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C AMDEN GAZETTE - - EXTRA. CAMDEN, NOV. 1820. PRESIDENTS MESSAGE. Having been politely favored by a friend with the President's Me**age, received \ csterday, vre have the pleasure of pre senting it to our readers to-day, if* an *x* na sheet. . ' v *r/v WASHINGTON CITY, NOV. 13, ; MESS ACE , i 'rom the President of the United States to both Housef-of Congress, at *h?com mencement of the Second Session of ??j- the Sixteenth Cwifcress. |^4vm? vy *\sju't&CTltCltYVC8Z In communicating to you a just view of public affairs, at the com mencement of ytfjr present labors, I hi <!o it with great satisfaction, because, taking all circumstances into consi 1 deration, w hich claim attention* " In making this remark, I do not wish '/ to l?e understood to liSply,' that an p unvaried [frosperity is tp be seen in pf every interest of this great commu dI iy. In the progress of agnation, jnhabiiifts; a territory of suth vast extent, ajid great variety of climate, j over^ portHtfir of which engaged ( in foreigu <fwittetce -and liable to be affected, in feome degree, - by the changes which occur iff -the condi k tion and regulations foreign countries, it would be strange if the fjntftao^of our soil, sml the industry \ enterprise of our fellow citizens leceivrd, at all times, and in every </i\ar(cr, an uniform and equal en coot *&ement. ' This wouIdUbg more than we would h&ve m ex pect, mtder circumstances the most la v orab le. Presurcs on certain in terests,^* is admitted, hive been libit ; but, allowing to these their greatest Extent, they detract but little ' from the force of the remark already made. In forming a just estimate of our present utuatiou, it is proper to look at the whole ; in the outline, as well as in the detail. A fre^, vir I nous, mid enlightened people know well thereat principles and causes on which their happiness depends ; and even those who suffer most, oc casionally, in. (heir transitory con cerns, find great relief under their sufferings from tljo blessings which the; .otherwise, enjoy, and in the c onsoling and animating Hope which they administer, froui whence ffo these pressures come ? Net ' from a government which is founded by, ad* ministered for, antT' supported by, the popple. We trace thenvto the peculiar character of the epoch in which we live, and to the extraordi nary occurrences which have signal lized i L *The convulsions 7 with which several of the po\v#e of Eu rope have been sliaKen, and the Ipng add destructive wars, in which all were engaged, with their stulden transition to a state of peace, present ing, in the first instance, unusual en couragement of our commerce, and withdrawing it, m the second, even tithin its wonted limit, could net it to be sensibly felt hero. The station too which we had to support through this lotog conflict, compelled, as M?e were, finally, become a party 1o it, witft a principal power, ami to make gre^t exertions, snfter heavy losses, and to Contract consi derable debts, disturbing the ordina ry course of affairs, by atieiiitonting, to a vast amount, the cimmtingf' me dium, and thereby elevating, at one time, theprfctf of ev4ty article above a just standard, and, depressing it, at anottar, below it, trad,' likewise, ' ifa ilue ttect. ? - ? K is manifest that the pressures, of we complain, have pro * ceeded, in a groat measure* from these causes. Wlwfa, tlien, %vr take, into View the prosperous ami liappy condition of our country, itt All tlio great citcgrostancea which ? constitute lite felfcKty of a nation; eve individual in lAe foil ^etyjoymenj of all his' rights t Union Mesa* vd with plenty, an# .rapidly risitf| 1o greatness, under a national guH veinment which novates with cor picks effect in evoiy part, withta< being ftlt In any, e>? ejrt by the am pie projection which it affords ; and under state governments which per form their equal share, according to a wise distribution of power between them, in promoting the public hap piness, it is impossible to behold so gratifying, so glorious a spectacle, without being penetrated with . the most profound and grateful acknow ledgments to the Supj&ne Author of all good, for such mauifold and in estimable blessings. Deeply im pressed with theseaehtiments, 1 can not regard the pressures to which I have adverted, otherwise than in the light of mild and instructive admo nitions, warning ns of dangers to be shuned in future; teaching us lessons of economy, corresponding with Hie simplicity and purity of our institu tions, &best adapted to their support ; evincing the connexiou and depen dence which the various parts of our happy Union have on each other, thereby Augmenting daily our social incorporation, and adding, by its stf ong ties, new strength and vigor to the political ; opening a wider rangjv att(l new encouragement to the industry and entSrprize of out* fellow citizens at home and abroad ; and metre especially, by (he multi plied proofs which it has accumulat ed, ijf the great peMertion of our most excellent system of govern ment, the powerful instrument, in tlie bunds of ah all-merciful Crea tor, in securing to us these blessings. llappy as our situation is, it does not ^xempt us from sotfcilude am! 1 ^care for the future. On -the contrary, us the blessirtgs which we enjoy are great* proportionably*great should be our vigilance/ zeal, and acti vity to preserve them. Foreign war* mwr again TJUioae lis to new | wrongs, which would impose on us new duties, for which we ought to he prepared. The state of Europe is?iisettled, and how long peace may be preserved, is altoge ther uncertain. In addition tu which, we have interests of our own to def- ' juaV ,*bM\ will require particular at tention. A correct view of our rela tions with .each power will enable you to form a just id$a df existing difficulties, and of the measures of pr^utionbestadaped to the*. gg Respecting our relations with Spain, nothing explicit can now be communicated. On tfie adjournment 1 of Congress, in May last, the Min ister Pleriiiotl-ntiarj of thp. United I States at Madrid was instructed to inform the f^veniSftS Spain, (that, if his Catholic Majesty shodJLd then ratify the treaty, this govern ment would Accept the ratification so far a$ to suhmit to the v decesion of itie Senate the question, whether sncli ratification should be reserved in ex change; for Mi. of the United States' heretofore $ven. By letters *kojn the Minister of (he iJniteA States, to the Secretary of Stalest appears, that a communication^ in conformity with bis instructions', had Wen made to the government of Spain, and thai t^e Cortes had the sitf fleet under consideration The ireault of the de- > liberation of that tkidy, which-ls daily expected, will lib made known to Congress 03 soon as it itf'teceived. ThfrfrienajYisentinient which was expressed on the part of the Ufiiteil ! States, in the message of the 9th of ; AhylUsV ft still enttrtain^^Jbr Spain. Among the causes of re gret, however, which are insepara ble from the delay attending Una transaction, it is proper to state* that satisfactory information Has, been re ceived that measures have beriri cently adopted, by designing per sons, to convert certain parts of" the putvince of jfcast Florida into depots for the reception of foreign good#, ti-om whence to smuggle them into the United Htates. By opening a port within thq limits, of Florida, immediately on our Iwundary, where there was no settlement, the object j could not he misunderstood. An early accommodation of differences S ill, jt is hoped, prevent all such fraudulent and pernicious practices, i^d place the relations of the two ountrics on a very amiable and per manent basis. The commercial relations between the United States and tire tiritish Colonies in the \ye.?t Indies, anil 01: this continent, Ipve t<ndergoue no change ; the Bfitfsh government "still preferring to leave that coerce under the restriction heretofore im posed on it bn ehab side. It is -?n tisfactory to recollect; (hat the re straints resorted to bjf the -Upfted Stater were defensive onlj|Jptendrd to prevent a monopoly, umlofr Bw tish regulations) fir IfcVor 't>f Britain ; as it likewise is to know that tl?e experiment is advancing in a Spirit of amity between, the "v Tlie question depending betweeb the Uriited States aftd TJreatBritain, respecting Hhe construction of the first article of the treaty df Ghent, has been referred, l?y both govern ments, *to the decision of (lie Em pei*r-of Russia, wlitf has accepted the umpirage. An attempt ha& been made. With the -government of France, to regu late, by treaty, tlfe commcrco be tween the two countries, on tfje prin ciple of reciprocity anil* equality .-r By tlie last communication from the Minister Plenipotentiary, of die U. States, at Paris, to whofti JftiH pow er bad heen g'rveq, wel/ajn th&t the negotiation Dad been commenced there ; but serious difficulties harms; occurred, the French government had resolved to tr?iy*ftfejt to the U. States, for which purple, the Min-| ister Plenipotentiary of France hacu beeu ordered to repair to this city,! and whose arrival might soon be ex pected. It is hoped that tlws import- J ant interest may he arranged unjust] conditions, and in a maimer equally] I sMifactoryto both parties. Itis tfuh- J mitted to Congress to itegidf^ until] ? such arrangement " is mado, how far! it may be prooer, &nthe priori pie of] the aict of im? last session, -which I augmented the tonnage 'duty * on] French vessels, to adopt other mea-1 sures for carrying more completely into effect the policy of that act. 1 Theadt referred to, which iinpos-| ed hew tonnage Frenjcli i^s^^ 1 having been in force from and ?fiet I the first day of. July, it has happen^] edHhat several vessels of that nation,] which had been despatched from France } before .r Us,i existence* was known, have entered the ports of the United States, and been subject to] its operation without that previous notice which the general sjifrit of our] laws gives to individual in similar cases, j The subject of that law hav- ] sing been .merely to countervail the] inequalities which existed to tire dis advantage of the United States, in their commercial intercourse with] France, it is submitted, also, to the r consideration of Congress, whether, in the spiVit of amity and concilia tion,' which it it no less the inclina tion than the policy of the United] Htatcs to preserve, in their mter: course with .other powers, it may not be proper to extend relief to the individuals interested in those cases, by exempting from the operation of the law M those vessels which have entered odr ports, without* having had th? means of previously know^ iug the existence of the additional . dutjv ' * t ^ contest between Spin and the - colonics, According Jo t ho most authentic jtofo^ by the latter with improved success. The jiafbrtunntc divisions which were known to exist some timd since al Buenos Ayres, . it is understood, atill i prevail. -In ho part of South Ame rica lifts Spain marie any impression on the colonies, while, in many ports; and particularly in Venezuela and New Grenada, the colonies hate gained strength, arid acquired repu tation, both for the management of the war, in which they have l>een successful, and the for order of the internal administration. Hie late change in the goveipment of Spain, by tlie ic-estahlishment of the consti tution of 1314, is an event which pro mises lo be favorable to the revolu * tion. v Under the authority of the Cortes, the Congress.^ Angostura was invited to oj?en a negotiation for the settlcniei;?c# differences between the parties, to Which it was replied, they would willingly open' the nejo tiation. provided the acknowledg ment of their independence was made its basis, but not otherwise. Of further proceedings between them, we are uninformed. No facts are known to this .government to warrant (be belief! that any of the powers of Europe will take part in the cootest ; whence, it may be inferred, consid ering at) circumstances which mqst have weight m producing the result, 1liat an adjustment will finally take place, on the basis proposed by t lie colonies. To promote that result, by friendly counsels with otht* pow ers, including Spain herself, has l*en the uniform policy of this gov ernment. :V> ? In looking to the internal conceh? ^jf7$arxoifBt^7 you Will, 1 ait per suaded, derived much satisfaction, from a view ? of the several objects, to which, in the discharge of ymir official duties, your attention will he1 drawn, i Araong diesr, none holds a more important place than the pub lic revenne^ from the direct operation of the poweiy&y which it 1s raised, on the people, and by its . influence 1 in giving effect to every other po\Ver of' the government.. The revenue depends oh the ngurces of the country, and* the fircttity by wliicil the amount required is raised, is a * strong proof -of the extent of the. re- ? sources, and o?^ the efficicncy of the ! government, , A few prominent facts i will place this great interest in ajust light before you. On the 30th pf September, 1815, the funded rnd floating debt of the? United 'States was estimated - nt one hundred and nineteen millions six- hundred arid thkty-five ibousandjive hundred^nd j fifty-eight dollars.- If to this sum be Ajddecl, the amount of five j>er cent,! stock, subscribed to tfie Bank of the United States, the amount of Mis sissippi stocky and of the stork which was issued subsequently to that date ; the balances ascertained lo be due to certain states for military services, and to individuals ft*r supplies fur ?tjshed, t*,ud services rendered, due- 1 ingjtho*)*te ?ar, (lie public deqt may be. estimated as amounting, at that - date, and as aftei wards liqui dated, to one hundred and fifly-eighl millions seven hundred and thirteen thousand and forty- nine dollars. ? On the 30i{i September, 1820, it amounted to ninety-one millions nine hundred and ninety-three thousand eight hundred rand eighty-three uol lars, having l>c(ggjl$duccd, in that interval, by payments, sixty-six mil-j lions eight hundred and seventy-nlpe thousand one hundred and sixty-five dollars. During this, term, the ex penses of the government of the United Stales were likewiaf defrayed i? every branch of the civil, military, and naval, establishments; the pub lic edifices, in this city, have j*een rebuilt, with considerable additions; extensive fivrtiflcatiens have bean commenced, and are in a train of ex ecution ; permanent arsenals and magazines have been erected in va rious parts of the our navy j han been considerably augmented, ! and the qrdnance, munitions of war, anjl stores, of the Army and navy, which we#e much exhausted durjpg the war* have been replenished? By the discharge of so largo a pro portion of the public debt, and llie execution "of such extensive and im portant operations, in so short a time, a just estimate may be formed of the great extant of our national resour ces. jThe demonstration is the more complete and gratifying, when itis recollected that the direct tax qpd excise were repealed soon after the termination of the late war, and that the revenue applied to these purposes has been derived almost wholly from other source^' : n. f ? The receipts into the T/easuty. from every source, to the 30th of Hepterober last, have amounted to sixteen millions seven hundred and ninaty-four thousand one liundrcd mid seven dollars, sixty-six centft, whilst the public exdendituresj to the snm? period, amount*: d to six teen millions eight hundwd nnd sev t$uty-one thousand five., hundred and thirty-four dollars, aovcqty-tfro cent5', Icqivjn j ip *e Treasury, oij that doy, The sum of three millions of dol lars, authorized to be rai$*d by loan, by an act of the last session of Con gress, has been obtained iijron term* advantageous to the government, in dicating not only an iocreasetf confi dence in thefaith of the nation, but the existence of a* large amount of capital, seeking that mode of iu vest ment, at aVateof interest not excell ing five per .cent. pea atifindi. It s proper to add, that there is now due to the l*geaintyf fef rtie sale of public lands, twenty-two million* nine hundred and ninety-six thou I sand ffve hundred and forty -five -do!* lars, Iu bringing this *ub}ect 4**^ ^iew, 1 consider it iriy duty to sub mit to Cuqgresa, vwhether it majf not bo advisable, to extend (o the pne^ chasers of these lands, in cousijfen!} ufion of the unfavorable c&anga ; which has occurred since tlie sales, a - reasonable indulgence, it is known tliat the purchases were m^de wlieu . the price of ever> article bad risen to its greatest height, add that tl?e in stalments are becoming doe at a pe riod of great depression. * It is pre sumed that some plan nwy fa devis ed, by the wisdom of Congress, com patible with the public interest, which would afford relief t? these purcha-, ** scrs. 'V Considerable progress has been made, during (he present season, in examining the coast, and its' various bays, ami other inlets; in the collec tion of materials, and in (lie. con struction of fortifications, for the de- . ' fence of the Union, at several of tte t positions, at which U has beeg fle* cided to erect such works. 7 At Md I.ile Point, and Dauphin Island, and > at the Rigolets, leading to Lake Pontcbartrain, materials,, to a con-*, siderable amount, have beeu collect ed, and all the necessary prepara tions made, for the i nmwnc iuaut , I the works. m/U Old Point ComfoiV, at the James river, awl~t.4 the Rip Rap, on the opposite *1h*^ in tlie Chesapeake Bay, materials, to -1 a vast amount, have been collected, and attbe'Old Poiut some progress has been made in tho construction of tlta fortification, which is on a .very 'J extensive scale. .The work at Fort, Washington, ob this *iv*r, will Un - completed eacty 4u the. next springy |at>4.' that on tUe Pea Patch, in ,tUe? , Delaware, \in tl?e coarse vilhe ncxtS' sflftsoft. Fort Diamond, at tlio N iu> rows, in^he Jmrhor of New-Y<*k. wiUlMfioWMduayear. TbewodNv at Boston, New-York, Balling Norfolk, Charleston, tyul JS ia?W& have been, in repaired j ao^fhe. coast or -Navth-CarwvM, extending, sooth, to'^ape Feaj,; Has bewn. wca tnined, 0? have likew ise oil ?f tb* ?t??st east want, of Great exertions, hn*a. been wade to push forward;ll?se w<uk??,wiih Ihtv utmost deapaJlch possible ; .out, whet* tfieir extent ? considered, with- tlt imjiorTaat jrttrpoaea- for which; am intended? (bo-%dcfehcB of whole coast, and, in consequence* of the whole iuterior, and that they arrr to last lor agj?s?it will, be manifts!, that a well digested plat*, founded ojj military principles, connecting Urn itvholo together, combining securitjtfi wlllv economy, could not he pvepar* etl without repeated examination# the most exposed agd difficult parts, and that it would also take couhMc* qable time to collect t ho materials ni fhe aevctul points whore Ihey woiilfe be required. From all the UghMteH ha* been shed on thw Wiijcct, I r.ij satisfied that everv favorable antiu* pation ivMcMia* heen f?*med of ttttiP great undertaking, wjll be ycrjflr<'> and that, when completed, it Hflford y$ry gfeaf, if uftt complex, ' protection lo our Atlantic frontier^ ie|p the event of another wap; a protec tion ?nfl*ciont to counterbalance in a single a>pipni?n, fctij njjtflf r.ftipwy powerful at aea, tH^ expense of *)i rthei** worfcs, without 'fnk?rt$ ti - estimate tie davhtK of \v& ltv<# my man 1 of our ctii/,e;nt, t!>e prole; a sum estimate*] at one million niut\ hundred and fifty thousand dolUrr. For the protable receipts of the fol lowing year, I refrr you to the state ment which will be transmitted from the Treasnry.