NERAL HISTORY

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annually sinking fund the year 1825, of 1812, and the y funding treasurye redeemable. also estimated that the ppi stock will be dised during the year 1819, rom the proceeds of the public lands assigned to that object; after which the receipts from those lands will annually add to the public revenue the sum of 1,500,000 dollars, making the permanent annual revenue amount to 26,000,000 of dollars, and leaving an annual excess of revenue, after the year 1819, beyond the permanent authorized expenditure, of more than 4,000,000 of dollars.

The regular force amounts to the number required by nd is stationed along the nd inland frontiers.

e naval force, it has cessary to maintain strong drons in the Mediterranean, in the Gulf of Mexico.

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

"By the last returns from the Department of War, the militia force of the several States may be estimated at 800,000 men, infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Great

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the other, and more particularly by the equipment of privateers, which have annoyed our commerce, and by smuggling. These establishments, if ever sanctioned by any authority whatever, which is not believed, have abused their trust, and forfeited all claim to consideration. A just regard for the rights and interests of the United States required that they should be suppressed: and orders have accordingly issued to that effect. The imperious considerations which produced this measure will be explained to the parties whom it may, in any degree,

concern.

"To obtain correct information on every subject in which the United States are interested; to inspire just sentiments, in all persons in authority, on either side, of our friendly disposition, so far as it may comport with an impartial neutrality; and to secure proper respect to our commerce in every port, and from every flag; it has been thought proper to send a ship of war, with three distinguished citizens, along the southern coast, with instruction to touch at such ports as they may find most expedient for these purposes. With the existing authorities, with those in the possession of, and exercising the sovereignty, must the communication be held: from them alone can redress for past injuries, committed by persons acting under them, be obtained by them alone can the commission of the like in future be prevented.

"Our relations with the other powers of Europe have experienced no material change since the last session. In our inter

course with each, due attention continues to be paid to the protéction of our commerce, and to every other object in which the United States are interested. A strong hope is entertained, that, by adhering to the maxims of a just, a candid, and friendly policy, we may long preserve amicable relations with all the powers of Europe, on conditions advantageous and honourable to our country.

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

"In calling your attention to the internal concerns of our country, the view which they exhibit is peculiarly gratifying. The payments, which have been made into the treasury, show the very productive state of the public revenue. After satisfying the appropriations made by law for the support of the civil Government, and of the military and naval establishments, embracing suitable provision for fortifications and for the gradual increase of the navy, paying the interest of the public debt, and extinguishing more than 18,000,000 of the principal, within the present year, it is estimated that a balance of more than 6,000,000 of dollars will remain in the treasury on the 1st day of January, applicable to the current service of the ensuing year.

"The payments into the treasury during the year 1818, on account of imposts and tonnage, resulting principally from duties which have accrued in the present year, may be fairly estimated at 20,000,000 of dollars; internal revenues at 2,500,000; public lands at 1,500,000; bank dividends

vidends and incidental receipts at 500,000; making, in the whole, 24,500,000 dollars.

"The annual permanent expenditure for the support of the civil Government, and of the army and navy, as now established by law, amounts to 11,800,000; and for the sinking fund, to 10,000,000; making in the whole 21,800,000; leaving an annual excess of revenue beyond the expenditure of 2,700,000 dollars, exclusive of the balance estimated to be in the treasury on the 1st day of January,

1818.

"In the present state of the treasury, the whole of the Louisiana debt may be redeemed in the year 1819; after which, if the public debt continues as it now is, above par, there will be annually about 5,000,000 of the sinking fund unexpended, until the year 1825, when the loan of 1812, and the stock created by funding treasury notes, will be redeemable.

"It is also estimated that the Mississippi stock will be discharged during the year 1819, from the proceeds of the public lands assigned to that object; after which the receipts from those lands will annually add to the public revenue the sum of 1,500,000 dollars, making the permanent annual revenue amount to 26,000,000 of dollars, and leaving an annual excess of revenue, after the year 1819, beyond the permanent authorized expenditure, of more than 4,000,000 of dollars.

"By the last returns from the Department of War, the militia force of the several States may be estimated at 800,000 men, infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Great

part of this force is armed, and measures are taken to arm the whole. An improvement in the organization and discipline of the militia is one of the great objects which claims the unremitted attention of Congress.

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

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

"Froin several of the Indian tribes inhabiting the country bordering on Lake Erie, purchases have been made of lands, on conditions very favourable to the United States, and, as it is presumed, not less so the tribes themselves. By these purchases, the Indian title, with moderate reservation, has been extinguished in the whole of the land within the limits of the State of Ohio, and to a great part of that in the Michigan territory, and of the State of Indiana.

From the Che

rokee tribe a tract has been purchased in the State of Georgia, and an arrangement made, by which, in exchange for lands beyond the Mississippi, a great part, if not the whole of the land belonging to that tribe, eastward of that river, in the States of North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennesse, and in the Alabama territory, will soon be acquired. By these acquisitions, and others that may reasonably be expected soon to follow, we shall be enabled to extend our settlements from the inhabited parts of the State of Ohio, along Lake Erie, into the Michigan territory, and to connect our

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settlements, by degrees, through the State of Indiana and the Illinois to that of Missouri. A similar, and equally advantageous effect will soon be produced to the south, through the whole extent of the States and territory which border on the waters emptying into the Mississippi and the Mobile. In this progress, which the rights of nature demand, and nothing can prevent, marking a growth rapid and gigantic, it is our duty to make new efforts for the preservation, improvement, and civilization of the native inhabitants. The hunter state can exist only in the vast, uncultivated desert. It yields to the more dense and compact form, and greater force, of civilized population; and of right it ought to yield; for the earth was given to mankind to support the greatest number of which it is capable, and no tribe or people have a right to withhold from the wants of others more than is necessary for their own support and comfort. It is gratifying to know, that the reservations of land made by the the treaties with the tribes on Lake Erie, were made with a view to individual ownership among them, and to the cultivation of the soil by all, and that an annual stipend has been pledged to supply their other wants. It will merit the consideration of Congress, whether other provision, not stipulated by the treaty, ought to be made for these tribes, and for the advancement of the liberal and humane policy of the United States towards all the tribes within our limits, and more particularly for their improvement in the art of civilized life.

Among the advantages incident to these purchases, and to those which have preceded, the security which may thereby be afforded to our inland frontiers is peculiarly important. With a strong barrier, consisting of our own people, thus planted on the Lakes, the Mississippi, and the Mobile, with the protection to be derived from the regular force, Indian hostilities, if they do not altogether cease, will henceforth lose their terror. Fortifications in those quarters, to any extent, will not be necessary, and the expense attending them may be saved. A people accustomed to the use of fire-arms only, as the Indian tribes are, will shun even moderate works, which are defended by cannon.

Great fortifications will, therefore, be requisite only, in future, along the coast, and at some points in the interior, connected with it. On these will the safety of our towns, and the commerce of our great rivers, from the Bay of Fundy to the Mississippi, depend. On these, therefore, should the utmost attention, skill, and labour, be bestowed.

"A considerable and rapid augmentation in the value of all the public lands, proceeding from these and other obvious causes, may henceforward be expected. The difficulties attending early emigrations will be dissipated even in the most remote parts. Several new states have been admitted into our union, to the west and south, and territorial governments, happily organized, established over every other portion in which there is vacant land for sale. In terminating Indian hostilities, as must soon be done, in a formidable

shape

shape at least, the emigration, which has heretofore been great, will probably increase, and the demand for land, and the augmentation in its value, be in like proportion. The great increase of our population throughout the union will alone produce an important effect, and in no quarter will it be so sensibly felt as in those in contemplation. The public lands are a public stock, which ought to be disposed of to the best advantage for the nation. The nation should, therefore, derive the profit proceeding from the continual rise in their value. Every encouragement should be given to the emigrants consistent with a fair competition between them; but that competition should operate, in the first sale, to the advantage of the nation rather than of individuals. Great capitalists will derive all the benefit incident to their superior wealth, under any mode of sale which may be adopted. But if, looking forward to the rise in the value of the public lands, they should have the opportunity of amassing, at a low price, vast bodies in their hands, the profit will accrue to them and not to the public. They would also have the power, in that degree, to control the emigration and settlement in such manner as their opinion of their respective interests might dictate. I submit this subject to the consideration of Congress, that such further provision may be made in the sale of the public lands, with a view to the public interest, should any be deemed expedient, as in their judgment may be best adapted to the object.

"When we consider the vast ex

tent of territory, within the United States, the great amount and value of its productions, the connexion of its parts, and other circumstances on which their prosperity and happiness depend, we cannot fail to entertain a high sense of the advantages to be derived from the facility which may be afforded in the intercourse between them by means of good roads and canals. Never did a country of such vast extent offer equal inducements to improvements of this kind, nor ever were consequences of such vast magnitude involved in them. As this subject was acted on by Congress at the last session, and there may be a disposition to revive it at the present, I have brought it into view, for the purpose of communicating my sentiments on a very important cir-, cumstance connected with it, with that freedom and candour which a regard for the public interest, and a proper respect for Congress, require. A difference of opinion has existed, from the first formation of our constitution to the present time, among our most enlightened and virtuous citizens, respecting the right of Congress to establish such a system of improvement. Taking into view the trust with which I am now honoured, it would be improper, after what has passed, that this discussion should be revived, with an uncertainty of my opinion respecting the right. Disregarding early impressions, I have bestowed on the subject all the deliberation which its great importance, and a just sense of my duty, required; and the result is a settled conviction in my mind, that Congress do not possess the right.