the war upon the shores has been extended to the conflicts +upon the ocean. An active warfare has been kept up for years with alternate +success, though generally to the advantage of the American patriots. But +their naval forces have not always been under the control of their own +Governments. Blockades, unjustifiable upon any acknowledged principles of +international law, have been proclaimed by officers in command, and though +disavowed by the supreme authorities, the protection of our own commerce +against them has been made cause of complaint and erroneous imputations +against some of the most gallant officers of our Navy. Complaints equally +groundless have been made by the commanders of the Spanish royal forces in +those seas; but the most effective protection to our commerce has been the +flag and the firmness of our own commanding officers. + +The cessation of the war by the complete triumph of the patriot cause has +removed, it is hoped, all cause of dissension with one party and all +vestige of force of the other. But an unsettled coast of many degrees of +latitude forming a part of our own territory and a flourishing commerce and +fishery extending to the islands of the Pacific and to China still require +that the protecting power of the Union should be displayed under its flag +as well upon the ocean as upon the land. + +The objects of the West India Squadron have been to carry into execution +the laws for the suppression of the African slave trade; for the protection +of our commerce against vessels of piratical character, though bearing +commissions from either of the belligerent parties; for its protection +against open and unequivocal pirates. These objects during the present year +have been accomplished more effectually than at any former period. The +African slave trade has long been excluded from the use of our flag, and if +some few citizens of our country have continued to set the laws of the +Union as well as those of nature and humanity at defiance by persevering in +that abominable traffic, it has been only by sheltering themselves under +the banners of other nations less earnest for the total extinction of the +trade of ours. + +The active, persevering, and unremitted energy of Captain Warrington and of +the officers and men under his command on that trying and perilous service +have been crowned with signal success, and are entitled to the approbation +of their country. But experience has shown that not even a temporary +suspension or relaxation from assiduity can be indulged on that station +without reproducing piracy and murder in all their horrors; nor is it +probably that for years to come our immensely valuable commerce in those +seas can navigate in security without the steady continuance of an armed +force devoted to its protection. + +It were, indeed, a vain and dangerous illusion to believe that in the +present or probable condition of human society a commerce so extensive and +so rich as ours could exist and be pursued in safety without the continual +support of a military marine -- the only arm by which the power of this +Confederacy can be estimated or felt by foreign nations, and the only +standing military force which can never be dangerous to our own liberties +at home. A permanent naval peace establishment, therefore, adapted to our +present condition, and adaptable to that gigantic growth with which the +nation is advancing in its career, is among the subjects which have already +occupied the foresight of the last Congress, and which will deserve your +serious deliberations. Our Navy, commenced at an early period of our +present political organization upon a scale commensurate with the incipient +energies, the scanty resources, and the comparative indigence of our +infancy, was even then found adequate to cope with all the powers of +Barbary, save the first, and with one of the principle maritime powers of +Europe. + +At a period of further advancement, but with little accession of strength, +it not only sustained with honor the most unequal of conflicts, but covered +itself and our country with unfading glory. But it is only since the close +of the late war that by the numbers and force of the ships of which it was +composed it could deserve the name of a navy. Yet it retains nearly the +same organization as when it consisted only of 5 frigates. The rules and +regulations by which it is governed earnestly call for revision, and the +want of a naval school of instruction, corresponding with the Military +Academy at West Point, for the formation of scientific and accomplished +officers, is felt with daily increasing aggravation. + +The act of Congress of 1824-05-26, authorizing an examination and survey of +the harbor of Charleston, in South Carolina, of St. Marys, in Georgia, and +of the coast of Florida, and for other purposes, has been executed so far +as the appropriation would admit. Those of the 3d of March last, +authorizing the establishment of a navy yard and depot on the coast of +Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, and authorizing the building of ten sloops +of war, and for other purposes, are in the course of execution, for the +particulars of which and other objects connected with this Department I +refer to the report of the Secretary of the Navy, herewith communicated. + +A report from the PostMaster General is also submitted, exhibiting the +present flourishing condition of that Department. For the first time for +many years the receipts for the year ending on the first of July last +exceeded the expenditures during the same period to the amount of more than +$45,000. Other facts equally creditable to the administration of this +Department are that in two years from 1823-07-01, an improvement of more +than $185,000 in its pecuniary affairs has been realized; that in the same +interval the increase of the transportation of the mail has exceeded +1,500,000 miles annually, and that 1,040 new post offices have been +established. It hence appears that under judicious management the income +from this establishment may be relied on as fully adequate to defray its +expenses, and that by the discontinuance of post roads altogether +unproductive, others of more useful character may be opened, 'til the +circulation of the mail shall keep pace with the spread of our population, +and the comforts of friendly correspondence, the exchanges of internal +traffic, and the lights of the periodical press shall be distributed to the +remotest corners of the Union, at a charge scarcely perceptible to any +individual, and without the cost of a dollar to the public Treasury. + +Upon this first occasion of addressing the Legislature of the Union, with +which I have been honored, in presenting to their view the execution so far +as it has been effected of the measures sanctioned by them for promoting +the internal improvement of our country, I can not close the communication +without recommending to their calm and persevering consideration the +general principle in a more enlarged extent. The great object of the +institution of civil government is the improvement of the condition of +those who are parties to the social compact, and no government, in what +ever form constituted, can accomplish the lawful ends of its institution +but in proportion as it improves the condition of those over whom it is +established. Roads and canals, by multiplying and facilitating the +communications and intercourse between distant regions and multitudes of +men, are among the most important means of improvement. But moral, +political, intellectual improvement are duties assigned by the Author of +Our Existence to social no less than to individual man. + +For the fulfillment of those duties governments are invested with power, +and to the attainment of the end -- the progressive improvement of the +condition of the governed -- the exercise of delegated powers is a duty as +sacred and indispensable as the usurpation of powers not granted is +criminal and odious. + +Among the first, perhaps the very first, instrument for the improvement of +the condition of men is knowledge, and to the acquisition of much of the +knowledge adapted to the wants, the comforts, and enjoyments of human life +public institutions and seminaries of learning are essential. So convinced +of this was the first of my predecessors in this office, now first in the +memory, as, living, he was first in the hearts, of our country- men, that +once and again in his addresses to the Congresses with whom he cooperated +in the public service he earnestly recommended the establishment of +seminaries of learning, to prepare for all the emergencies of peace and war +-- a national university and a military academy. With respect to the +latter, had he lived to the present day, in turning his eyes to the +institution at West Point he would have enjoyed the gratification of his +most earnest wishes; but in surveying the city which has been honored with +his name he would have seen the spot of earth which he had destined and +bequeathed to the use and benefit of his country as the site for a +university still bare and barren. + +In assuming her station among the civilized nations of the earth it would +seem that our country had contracted the engagement to contribute her share +of mind, of labor, and of expense to the improvement of those parts of +knowledge which lie beyond the reach of individual acquisition, and +particularly to geographical and astronomical science. Looking back to the +history only of the half century since the declaration of our independence, +and observing the generous emulation with which the Governments of France, +Great Britain, and Russia have devoted the genius, the intelligence, the +treasures of their respective nations to the common improvement of the +species in these branches of science, is it not incumbent upon us to +inquire whether we are not bound by obligations of a high and honorable +character to contribute our portion of energy and exertion to the common +stock? The voyages of discovery prosecuted in the course of that time at +the expense of those nations have not only redounded to their glory, but to +the improvement of human knowledge. + +We have been partakers of that improvement and owe for it a sacred debt, +not only of gratitude, but of equal or proportional exertion in the same +common cause. Of the cost of these undertakings, if the mere expenditures +of outfit, equipment, and completion of the expeditions were to be +considered the only charges, it would be unworthy of a great and generous +nation to take a second thought. One hundred expeditions of +circumnavigation like those of Cook and La Prouse would not burden the +exchequer of the nation fitting them out so much as the ways and means of +defraying a single campaign in war. but if we take into account the lives +of those benefactors of man-kind of which their services in the cause of +their species were the purchase, how shall the cost of those heroic +enterprises be estimated, and what compensation can be made to them or to +their countries for them? Is it not by bearing them in affectionate +remembrance? Is it not still more by imitating their example -- by enabling +country-men of our own to pursue the same career and to hazard their lives +in the same cause? + +In inviting the attention of Congress to the subject of internal +improvements upon a view thus enlarged it is not my desire to recommend the +equipment of an expedition for circumnavigating the globe for purposes of +scientific research and inquiry. We have objects of useful investigation +nearer home, and to which our cares may be more beneficially applied. The +interior of our own territories has yet been very imperfectly explored. our +coasts along many degrees of latitude upon the shores of the Pacific Ocean, +though much frequented by our spirited commercial navigators, have been +barely visited by our public ships. The River of the West, first fully +discovered and navigated by a country-man of our own, still bears the name +of the ship in which he ascended its waters, and claims the protection of +our armed national flag at its mouth. With the establishment of a military +post there or at some other point of that coast, recommended by my +predecessor and already matured in the deliberations of the last Congress, +I would suggest the expediency of connecting the equipment of a public ship +for the exploration of the whole north-west coast of this continent. + +The establishment of an uniform standard of weights and measures was one of +the specific objects contemplated in the formation of our Constitution, and +to fix that standard was on of the powers delegated by express terms in +that instrument to Congress. The Governments of Great Britain and France +have scarcely ceased to be occupied with inquiries and speculations on the +same subject since the existence of our Constitution, and with them it has +expanded into profound, laborious, and expensive researches into the figure +of the earth and the comparative length of the pendulum vibrating seconds +in various latitudes from the equator to the pole. These researches have +resulted in the composition and publication of several works highly +interesting to the cause of science. The experiments are yet in the process +of performance. Some of them have recently been made on our own shores, +within the walls of one of our own colleges, and partly by one of our own +fellow citizens. It would be honorable to our country if the sequel of the +same experiments should be countenanced by the patronage of our Government, +as they have hitherto been by those of France and Britain. + +Connected with the establishment of an university, or separate from it, +might be undertaken the erection of an astronomical observatory, with +provision for the support of an astronomer, to be in constant attendance of +observation upon the phenomena of the heavens, and for the periodical +publication of his observances. it is with no feeling of pride as an +American that the remark may be made that on the comparatively small +territorial surface of Europe there are existing upward of 130 of these +light-houses of the skies, while throughout the whole American hemisphere +there is not one. If we reflect a moment upon the discoveries which in the +last four centuries have been made in the physical constitution of the +universe by the means of these buildings and of observers stationed in +them, shall we doubt of their usefulness to every nation? And while +scarcely a year passes over our heads without bringing some new +astronomical discovery to light, which we must fain receive at second hand +from Europe, are we not cutting ourselves off from the means of returning +light for light while we have neither observatory nor observer upon our +half of the globe and the earth revolves in perpetual darkness to our +unsearching eyes? + +When, on 1791-10-25, the first President of the United States announced to +Congress the result of the first enumeration of the inhabitants of this +Union, he informed them that the returns gave the pleasing assurance that +the population of the United States bordered on 4,000,000 persons. At the +distance of 30 years from that time the last enumeration, 5 years since +completed, presented a population bordering on 10,000,000. Perhaps of all +the evidence of a prosperous and happy condition of human society the +rapidity of the increase of population is the most unequivocal. But the +demonstration of our prosperity rests not alone upon this indication. + +Our commerce, our wealth, and the extent of our territories have increased +in corresponding proportions, and the number of independent communities +associated in our Federal Union has since that time nearly doubled. The +legislative representation of the States and people in the two Houses of +Congress has grown with the growth of their constituent bodies. The House, +which then consisted of 65 members, now numbers upward of 200. The Senate, +which consisted of 26 members, has now 48. But the executive and, still +more, the judiciary departments are yet in a great measure confined to +their primitive organization, and are now not adequate to the urgent wants +of a still growing community. + +The naval armaments, which at an early period forced themselves upon the +necessities of the Union, soon led to the establishment of a Department of +the Navy. But the Departments of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior, which +early after the formation of the Government had been united in one, +continue so united to this time, to the unquestionable detriment of the +public service. The multiplication of our relations with the nations and +Governments of the Old World has kept pace with that of our population and +commerce, while within the last 10 years a new family of nations in our own +hemisphere has arisen among the inhabitants of the earth, with whom our +intercourse, commercial and political, would of itself furnish occupation +to an active and industrious department. + +The constitution of the judiciary, experimental and imperfect as it was +even in the infancy of our existing Government, is yet more inadequate to +the administration of national justice at our present maturity. Nine years +have elapsed since a predecessor in this office, now not the last, the +citizen who, perhaps, of all others throughout the Union contributed most +to the formation and establishment of our Constitution, in his valedictory +address to Congress, immediately preceding his retirement from public life, +urgently recommended the revision of the judiciary and the establishment of +an additional executive department. The exigencies of the public service +and its unavoidable deficiencies, as now in exercise, have added yearly +cumulative weight to the considerations presented by him as persuasive to +the measure, and in recommending it to your deliberations I am happy to +have the influence of this high authority in aid of the undoubting +convictions of my own experience. + +The laws relating to the administration of the Patent Office are deserving +of much consideration and perhaps susceptible of some improvement. The +grant of power to regulate the action of Congress upon this subject has +specified both the end to be obtained and the means by which it is to be +effected, "to promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing +for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their +respective writings and discoveries". If an honest pride might be indulged +in the reflection that on the records of that office are already found +inventions the usefulness of which has scarcely been transcended in the +annals of human ingenuity, would not its exultation be allayed by the +inquiry whether the laws have effectively insured to the inventors the +reward destined to them by the Constitution -- even a limited term of +exclusive right to their discoveries? + +On 1799-12-24, it was resolved by Congress that a marble monument should be +erected by the United States in the Capitol at the city of Washington; that +the family of General Washington should be requested to permit his body to +be deposited under it, and that the monument be so designed as to +commemorate the great events of his military and political life. In +reminding Congress of this resolution and that the monument contemplated by +it remains yet without execution, I shall indulge only the remarks that the +works at the Capitol are approaching to completion; that the consent of the +family, desired by the resolution, was requested and obtained; that a +monument has been recently erected in this city over the remains of another +distinguished patriot of the Revolution, and that a spot has been reserved +within the walls where you are deliberating for the benefit of this and +future ages, in which the mortal remains may be deposited of him whose +spirit hovers over you and listens with delight to every act of the +representatives of his nation which can tend to exalt and adorn his and +their country. + +The Constitution under which you are assembled is a charter of limited +powers. After full and solemn deliberation upon all or any of the objects +which, urged by an irresistible sense of my own duty, I have recommended to +your attention should you come to the conclusion that, however desirable in +themselves, the enactment of laws for effecting them would transcend the +powers committed to you by that venerable instrument which we are all bound +to support, let no consideration induce you to assume the exercise of +powers not granted to you by the people. + +But if the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases what so +ever over the District of Columbia; if the power to lay and collect taxes, +duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common +defense and general welfare of the United States; if the power to regulate +commerce with foreign nations and among the several States and with the +Indian tribes, to fix the standard of weights and measures, to establish +post offices and post roads, to declare war, to raise and support armies, +to provide and maintain a navy, to dispose of and make all needful rules +and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the +United States, and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for +carrying these powers into execution -- if these powers and others +enumerated in the Constitution may be effectually brought into action by +laws promoting the improvement of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, +the cultivation and encouragement of the mechanic and of the elegant arts, +the advancement of literature, and the progress of the sciences, ornamental +and profound, to refrain from exercising them for the benefit of the people +themselves would be to hide in the earth the talent committed to our charge +-- would be treachery to the most sacred of trusts. + +The spirit of improvement is abroad upon the earth. It stimulates the +hearts and sharpens the faculties not of our fellow citizens alone, but of +the nations of Europe and of their rulers. While dwelling with pleasing +satisfaction upon the superior excellence of our political institutions, +let us not be unmindful that liberty is power; that the nation blessed with +the largest portion of liberty must in proportion to its numbers be the +most powerful nation upon earth, and that the tenure of power by man is, in +the moral purposes of his Creator, upon condition that it shall be +exercised to ends of beneficence, to improve the condition of himself and +his fellow men. + +While foreign nations less blessed with that freedom which is power than +ourselves are advancing with gigantic strides in the career of public +improvement, were we to slumber in indolence or fold up our arms and +proclaim to the world that we are palsied by the will of our constituents, +would it not be to cast away the bounties of Providence and doom ourselves +to perpetual inferiority? In the course of the year now drawing to its +close we have beheld, under the auspices and at the expense of one State of +this Union, a new university unfolding its portals to the sons of science +and holding up the torch of human improvement to eyes that seek the light. +We have seen under the persevering and enlightened enterprise of another +State the waters of our Western lakes mingle with those of the ocean. If +undertakings like these have been accomplished in the compass of a few +years by the authority of single members of our Confederation, can we, the +representative authorities of the whole Union, fall behind our fellow +servants in the exercise of the trust committed to us for the benefit of +our common sovereign by the accomplishment of works important to the whole +and to which neither the authority nor the resources of any one State can +be adequate? + +Finally, fellow citizens, I shall await with cheering hope and faithful +cooperation the result of your deliberations, assured that, without +encroaching upon the powers reserved to the authorities of the respective +States or to the people, you will, with a due sense of your obligations to +your country and of the high responsibilities weighing upon yourselves, +give efficacy to the means committed to you for the common good. And may He +who searches the hearts of the children of men prosper your exertions to +secure the blessings of peace and promote the highest welfare of your +country. JOHN QUNICY ADAMS + +*** + +State of the Union Address +John Quincy Adams +December 5, 1826 + +Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: + +The assemblage of the representatives of our Union in both Houses of the +Congress at this time occurs under circumstances calling for the renewed +homage of our grateful acknowledgments to the Giver of All Good. With the +exceptions incidental to the most felicitous condition of human existence, +we continue to be highly favored in all the elements which contribute to +individual comfort and to national prosperity. In the survey of our +extensive country we have generally to observe abodes of health and regions +of plenty. In our civil and political relations we have peace without and +tranquillity within our borders. We are, as a people, increasing with +unabated rapidity in population, wealth, and national resources, and +whatever differences of opinion exist among us with regard to the mode and +the means by which we shall turn the beneficence of Heaven to the +improvement of our own condition, there is yet a spirit animating us all +which will not suffer the bounties of Providence to be showered upon us in +vain, but will receive them with grateful hearts, and apply them with +unwearied hands to the advancement of the general good. + +Of the subjects recommended to Congress at their last session, some were +then definitively acted upon. Others, left unfinished, but partly matured, +will recur to your attention without needing a renewal of notice from me. +The purpose of this communication will be to present to your view the +general aspect of our public affairs at this moment and the measures which +have been taken to carry into effect the intentions of the Legislature as +signified by the laws then and heretofore enacted. + +In our intercourse with the other nations of the earth we have still the +happiness of enjoying peace and a general good understanding, qualified, +however, in several important instances by collisions of interest and by +unsatisfied claims of justice, to the settlement of which the +constitutional interposition of the legislative authority may become +ultimately indispensable. + +By the decease of the Emperor Alexander of Russia, which occurred +contemporaneously with the commencement of the last session of Congress, +the United States have been deprived of a long tried, steady, and faithful +friend. Born to the inheritance of absolute power and trained in the school +of adversity, from which no power on earth, however absolute, is exempt, +that monarch from his youth had been taught to feel the force and value of +public opinion and to be sensible that the interests of his own Government +would best be promoted by a frank and friendly intercourse with this +Republic, as those of his people would be advanced by a liberal intercourse +with our country. A candid and confidential interchange of sentiments +between him and the Government of the US upon the affairs of Southern +America took place at a period not long preceding his demise, and +contributed to fix that course of policy which left to the other +Governments of Europe no alternative but that of sooner or later +recognizing the independence of our southern neighbors, of which the +example had by the United States already been set. + +The ordinary diplomatic communications between his successor, the Emperor +Nicholas, and the United States have suffered some interruption by the +illness, departure, and subsequent decease of his minister residing here, +who enjoyed, as he merited, the entire confidence of his new sovereign, as +he had eminently responded to that of his predecessor. But we have had the +most satisfactory assurances that the sentiments of the reigning Emperor +toward the United States are altogether conformable to those which had so +long and constantly animated his imperial brother, and we have reason to +hope that they will serve to cement that harmony and good understanding +between the two nations which, founded in congenial interests, can not but +result in the advancement of the welfare and prosperity of both. + +Our relations of commerce and navigation with France are, by the operation +of the convention of 1822-06-24, with that nation, in a state of gradual +and progressive improvement. Convinced by all our experience, no less than +by the principles of fair and liberal reciprocity which the United States +have constantly tendered to all the nations of the earth as the rule of +commercial intercourse which they would universally prefer, that fair and +equal competition is most conducive to the interests of both parties, the +United States in the negotiation of that convention earnestly contended for +a mutual renunciation of discriminating duties and charges in the ports of +the two countries. Unable to obtain the immediate recognition of this +principle in its full extent, after reducing the duties of discrimination +so far as was found attainable it was agreed that at the expiration of two +years from 1822-10-01, when the convention was to go into effect, unless a +notice of 6 months on either side should be given to the other that the +convention itself must terminate, those duties should be reduced 1/4, and +that this reducation should be yearly repeated, until all discrimination +should cease, while the convention itself should continue in force. By the +effect of this stipulation 3/4 of the discriminating duties which had been +levied by each party upon the vessels of the other in its ports have +already been removed; and on the first of next October, should the +convention be still in force, the remaining 1/4 will be discontinued. +French vessels laden with French produce will be received in our ports on +the same terms as our own, and ours in return will enjoy the same +advantages in the ports of France. + +By these approximations to an equality of duties and of charges not only +has the commerce between the two countries prospered, but friendly +dispositions have been on both sides encouraged and promoted. They will +continue to be cherished and cultivated on the part of the United States. +It would have been gratifying to have had it in my power to add that the +claims upon the justice of the French Government, involving the property +and the comfortable subsistence of many of our fellow citizens, and which +have been so long and so earnestly urged, were in a more promising train of +adjustment than at your last meeting; but their condition remains +unaltered. + +With the Government of the Netherlands the mutual abandonment of +discriminating duties had been regulated by legislative acts on both sides. +The act of Congress of 1818-04-20, abolished all discriminating duties of +impost and tonnage upon the vessels and produce of the Netherlands in the +ports of the United States upon the assurance given by the Government of +the Netherlands that all such duties operating against the shipping and +commerce of the United States in that Kingdom had been abolished. These +reciprocal regulations had continued in force several years when the +discriminating principle was resumed by the Netherlands in a new and +indirect form by a bounty of 10% in the shape of a return of duties to +their national vessels, and in which those of the United States are not +permitted to participate. By the act of Congress of 1824-01-07, all +discriminating duties in the United States were again suspended, so far as +related to the vessels and produce of the Netherlands, so long as the +reciprocal exemption should be extended to the vessels and produce of the +United States in the Netherlands. But the same act provides that in the +event of a restoration of discriminating duties to operate against the +shipping and commerce of the United States in any of the foreign countries +referred to therein the suspension of discriminating duties in favor of the +navigation of such foreign country should cease and all the provisions of +the acts imposing discriminating foreign tonnage and impost duties in the +United States should revive and be in full force with regard to that +nation. + +In the correspondence with the Government of the Netherlands upon this +subject they have contended that the favor shown to their own shipping by +this bounty upon their tonnage is not to be considered a discriminating +duty; but it can not be denied that it produces all the same effects. Had +the mutual abolition been stipulated by treaty, such a bounty upon the +national vessels could scarcely have been granted consistent with good +faith. Yet as the act of Congress of 1824-01-07 has not expressly +authorized the Executive authority to determine what shall be considered as +a revival of discriminating duties by a foreign government to the +disadvantage of the United States, and as the retaliatory measure on our +part, however just and necessary, may tend rather to that conflict of +legislation which we deprecate than to that concert to which we invite all +commercial nations, as most conducive to their interest and our own, I have +thought it more consistent with the spirit of our institutions to refer to +the subject again to the paramount authority of the Legislature to decide +what measure the emergency may require than abruptly by proclamation to +carry into effect the minatory provisions of the act of 1824. + +During the last session of Congress treaties of amity, navigation, and +commerce were negotiated and signed at this place with the Government of +Denmark, in Europe, and with the Federation of Central America, in this +hemisphere. These treaties then received the constitutional sanction of the +Senate, by the advice and consent to their ratification. They were +accordingly ratified on the part of the US, and during the recess of +Congress have been also ratified by the other respective contracting +parties. The ratifications have been exchanged, and they have been +published by proclamations, copies of which are herewith communicated to +Congress. + +These treaties have established between the contracting parties the +principles of equality and reciprocity in their broadest and most liberal +extent, each party admitting the vessels of the other into its ports, laden +with cargoes the produce or manufacture of any quarter of the globe, upon +the payment of the same duties of tonnage and impost that are chargeable +upon their own. They have further stipulated that the parties shall +hereafter grant no favor of navigation or commerce to any other nation +which shall not upon the same terms be granted to each other, and that +neither party will impose upon articles of merchandise the produce or +manufacture of the other any other or higher duties than upon the like +articles being the produce or manufacture of any other country. To these +principles there is in the convention with Denmark an exception with regard +to the colonies of that Kingdom in the arctic seas, but none with regard to +her colonies in the West Indies. + +In the course of the last summer the term to which our last commercial +treaty with Sweden was limited has expired. A continuation of it is in the +contemplation of the Swedish Government, and is believed to be desirable on +the part of the United States. It has been proposed by the King of Sweden +that pending the negotiation of renewal the expired treaty should be +mutually considered as still in force, a measure which will require the +sanction of Congress to be carried into effect on our part, and which I +therefore recommend to your consideration. + +With Prussia, Spain, Portugal, and, in general, all the European powers +between whom and the United States relations of friendly intercourse have +existed their condition has not materially varied since the last session of +Congress. I regret not to be able to say the same of our commercial +intercourse with the colonial possessions of Great Britain in America. +Negotiations of the highest importance to our common interests have been +for several years in discussion between the two Governments, and on the +part of the United States have been invariably pursued in the spirit of +candor and conciliation. Interests of great magnitude and delicacy had been +adjusted by the conventions of 1815 and 1818, while that of 1822, mediated +by the late Emperor Alexander, had promised a satisfactory compromise of +claims which the Government of the US, in justice to the rights of a +numerous class of their citizens, was bound to sustain. + +But with regard to the commercial intercourse between the United States and +the British colonies in America, it has been hitherto found impracticable +to bring the parties to an understanding satisfactory to both. The relative +geographical position and the respective products of nature cultivated by +human industry had constituted the elements of a commercial intercourse +between the United States and British America, insular and continental, +important to the inhabitants of both countries; but it had been interdicted +by Great Britain upon a principle heretofore practiced upon by the +colonizing nations of Europe, of holding the trade of their colonies each +in exclusive monopoly to herself. + +After the termination of the late war this interdiction had been revived, +and the British Government declined including this portion of our +intercourse with her possessions in the negotiation of the convention of +1815. The trade was then carried on exclusively in British vessels 'til the +act of Congress, concerning navigation, of 1818 and the supplemental act of +1820 met the interdict by a corresponding measure on the part of the United +States. These measures, not of retaliation, but of necessary self defense, +were soon succeeded by an act of Parliament opening certain colonial ports +to the vessels of the United States coming directly from them, and to the +importation from them of certain articles of our produce burdened with +heavy duties, and excluding some of the most valuable articles of our +exports. The United States opened their ports to British vessels from the +colonies upon terms as exactly corresponding with those of the act of +Parliament as in the relative position of the parties could be made, and a +negotiation was commenced by mutual consent, with the hope on our part that +a reciprocal spirit of accommodation and a common sentiment of the +importance of the trade to the interests of the inhabitants of the two +countries between whom it must be carried on would ultimately bring the +parties to a compromise with which both might be satisfied. With this view +the Government of the United States had determined to sacrifice something +of that entire reciprocity which in all commercial arrangements with +foreign powers they are entitled to demand, and to acquiesce in some +inequalities disadvantageous to ourselves rather than to forego the benefit +of a final and permanent adjustment of this interest to the satisfaction of +Great Britain herself. The negotiation, repeatedly suspended by accidental +circumstances, was, however, by mutual agreement and express assent, +considered as pending and to be speedily resumed. + +In the mean time another act of Parliament, so doubtful and ambiguous in +its import as to have been misunderstood by the officers in the colonies +who were to carry it into execution, opens again certain colonial ports +upon new conditions and terms, with a threat to close them against any +nation which may not accept those terms as prescribed by the British +Government. This act, passed 1825-07, not communicated to the Government of +the US, not understood by the British officers of the customs in the +colonies where it was to be enforced, was never the less submitted to the +consideration of Congress at their last session. With the knowledge that a +negotiation upon the subject had long been in progress and pledges given of +its resumption at an early day, it was deemed expedient to await the result +of that negotiation rather than to subscribe implicitly to terms the import +of which was not clear and which the British authorities themselves in this +hemisphere were not prepared to explain. + +Immediately after the close of the last session of Congress one of our most +distinguished citizens was dispatched as envoy extraordinary and minister +plenipotentiary to Great Britain, furnished with instructions which we +could not doubt would lead to a conclusion of this long controverted +interest upon terms acceptable to Great Britain. Upon his arrival, and +before he had delivered his letters of credence, he was bet by an order of +the British council excluding from and after the first of December now +current the vessels of the United States from all the colonial British +ports excepting those immediately bordering on our territories. In answer +to his expostulations upon a measure thus unexpected he is informed that +according to the ancient maxims of policy of European nations having +colonies their trade is an exclusive possession of the mother country; that +all participation in it by other nations is a boon or favor not forming a +subject of negotiation, but to be regulated by the legislative acts of the +power owning the colony; that the British Government therefore declines +negotiating concerning it, and that as the US did not forthwith accept +purely and simply the terms offered by the act of Parliament of 1825-07, +Great Britain would not now admit the vessels of the United States even +upon the terms on which she has opened them to the navigation of other +nations. + +We have been accustomed to consider the trade which we have enjoyed with +the British colonies rather as an interchange of mutual benefits than as a +mere favor received; that under every circumstance we have given an ample +equivalent. We have seen every other nation holding colonies negotiate with +other nations and grant them freely admission to the colonies by treaty, +and so far are the other colonizing nations of Europe now from refusing to +negotiate for trade with their colonies that we ourselves have secured +access to the colonies of more than one of them by treaty. The refusal, +however, of Great Britain to negotiate leaves to the United States no other +alternative than that of regulating or interdicting altogether the trade on +their part, according as either measure may effect the interests of our own +country, and with that exclusive object I would recommend the whole subject +to your calm and candid deliberations. + +It is hoped that our unavailing exertions to accomplish a cordial good +understanding on this interest will not have an unpropitious effect upon +the other great topics of discussion between the two Governments. Our +north-eastern and north-western boundaries are still unadjusted. The +commissioners under the 7th article of the treaty of Ghent have nearly come +to the close of their labors; nor can we renounce the expectation, +enfeebled as it is, that they may agree upon their report to the +satisfaction or acquiescence of both parties. The commission for +liquidating the claims for indemnity for slaves carried away after the +close of the war has been sitting, with doubtful prospects of success. +Propositions of compromise have, however, passed between the two +Governments, the result of which we flatter ourselves may yet prove +unsatisfactory. Our own dispositions and purposes toward Great Britain are +all friendly and conciliatory; nor can we abandon but with strong +reluctance the belief that they will ultimately meet a return, not of +favors, which we neither as nor desire, but of equal reciprocity and good +will. + +With the American Governments of this hemisphere we continue to maintain an +intercourse altogether friendly, and between their nations and ours that +commercial interchange of which mutual benefit is the source of mutual +comfort and harmony the result is in a continual state of improvement. The +war between Spain and them since the total expulsion of the Spanish +military force from their continental territories has been little more than +nominal, and their internal tranquillity, though occasionally menaced by +the agitations which civil wars never fail to leave behind them, has not +been affected by any serious calamity. + +The congress of ministers from several of those nations which assembled at +Panama, after a short session there, adjourned to meet again at a more +favorable season in the neighborhood of Mexico. The decease of one of our +ministers on his way to the Isthmus, and the impediments of the season, +which delayed the departure of the other, deprived United States of the +advantage of being represented at the first meeting of the congress. There +is, however, no reason to believe that any transactions of the congress +were of a nature to affect injuriously the interests of the United States +or to require the interposition of our ministers had they been present. +Their absence has, indeed, deprived United States of the opportunity of +possessing precise and authentic information of the treaties which were +concluded at Panama; and the whole result has confirmed me in the +conviction of the expediency to the United States of being represented at +the congress. The surviving member of the mission, appointed during your +last session, has accordingly proceeded to his destination, and a successor +to his distinguished and lamented associate will be nominated to the +Senate. A treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce has in the course of +the last summer been concluded by our minister plenipotentiary at Mexico +with the united states of that Confederacy, which will also be laid before +the Senate for their advice with regard to its ratification. + +In adverting to the present condition of our fiscal concerns and to the +prospects of our revenue the first remark that calls our attention is that +they are less exuberantly prosperous than they were at the corresponding +period of the last year. The severe shock so extensively sustained by the +commercial and manufacturing interests in Great Britain has not been +without a perceptible recoil upon ourselves. A reduced importation from +abroad is necessarily succeeded by a reduced return to the Treasury at +home. The net revenue of the present year will not equal that of the last, +and the receipts of that which is to come will fall short of those in the +current year. The diminution, however, is in part attributable to the +flourishing condition of some of our domestic manufactures, and so far is +compensated by an equivalent more profitable to the nation. + +It is also highly gratifying to perceive that the deficiency in the +revenue, while it scarcely exceeds the anticipations of the last year's +estimate from the Treasury, has not interrupted the application of more +than $11M during the present year to the discharge of the principal and +interest of the debt, nor the reduction of upward of $7,000,000 of the +capital of the debt itself. The balance in the Treasury on the first of +January last was $5,201,650.43; the receipts from that time to the 30th of +September last were $19,585,932.50; the receipts of the current quarter, +estimated at $6,000,000, yield, with the sums already received, a revenue +of about $25,500,000 for the year; the expenditures for the first 3 +quarters of the year have amounted to $18,714,226.66; the expenditures of +the current quarter are expected, including the $2,000,000 of the principal +of the debt to be paid, to balance the receipts; so that the expense of the +year, amounting to upward of $1,000,000 less than its income, will leave a +proportionally increased balance in the Treasury on 1827-01-01, over that +of the first of January last; instead of $5,200,000 there will be +$6,400,000. + +The amount of duties secured on merchandise imported from the commence of +the year 'til September 30 is estimated at $21,250,000, and the amount that +will probably accrue during the present quarter is estimated at $4,250,000, +making for the whole year $25,500,000, from which the draw-backs being +deducted will leave a clear revenue from the customs receivable in the year +1827 of about $20,400,000, which, with the sums to be received from the +proceeds of public lands, the bank dividends, and other incidental +receipts, will form an aggregate of about $23,000,000, a sum falling short +of the whole expenses of the present year little more than the portion of +those expenditures applied to the discharge of the public debt beyond the +annual appropriation of $10,000,000 by the act of 1817-03-03. At the +passage of that act the public debt amounted to $123,500,000. On the first +of January next it will be short of $74,000,000. In the lapse of these 10 +years $50,000,000 of public debt, with the annual charge of upward of +$3,000,000 of interest upon them, have been extinguished. At the passage of +tat act, of the annual appropriation of $10,000,000, $7,000,000 were +absorbed in the payment of interest, and not more than $3,000,000 went to +reduce the capital of the debt. Of the same $10,000,000, at this time +scarcely $4,000,000 are applicable to the interest and upward of $6,000,000 +are effective in melting down the capital. + +Yet our experience has proved that a revenue consisting so largely of +imposts and tonnage ebbs and flows to an extraordinary extent, with all the +fluctuations incident to the general commerce of the world. It is within +our recollection that even in the compass of the same last 10 years the +receipts of the Treasury were not adequate to the expenditures of the year, +and that in two successive years it was found necessary to resort to loans +to meet the engagements of the nation. The returning tides of the +succeeding years replenished the public coffers until they have again begun +to feel the vicissitude of a decline. To produce these alternations of +fullness and exhaustion the relative operation of abundant or unfruitful +seasons, the regulations of foreign governments, political revolutions, the +prosperous or decaying condition of manufactures, commercial speculations, +and many other causes, not always to be traced, variously combine. + +We have found the alternate swells and diminutions embracing periods of +from two to three years. The last period of depression to United States was +from 1819 to 1822. The corresponding revival was from 1823 to the +commencement of the present year. Still, we have no cause to apprehend a +depression comparable to that of the former period, or even to anticipate a +deficiency which will intrench upon the ability to apply the annual $10M to +the reduction of the debt. It is well for us, however, to be admonished of +the necessity of abiding by the maxims of the most vigilant economy, and of +resorting to all honorable and useful expedients for pursuing with steady +and inflexible perseverance the total discharge of the debt. + +Besides the $7,000,000 of the loans of 1813 which will have been discharged +in the course of the present year, there are $9,000,000 which by the terms +of the contracts would have been and are now redeemable. $13,000,000 more +of the loan of 1814 will become redeemable from and after the expiration of +the present month, and $9,000,000 other from and after the close of the +ensuing year. They constitute a mass of $31,000,000, all bearing an +interest of 6%, more than $20,000,000 of which will be immediately +redeemable, and the rest within little more than a year. Leaving of this +amount $15,000,000 to continue at the interest of 6%, but to be paid off as +far as shall be found practicable in the years 1827 and 1828, there is +scarcely a doubt that the remaining $16,000,000 might within a few months +be discharged by a loan at not exceeding 5%, redeemable in the years 1829 +and 1830. By this operation a sum of nearly $500,000 may be saved to the +nation, and the discharge of the whole $31,000,000 within the 4 years may +be greatly facilitated if not wholly accomplished. + +By an act of Congress of 1835-03-03, a loan for the purpose now referred +to, or a subscription to stock, was authorized, at an interest not +exceeding 4.5%. But at that time so large a portion of the floating capital +of the country was absorbed in commercial speculations and so little was +left for investment in the stocks that the measure was but partially +successful. At the last session of Congress the condition of the funds was +still unpropitious to the measure; but the change so soon afterwards +occurred that, had the authority existed to redeem the $9M now redeemable +by an exchange of stocks or a loan at 5%, it is morally certain that it +might have been effected, and with it a yearly saving of $90,000. + +With regard to the collection of the revenue of imposts, certain +occurrences have within the last year been disclosed in one or two of our +principal ports, which engaged the attention of Congress at their last +session and may hereafter require further consideration. Until within a +very few years the execution of the laws for raising the revenue, like that +of all our other laws, has been insured more by the moral sense of the +community than by the rigors of a jealous precaution or by penal sanction. +Confiding in the exemplary punctuality and unsullied integrity of our +importing merchants, a gradual relaxation from the provisions of the +collection laws, a close adherence to which have caused inconvenience and +expense to them, had long become habitual, and indulgences had been +extended universally because they had never been abused. It may be worthy +of your serious consideration whether some further legislative provision +may not be necessary to come in aid of this state of unguarded security. + +From the reports herewith communicated of the Secretaries of War and of the +Navy, with the subsidiary documents annexed to them, will be discovered the +present condition and administration of our military establishment on the +land and on the sea. The organization of the Army having undergone no +change since its reduction to the present peace establishment in 1821, it +remains only to observe that it is yet found adequate to all the purposes +for which a permanent armed force in time of peace can be needed or useful. +It may be proper to add that, from a difference of opinion between the late +President of the United States and the Senate with regard to the +construction of the act of Congress of 1821-03-02, to reduce and fix the +military peace establishment of the US, it remains hitherto so far without +execution that no colonel has been appointed to command one of the +regiments of artillery. A supplementary or explanatory act of the +Legislature appears to be the only expedient practicable for removing the +difficulty of this appointment. + +In a period of profound peace the conduct of the mere military +establishment forms but a very inconsiderable portion of the duties +devolving upon the administration of the Department of War. It will be seen +by the returns from the subordinate departments of the Army that every +branch of the service is marked with order, regularity, and discipline; +that from the commanding general through all the gradations of +superintendence the officers feel themselves to have been citizens before +they were soldiers, and that the glory of a republican army must consist in +the spirit of freedom, by which it is animated, and of patriotism, by which +it is impelled. It may be confidently stated that the moral character of +the Army is in a state of continual improvement, and that all the +arrangements for the disposal of its parts have a constant reference to +that end. + +But to the War Department are attributed other duties, having, indeed, +relation to a future possible condition of war, but being purely defensive, +and in their tendency contributing rather to the security and permanency of +peace -- the erection of the fortifications provided for by Congress, and +adapted to secure our shores from hostile invasion; the distribution of the +fund of public gratitude and justice to the pensioners of the Revolutionary +war; the maintenance of our relations of peace and protection with the +Indian tribes, and the internal improvements and surveys for the location +of roads and canals, which during the last 3 sessions of Congress have +engaged so much of their attention, and may engross so large a share of +their future benefactions to our country. + +By the act of 1824-04-30, suggested and approved by my predecessor, the sum +of $30K was appropriated for the purpose of causing to be made the +necessary surveys, plans, and estimates of the routes of such roads and +canals as the President of the United States might deem of national +importance in a commercial or military point of view, or necessary for the +transportation of the public mail. The surveys, plans, and estimates for +each, when completed, will be laid before Congress. + +In execution of this act a board of engineers was immediately instituted, +and have been since most assiduously and constantly occupied in carrying it +into effect. The first object to which their labors were directed, by order +of the late President, was the examination of the country between the tide +waters of the Potomac, the Ohio, and Lake Erie, to ascertain the +practicability of a communication between them, to designate the most +suitable route for the same, and to form plans and estimates in detail of +the expense of execution. + +On 1825-02-03, they made their first report, which was immediately +communicated to Congress, and in which they declared that having maturely +considered the circumstances observed by them personally, and carefully +studied the results of such of the preliminary surveys as were then +completed, they were decidedly of opinion that the communication was +practicable. + +At the last session of Congress, before the board of engineers were enabled +to make up their second report containing a general plan and preparatory +estimate for the work, the Committee of the House of Representatives upon +Roads and Canals closed the session with a report expressing the hope that +the plan and estimate of the board of engineers might at this time be +prepared, and that the subject be referred to the early and favorable +consideration of Congress at their present session. That expected report of +the board of engineers is prepared, and will forthwith be laid before you. + +Under the resolution of Congress authorizing the Secretary of War to have +prepared a complete system of cavalry tactics, and a system of exercise and +instruction of field artillery, for the use of the militia of the US, to be +reported to Congress at the present session, a board of distinguished +officers of the Army and of the militia has been convened, whose report +will be submitted to you with that of the Secretary of War. The occasion +was thought favorable for consulting the same board, aided by the results +of a correspondence with the governors of the several States and +Territories and other citizens of intelligence and experience, upon the +acknowledged defective condition of our militia system, and of the +improvements of which it is susceptible. The report of the board upon this +subject is also submitted for your consideration. + +In the estimates of appropriations for the ensuing year upward of $5M will +be submitted for the expenditures to be paid from the Department of War. +Less than 2/5 of this will be applicable to the maintenance and support of +the Army. $1,500,000, in the form of pensions, goes as a scarcely adequate +tribute to the services and sacrifices of a former age, and a more than +equal sum invested in fortifications, or for the preparations of internal +improvement, provides for the quiet, the comfort, and happier existence of +the ages to come. The appropriations to indemnify those unfortunate +remnants of another race unable alike to share in the enjoyments and to +exist in the presence of civilization, though swelling in recent years to a +magnitude burdensome to the Treasury, are generally not without their +equivalents in profitable value, or serve to discharge the Union from +engagements more burdensome than debt. + +In like manner the estimate of appropriations for the Navy Department will +present an aggregate sum of upward of $3,000,000M. About half of these, +however, covers the current expenditures of the Navy in actual service, and +half constitutes a fund of national property, the pledge of our future +glory and defense. It was scarcely one short year after the close of the +late war, and when the burden of its expenses and charges was weighing +heaviest upon the country, that Congress, by the act of 1816-04-29, +appropriated $1,000,000 annually for 8 years to the *gradual increase of +the Navy*. At a subsequent period this annual appropriation was reduced to +$0,500,000 for 6 years, of which the present year is the last. A yet more +recent appropriation the last two years, for building 10 sloops of war, has +nearly restored the original appropriation of 1816 of $1,000,000 for every +year. + +The result is before United States all. We have 12 line-of-battle ships, 20 +frigates, and sloops of war in proportion, which, with a few months +preparation, may present a line of floating fortifications along the whole +range of our coast ready to meet any invader who might attempt to set foot +upon our shores. Combining with a system of fortifications upon the shores +themselves, commenced about the same time under the auspices of my +immediate predecessor, and hitherto systematically pursued, it has placed +in our possession the most effective sinews of war and has left us at once +an example and a lesson from which our own duties may be inferred. + +The gradual increase of the Navy was the principle of which the act of +1816-04-29, was the first development. It was the introduction of a system +to act upon the character and history of our country for an indefinite +series of ages. It was a declaration of that Congress to their constituents +and to posterity that it was the destiny and the duty of these confederated +States to become in regular process of time and by no petty advances a +great naval power. That which they proposed to accomplish in 8 years is +rather to be considered as the measure of their means that the limitation +of their design. They looked forward for a term of years sufficient for the +accomplishment of a definite portion of their purpose, and they left to +their successors to fill up the canvas of which they had traced the large +and prophetic outline. The ships of the line and frigates which they had in +contemplation will be shortly completed. The time which they had allotted +for the accomplishment of the work has more than elapsed. It remains for +your consideration how their successors may contribute their portion of +toil and of treasure for the benefit of the succeeding age in the gradual +increase of our Navy. + +There is perhaps no part of the exercise of the constitutional powers of +the Federal Government which has given more general satisfaction to the +people of the Union than this. The system has not been thus vigorously +introduced and hitherto sustained to be now departed from or abandoned. In +continuing to provide for the gradual increase of the Navy it may not be +necessary or expedient to add for the present any more to the number of our +ships; but should you deem it advisable to continue the yearly +appropriation of $0.5M to the same objects, it may be profitably expended +in a providing a supply of timber to be seasoned and other materials for +future use in the construction of docks or in laying the foundations of a +school for naval education, as to the wisdom of Congress either of those +measures may appear to claim the preference. + +Of the small portions of this Navy engaged in actual service during the +peace, squadrons have continued to be maintained in the Pacific Ocean, in +the West India seas, and in the Mediterranean, to which has been added a +small armament to cruise on the eastern coast of South America. In all they +have afforded protection to our commerce, have contributed to make our +country advantageously known to foreign nations, have honorably employed +multitudes of our sea men in the service of their country, and have inured +numbers of youths of the rising generation to lives of manly hardihood and +of nautical experience and skill. + +The piracies with which the West India seas were for several years infested +have been totally suppressed, but in the Mediterranean they have increased +in a manner afflictive to other nations, and but for the continued presence +of our squadron would probably have been distressing to our own. + +The war which has unfortunately broken out between the Republic of Buenos +Ayres and the Brazilian Government has given rise to very great +irregularities among the naval officers of the latter, by whom principles +in relation to blockades and to neutral navigation have been brought +forward to which we can not subscribe and which our own commanders have +found it necessary to resist. From the friendly disposition toward the +United States constantly manifested by the Emperor of Brazil, and the very +useful and friendly commercial intercourse between the United States and +his dominions, we have reason to believe that the just reparation demanded +for the injuries sustained by several of our citizens from some of his +officers will not be withheld. Abstracts from the recent dispatches of the +commanders of our several squadrons are communicated with the report of the +Secretary of the Navy to Congress. + +A report from the PostMaster General is likewise communicated, presenting +in a highly satisfactory manner the result of a vigorous, efficient, and +economical administration of that Department. The revenue of the office, +even of the year including the latter half of 1824 and the first half of +1825, had exceeded its expenditures by a sum of more than $45,000. That of +the succeeding year has been still more productive. The increase of the +receipts in the year preceding the first of July last over that of the year +before exceeds $136,000, and the excess of the receipts over the +expenditures of the year has swollen from $45,000 to yearly $80,000. + +During the same period contracts for additional transportation of the mail +in stages for about 260,000 miles have been made, and for 70,000 miles +annually on horse back. 714 new post offices have been established within +the year, and the increase of revenue within the last 3 years, as well as +the augmentation of the transportation by mail, is more than equal to the +whole amount of receipts and of mail conveyance at the commencement of the +present century, when the seat of the General Government was removed to +this place. When we reflect that the objects effected by the transportation +of the mail are among the choicest comforts and enjoyments of social life, +it is pleasing to observe that the dissemination of them to every corner of +our country has out- stripped in their increase even the rapid march of our +population. + +By the treaties with France and Spain, respectively ceding Louisiana and +the Floridas to the United States, provision was made for the security of +land titles derived from the Governments of those nations. Some progress +has been made under the authority of various acts of Congress in the +ascertainment and establishment of those titles, but claims to a very large +extent remain unadjusted. The public faith no less than the just rights of +individuals and the interest of the community itself appears to require +further provision for the speedy settlement of those claims, which I +therefore recommend to the care and attention of the Legislature. + +In conformity with the provisions of the act of 1825-05-20, to provide for +erecting a penitentiary in the District of Columbia, and for other +purposes, 3 commissioners were appointed to select a site for the erection +of a penitentiary for the District, and also a site in the county of +Alexandria for a county jail, both of which objects have been effected. The +building of the penitentiary has been commenced, and is in such a degree of +forwardness as to promise that it will be completed before the meeting of +the next Congress. This consideration points to the expediency of maturing +at the present session a system for the regulation and government of the +penitentiary, and of defining a system for the regulation and government of +the penitentiary, and of defining the class of offenses which shall be +punishable by confinement in this edifice. + +In closing this communication I trust that it will not be deemed +inappropriate to the occasion and purposes upon which we are here assembled +to indulge a momentary retrospect, combining in a single glance the period +of our origin as a national confederation with that of our present +existence, at the precise interval of half a century from each other. Since +your last meeting at this place the 50th anniversary of the day when our +independence was declared has been celebrated throughout our land, and on +that day, while every heart was bounding with joy and every voice was tuned +to gratulation, amid the blessings of freedom and independence which the +sires of a former age had handed down to their children, two of the +principal actors in that solemn scene -- the hand that penned the ever +memorable Declaration and the voice that sustained it in debate -- were by +one summons, at the distance of 700 miles from each other, called before +the Judge of All to account for their deeds done upon earth. They departed +cheered by the benedictions of their country, to whom they left the +inheritance of their fame and the memory of their bright example. + +If we turn our thoughts to the condition of their country, in the contrast +of the first and last day of that half century, how resplendent and sublime +is the transition from gloom to glory! Then, glancing through the same +lapse of time, in the condition of the individuals we see the first day +marked with the fullness and vigor of youth, in the pledge of their lives, +their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of freedom and of +man-kind; and on the last, extended on the bed of death, with but sense and +sensibility left to breathe a last aspiration to Heaven of blessing upon +their country, may we not humbly hope that to them too it was a pledge of +transition from gloom to glory, and that while their mortal vestments were +sinking into the clod of the valley their emancipated spirits were +ascending to the bosom of their God! JOHN QUNICY ADAMS + +*** + +State of the Union Address +John Quincy Adams +December 4, 1827 + +Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: + +A revolution of the seasons has nearly been completed since the +representatives of the people and States of this Union were last assembled +at this place to deliberate and to act upon the common important interests +of their constituents. In that interval the never slumbering eye of a wise +and beneficent Providence has continued its guardian care over the welfare +of our beloved country; the blessing of health has continued generally to +prevail throughout the land; the blessing of peace with our brethren of the +human race has been enjoyed without interruption; internal quiet has left +our fellow citizens in the full enjoyment of all their rights and in the +free exercise of all their faculties, to pursue the impulse of their nature +and the obligation of their duty in the improvement of their own condition; +the productions of the soil, the exchanges of commerce, the vivifying +labors of human industry, have combined to mingle in our cup a portion of +enjoyment as large and liberal as the indulgence of Heaven has perhaps ever +granted to the imperfect state of man upon earth; and as the purest of +human felicity consists in its participation with others, it is no small +addition to the sum of our national happiness at this time that peace and +prosperity prevail to a degree seldom experienced over the whole habitable +globe, presenting, though as yet with painful exceptions, a foretaste of +that blessed period of promise when the lion shall lie down with the lamb +and wars shall be no more. + +To preserve, to improve, and to perpetuate the sources and to direct in +their most effective channels the streams which contribute to the public +weal is the purpose for which Government was instituted. Objects of deep +importance to the welfare of the Union are constantly recurring to demand +the attention of the Federal Legislature, and they call with accumulated +interest at the first meeting of the two Houses after their periodical +renovation. To present to their consideration from time to time subjects in +which the interests of the nation are most deeply involved, and for the +regulation of which the legislative will is alone competent, is a duty +prescribed by the Constitution, to the performance of which the first +meeting of the new Congress is a period eminently appropriate, and which it +is now my purpose to discharge. + +Our relations of friendship with the other nations of the earth, political +and commercial, have been preserved unimpaired, and the opportunities to +improve them have been cultivated with anxious and unremitting attention. A +negotiation upon subjects of high and delicate interest with the Government +of Great Britain has terminated in the adjustment of some of the questions +at issue upon satisfactory terms and the postponement of others for future +discussion and agreement. + +The purposes of the convention concluded at St. Petersburg on 1822-07-12, +under the mediation of the late Emperor Alexander, have been carried into +effect by a subsequent convention, concluded at London on 1826-11-13, the +ratifications of which were exchanged at that place on 1827-02-06. A copy +of the proclamations issued on 1827-03-19, publishing this convention, is +herewith communicated to Congress. The sum of $1,204,960, therein +stipulated to be paid to the claimants of indemnity under the first article +of the treaty of Ghent, has been duly received, and the commission +instituted, comformably to the act of Congress of 1827-03-02, for the +distribution of the indemnity of the persons entitled to receive it are now +in session and approaching the consummation of their labors. This final +disposal of one of the most painful topics of collision between the United +States and Great Britain not only affords an occasion of gratulation to +ourselves, but has had the happiest effect in promoting a friendly +disposition and in softening asperities upon other objects of discussion; +nor ought it to pass without the tribute of a frank and cordial +acknowledgment of the magnanimity with which an honorable nation, by the +reparation of their own wrongs, achieves a triumph more glorious than any +field of blood can ever bestow. + +The conventions of 1815-07-03, and of 1818-10-20, will expire by their own +limitation on 1828-10-20. These have regulated the direct commercial +intercourse between the United States and Great Britain upon terms of the +most perfect reciprocity; and they effected a temporary compromise of the +respective rights and claims to territory westward of the Rocky Mountains. +These arrangements have been continued for an indefinite period of time +after the expiration of the above mentioned conventions, leaving each party +the liberty of terminating them by giving twelve months' notice to the +other. + +The radical principle of all commercial intercourse between independent +nations is the mutual interest of both parties. It is the vital spirit of +trade itself; nor can it be reconciled to the nature of man or to the +primary laws of human society that any traffic should long be willingly +pursued of which all the advantages are on one side and all the burdens on +the other. Treaties of commerce have been found by experience to be among +the most effective instruments for promoting peace and harmony between +nations whose interests, exclusively considered on either side, are brought +into frequent collisions by competition. In framing such treaties it is the +duty of each party not simply to urge with unyielding pertinacity that +which suits its own interest, but to concede liberally to that which is +adapted to the interest of the other. + +To accomplish this, little more is generally required than a simple +observance of the rule of reciprocity, and were it possible for the states- +men of 1 nation by stratagem and management to obtain from the weakness or +ignorance of another an over-reaching treaty, such a compact would prove an +incentive to war rather than a bond of peace. + +Our conventions with Great Britain are founded upon the principles of +reciprocity. The commercial intercourse between the two countries is +greater in magnitude and amount than between any two other nations on the +globe. It is for all purposes of benefit or advantage to both as precious, +and in all probability far more extensive, than if the parties were still +constituent parts of one and the same nation. Treaties between such States, +regulating the intercourse of peace between them and adjusting interests of +such transcendent importance to both, which have been found in a long +experience of years mutually advantageous, should not be lightly cancelled +or discontinued. Two conventions for continuing in force those above +mentioned have been concluded between the plenipotentiaries of the two +Governments on 1827-08-06, and will be forthwith laid before the Senate for +the exercise of their constitutional authority concerning them. + +In the execution of the treaties of peace of 1782-11 and 1783-09, between +the United States and Great Britain, and which terminated the war of our +independence, a line of boundary was drawn as the demarcation of territory +between the two countries, extending over nearly 20 degrees of latitude, +and ranging over seas, lakes, and mountains, then very imperfectly explored +and scarcely opened to the geographical knowledge of the age. In the +progress of discovery and settlement by both parties since that time +several questions of boundary between their respective territories have +arisen, which have been found of exceedingly difficult adjustment. + +At the close of the last war with Great Britain four of these questions +pressed themselves upon the consideration of the negotiators of the treaty +of Ghent, but without the means of concluding a definitive arrangement +concerning them. They were referred to three separate commissions +consisting, of two commissioners, one appointed by each party, to examine +and decide upon their respective claims. In the event of a disagreement +between the commissioners, one appointed by each party, to examine and +decide upon their respective claims. In the event of a disagreement between +the commissioners it was provided that they should make reports to their +several Governments, and that the reports should finally be referred to the +decision of a sovereign the common friend of both. + +Of these commissions two have already terminated their sessions and +investigations, one by entire and the other by partial agreement. The +commissioners of the 5th article of the treaty of Ghent have finally +disagreed, and made their conflicting reports to their own Governments. But +from these reports a great difficulty has occurred in making up a question +to be decided by the arbitrator. This purpose has, however, been effected +by a 4th convention, concluded at London by the plenipotentiaries of the +two Governments on 1827-09-29. It will be submitted, together with the +others, to the consideration of the Senate. + +While these questions have been pending incidents have occurred of +conflicting pretensions and of dangerous character upon the territory +itself in dispute between the two nations. By a common understanding +between the Governments it was agreed that no exercise of exclusive +jurisdiction by either party while the negotiation was pending should +change the state of the question of right to be definitively settled. Such +collision has, never the less, recently taken place by occurrences the +precise character of which has not yet been ascertained. A communication +from the governor of the State of Maine, with accompanying documents, and a +correspondence between the Secretary of State and the minister of Great +Britain on this subject are now communicated. Measures have been taken to +ascertain the state of the facts more correctly by the employment of a +special agent to visit the spot where the alleged outrages have occurred, +the result of those inquiries, when received, will be transmitted to +Congress. + +While so many of the subjects of high interest to the friendly relations +between the two countries have been so far adjusted, it is a matter of +regret that their views respecting the commercial intercourse between the +United States and the British colonial possessions have not equally +approximated to a friendly agreement. + +At the commencement of the last session of Congress they were informed of +the sudden and unexpected exclusion by the British Government of access in +vessels of the United States to all their colonial ports except those +immediately bordering upon our own territories. In the amicable discussions +which have succeeded the adoption of this measure which, as it affected +harshly the interests of the United States, became subject of expostulation +on our part, the principles upon which its justification has been placed +have been of a diversified character. It has been at once ascribed to a +mere recurrence to the old, long established principle of colonial monopoly +and at the same time to a feeling of resentment because the offers of an +act of Parliament opening the colonial ports upon certain conditions had +not been grasped at with sufficient eagerness by an instantaneous +conformity to them. + +At a subsequent period it has been intimated that the new exclusion was in +resentment because a prior act of Parliament, of 1822, opening certain +colonial ports, under heavy and burdensome restrictions, to vessels of the +United States, had not been reciprocated by an admission of British vessels +from the colonies, and their cargoes, without any restriction or +discrimination what ever. But be the motive for the interdiction what it +may, the British Government have manifested no disposition, either by +negotiation or by corresponding legislative enactments, to recede from it, +and we have been given distinctly to understand that neither of the bills +which were under the consideration of Congress at their last session would +have been deemed sufficient in their concessions to have been rewarded by +any relaxation from the British interdict. It is one of the inconveniences +inseparably connected with the attempt to adjust by reciprocal legislation +interests of this nature that neither party can know what would be +satisfactory to the other, and that after enacting a statute for the avowed +and sincere purpose of conciliation it will generally be found utterly +inadequate to the expectation of the other party, and will terminate in +mutual disappointment. + +The session of Congress having terminated without any act upon the subject, +a proclamation was issued on 1827-03-17, conformably to the provisions of +the 6th section of the act of 1823-03-01 declaring the fact that the trade +and intercourse authorized by the British act of Parliament of 1822-06-24, +between the United States and the British enumerated colonial ports had +been by the subsequent acts of Parliament of 1825-07-05, and the order of +council of 1826-07-27 prohibited. The effect of this proclamation, by the +terms of the act under which it was issued, has been that each and every +provision of the act concerning navigation of 1818-04-18, and of the act +supplementary thereto of 1820-05-15, revived and is in full force. + +Such, then is the present condition of the trade that, useful as it is to +both parties it can, with a single momentary exception, be carried on +directly by the vessels of neither. That exception itself is found in a +proclamation of the governor of the island of St. Christopher and of the +Virgin Islands, inviting for 3 months from 1827-08-28 the importation of +the articles of the produce of the United States which constitute their +export portion of this trade in the vessels of all nations. + +That period having already expired, the state of mutual interdiction has +again taken place. The British Government have not only declined +negotiation upon this subject, but by the principle they have assumed with +reference to it have precluded even the means of negotiation. It becomes +not the self respect of the United States either to solicit gratuitous +favors or to accept as the grant of a favor that for which an ample +equivalent is exacted. It remains to be determined by the respective +Governments whether the trade shall be opened by acts of reciprocal +legislation. It is, in the mean time, satisfactory to know that apart from +the inconvenience resulting from a disturbance of the usual channels of +trade no loss has been sustained by the commerce, the navigation, or the +revenue of the United States, and none of magnitude is to be apprehended +from this existing state of mutual interdict. + +With the other maritime and commercial nations of Europe our intercourse +continues with little variation. Since the cessation by the convention of +1822-06-24, of all discriminating duties upon the vessels of the United +States and of France in either country our trade with that nation has +increased and is increasing. A disposition on the part of France has been +manifested to renew that negotiation, and in acceding to the proposal we +have expressed the wish that it might be extended to other subjects upon +which a good understanding between the parties would be beneficial to the +interests of both. + +The origin of the political relations between the United States and France +is coeval with the first years of our independence. The memory of it is +interwoven with that of our arduous struggle for national existence. +Weakened as it has occasionally been since that time, it can by us never be +forgotten, and we should hail with exultation the moment which should +indicate a recollection equally friendly in spirit on the part of France. + +A fresh effort has recently been made by the minister of the United States +residing at Paris to obtain a consideration of the just claims of citizens +of the United States to the reparation of wrongs long since committed, many +of them frankly acknowledged and all of them entitled upon every principle +of justice to a candid examination. The proposal last made to the French +Government has been to refer the subject which has formed an obstacle to +this consideration to the determination of a sovereign the common friend of +both. To this offer no definitive answer has yet been received, but the +gallant and honorable spirit which has at all times been the pride and +glory of France will not ultimately permit the demands of innocent +sufferers to be extinguished in the mere consciousness of the power to +reject them. + +A new treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce has been concluded with the +Kingdom of Sweden, which will be submitted to the Senate for their advice +with regard to its ratification. At a more recent date a minister +plenipotentiary from the Hanseatic Republics of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen +has been received, charged with a special mission for the negotiation of a +treaty of amity and commerce between that ancient and renowned league and +the United States. This negotiation has accordingly been commenced, and is +now in progress, the result of which will, if successful, be also submitted +to the Senate for their consideration. + +Since the accession of the Emperor Nicholas to the imperial throne of all +the Russias the friendly dispositions toward the United States so +constantly manifested by his predecessor have continued unabated, and have +been recently testified by the appointment of a minister plenipotentiary to +reside at this place. From the interest taken by this Sovereign in behalf +of the suffering Greeks and from the spirit with which others of the great +European powers are cooperating with him the friends of freedom and of +humanity may indulge the hope that they will obtain relief from that most +unequal of conflicts which they have so long and so gallantly sustained; +that they will enjoy the blessing of self government, which by their +sufferings in the cause of liberty they have richly earned, and that their +independence will be secured by those liberal institutions of which their +country furnished the earliest examples in the history of man-kind, and +which have consecrated to immortal remembrance the very soil for which they +are now again profusely pouring forth their blood. The sympathies which the +people and Government of the United States have so warmly indulged with +their cause have been acknowledged by their Government in a letter of +thanks, which I have received from their illustrious President, a +translation of which is now communicated to Congress, the representatives +of that nation to whom this tribute of gratitude was intended to be paid, +and to whom it was justly due. + +In the American hemisphere the cause of freedom and independence has +continued to prevail, and if signalized by none of those splendid triumphs +which had crowned with glory some of the preceding years it has only been +from the banishment of all external force against which the struggle had +been maintained. The shout of victory has been superseded by the expulsion +of the enemy over whom it could have been achieved. + +Our friendly wishes and cordial good will, which have constantly followed +the southern nations of America in all the vicissitudes of their war of +independence, are succeeded by a solicitude equally ardent and cordial that +by the wisdom and purity of their institutions they may secure to +themselves the choicest blessings of social order and the best rewards of +virtuous liberty. Disclaiming alike all right and all intention of +interfering in those concerns which it is the prerogative of their +independence to regulate as to them shall seem fit, we hail with joy every +indication of their prosperity, of their harmony, of their persevering and +inflexible homage to those principles of freedom and of equal rights which +are alone suited to the genius and temper of the American nations. + +It has been, therefore, with some concern that we have observed indications +of intestine divisions in some of the Republics of the south, and +appearances of less union with one another than we believe to be the +interest of all. Among the results of this state of things has been that +the treaties concluded at Panama do not appear to have been ratified by the +contracting parties, and that the meeting of the congress at Tacubaya has +been indefinitely postponed. In accepting the invitations to be represented +at this congress, while a manifestation was intended on the part of the +United States of the most friendly disposition toward the southern +Republics by whom it had been proposed, it was hoped that it would furnish +an opportunity for bringing all the nations of this hemisphere to the +common acknowledgment and adoption of the principles in the regulation of +their internal relations which would have secured a lasting peace and +harmony between them and have promoted the cause of mutual benevolence +throughout the globe. But as obstacles appear to have arisen to the +reassembling of the congress, one of the 2 ministers commissioned on the +part of the United States has returned to the bosom of his country, while +the minister charged with the ordinary mission to Mexico remains authorized +to attend the conferences of the congress when ever they may be resumed. + +A hope was for a short time entertained that a treaty of peace actually +signed between the Government of Buenos Ayres and of Brazil would supersede +all further occasion for those collisions between belligerent pretensions +and neutral rights which are so commonly the result of maritime war, and +which have unfortunately disturbed the harmony of the relations between the +United States and the Brazilian Governments. At their last session Congress +were informed that some of the naval officers of that Empire had advanced +and practiced upon principles in relation to blockades and to neutral +navigation which we could not sanction, and which our commanders found it +necessary to resist. It appears that they have not been sustained by the +Government of Brazil itself. Some of the vessels captured under the assumed +authority of these erroneous principles have been restored, and we trust +that our just expectations will be realized that adequate indemnity will be +made to all the citizens of the United States who have suffered by the +unwarranted captures which the Brazilian tribunals themselves have +pronounced unlawful. + +In the diplomatic discussions at Rio de Janeiro of these wrongs sustained +by citizens of the United States and of others which seemed as if emanating +immediately from that Government itself the charge' d'affaires of the +United States, under an impression that his representations in behalf of +the rights and interests of his country-men were totally disregarded and +useless, deemed it his duty, without waiting for instructions, to terminate +his official functions, to demand his pass- ports, and return to the United +States. This movement, dictated by an honest zeal for the honor and +interests of his country -- motives which operated exclusively on the mind +of the officer who resorted to it -- has not been disapproved by me. + +The Brazilian Government, however, complained of it as a measure for which +no adequate intentional cause had been given by them, and upon an explicit +assurance through their charge' d'affaires residing here that a successor +to the late representative of the United States near that Government, the +appointment of whom they desired, should be received and treated with the +respect due to his character, and that indemnity should be promptly made +for all injuries inflicted on citizens of the United States or their +property contrary to the laws of nations, a temporary commission as charge' +d'affaires to that country has been issued, which it is hopes will entirely +restore the ordinary diplomatic intercourse between the 2 Governments and +the friendly relations between their respective nations. + +Turning from the momentous concerns of our Union in its intercourse with +foreign nations to those of the deepest interest in the administration of +our internal affairs, we find the revenues of the present year +corresponding as nearly as might be expected with the anticipations of the +last, and presenting an aspect still more favorable in the promise of the +next. + +The balance in the Treasury on 1827-01-01 was $6,358,686.18. The receipts +from that day to 1827-09-30, as near as the returns of them yet received +can show, amount to $16,886,581.32. The receipts of the present quarter, +estimated at $4,515,000, added to the above form an aggregate of +$21,400,000 of receipts. + +The expenditures of the year may perhaps amount to $22,300,000 presenting a +small excess over the receipts. But of these $22,000,000, upward of +$6,000,000 have been applied to the discharge of the principal of the +public debt, the whole amount of which, approaching $74,000,000 on +1827-01-01, will on 1828-01-01 fall short of $67,500,000. The balance in +the Treasury on 1828-01-01 it is expected will exceed $5,450,000, a sum +exceeding that of 1825-01-01, though falling short of that exhibited on +1827-01-01. + +It was foreseen that the revenue of the present year 1827 would not equal +that of the last, which had itself been less than that of the next +preceding year. But the hope has been realized which was entertained, that +these deficiencies would in no wise interrupt the steady operation of the +discharge of the public debt by the annual $10,000,000 devoted to that +object by the act of 1817-03-03. + +The amount of duties secured on merchandise imported from the commencement +of the year until 1827-09-30 is $21,226,000, and the probably amount of +that which will be secured during the remainder of the year is $5,774,000, +forming a sum total of $27,000,000. With the allowances for draw-backs and +contingent deficiencies which may occur, though not specifically foreseen, +we may safely estimate the receipts of the ensuing year at $22,300,000 -- a +revenue for the next equal to the expenditure of the present year. + +The deep solicitude felt by our citizens of all classes throughout the +Union for the total discharge of the public debt will apologize for the +earnestness with which I deem it my duty to urge this topic upon the +consideration of Congress -- of recommending to them again the observance +of the strictest economy in the application of the public funds. The +depression upon the receipts of the revenue which had commenced with the +year 1826 continued with increased severity during the two first quarters +of the present year. + +The returning tide began to flow with the third quarter, and, so far as we +can judge from experience, may be expected to continue through the course +of the ensuing year. In the mean time an alleviation from the burden of the +public debt will in the three years have been effected to the amount of +nearly $16,000,000, and the charge of annual interest will have been +reduced upward of $1,000,000. But among the maxims of political economy +which the stewards of the public moneys should never suffer without urgent +necessity to be transcended is that of keeping the expenditures of the year +within the limits of its receipts. + +The appropriations of the two last years, including the yearly $10,000,000 +of the sinking fund, have each equaled the promised revenue of the ensuing +year. While we foresee with confidence that the public coffers will be +replenished from the receipts as fast as they will be drained by the +expenditures, equal in amount to those of the current year, it should not +be forgotten that they could ill suffer the exhaustion of larger +disbursements. + +The condition of the Army and of all the branches of the public service +under the superintendence of the Secretary of War will be seen by the +report from that officer and the documents with which it is accompanied. + +During the last summer a detachment of the Army has been usefully and +successfully called to perform their appropriate duties. At the moment when +the commissioners appointed for carrying into execution certain provisions +of the treaty of 1825-08-19, with various tribes of the NorthWestern +Indians were about to arrive at the appointed place of meeting the +unprovoked murder of several citizens and other acts of unequivocal +hostility committed by a party of the Winnebago tribe, one of those +associated in the treaty, followed by indications of a menacing character +among other tribes of the same region, rendered necessary an immediate +display of the defensive and protective force of the Union in that +quarter. + +It was accordingly exhibited by the immediate and concerted movements of +the governors of the State of Illinois and of the Territory of Michigan, +and competent levies of militia, under their authority, with a corps of 700 +men of United States troops, under the command of General Atkinson, who, at +the call of Governor Cass, immediately repaired to the scene of danger from +their station at St. Louis. Their presence dispelled the alarms of our +fellow citizens on those disorders, and overawed the hostile purposes of +the Indians. The perpetrators of the murders were surrendered to the +authority and operation of our laws, and every appearance of purposed +hostility from those Indian tribes has subsided. + +Although the present organization of the Army and the administration of its +various branches of service are, upon the whole, satisfactory, they are yet +susceptible of much improvement in particulars, some of which have been +heretofore submitted to the consideration of Congress, and others are now +first presented in the report of the Secretary of War. + +The expediency of providing for additional numbers of officers in the two +corps of engineers will in some degree depend upon the number and extent of +the objects of national importance upon which Congress may think it proper +that surveys should be made conformably to the act of 1824-04-30. Of the +surveys which before the last session of Congress had been made under the +authority of that act, reports were made -- Of the Board of Internal +Improvement, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. On the continuation of the +national road from Cumberland to the tide waters within the District of +Columbia. On the continuation of the national road from Canton to +Zanesville. On the location of the national road from Zanesville to +Columbus. On the continuation of the same to the seat of government in +Missouri. On a post road from Baltimore to Philadelphia. Of a survey of +Kennebec River (in part). On a national road from Washington to Buffalo. On +the survey of Saugatuck Harbor and River. On a canal from Lake +PontChartrain to the Mississippi River. On surveys at Edgartown, +Newburyport, and Hyannis Harbor. On survey of La Plaisance Bay, in the +Territory of Michigan. And reports are now prepared and will be submitted +to Congress -- On surveys of the peninsula of Florida, to ascertain the +practicability of a canal to connect the waters of the Atlantic with the +Gulf of Mexico across that peninsula; and also of the country between the +bays of Mobile and of Pensacola, with the view of connecting them together +by a canal. On surveys of a route for a canal to connect the waters of +James and Great Kenhawa rivers. On the survey of the Swash, in Pamlico +Sound, and that of Cape Fear, below the town of Wilmington, in North +Carolina. On the survey of the Muscle Shoals, in the Tennessee River, and +for a route for a contemplated communication between the Hiwassee and Coosa +rivers, in the State of Alabama. Other reports of surveys upon objects +pointed out by the several acts of Congress of the last and preceding +sessions are in the progress of preparation, and most of them may be +completed before the close of this session. All the officers of both corps +of engineers, with several other persons duly qualified, have been +constantly employed upon these services from the passage of the act of +1824-04-30, to this time. + +Were no other advantage to accrue to the country from their labors than the +fund of topographical knowledge which they have collected and communicated, +that alone would have been a profit to the Union more than adequate to all +the expenditures which have been devoted to the object; but the +appropriations for the repair and continuation of the Cumberland road, for +the construction of various other roads, for the removal of obstructions +from the rivers and harbors, for the erection of light houses, beacons, +piers, and buoys, and for the completion of canals undertaken by individual +associations, but needing the assistance of means and resources more +comprehensive than individual enterprise can command, may be considered +rather as treasures laid up from the contributions of the present age for +the benefit of posterity than as unrequited applications of the accruing +revenues of the nation. + +To such objects of permanent improvement to the condition of the country, +of real addition to the wealth as well as to the comfort of the people by +whose authority and resources they have been effected, from $3,000,000 to +$4,000,000 of the annual income of the nation have, by laws enacted at the +three most recent sessions of Congress, been applied, without intrenching +upon the necessities of the Treasury, without adding a dollar to the taxes +or debts of the community, without suspending even the steady and regular +discharge of the debts contracted in former days, which within the same +three years have been diminished by the amount of nearly $16,000,000. + +The same observations are in a great degree applicable to the +appropriations made for fortifications upon the coasts and harbors of the +United States, for the maintenance of the Military Academy at West Point, +and for the various objects under the superintendence of the Department of +the Navy. The report from the Secretary of the Navy and those from the +subordinate branches of both the military departments exhibit to Congress +in minute detail the present condition of the public establishments +dependent upon them, the execution of the acts of Congress relating to +them, and the views of the officers engaged in the several branches of the +service concerning the improvements which may tend to their perfection. + +The fortification of the coasts and the gradual increase and improvement of +the Navy are parts of a great system of national defense which has been +upward of 10 years in progress, and which for a series of years to come +will continue to claim the constant and persevering protection and +superintendence of the legislative authority. Among the measures which have +emanated from these principles the act of the last session of Congress for +the gradual improvement of the Navy holds a conspicuous place. The +collection of timber for the future construction of vessels of war, the +preservation and reproduction of the species of timber peculiarly adapted +to that purpose, the construction of dry docks for the use of the Navy, the +erection of a marine railway for the repair of the public ships, and the +improvement of the navy yards for the preservation of the public property +deposited in them have all received from the Executive the attention +required by that act, and will continue to receive it, steadily proceeding +toward the execution of all its purposes. + +The establishment of a naval academy, furnishing the means of theoretic +instruction to the youths who devote their lives to the service of their +country upon the ocean, still solicits the sanction of the Legislature. +Practical seamanship and the art of navigation may be acquired on the +cruises of the squadrons which from time to time are dispatched to distant +seas, but a competent knowledge even of the art of ship building, the +higher mathematics, and astronomy; the literature which can place our +officers on a level of polished education with the officers of other +maritime nations; the knowledge of the laws, municipal and national, which +in their intercourse with foreign states and their governments are +continually called into operation, and, above all, that acquaintance with +the principles of honor and justice, with the higher obligations of morals +and of general laws, human and divine, which constitutes the great +distinction between the warrior-patriot and the licensed robber and pirate +-- these can be systematically taught and eminently acquired only in a +permanent school, stationed upon the shore and provided with the teachers, +the instruments, and the books conversant with and adapted to the +communication of the principles of these respective sciences to the +youthful and inquiring mind. + +The report from the PostMaster General exhibits the condition of that +Department as highly satisfactory for the present and still more promising +for the future. Its receipts for the year ending 1827-07-01 amounted to +$1,473,551, and exceeded its expenditures by upward of $100,000. It can not +be an over sanguine estimate to predict that in less than 10 years, of +which half have elapsed, the receipts will have been more than doubled. + +In the mean time a reduced expenditure upon established routes has kept +pace with increased facilities of public accommodation and additional +services have been obtained at reduced rates of compensation. Within the +last year the transportation of the mail in stages has been greatly +augmented. The number of post offices has been increased to 7,000, and it +may be anticipated that while the facilities of intercourse between fellow +citizens in person or by correspondence will soon be carried to the door of +every villager in the Union, a yearly surplus of revenue will accrue which +may be applied as the wisdom of Congress under the exercise of their +constitutional powers may devise for the further establishment and +improvement of the public roads, or by adding still further to the +facilities in the transportation of the mails. Of the indications of the +prosperous condition of our country, none can be more pleasing than those +presented by the multiplying relations of personal and intimate intercourse +between the citizens of the Union dwelling at the remotest distances from +each other. + +Among the subjects which have heretofore occupied the earnest solicitude +and attention of Congress is the management and disposal of that portion of +the property of the nation which consists of the public lands. The +acquisition of them, made at the expense of the whole Union, not only in +treasury but in blood, marks a right of property in them equally extensive. +By the report and statements from the General Land Office now communicated +it appears that under the present Government of the United States a sum +little short of $33,000,000 has been paid from the common Treasury for that +portion of this property which has been purchased from France and Spain, +and for the extinction of the aboriginal titles. The amount of lands +acquired is near 260,000,000 acres, of which on 1826-01-01, about +139,000,000 acres had been surveyed, and little more than 19,000,000 acres +had been sold. The amount paid into the Treasury by the purchasers of the +public lands sold is not yet equal to the sums paid for the whole, but +leaves a small balance to be refunded. The proceeds of the sales of the +lands have long been pledged to the creditors of the nation, a pledge from +which we have reason to hope that they will in a very few years be +redeemed. + +The system upon which this great national interest has been managed was the +result of long, anxious, and persevering deliberation. Matured and modified +by the progress of our population and the lessons of experience, it has +been hitherto eminently successful. More than 9/10 of the lands still +remain the common property of the Union, the appropriation and disposal of +which are sacred trusts in the hands of Congress. + +Of the lands sold, a considerable part were conveyed under extended +credits, which in the vicissitudes and fluctuations in the value of lands +and of their produce became oppressively burdensome to the purchasers. It +can never be the interest or the policy of the nation to wring from its own +citizens the reasonable profits of their industry and enterprise by holding +them to the rigorous import of disastrous engagements. In 1821-03, a debt +of $22,000,000, due by purchasers of the public lands, had accumulated, +which they were unable to pay. An act of Congress of 1821-03-02, came to +their relief, and has been succeeded by others, the latest being the act of +1826-05-04, the indulgent provisions of which expired on 1827-07-04. The +effect of these laws has been to reduce the debt from the purchasers to a +remaining balance of about $4,300,000 due, more than 3/5 of which are for +lands within the State of Alabama. I recommend to Congress the revival and +continuance for a further term of the beneficent accommodations to the +public debtors of that statute, and submit to their consideration, in the +same spirit of equity, the remission, under proper discriminations, of the +forfeitures of partial payments on account of purchases of the public +lands, so far as to allow of their application to other payments. + +There are various other subjects of deep interest to the whole Union which +have heretofore been recommended to the consideration of Congress, as well +by my predecessors as, under the impression of the duties devolving upon +me, by myself. Among these are the debt, rather of justice than gratitude, +to the surviving warriors of the Revolutionary war; the extension of the +judicial administration of the Federal Government to those extensive since +the organization of the present judiciary establishment, now constitute at +least 1/3 of its territory, power, and population; the formation of a more +effective and uniform system for the government of the militia, and the +amelioration in some form or modification of the diversified and often +oppressive codes relating to insolvency. Amidst the multiplicity of topics +of great national concernment which may recommend themselves to the calm +and patriotic deliberations of the Legislature, it may suffice to say that +on these and all other measures which may receive their sanction my hearty +cooperation will be given, conformably to the duties enjoined upon me and +under the sense of all the obligations prescribed by the Constitution. JOHN +QUNICY ADAMS + +*** + +State of the Union Address +John Quincy Adams +December 2, 1828 + +Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: + +If the enjoyment in profusion of the bounties of Providence forms a +suitable subject of mutual gratulation and grateful acknowledgment, we are +admonished at this return of the season when the representatives of the +nation are assembled to deliberate upon their concerns to offer up the +tribute of fervent and grateful hearts for the never failing mercies of Him +who ruleth over all. He has again favored us with healthful seasons and +abundant harvests; He has sustained us in peace with foreign countries and +in tranquillity within our borders; He has preserved us in the quiet and +undisturbed possession of civil and religious liberty; He has crowned the +year with His goodness, imposing on us no other condition than of improving +for our own happiness the blessings bestowed by His hands, and, in the +fruition of all His favors, of devoting his faculties with which we have +been endowed by Him to His glory and to our own temporal and eternal +welfare. + +In the relations of our Federal Union with our brethren of the human race +the changes which have occurred since the close of your last session have +generally tended to the preservation of peace and to the cultivation of +harmony. Before your last separation a war had unhappily been kindled +between the Empire of Russia, one of those with which our intercourse has +been no other than a constant exchange of good offices, and that of the +Ottoman Porte, a nation from which geographical distance, religious +opinions and maxims of government on their part little suited to the +formation of those bonds of mutual benevolence which result from the +benefits of commerce had department us in a state, perhaps too much +prolonged, of coldness and alienation. + +The extensive, fertile, and populous dominions of the Sultan belong rather +to the Asiatic than the European division of the human family. They enter +but partially into the system of Europe, nor have their wars with Russia +and Austria, the European States upon which they border, for more than a +century past disturbed the pacific relations of those States with the other +great powers of Europe. Neither France nor Prussia nor Great Britain has +ever taken part in them, nor is it to be expected that they will at this +time. The declaration of war by Russia has received the approbation or +acquiescence of her allies, and we may indulge the hope that its progress +and termination will be signalized by the moderation and forbearance no +less than by the energy of the Emperor Nicholas, and that it will afford +the opportunity for such collateral agency in behalf of the suffering +Greeks as will secure to them ultimately the triumph of humanity and of +freedom. + +The state of our particular relations with France has scarcely varied in +the course of the present year. The commercial intercourse between the two +countries has continued to increase for the mutual benefit of both. The +claims of indemnity to numbers of our fellow citizens for depredations upon +their property, heretofore committed during the revolutionary governments, +remain unadjusted, and still form the subject of earnest representation and +remonstrance. Recent advices from the minister of the United States at +Paris encourage the expectation that the appeal to the justice of the +French Government will ere long receive a favorable consideration. + +The last friendly expedient has been resorted to for the decision of the +controversy with Great Britain relating to the north-eastern boundary of +the United States. By an agreement with the British Government, carrying +into effect the provisions of the 5th article of the treaty of Ghent, and +the convention of 1827-09-29, His Majesty the King of the Netherlands has +by common consent been selected as the umpire between the parties. The +proposal to him to accept the designation for the performance of this +friendly office will be made at an early day, and the United States, +relying upon the justice of their cause, will cheerfully commit the +arbitrament of it to a prince equally distinguished for the independence of +his spirit, his indefatigable assiduity to the duties of his station, and +his inflexible personal probity. + +Our commercial relations with Great Britain will deserve the serious +consideration of Congress and the exercise of a conciliatory and forbearing +spirit in the policy of both Governments. The state of them has been +materially changed by the act of Congress, passed at their last session, in +alteration of several acts imposing duties on imports, and by acts of more +recent date of the British Parliament. The effect of the interdiction of +direct trade, commenced by Great Britain and reciprocated by the United +States, has been, as was to be foreseen, only to substitute different +channels for an exchange of commodities indispensable to the colonies and +profitable to a numerous class of our fellow citizens. The exports, the +revenue, the navigation of the United States have suffered no diminution by +our exclusion from direct access to the British colonies. The colonies pay +more dearly for the necessaries of life which their Government burdens with +the charges of double voyages, freight, insurance, and commission, and the +profits of our exports are somewhat impaired and more injuriously +transferred from one portion of our citizens to another. + +The resumption of this old and otherwise exploded system of colonial +exclusion has not secured to the shipping interest of Great Britain the +relief which, at the expense of the distant colonies and of the United +States, it was expected to afford. Other measures have been resorted to +more pointedly bearing upon the navigation of the United States, and more +pointedly bearing upon the navigation of the United States, and which, +unless modified by the construction given to the recent acts of Parliament, +will be manifestly incompatible with the positive stipulations of the +commercial convention existing between the two countries. That convention, +however, may be terminated with 12 months' notice, at the option of either +party. + +A treaty of amity, navigation, and commerce between the United States and +His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, has been +prepared for signature by the Secretary of State and by the Baron de +Lederer, intrusted with full powers of the Austrian Government. +Independently of the new and friendly relations which may be thus commenced +with one of the most eminent and powerful nations of the earth, the +occasion has been taken in it, as in other recent treaties concluded by the +United States, to extend those principles of liberal intercourse and of +fair reciprocity which intertwine with the exchanges of commerce the +principles of justice and the feelings of mutual benevolence. + +This system, first proclaimed to the world in the first commercial treaty +ever concluded by the United States -- that of 1778-02-06, with France -- +has been invariably the cherished policy of our Union. It is by treaties of +commerce alone that it can be made ultimately to prevail as the established +system of all civilized nations. With this principle our fathers extended +the hand of friendship to every nation of the globe, and to this policy our +country has ever since adhered. What ever of regulation in our laws has +ever been adopted unfavorable to the interest of any foreign nation has +been essentially defensive and counteracting to similar regulations of +theirs operating against us. + +Immediately after the close of the War of Independence commissioners were +appointed by the Congress of the Confederation authorized to conclude +treaties with every nation of Europe disposed to adopt them. Before the +wars of the French Revolution such treaties had been consummated with the +United Netherlands, Sweden, and Prussia. During those wars treaties with +Great Britain and Spain had been effected, and those with Prussia and +France renewed. In all these some concessions to the liberal principles of +intercourse proposed by the United States had been obtained; but as in all +the negotiations they came occasionally in collision with previous internal +regulations or exclusive and excluding compacts of monopoly with which the +other parties had been trammeled, the advances made in them toward the +freedom of trade were partial and imperfect. Colonial establishments, +chartered companies, and ship building influence pervaded and encumbered +the legislation of all the great commercial states; and the United States, +in offering free trade and equal privilege to all, were compelled to +acquiesce in many exceptions with each of the parties to their treaties, +accommodated to their existing laws and anterior agreements. + +The colonial system by which this whole hemisphere was bound has fallen +into ruins, totally abolished by revolutions converting colonies into +independent nations throughout the two American continents, excepting a +portion of territory chiefly at the northern extremity of our own, and +confined to the remnants of dominion retained by Great Britain over the +insular archipelago, geographically the appendages of our part of the +globe. With all the rest we have free trade, even with the insular colonies +of all the European nations, except Great Britain. Her Government also had +manifested approaches to the adoption of a free and liberal intercourse +between her colonies and other nations, though by a sudden and scarcely +explained revulsion the spirit of exclusion has been revived for operation +upon the United States alone. + +The conclusion of our last treaty of peace with Great Britain was shortly +afterwards followed by a commercial convention, placing the direct +intercourse between the two countries upon a footing of more equal +reciprocity than had ever before been admitted. The same principle has +since been much further extended by treaties with France, Sweden, Denmark, +the Hanseatic cities, Prussia, in Europe, and with the Republics of +Colombia and of Central America, in this hemisphere. The mutual abolition +of discriminating duties and charges upon the navigation and commercial +intercourse between the parties is the general maxim which characterizes +them all. There is reason to expect that it will at no distant period be +adopted by other nations, both of Europe and America, and to hope that by +its universal prevalence one of the fruitful sources of wars of commercial +competition will be extinguished. + +Among the nations upon whose Governments many of our fellow citizens have +had long-pending claims of indemnity for depredations upon their property +during a period when the rights of neutral commerce were disregarded was +that of Denmark. They were soon after the events occurred the subject of a +special mission from the United States, at the close of which the assurance +was given by His Danish Majesty that at a period of more tranquillity and +of less distress they would be considered, examined, and decided upon in a +spirit of determined purpose for the dispensation of justice. I have much +pleasure in informing Congress that the fulfillment of this honorable +promise is now in progress; that a small portion of the claims has already +been settled to the satisfaction of the claimants, and that we have reason +to hope that the remainder will shortly be placed in a train of equitable +adjustment. This result has always been confidently expected, from the +character of personal integrity and of benevolence which the Sovereign of +the Danish dominions has through every vicissitude of fortune maintained. + +The general aspect of the affairs of our neighboring American nations of +the south has been rather of approaching than of settled tranquillity. +Internal disturbances have been more frequent among them than their common +friends would have desired. Our intercourse with all has continued to be +that of friendship and of mutual good will. Treaties of commerce and of +boundaries with the United Mexican States have been negotiated, but, from +various successive obstacles, not yet brought to a final conclusion. + +The civil war which unfortunately still prevails in the Republics of +Central America has been unpropitious to the cultivation of our commercial +relations with them; and the dissensions and revolutionary changes in the +Republics of Colombia and of Peru have been seen with cordial regret by us, +who would gladly contribute to the happiness of both. It is with great +satisfaction, however, that we have witnessed the recent conclusion of a +peace between the Governments of Buenos Ayres and of Brazil, and it is +equally gratifying to observe that indemnity has been obtained for some of +the injuries which our fellow citizens had sustained in the latter of those +countries. The rest are in a train of negotiation, which we hope may +terminate to mutual satisfaction, and that it may be succeeded by a treaty +of commerce and navigation, upon liberal principles, propitious to a great +and growing commerce, already important to the interests of our country. + +The condition and prospects of the revenue are more favorable than our most +sanguine expectations had anticipated. The balance in the Treasury on +1828-01-01, exclusive of the moneys received under the convention of +1826-11-13, with Great Britain, was $5,861,972.83. The receipts into the +Treasury from 1828-01-01 to 1828-09-30, so far as they have been +ascertained to form the basis of an estimate, amount to $18,633,580.27, +which, with the receipts of the present quarter, estimated at +$5,461,283.40, form an aggregate of receipts during the year of +$24,094,863.67. The expenditures of the year may probably amount to +$25,637,111.63, and leave in the Treasury on 1829-01-01 the sum of +$5,125,638.14. + +The receipts of the present year have amounted to near $2,000,000 more than +was anticipated at the commencement of the last session of Congress. + +The amount of duties secured on importations from the first of January to +the 30th of September was about $22,997,000, and that of the estimated +accruing revenue is $5,000,000, forming an aggregate for the year of near +$28,000,000. This is $1,000,000 more than the estimate last December for +the accruing revenue of the present year, which, with allowances for +draw-backs and contingent deficiencies, was expected to produce an actual +revenue of $22,300,000. Had these only been realized the expenditures of +the year would have been also proportionally reduced, for of these +$24,000,000 received upward of $9,000,000 have been applied to the +extinction of public debt, bearing an interest of 6% a year, and of course +reducing the burden of interest annually payable in future by the amount of +more than $500,000. The payments on account of interest during the current +year exceed $3,000,000, presenting an aggregate of more than $12,000,000 +applied during the year to the discharge of the public debt, the whole of +which remaining due on 1829-01-01 will amount only to $58,362,135.78. + +That the revenue of the ensuing year will not fall short of that received +in the one now expiring there are indications which can scarcely prove +deceptive. In our country an uniform experience of 40 years has shown that +what ever the tariff of duties upon articles imported from abroad has been, +the amount of importations has always borne an average value nearly +approaching to that of the exports, though occasionally differing in the +balance, some times being more and some times less. It is, indeed, a +general law of prosperous commerce that the real value of exports should by +a small, and only a small, balance exceed that of imports, that balance +being a permanent addition to the wealth of the nation. + +The extent of the prosperous commerce of the nation must be regulated by +the amount of its exports, and an important addition to the value of these +will draw after it a corresponding increase of importations. It has +happened in the vicissitudes of the seasons that the harvests of all Europe +have in the late summer and autumn fallen short of their usual average. A +relaxation of the interdict upon the importation of grain and flour from +abroad has ensued, a propitious market has been opened to the granaries of +our country, and a new prospect of reward presented to the labors of the +husband-man, which for several years has been denied. This accession to the +profits of agriculture in the middle and western portions of our Union is +accidental and temporary. It may continue only for a single year. It may +be, as has been often experienced in the revolutions of time, but the first +of several scanty harvests in succession. We may consider it certain that +for the approaching year it has added an item of large amount to the value +of our exports and that it will produce a corresponding increase of +importations. It may therefore confidently be foreseen that the revenue of +1829 will equal and probably exceed that of 1828, and will afford the means +of extinguishing $10,000,000 more of the principal of the public debt. + +This new element of prosperity to that part of our agricultural industry +which is occupied in producing the first article of human subsistence is of +the most cheering character to the feelings of patriotism. Proceeding from +a cause which humanity will view with concern, the sufferings of scarcity +in distant lands, it yields a consolatory reflection that this scarcity is +in no respect attributable to us; that it comes from the dispensation of +Him who ordains all in wisdom and goodness, and who permits evil itself +only as an instrument of good; that, far from contributing to this +scarcity, our agency will be applied only to the alleviation of its +severity, and that in pouring forth from the abundance of our own garners +the supplies which will partially restore plenty to those who are in need +we shall ourselves reduce our stores and add to the price of our own bread, +so as in some degree to participate in the wants which it will be the good +fortune of our country to relieve. + +The great interests of an agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing +nation are so linked in union together that no permanent cause of +prosperity to one of them can operate without extending its influence to +the others. All these interests are alike under the protecting power of the +legislative authority, and the duties of the representative bodies are to +conciliate them in harmony together. + +So far as the object of taxation is to raise a revenue for discharging the +debts and defraying the expenses of the community, its operation should be +adapted as much as possible to suit the burden with equal hand upon all in +proportion with their ability of bearing it without oppression. But the +legislation of one nation is some times intentionally made to bear heavily +upon the interests of another. That legislation, adapted, as it is meant to +be, to the special interests of its own people, will often press most +unequally upon the several component interests of its neighbors. + +Thus the legislation of Great Britain, when, as has recently been avowed, +adapted to the depression of a rival nation, will naturally abound with +regulations to interdict upon the productions of the soil or industry of +the other which come in competition with its own, and will present +encouragement, perhaps even bounty, to the raw material of the other State +which it can not produce itself, and which is essential for the use of its +manufactures, competitors in the markets of the world with those of its +commercial rival. + +Such is the state of commercial legislation of Great Britain as it bears +upon our interests. It excludes with interdicting duties all importation +(except in time of approaching famine) of the great staple of production of +our Middle and Western States; it proscribes with equal rigor the bulkier +lumber and live stock of the same portion and also of the Northern and +Eastern part of our Union. It refuses even the rice of the South unless +aggravated with a charge of duty upon the Northern carrier who brings it to +them. But the cotton, indispensable for their looms, they will receive +almost duty free to weave it into a fabric for our own wear, to the +destruction of our own manufactures, which they are enabled thus to +under-sell. + +Is the self-protecting energy of this nation so helpless that there exists +in the political institutions of our country no power to counter-act the +bias of this foreign legislation; that the growers of grain must submit to +this exclusion from the foreign markets of their produce; that the shippers +must dismantle their ships, the trade of the North stagnate at the wharves, +and the manufacturers starve at their looms, while the whole people shall +pay tribute to foreign industry to be clad in a foreign garb; that the +Congress of the Union are impotent to restore the balance in favor of +native industry destroyed by the statutes of another realm? + +More just and generous sentiments will, I trust, prevail. If the tariff +adopted at the last session of Congress shall be found by experience to +bear oppressively upon the interests of any one section of the Union, it +ought to be, and I can not doubt will be, so modified as to alleviate its +burden. To the voice of just complaint from any portion of their +constituents the representatives of the States and of the people will never +turn away their ears. + +But so long as the duty of the foreign shall operate only as a bounty upon +the domestic article; while the planter and the merchant and the shepherd +and the husbandman shall be found thriving in their occupations under the +duties imposed for the protection of domestic manufactures, they will not +repine at the prosperity shared with themselves by their fellow citizens of +other professions, nor denounce as violations of the Constitution the +deliberate acts of Congress to shield from the wrongs of foreigns the +native industry of the Union. + +While the tariff of the last session of Congress was a subject of +legislative deliberation it was foretold by some of its opposers that one +of its necessary consequences would be to impair the revenue. It is yet too +soon to pronounce with confidence that this prediction was erroneous. The +obstruction of one avenue of trade not unfrequently opens an issue to +another. The consequence of the tariff will be to increase the exportation +and to diminish the importation of some specific articles; but by the +general law of trade the increase of exportation of one article will be +followed by an increased importation of others, the duties upon which will +supply the deficiencies which the diminished importation would otherwise +occasion. The effect of taxation upon revenue can seldom be foreseen with +certainty. It must abide the test of experience. + +As yet no symptoms of diminution are perceptible in the receipts of the +Treasury. As yet little addition of cost has even been experienced upon the +articles burdened with heavier duties by the last tariff. The domestic +manufacturer supplies the same or a kindred article at a diminished price, +and the consumer pays the same tribute to the labor of his own country-man +which he must otherwise have paid to foreign industry and toil. + +The tariff of the last session was in its details not acceptable to the +great interests of any portion of the Union, not even to the interest which +it was specially intended to subserve. Its object was to balance the +burdens upon native industry imposed by the operation of foreign laws, but +not to aggravate the burdens of one section of the Union by the relief +afforded to another. To the great principle sanctioned by that act -- one +of those upon which the Constitution itself was formed -- I hope and trust +the authorities of the Union will adhere. But if any of the duties imposed +by the act only relieve the manufacturer by aggravating the burden of the +planter, let a careful revisal of its provisions, enlightened by the +practical experience of its effects, be directed to retain those which +impart protection to native industry and remove or supply the place of +those which only alleviate one great national interest by the depression of +another. + +The United States of America and the people of every State of which they +are composed are each of them sovereign powers. The legislative authority +of the whole is exercised by Congress under authority granted them in the +common Constitution. The legislative power of each State is exercised by +assemblies deriving their authority from the constitution of the State. +Each is sovereign within its own province. The distribution of power +between them presupposes that these authorities will move in harmony with +each other. The members of the State and General Governments are all under +oath to support both, and allegiance is due to the one and to the other. +The case of a conflict between these two powers has not been supposed, nor +has any provision been made for it in our institutions; as a virtuous +nation of ancient times existed more than five centuries without a law for +the punishment of parricide. + +More than once, however, in the progress of our history have the people and +the legislatures of one or more States, in moments of excitement, been +instigated to this conflict; and the means of effecting this impulse have +been allegations that the acts of Congress to be resisted were +unconstitutional. The people of no one State have ever delegated to their +legislature the power of pronouncing an act of Congress unconstitutional, +but they have delegated to them powers by the exercise of which the +execution of the laws of Congress within the State may be resisted. If we +suppose the case of such conflicting legislation sustained by the +corresponding executive and judicial authorities, patriotism and +philanthropy turn their eyes from the condition in which the parties would +be placed, and from that of the people of both, which must be its victims. + +The reports from the Secretary of War and the various subordinate offices +of the resort of that Department present an exposition of the public +administration of affairs connected with them through the course of the +current year. The present state of the Army and the distribution of the +force of which it is composed will be seen from the report of the Major +General. Several alterations in the disposal of the troops have been found +expedient in the course of the year, and the discipline of the Army, though +not entirely free from exception, has been generally good. + +The attention of Congress is particularly invited to that part of the +report of the Secretary of War which concerns the existing system of our +relations with the Indian tribes. At the establishment of the Federal +Government under the present Constitution of the United States the +principle was adopted of considering them as foreign and independent powers +and also as proprietors of lands. They were, moreover, considered as +savages, whom it was our policy and our duty to use our influence in +converting to Christianity and in bringing within the pale of +civilization. + +As independent powers, we negotiated with them by treaties; as proprietors, +we purchased of them all the lands which we could prevail upon them to +sell; as brethren of the human race, rude and ignorant, we endeavored to +bring them to the knowledge of religion and letters. The ultimate design +was to incorporate in our own institutions that portion of them which could +be converted to the state of civilization. In the practice of European +States, before our Revolution, they had been considered as children to be +governed; as tenants at discretion, to be dispossessed as occasion might +require; as hunters to be indemnified by trifling concessions for removal +from the grounds from which their game was extirpated. In changing the +system it would seem as if a full contemplation of the consequences of the +change had not been taken. + +We have been far more successful in the acquisition of their lands than in +imparting to them the principles or inspiring them with the spirit of +civilization. But in appropriating to ourselves their hunting grounds we +have brought upon ourselves the obligation of providing them with +subsistence; and when we have had the rare good fortune of teaching them +the arts of civilization and the doctrines of Christianity we have +unexpectedly found them forming in the midst of ourselves communities +claiming to be independent of ours and rivals of sovereignty within the +territories of the members of our Union. This state of things requires that +a remedy should be provided -- a remedy which, while it shall do justice to +those unfortunate children of nature, may secure to the members of our +confederation their rights of sovereignty and of soil. As the outline of a +project to that effect, the views presented in the report of the Secretary +of War are recommended to the consideration of Congress. + +The report from the Engineer Department presents a comprehensive view of +the progress which has been made in the great systems promotive of the +public interest, commenced and organized under authority of Congress, and +the effects of which have already contributed to the security, as they will +hereafter largely contribute to the honor and dignity, of the nation. + +The first of these great systems is that of fortifications, commenced +immediately after the close of our last war, under the salutary experience +which the events of that war had impressed upon our country-men of its +necessity. Introduced under the auspices of my immediate predecessor, it +has been continued with the persevering and liberal encouragement of the +Legislature, and, combined with corresponding exertions for the gradual +increase and improvement of the Navy, prepares for our extensive country a +condition of defense adapted to any critical emergency which the varying +course of events may bring forth. Our advances in these concerted systems +have for the last 10 years been steady and progressive, and in a few years +more will be so completed as to leave no cause for apprehension that our +sea coast will ever again offer a theater of hostile invasion. + +The next of these cardinal measures of policy is the preliminary to great +and lasting works of public improvement in the surveys of roads, +examination for the course of canals, and labors for the removal of the +obstructions of rivers and harbors, first commenced by the act of Congress +of 1824-04-30. + +The report exhibits in one table the funds appropriated at the last and +preceding sessions of Congress for all these fortifications, surveys, and +works of public improvement, the manner in which these funds have been +applied, the amount expended upon the several works under construction, and +the further sums which may be necessary to complete them; in a second, the +works projected by the Board of Engineers which have not been commenced, +and the estimate of their cost; in a third, the report of the annual Board +of Visitors at the Military Academy at West Point. + +For 13 fortifications erecting on various points of our Atlantic coast, +from Rhode Island to Louisiana, the aggregate expenditure of the year has +fallen little short of $1,000,000. For the preparation of 5 additional +reports of reconnoissances and surveys since the last session of Congress, +for the civil construction upon 37 different public works commenced, 8 +others for which specific appropriations have been made by acts of +Congress, and 20 other incipient surveys under the authority given by the +act of 1824-04-30, about $1,000,000 more has been drawn from the Treasury. + +To these $2,000,000 is to be added the appropriation of $250,000 to +commence the erection of a break-water near the mouth of the Delaware +River, the subscriptions to the Delaware and Chesapeake, the Louisville and +Portland, the Dismal Swamp, and the Chesapeake and Ohio canals, the large +donations of lands to the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Alabama +for objects of improvements within those States, and the sums appropriated +for light-houses, buoys, and piers on the coast; and a full view will be +taken of the munificence of the nation in the application of its resources +to the improvement of its own condition. + +Of these great national under-takings the Academy at West Point is among +the most important in itself and the most comprehensive in its +consequences. In that institution a part of the revenue of the nation is +applied to defray the expense of educating a competent portion of her youth +chiefly to the knowledge and the duties of military life. It is the living +armory of the nation. While the other works of improvement enumerated in +the reports now presented to the attention of Congress are destined to +ameliorate the face of nature, to multiply the facilities of communication +between the different parts of the Union, to assist the labors, increase +the comforts, and enhance the enjoyments of individuals, the instruction +acquired at West Point enlarges the dominion and expands the capacities of +the mind. Its beneficial results are already experienced in the composition +of the Army, and their influence is felt in the intellectual progress of +society. The institution is susceptible still of great improvement from +benefactions proposed by several successive Boards of Visitors, to whose +earnest and repeated recommendations I cheerfully add my own. + +With the usual annual reports from the Secretary of the Navy and the Board +of Commissioners will be exhibited to the view of Congress the execution of +the laws relating to that department of the public service. The repression +of piracy in the West Indian and in the Grecian seas has been effectually +maintained, with scarcely any exception. During the war between the +Governments of Buenos Ayres and of Brazil frequent collisions between the +belligerent acts of power and the rights of neutral commerce occurred. +Licentious blockades, irregularly enlisted or impressed sea men, and the +property of honest commerce seized with violence, and even plundered under +legal pretenses, are disorders never separable from the conflicts of war +upon the ocean. + +With a portion of them the correspondence of our commanders on the eastern +aspect of the South American coast and among the islands of Greece discover +how far we have been involved. In these the honor of our country and the +rights of our citizens have been asserted and vindicated. The appearance of +new squadrons in the Mediterranean and the blockade of the Dardanelles +indicate the danger of other obstacles to the freedom of commerce and the +necessity of keeping our naval force in those seas. To the suggestions +repeated in the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and tending to the +permanent improvement of this institution, I invite the favorable +consideration of Congress. + +A resolution of the House of Representatives requesting that one of our +small public vessels should be sent to the Pacific Ocean and South Sea to +examine the coasts, islands, harbors, shoals, and reefs in those seas, and +to ascertain their true situation and description, has been put in a train +of execution. The vessel is nearly ready to depart. The successful +accomplishment of the expedition may be greatly facilitated by suitable +legislative provisions, and particularly by an appropriation to defray its +necessary expense. The addition of a 2nd, and perhaps a 3rd, vessel, with a +slight aggravation of the cost, would contribute much to the safety of the +citizens embarked on this under-taking, the results of which may be of the +deepest interest to our country. + +With the report of the Secretary of the Navy will be submitted, in +conformity to the act of Congress of 1827-03-03, for the gradual +improvement of the Navy of the United States, statements of the +expenditures under that act and of the measures for carrying the same into +effect. Every section of that statute contains a distinct provision looking +to the great object of the whole -- the gradual improvement of the Navy. +Under its salutary sanction stores of ship timber have been procured and +are in process of seasoning and preservation for the future uses of the +Navy. Arrangements have been made for the preservation of the live oak +timber growing on the lands of the United States, and for its reproduction, +to supply at future and distant days the waste of that most valuable +material for ship building by the great consumption of it yearly for the +commercial as well as for the military marine of our country. + +The construction of the two dry docks at Charlestown and at Norfolk is +making satisfactory progress toward a durable establishment. The +examinations and inquiries to ascertain the practicability and expediency +of a marine railway at Pensacola, though not yet accomplished, have been +post-poned but to be more effectually made. The navy yards of the United +States have been examined, and plans for their improvement and the +preservation of the public property therein at Portsmouth, Charlestown, +Philadelphia, Washington, and Gosport, and to which 2 others are to be +added, have been prepared and received my sanction; and no other portion of +my public duties has been performed with a more intimate conviction of its +importance to the future welfare and security of the Union. + +With the report from the PostMaster General is exhibited a comparative view +of the gradual increase of that establishment, from 5 to 5 years, since +1792 'til this time in the number of post offices, which has grown from +less than 200 to nearly 8,000; in the revenue yielded by them, which from +$67,000 has swollen to upward of $1,500,000, and in the number of miles of +post roads, which from 5,642 have multiplied to 114,536. While in the same +period of time the population of the Union has about thrice doubled, the +rate of increase of these offices is nearly 40, and of the revenue and of +traveled miles from 20 to 25 for one. The increase of revenue within the +last 5 years has been nearly equal to the whole revenue of the Department +in 1812. + +The expenditures of the Department during the year which ended on +1828-07-01 have exceeded the receipts by a sum of about $25,000. The excess +has been occasioned by the increase of mail conveyances and facilities to +the extent of near 800,000 miles. It has been supplied by collections from +the post masters of the arrearages of preceding years. While the correct +principle seems to be that the income levied by the Department should +defray all its expenses, it has never been the policy of this Government to +raise from this establishment any revenue to be applied to any other +purposes. The suggestion of the PostMaster General that the insurance of +the safe transmission of moneys by the mail might be assumed by the +Department for a moderate and competent remuneration will deserve the +consideration of Congress. + +A report from the commissioner of the public buildings in this city +exhibits the expenditures upon them in the course of the current year. It +will be seen that the humane and benevolent intentions of Congress in +providing, by the act of 1826-05-20, for the erection of a penitentiary in +this District have been accomplished. The authority of further legislation +is now required for the removal to this tenement of the offenders against +the laws sentenced to atone by personal confinement for their crimes, and +to provide a code for their employment and government while thus confined. + +The commissioners appointed, conformably to the act of 1827-03-02, to +provide for the adjustment of claims of persons entitled to indemnification +under the first article of the treaty of Ghent, and for the distribution +among such claimants of the sum paid by the Government of Great Britain +under the convention of 1826-11-13, closed their labors on 1828-08-30 last +by awarding to the claimants the sum of $1,197,422.18, leaving a balance of +$7,537.82, which was distributed ratably amongst all the claimants to whom +awards had been made, according to the directions of the act. + +The exhibits appended to the report from the Commissioner of the General +Land Office present the actual condition of that common property of the +Union. The amount paid into the Treasury from the proceeds of lands during +the year 1827 and for the first half of 1828 falls little short of +$2,000,000. The propriety of further extending the time for the +extinguishment of the debt due to the United States by the purchasers of +the public lands, limited by the act of 1828-03-21 to 1829-07-04, will +claim the consideration of Congress, to whose vigilance and careful +attention the regulation, disposal, and preservation of this great national +inheritance has by the people of the United States been intrusted. + +Among the important subjects to which the attention of the present Congress +has already been invited, and which may occupy their further and deliberate +discussion, will be the provision to be made for taking the 5th census of +enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States. The Constitution of +the United States requires that this enumeration should be made within +every term of 10 years, and the date from which the last enumeration +commenced was the first Monday of August of the year 1820. + +The laws under which the former enumerations were taken were enacted at the +session of Congress immediately preceding the operation; but considerable +inconveniences were experienced from the delay of legislation to so late a +period. That law, like those of the preceding enumerations, directed that +the census should be taken by the marshals of the several districts and +Territories of the Union under instructions from the Secretary of State. +The preparation and transmission to the marshals of those instructions +required more time than was then allowed between the passage of the law and +the day when the enumeration was to commence. The term of 6 months limited +for the returns of the marshals was also found even then too short, and +must be more so now, when an additional population of at least 3,000,000 +must be presented upon the returns. + +As they are to be made at the short session of Congress, it would, as well +as from other considerations, be more convenient to commence the +enumeration from an earlier period of the year than the first of August. +The most favorable season would be the spring. + +On a review of the former enumerations it will be found that the plan for +taking every census has contained many improvements upon that of its +predecessor. The last is still susceptible of much improvement. The 3rd +Census was the first at which any account was taken of the manufactures of +the country. It was repeated at the last enumeration, but the returns in +both cases were necessarily very imperfect. They must always be so, +resting, of course, only upon the communications voluntarily made by +individuals interested in some of the manufacturing establishments. Yet +they contained much valuable information, and may by some supplementary +provision of the law be rendered more effective. + +The columns of age, commencing from infancy, have hitherto been confined to +a few periods, all under the number of 45 years. Important knowledge would +be obtained by extending these columns, in intervals of 10 years, to the +utmost boundaries of human life. The labor of taking them would be a +trifling addition to that already prescribed, and the result would exhibit +comparative tables of longevity highly interesting to the country. I deem +it my duty further to observe that much of the imperfections in the returns +of the last and perhaps of preceding enumerations proceeded from the +inadequateness of the compensations allowed to the marshals and their +assistants in taking them. + +In closing this communication it only remains for me to assure the +Legislature of my continued earnest wish for the adoption of measures +recommended by me heretofore and yet to be acted on by them, and of the +cordial concurrence on my part in every constitutional provision which may +receive their sanction during the session tending to the general welfare. +JOHN QUNICY ADAMS + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF ADDRESSES BY JOHN QUINCY ADAMS *** + +This file should be named sujqa10.txt or sujqa10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, sujqa11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, sujqa10a.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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