posals at the same time, omitting even a reference to the officer answerable for the murderous aggression, and asserting a claim not less contrary to the British laws, and British practice, than to the principles and obligations of the United States.

The correspondence between the Department of State and this minister will show, how unessentially the features presented in its commencement have been varied in its progress. It will show also, that forgetting the respect due to all governments, he did not refrain from imputations on this, which required that no further communications should be received from him. The necessity of this step will be made known to his Britannic majesty through the minister plenipotentiary of the United States in London. And it would indicate a want of the confidence due to a government which so well understands and exacts what becomes foreign ministers near it, not to infer that the misconduct of its own representative will be viewed in the same light, in which it has been regarded here. The British government will learn, at the same time, that a ready attention will be given to communications through any channel which may be substituted. It will be happy, if the change in this respect should. be accompanied by a favorable revision of the unfriendly policy, which has been so long pursued towards the United States.

With France, the other belligerent, whose trespasses on our commercial rights have long been the subject of our just remonstrances, the posture of our relations does not correspond with the measures taken on the part of the United States, to effect a favorable change. The result of the several communications made to her government, in pursuance of the authorities vested by Congress in the Executive, is contained in the correspondence of our minister at Paris, now laid before you.

By some of the other belligerents, although professing just and amicable dispositions, injuries mate

rially affecting our commerce, have not been duly controlled or repressed. In these cases, the interpositions deemed proper on our part have not been omitted. But it well deserves the consideration of the legislature, how far both the safety and the honor of the American flag may be consulted by adequate provisions against that collusive prostitution of it, by individuals unworthy of the American name, which has so much favoured the real or pretended suspicions, under which the honest commerce of their fellow-citizens has suffered.

In relation to the powers on the coast of Barbary, nothing has occurred which is not of a nature rather to inspire confidence than distrust, as to the continuance of the existing amity. With our Indian neighbours, the just and benevolent system, continued to wards them, has also preserved peace, and is more and more advancing habits favorable to their civilization and happiness.

From a statement which will be made by the se. cretary of war, it will be seen that the fortifications on our maritime frontier are in many of the ports com. pleted; affording the defence which was contemplated, and that a further time will be required to render complete the works in the harbor of New York, and in some other places. By the enlargement of the works, and the employment of a greater number of hands at the public armories, the supply of small arms, of an improving quality, appears to be annually increasing, at a rate, that with those made on private contract, may be expected to go far towards providing for the public exigency.

The act of Congress providing for the equipment of our vessels of war, having been fully carried into execution, I refer to the statement of the Secretary of the Navy for the information which may be proper on that subject. To that statement is added a view of the transfers of appropriations, authorized by the act

of the session preceding the last, and of the grounds on which the transfers were made.

Whatever may be the course of your deliberations on the subject of our military establishments, I should fail in my duty in not recommending to your serious attention, the importance of giving to our militia, the great bulwark of our security, and resource of our power, an organization the best adapted to eventual situations for which the United States ought to be prepared.

The sums which had been previously accumulated in the treasury, together with the receipts during the year ending on the thirtieth of September last, (and amounting to more than nine millions of dollars) have enabled us to fulfil all our engagements, and to defray the current expenses of government without recurring to any loan. But the insecurity of our commerce, and the consequent diminution of the public revenue, will probably produce a deficiency in the receipts of the ensuing year, for which, and for other details, I refer to the statements which will be transmitted from the treasury.

In the state which has been presented, of our affairs with the great parties to a disastrous and protracted war, carried on in a mode equally injurious and unjust to the United States, as a neutral nation, the wisdom of the national legislature will be again summoned to the important decision of the alternatives before them. That these will be met in a spirit, worthy the councils of a nation, conscious both of its rectitude and of its rights, and careful as well of its honor, as of its peace, I have an entire confidence. And that the result will be stamped by a unanimity becoming the occasion, and be supported by every portion of our citizens with a patriotism enlightened and invigo rated by experience, ought as little to be doubted.

In the midst of the wrongs and vexations experienced from external causes, there is much room for congratulation on the prosperity and happiness flow

ing from our situation at home. The blessing of health has never been more universal. The fruits of the seasons, though in particular articles and districts short of their usual redundancy, are more than sufficient for our wants and our comforts. The face of our country every where presents the evidence of laudable enterprise, of extensive capital, and of durable improvement. In a cultivation of the materials, and the extension of useful manufactures, more especially, in the general application to household fabrics, we behold a rapid diminution of our dependence on foreign supplies. Nor is it unworthy of reflection, that this revolution in our pursuits and habits is in no slight degree a consequence of those impolitic and arbitrary edicts by which the contending nations, in endeavoring each of them to obstruct our trade with the other, have so far abridged our means of procuring the productions and manufactures, of which our own are now taking the place.

Recollecting always, that for every advantage which may contribute to distinguish our lot, from that to which others are doomed by the unhappy spirit of the times, we are indebted to that Divine Providence whose goodness has been so remarkably extended to this rising nation, it becomes us to cherish a devout gratitude, and to implore from the same omnipotent source a blessing on the consultations and measures about to be undertaken for the welfare of our beloved country."

"JAMES MADISON."

"November 29, 1809."

On motion of Mr. Newton, and seconded, Ordered, That the said message, together with the documents accom; anying the same, be committed to a committee of the whole House on the state of the Union, and that five thousand copies thereof be printed for the use of the members.

And then the House adjourned until to-morrow morning, eleven o'clock.

THURSDAY, November 30, 1809.

Several other members, to wit: from New Hampshire, William Hale; from Massachusetts, Gideon Gardner and Ezekiel Whitman; and from New York, Vincent Matthews, appeared, and took their seats in the House.

On motion of Mr. Dawson,

Ordered, That the memorial of the merchants and other inhabitants of Falmouth and Fredericksburgh, in the state of Virginia, presented on the twenty-sixth of December, one thousand eight hundred and six, be referred to the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Wheaton presented a petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Dighton, in the state of Massachusetts, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying that the post route contemplated to be established between Boston and Taunton, may pass through the said town of Dighton.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on Post offices and Post roads.

Mr. Root presented a petition of David Goff, of Ulster county, in the state of New-York, praying compensation for extraordinary services performed whilst a serjeant in the revolutionary army.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee of Claims.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their Se

cretary.

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have resolved that two chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress for the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly: And then he withdrew.

The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Macon