Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 10, Number 2, Vincennes, Knox County, 12 December 1818 — Page 2

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ';'.i';u sgT-j:: CttT A'or. 1?, 1818. This clay a 12 o'clock, the President or thf. United tatfs transmitted id both Houses of Congress by his Secretary Mr J. J. Mnroe,thc following Mr.ssAGr. : rettot9'Citizen$ if tht Senate 'i ft '! the ihuse yftefiresettt&tivtM : The suspicions circumstances, under which vou will commence the duties of the present session will lighten the burthen, inseparable from the high trti t committed to you. The fruits of the rth have hern unusually abundant: commerce has flhurished ; the revenue exceeded the most favorable ar.ticipatlon and peace and amity are preserved frith foreign nations on conditions just and honorable to our country For these inestimable MesVms, we cartnot but be grateful to that Providence which wachc ; over the destinies of nsticfis. As the term limited for the operation Of the commercial convention with Great Britain will expire early in the month of July neat and it was deemed important Ikat there should be no interval, d tiring Which, that portion ot our commerce Which was provided for by that convention should not he regulated either by Arrangement between the two governmenis, or bf the authority of Congress,

thoMinister of the United States at Lon

don was instructed, early in the last sum

cr,.t,o invite the attention of the Brtish

government to the subject, with a view-

to that object. He was instructed to propo also that the negotiation tvhich It "was wished to open, might extend to the general Commerce of the two country s, and to every other intrcst and unsettled difference between them ; particularly those relating to impressment, the fisheries, fctid boundaries in the hope ill it an arrangement might be made, on principles oft cciprocal advantage which might comprehend and provide, in a satisfy to: ;, manner, for all these High con cerns. 1 hate the satisfaction to state, that the proposal was rereiv; d by the British government, in thf spirit which prompted it ; and that a negotiation bus been opened at London, embracing all these objects. On full consideration of the great extent and magnitude of the trust, it was thought proper to commit u to not less than two of our distinguish cd citizens and in consequence the Knvov Extraordinary and Minister Plenip itenttary of the United State?, at Paris, has been associated with our Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plc.upotentary, at London ; to both of whom corocsponding instructions have been given and they are now engaged in the discharge of it ditties, It is proper to add, that to prevent any inconvenience resulting from the delay incident to a negotiation on so many impor ant subjects, it was agreed, before entering on it, that the existing convention should be continued for a teim not less than eight years. Our relations with Spain remain nearly in the state in which they were at the close of the last session. The COnven tion of 1 8n2 providing for the adjust mentofa certain portion of the claims ofouf citizens for injuries sustained bv spoliation, and so long suspended bv the Upantsh government, Iras at length been ratified by it; but no arrangement has y ' been made for the payment of an th cr poi tion of like claims, not less extensive or Well founded, or for Other clashes of claims or for the settlement o' boundaries These subjects have again been brought ttndet consideration in both countries but no agreement has been entered into respecting them. In the mean time, even's have occurred which deary prove the it! effect of the "policv, Which that government bas so long pursued on the friendly relations of the two countries which, it is pereumed, i; is at IcaM of as much importance to Spain as to the United States to maintain. A State of thmgs ha9 existed in the Tiorid s. the tendency of which has been ob vious to all who have paid the slightest . tentlon to the progress of affairs In that quarter. Throughout the whole of those hi nvltttes to Which tl r Spanish title extends, the government of Spain has scarcely been hit. In Authority has b n confined si most exclusively to the v ttls of P nsicola and St ugustine, within which only small garrisons have bet n maintained Adventurers f-om ev trv esuntry fugitives From justice and awieondintj slaves have found an asylum there Heveral t-ihrs of Indians, str ng in!' e number nfthelr warriors remark VV for t ' eir ferocttlf and hose settleexten led to our limits nh . ;t t , proviM ps, T' sr different Korda of people, connected together, desreger tlim on ihe one side the authority of S dn and nmn ti d on the Other, hv an ' iagintr? linr which separates Florida - - ht United StattSj have violated

our laWS rronibitin? tne rntroduction slaves, hae practise 1 various 'frauds on our revenue, and committed everv kvn d of outrage on onr peacible citizens, which their proximity to us enabled them to vrpetrate. The invasion of Amelia Island last year, by a small band bf adventurers, not exceeding an hundred and fifty in number, who wrested it from the inconsiderable Spanish fc,:ce stationed there, and held it several months, during which a single feeble effort onlv was made to recover it, which

failed, clearly proves how completely ctinet -the Spanish authority had be m . as the conduct of those adventurers while in possession of the island, as distinctly shewi the pcrniciouflfcurppses for which their combination hwL bcu formed. This country had, imOact, become the theatre bf every species of lawless ad venture. With little population of its own the Spanish authority almost extinct, and the colonial governments in a sfte of revolution, having no pretension to it, and sufficiently "employed in their own concerns, it was, in aaatat measure, derelict, and the objei t '3Ej4-'''-v to every adventurer A SvA ' cccaneering was rapidly organizing over it which menaced, in its consequences the lawful Commerce of everv nation and particularly of the United SJ tc ; While it presented a temptation to eve: people on whose seduction its succe , principally depended. In regard to the United States, the pernicious effect of this unlawful combination was not con fined to the ocean i the Indian tribes have constituted the effective force in Florida. With these tribes these adventurer.- had forme;! at an early period, a connection, With a view to avail themselves of that force to promote their own projejL accumulation and agrandisement. It is to the interference of some of these advent urers in misrepresenting the claims and titles of the Indians to land, and in practbin; cn their savage propensities, that the Seminole war iz principal ly to be traced. Men who thus connect themselves with savage Communities and stimulate them to war, which is fUiarys attended on their pari with arts of barbarity the most shocking deserve o be viewed In a worse light than the savlqjes. They would certainly have no claim to an immunity from the punishment which, according to the rules of Ware fare practised by the savages might justly be inflicted on the savages Lhoni selves. If the embarrassments of Spain prevented her from making an indcfefnjtj' to our citizens, for so ion; a timqi worn her treasury, for their Mosses by sVblu-Hon, and otherwise it was alwaj s in her power to hvae provided It bv the cession of this territory. Of this, her government has been repeatedly apprized; and the cession was the more to be antic: ited as Spain must have known thai, in cedlng it ahn would In effect cede what had become of little Value to her, and would likewise relieve herself from Unimportant obligation secured by the trt a ty of 1 795, and all other comfftovitmenl , respecting it. If the United SateAfrom Considi ration of these embarrassments declined pressing their claims in a spirit of hostility . the motive ought, at Itasl to have been duly appreciated by the gov ernment of Spain It U well known to her government that other powers have made to the United States an tn demnity for like losses sustain d bj their citir.cns at the same epoch. There Is nevertheless a limit beyond which this sphit of amity and forbearance can in no instance, ho justified. If it was proper to rely on amical le no gotiation for an indemnity for losses it w ould not have been so, to have per mltted the inability of Spain to fulfil her engagements, and sustain her authority in the Floridas, to be perverted by for ein adventurers and savs jes to purposes so distructive to the lives of our fellow cititcnii and the highest interests of the United States he rtgh of self

defence neve? C( asi s, Ifais atmon? tiu

to ia

t; 'ns and to individu ds. Pnd-Lwwet r

the attack be made bv Spain h" self or by thotC who abuse her power, its obligation i not the less Strong. The iuv:.ders of Vtnella Island had assumed a popular and respected title under which thev might approach and wound us As tlicir abject wa- distinctly seen, anil the duty imposed on the Executive by an existing law, va profoundly felt, that mask was not permitted to protect them. it was Incumbent on the United States, to suppress the establishment, and it was accordingly done The combination in Fhn ida, for the unlawful purpos es stated, the acts perpetrated by that romb'nation, and above all, the increment of the Indians to massacre Our fel-low-cit-.'ens of e erv acre, and of both sexes, merited a like treatment and received it. In pursuing thesi sat iges tBan imagipiij llQQ i:) the W : ';, it

wou'd hive been the height cTioilto hive suffered that line to protect them. Hal that been done, the war could never cease, T.vcn if the territory had been exclusively that of Spain, and her power complete over it we had a right by the law of nations, to follow tho enemy on it, and ta subdue him thae. . lout the te:ritory belonged, in iirtain sense, at least, to the savage eneirrfcvflb inhabited it, the power of Sp . in had ceased to exist over it, and protection was sought under her tkleby those who had committed on our citizens hostiljs, which She was bound, by treaty to have prevented , but had not the power to prevent To have stopped at that line, would have iven new encouragement to these savages and new viror to the Whole combination existing; there, In the prosecution cf all its pernicious purposes. Jn suppressing the establishment at Amelia Island, no unfriendliness was manifested towards Spain, because the post was taken from a force which had wrested it from her. The measure, it is tree, wasnol a opted in concert with the Spanish government or those in authorit under it : because in transactions connected with the war in which Spain and her colonics are engaged, it was thought proper In doing p'siice to the United States, to maintain a strict impartiality towards both the belligerent parties, without consuKir.e; or acting in concei t ith either. It 0ivcs me pleasure to state that the government of Homos Ayres and Venezuela, whose names were assumed have explicitly disclaim cd a'.1 participation in those measures, Sc even the knowledge of them, until com municated by this government, and have il so expressed their satisfaction that a course nfpr i needing had been stippres -ed, which if justly imputable to them would dishonor their cause tn authorising Maj Gen. Jackson to enter Fl n da in pursuit of the -emi-noles, rare was taken not to encroach on the rig! ta of -pa.ia. I regret to have to add that in executing this order facts were disclosed, respecting the conduct of the officers of Spain in authority there, in encouraging the war, furnishing munitions I f Wa;'5 and other supplies, to cany it on and in Other acts, not Icls marked which evinced their participation in tiie hostile purposes of that combination, and justified the confidence, with which it inspired the savftges that, by those officers they would be protected. A conduct so incompatible with the friendly relations existing between the two countries particularly with the posi tive obligation of the 5th article of the treaty of 1795 by which Spain was bound to rest rain, even I v force those savages, from acts of hostility against the United States, could not fall to excite surprise. 1 lie command en; ralwj .. coimuci that he should fail in hi by ct mat lie should in effect accomplish nothing if he did not deprive the e savages of the re sources on which they hud calculated 8c of the protection on which they had relied in making the war. As all the doc itmenta relating to this occurrence will be laid before Congress it is not neces- - iry to enter into further detail respect Ins? it. Although the reasons which induced Maj (v U. Jac ks n tf take these pots

. . ;e duly appreciated, there ws, nce ertheh ss no hesitat ion in decidinemn )e

course which it became the government to pursue. As there was reason to believe that tiie commanders of th se post had violated their instructions there wa no disposition to impute to their gov ernment a conduct so unprovoked and h (tile. An order was in consequence Issued to the general in command there, to cle'ivtr the posts ; Pcnsacola unconditionally to any person duly authorized to receive it : and St Marks wlikh'isSin the heart of the Indian country) uk tlm . v.d of a compete nt force to deterid iT against those savagi s S their associates. In entering Florida to suppress this combination, no idea was entertained of hostility to Spain, and however justifiable the commanding general was in conseqtience of the misconduct of the Spanish ofnecrs, in entering St. Marks and i ensacola, to terminate it, bv proving to the vt; :cs and their associates that th v should not be protected) even there ; yet, tiie amicable relations existing between the U. States and Spain could not be altered bv that art alone. Bv oidering the restitution of the post, thosr j v . lationa were preserved To a change f them, the power of the Kxeeutive is deemed incompetent It is vested .a Congress only. By this measure so promptly taker, due respect v.u shewn to the government of Spain. The misconduct of her officer has not been imputed to her She w;s enah' ; to review, with c.ndor, her relations with the U. States and her own situai'on, particularly in respec t to the territory is quesUtDj rriih the da-

gcrs inseparable fro.-.; it tjmV regarding the io-s-s we have sustained, for whkU indemnity ..as been so long withheidrfifc the injuries we have suffered througb that territory, and her rntans of retire?, she was likewise enabled to take: with honor, the course best calculated to fio justice to the U. State:, .nd to promoto her own welfare. Copies of the instri;- :.s to the eommanding general ; of hi . rrcsj; :.knco Wlththc Secretary of war. explaining his motive andjustifyi duct with a copy of the pioce- . n 1 the Courts martial in the trial of Arbuthnot and Ambristio ; &iv of the corr- ' i odcttcc be (ween tiie Secretary cf State arid the Minister Plenipotentiary of Spain neat this government ; and of the Ministet" Plenipotentiary of the U tacs at Madrid with the government or pam, will be laid before Uonrcso. The civil war, winc h has so long pre vailed !ctwcen Spain and the provinces in South America, still continues with out any prospect of it speedy termination The information respecting the situation of those countries, which has been collcted bj the Commissioner recent!; icturr.cd from thence, will bo laid befotv Coo ;re , , i i copies of their reports, with such other information as has been received from ether agents of the Unite ! States. It appeai - fr m these r-mmunicatMS thatjthe government of Buenos aIsts declared if it independent in July 1816 having previously exercised tho power of an in depends ,t govcrnsncistf though in the name of ti c King of Spain, from the yc at HIO J th .t tiie 1'andaO riental Entre Hr., and Paraguay, with the city of Santa Fee, all of m hieh are also indep n lent, are unconnected with tiie present government cf Buenoa Ayres : that Chili has declared itself independent, and is closely connertcfl" with Buenos yres : that Wr.czuclahaB also de larcd itself independent and novr main'a'.ns the conflict w ith various son cess; and that the remaining parts ot& America except Monte Video, and sucli cm her p;;rtions of the eastern bank of the La Plata as are held by Portugal, art) still in the possession of Sj in, or, in a Certain degree, under her influence,

By a circular letter address: :U bf iho

Ministers ot Spain to the allied oow with whom they are respectively acc ditc.d. i nonpar t V r thf nH-- hmk

... A.

ccrtaken lo mediate brtwctn Spsjn anc the South America!) provinces, and that the manner and ext. of their interposu tion would be settled by a Congress, which was to have met at Aux-la-l'hap-elk in September last. From the general policy and course of pro "..:ing 0b Gerved by the allied powers in rcgard'to this contest, it is inferred that thry will confine their interposition to the expression of tin ir 1 1 itimcnts ; abstaining from the application of force I atc this impression, that force will not heap plied, with the greater satisfaction be cause il ti a curse more consistent i h justice, and likewise authorizes a hopo that the calamilieaof the war will be con fined to t fiC parties only and wUl be of shorter duration. From the new taken of this Mjectt founded on all tha information that wo have been able to obtain, there is goca cause to be satisfied with the courso heretofore pursued b) tlu U. States, in regard to this co!.u, and to concludes that it is proper to adhere to it, cspc ciall) in the present stsie of allatri. I have great ssti u tion in stating, that oar relations with France Russia, and other powers continue on the met friendly basis. In domestic concern:, we have am p'v can e of satisfaction. The receipts

into the Treasnry during the three first quarters of thr year9hsjvi exceeded scv. el teen millions of uolteni. After satisfvi::.; all the demand. whi la have been made Under existing appropriations incloding the final extinctiot; of the old six per cent stoc!;, ar.d the icdemotion of a moiety ottbc Louisi. na del t, it i t Btimatcd that tiure will ic main in t lie Treasui v on the frst dav of January neKt more tiaan two million- 6f c'odars. t is ascertained that the gross revenue which has accrued from the cits

toms during thr same period amounts

tv cnty-onc millions of dolhurs, and tkj

th( ic venue ci the whole vc-ar n.avbc

timatcdat not les; than t went v -six mil-

lions. The sale of th public 'ards

ring the vtarh?s also grcatlv exeeedeeik

bo h in Quantity and pi ire, that of any for mer year ; and there is just reason to cx pect a progressive impfoicinet in tl.a source of the rccnue. It i . grmtirj ing to know,t!iat, aldaottgh tie annual expenditure hash; nincreas cd., by the act of the last c ovofC -gress pcoviding for revohits iry rnn. ssonSftona amount ah art em the proceeds of the internal dutu h.. h BPUfOJ Uteti repetk l,therevtouc foi ."-..uia