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will give us an equal treaty, and ensure its observ

ance.

Among the measures of preparation which appear expedient, I take the liberty to recal your attention to the naval establishment. The beneficial effects of the small naval armament, provided under the acts of the last session, are known and acknowledged; perhaps no country ever experienced more sudden and remarkable advantages from any measure of policy than we have derived from the arming for our maritime protection and defence. We ought, without loss of time, to lay the foundation for an increase of our navy, to a size sufficient to guard our coasts and protect our trade. Such a naval force, as is doubtless in the power of the United States to create and maintain, would also afford to them the best means of general defence, by facilitating the safe transportation of troops and stores to every part of our extensive coasts. To accomplish this important object, a prudent foresight requires that systematical measures be adopted for procuring, at all times, the requisite timber and other supplies. In what manner this shall be done I leave to your consideration.

"I will now advert, gentlemen, to some matters of less moment, but proper to be communicated to the national legislature.

"After the Spanish garrisons had evacuated the posts which they occupied at the Natchez and the Walnut Hills, the Commissioner of the United States commenced his observations to ascertain the

point near the Missisippi, which terminated the northern-most part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude. From thence he proceeded to run the boundary line between the United States and Spain. He was afterwards joined by the Spanish Commissioner, when the work of the former was confirmed; and they proceeded together to the demarcation of the line. Recent information renders it probable, that the northern Indians, either instigated to opppose the demarcation, or jealous of the consequences of suffering white people to run a line over lands to which the Indian title had not been extinguished, have, ere this time, stopped the progress of the Commissioners....and considering the mischiefs which may result from continuing the demarcation in opposition to the will of the Indian tribes, the great expence attending it, and that the boundaries which the Commissioners have actually established, probably extend at least as far as the Indian title has been extinguished, it will, perhaps, become expedient and necessary to suspend further proceedings, by recalling our Commissioner.

"The Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the fifth article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation, between the United States and his Britannic Majesty, to determine what river was truly intended under the name of the river St. Croix, mentioned in the treaty of peace, and forming a part of the boundary therein described, have finally decided that question. On the twenty-fifth of October, they made their declaration, that a river

called Scoodiac, which falls into Passamaquoddy Bay, at its north-western quarter, was the true St.. Croix intended in the treaty of peace, as far as it's great fork, where one of its streams comes from the westward and the other from the northward, and that the latter stream is the continuation of the St. Croix to its source. This decision, it is understood, will preclude all contention among individual claimants, as it seems that the Scoodiac, and its northern branch, bound the grants of land which have been made by the respective adjoining governments. A subordinate question, however, it has been suggested, still remains to be determined. Between the mouth of the St. Croix, as now settled, and what is usually called the Bay of Fundy, lie a number of valuable islands: The Commissioners have not continued the boundary line through any channel of these islands; and unless the Bay of Passamaquoddy be a part of the Bay of Fundy, this further adjustment of boundary will be necessary : But it is apprehended that this will not be a matter of any difficulty.

"Such progress has been made in the examination and decision of cases of capture and condemnation of American vessels, which were the subject of the seventh article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between the United States and Great Britain, that it is supposed the Commissioners will be able to bring their business to a conclusion in August of the ensuing year.

"The Commissioners, acting under the 21st article of the treaty between the United States and Spain, have adjusted most of the claims of our citizens, for losses sustained in consequence of their vessels and cargoes having been taken by the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, during the war between France and Spain.

"Various circumstances have occurred to delay the execution of the law for augmenting the military establishment; among these the desire of obtaining the fullest information to direct the best selection of officers. As this object will now be speedily accomplished, it is expected that the raising and organizing of the troops will proceed without obstacle and with effect.

"Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

"I have directed an estimate of the appropriations, which will be necessary for the service of the ensuing year to be laid before you, accompanied with a view of the public receipts and expenditures to a recent perusal. It will afford you satisfaction, to infer the great extent and solidity of the public resources, from the prosperous state of the finance, notwithstanding the unexampled embarrassments which have attended commerce. When you reflect on the conspicuous examples of patriotism and liberality which have been exhibited by our mercantile fellow-citizens, and how great a proportion of the public resources depends on their enterprise, you will naturally consider, whether their convenience cannot be promoted and re

conciled with the security of the revenue, by a revision of the system, by which the collection is at present regulated.

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During your recess, measures have been steadily pursued for effecting the valuations and returns directed by the act of the last session, preliminary to the assessment and collection of a direct tax. No other delays or obstacles have been experienced, except such as were expected to arise from the great extent of our country, and the magnitude and novelty of the operation; and enough has been accomplished to assure a fulfilment of the views of the legislature.

"Genilemen of the Senate, and

"Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, "I cannot close this address without once more adverting to our political situation, and inculcating the essential importance of uniting in the maintenance of our dearest interests; and I trust, that by the temper and wisdom of your proceedings, and by a harmony of measures, we shall secure to our country that weight and respect to which it is so justly intitled."

This speech of Mr. Adams forms the fourth specimen of the political oratory which graced the Presidential chair during the anglo-federal administration. Among the many forms and usages which America has borrowed from her mother-country, that of a President's Speech, at the beginning of every session, appears to be one of the most unfor

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