Western Sun, Volume 8, Number 3, Vincennes, Knox County, 21 December 1816 — Page 2

Beem important from the secrecy that has been observed. A dreadful conflagration broke out at Constantinople on the 15th of August, by which 1200 houses and 3000 shops and warehouses were destroyed. This day, it i: o'clock, the PreHdent of the United Statrs transmitted, to both Houtel of Coogress, the following MclTage by Mr. To id, hit Secretary : Fellow-citizen of the Senate and the House of ttefiresrntatives, In reviewing the preient iUte of our country, onr attention cannot be withheld from the etftft produced by peculiar feafons, which have very generally impaired tbt annual gift! of the earth and threaten tcarcity in particul r diHrifts. Such, however, i- the variety of toils, of climates, 8c of produces, within our extensive limits, tint Ihe aggregate relources for fubfiltence re more than lufficient for the aggregate wants. And as far as an economy of confumption more than uluil may be neceflary, our thankfulnefs is due to providence, for what is far more than a compenfation, in the remarkable he ilth which has diftinguifhed the prefen t year.

Amidft the advantages which have fucceeded the peaieot Europe, and that of the U Statt s with (t. Britain, in a general in-

vigoration of induftry among us, and in the txten fi on of our commerce, the vilue of which is more and more difclonng itfelf to Commercial nations, it is to be regretted thit a deprellion is experienced by particular branches of our tnanutalUires, and by a portion of our navigation. As the firft proceeds in an rflential degree, from an excefs of imported merchandize, which carries a check in its own tendency, the caufe in its preient extent cannot be of very long duration. The evil will not, however, be view, e l hv Congrefs, without a recollection, that manufacturing f(tftblifhmetits, if fufTered to fink tOoloW or languilh too long, may not revive, after the c ufes OS .til have ceafed ; 5 that, in the viciiTituci-s of human affairs, fituationg may recur, in which adependance on foreign fourCtS, for indifpenlahle fupplies may be among the moil fenous embarralTments. The deprelTed Hate of our navigation is to be afcribed, in a matrral degee, to its exdullon from the colonial parts of the nation moli extenfivfly conneed with us in Commerce, and from the indirect operation of that exclufion. Previous to the late convention at London, between the U. States and G. Bntain, the relative Itate of the navigation laws of the two countries, growing out of the treaty of 1794, had given to the Bntilh navigation a material advantage over the American, in the intercourfe between the American ports and Bntiih ports in Europe. The convention of London equalised the laws of the two countries, relating to thofe ports ; leaving the intercourfe between our ports and the ports of the Bntilh colonies, fubied, as before, to the refpe&ive regulations of the parties. The Bntilh government, enforcing now, regulations which prohibit a trade between its colonies anil the U. States, in Ainencan vt ilels, whtlfl they permit a trade in Bntilh vtiT-ls, the American navigation lof-s accordingly ; and the In is is augmented hy the advantage which is given to the Britifh competition over the Am-rican, in the navigation between our ports Sc Britifh ports ii' Europe, by the circuitous voyages, enjoyed hv the one, and not en yed by the other. The reafonablenefi of the rul of reciprocity, applied to one branch of the commercill intercourfe, has been prt iTrd on our part, as eon illy applicable to both branches ; but it is afcertained, that the Britifh cabinet dec'.n es all negotiation on the fuhjed ; with a difavowal, h ivrcver, of any difpoGtion to View in an unfriendly light, whatever countervailing reguLtions the U. States may oppoie to the regulation! of which they complain. The Sfifdom of the tegitfaturc will decide on the courfe, which, under thefe circumfUnces, is preli ribed by. joint r-ird to the amicable relations between the two nations, and to the jufl intcrefts ot the U. States.

1 have the fatisfaction to Rate, generally, that w: remain in amity with foreign powers. An iceurrence has indeed, tkenplie in the Gulf of Mexico, which, if fancioned hv the Spanifh government, m y m ke an exception a? to that power. According to the rp-irt .if our naval commander, on that (lation, one of our public ar.nr.i vefitls v. as at'ark-d '-v an overpowering force, urder a Spnith commander, fc the American flag. With the officers fit crew mfulted in a manner calling for prompt reparation. This has been demanded in the meantime a frigate and fmaller vp(T-N of ar have been oider cd nto that Guli, for the protection of oui

commerce. It would be improper to omit, that the reprefentstive of his Catholic ma jeftv, in the U. States, loft no time in giving the (hongefl aiTurances, tht no holtile order could have emanated irom his government, and that it will be as ready to do, as to expec-l, whatever the nature of the cafe, and the friendly rehtions of the two countries, (h ill be found to require. The pofture of our aiTa.rs with Algiers, at the preient moment, is not known. I he 1) y, drawing pretexts from circumllances, for which the U States were not aniwerable, addrcfT-d a letter to this government, declaring the treaty U(t concluded with him to have be n annulled by our v iol ation of it ;

and prelenting, as the alte native, war, or a renewal of the former treaty, which llipu-

lated, among other things, an annuil tribute. The anfer, with an expht.it declaration that the U. States preferred war to tribute, required his recognition and obier. vance of the treaty la ft made, which abolilhes tribute and the flavery of our captured citizens. The refult of the anfwer has not been received. Should he renew his warfare on our commerce, we rely on the protection it will find in our naval force, actually in the Mediterranean. With the other Barbary fhtes, our affairs have undergone no change. The Indian tribes within our limits appear alfo difpofed to remain at peace. From feveral of them pure bales of lands have been nude, p irticolarly favorable to the withes and fecunty of our frontier fettlements ; as well as to the general interefts of the nation. In fome inftances the titles, tho' not fupported hy due proof, and c lading thofe of one tribe with the claims of another, have been extinguished by double purchafes ; the benevolent policy of the U. States preferring the augmented expenfe to the hazard of doing injuftice ; or to the enforcement of juftice, againft a feeble and untutored people, by means involving or threatening an etTufion of blood. I am happy to add, that the tranquility which has been reftored among the tribes them felves, as well as between them 8c our own population, will favor the refumptton of the work of civilization, which has made an encouraging progrefs among fome tribes ; and that the facility is increafing for extending that divided and individual ownerfhip, which exifts now in moveable property only, to the foil itfelf ; and of thus eftahlifhmg in the culture and improvement cf it, the

true foundation for a tranfit from the habits of tho favage, to the arts and comforts of focial life. As a fuhject of the highefi importance to the national welfare, I muft, again earn eftly recommend to the consideration of congrefs, a re-organization of the militia, on a plan which will form it into clalTes, According to the periods of life more and lefs adapted to military fervices. An efficient militia is authoriiVd and contemplated by the conftitution, and required by the fpirit and fafety of free government. The prefent organiztion of our militia is univerfally regarded a; lets efficient than it out to be m de ; and no organization can be better calculated to give to it its due force, than a dalTification which will affign the foremoft pi ice in the defence of the country to that portion cf its citizens, whofe activity and annimation beft enable them to rally to its ftandard. Befides the cnfideratinn that a time of peace is the time when the change can be made with the moft conveni enre and equity, it will mw he aided by the experience of a late war, in which the militia bore to intereftmg a part. Congrefs will call to mind, that no adequate proviGoa has yet been made for the uniformity of weights and meafures, alfo Contemplated hv the conftitution. The grcit Utility of a ftandard, xed in its nature, and founded on the eafy rule of decimal proportions, is fuffiuently obvious. It led the government, at an early ftage, to preparatory fteps tor introducing it ; and a completion of the work will be a juft title to the public gratitude.

The importance which I have attached to the eflablifhment of a L'niverfity within this Diflrict, on a fcale and for objects worthv ot the Amrncan naton, induces me to renew my recommendation of it, to the fa vor a ble cor. fide rat ion of congrefs; and I particularly invite again their attention to the expediency of exer.ifing their exifting powers, and where neceftary, of reforting to the prefenbed mode of enlarging them, in order to etfechiate a compreh? n ft ve fyftem of roads 8c canals, inch as will have the effect of drawing more cl iely together every part of our country, by promoting intercourfe and improvements, and by inrreathe flnre of every part in the common Rock of natjonal profperity. f.)cc urrence- have taken place which fhew that the Rattttory provihons for the difpen fat ton ot criminal juftice, are deficient in relation both to places and toperfons ucier

the exclufive cognizance cf the national authority ; an amendment of the law, embracing fuch cafes, will merit the earlieft attention of the Irgiflature. It will be a fealonable occafion alfo, for inquiring how far lecnfUtive interpolation may he further reqoifite in providing penalties tor offences detonated in the conftitution or in the ftatutes, and to which either no penalties are annexed, or none with fuffictent certaintv. And I fubmit to the wifdom of conprrfs, whether a more enlarged revifion of the criminal code be not expedient for the porpofe of mitigating, in certain caies, penalties which were adopted into it antecedent to experiments and examples which juftify and recommend a more lenient policy. The V. States having heen the first to abolish, within the extent of their authority, the transportation of the natives of Africa into slavery, hv prohibiting the introduction of slaves. $c by punishing their citizens participating in the traffic, cannot but he gratified at the progress made by concurrent efforts of other nations, towards a general suppression of so great an evil. They must feel at the same time, the greater solicitude to give the fullest efficae v to their own regulations. With what view the interposition of C ongress appears to be required by the violations and evasions which, H is suggested, are chargeable on unworthy citizens, who mingle in the slave trade under foreign flags, and with foreign ports ; and by collusive importations of slaves into the U. States through adjoining ports and territories. 1 present the subject to congress with a full assurance of their disposition to apply all the remedy which can be afforded by an amendment of the law. The regulations which were intended to guard against abuses of a kindred character, in the trade between the several states, ought also to be rendered more effectual for their humane object. To these recommendations I add, for the consideration of congress, the expediency of a remodification of the judiciary establishment, and of an additional department in the Executive branch of the government. The first is called for by the accruing business which necessai i 1 v swells the duties of the Federal Courts, and by the great & widening space, within which justice is to be dispensed by them The time seems to have arrived which claims for members of the Supreme Court a relief from itinerary fatigues, incompatible, as well w ith the age which a portion of them will always have at

tained, as with the researches and preparations which are due to their stations, and to the juridicial reputation of their country. And considerations enuallv coir-

1 . o ent, require a more convenient organization of the subordinate tribunals which may be accomplished without an objectionable increase of the number or expenee of the judges. The extent and variety ofexecutie business, also accumulating with the progress of our country and its growing population, call for an additional department, to be charged with duties now overburdening other depart ments, and with such as have not heen annexed to any department. The course of experience recommends another improvement in the Executive establishment, that the provision for the Nation of Attorney-General, Of

whose residence at the seat of government official connections with it, and management of the public business before the judiciary preclude an extensive participation in professional emoluments, be made more adequate to his services and his relinquishments ; and that, with a view to his reasonable accommodation and to a proper depository of his official opinions and proceeding-, there be included in the provision the usual appurtenances to a pub' lie office. In directing the legislative attention to the state of the finance? it is a subject of great gratification to find, that even within the short period which has elapsed since the return of peace, the revenue has far exceeded all the current demands upon the treasury, and that. Under any probable diminution of its future annual product. Which the vicissitudes of commerce may occasion, it will afford an ample fund for the effectual and early extinguishment of the -public debt. It has been estimated, that during the year 1816, the actual receipts of the revenue at the treasury, including the balance at the commencement of the year, and excluding the proceeds of loans and treasury notes, will amount to about the sum of 47,000,000 of dollars ; that during the same year, the actual payment of arrearages of the War Department as well as the payment of a considerable excess, beyond the annual appropriations, will amount to about the sum of 38,000,000 of dollars ; and that, consequently, at the close of the year, there will be a surplus in the treasury of about the sum of 9,000,000 of dollars. The operations of the treasury continue to be obstructed by difficulties, arising h orn the condition of the national currency ; but they have, nevertheless, been effectual, to a beneficient extent, in the reduction of the public debt, and the establishment of the public credit. The floating debt of treasury notes and temporary loans, will soon be entirely discharged, The aggregate of the funded debt, composed of debts incurred during the wars of 1776 and of 1812, has been estimated with reference to the first of January next, at a sum not exceeding 110,000,000 of dollars. The ordinary animal expences of government, for the maintenance of all its institutions, civil, military, and naval, have been estimated at a sum less than 20,000,000 of dollars. And the permanent revenue, to be derived from all the existing sources, has been estimated at a sum of about 25,000,000 of dollars. Upon this general view of the subject, it is obvious, that there is only wanting, to the fiscal prosperity of the government, the restoration of an uniform medium of exchange. The resources and the faith of the nation, displayed in the system w hich Congress has established, ensure respeel and confidence at home and abroad. The local accumulations of the revenue have already enabled the treasury to meet the public engagements in the local currency of most of the states; and it is expected that the same