mitted, if no unforeseen exigence occurs, to supersede, for the present, the necessity of any new burdens upon our constituents. An object which will claim your early attention, is a provision for the current service of the ensuing year, together with such ascertained demands upon the treasury, as require to be immediately discharged, and such casualties as may have arisen in the execution of the publick business, for which no specific appropriation may have yet been made; of all which, a proper estimate will be laid before you. Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives,— I shall content myself with a general reference to former communications for several objects, upon which the urgency of other affairs has hitherto postponed any definitive resolution. Their importance will recall them to your attention; and I trust that the progress already made in the most arduous arrangements of the government will afford you leisure to resume them with advantage. There are, however, some of them of which I cannot forbear a more particular mention; these are, the militiathe post office and post roads-the mint-weights and measures a provision for the sale of the vacant lands. of the United States. The first is certainly an object of primary importance, whether viewed in reference to the national security, to. the satisfaction of the community, or to the preservation of order. In connexion with this, the establishment of competent magazines and arsenals, and the fortification of such places as are peculiarly important and vulnerable naturally present themselves to consideration. The safety of the United States, under divine protection, ought to rest on the basis of systematic and solid arrangement; exposed as little as possible to the hazards of fortuitous cir cumstances. The importance of the post office and post roads, on a plan sufficiently liberal and comprehensive, as they respect the expedition, safety and facility of communication, is increased by the instrumentality in diffusing a knowledge of the laws and proceedings of the government; which, while it contributes to the security of the people, serves also to guard them against the effects of misrepresentation and misconception. The establishment of ad ditional cross posts, especially to some of the important points in the western and northern parts of the Union, cannot fail to be of material utility. The disorders in the existing currency, and especially the scarcity of small change, a scarcity so peculiarly dis tressing to the poorer classes, strongly recommend the carrying into immediate effect the resolution already entered into concerning the establishment of a mint.Measures have been taken pursuant to that resolution for procuring some of the most necessary artists, together with the requisite apparatus. An uniformity in the weights and measures of the country is among the important objects submitted to you by the constitution, and if it can be derived from a standard at once invariable and universal, must be no less honourable to the publick councils than conducive to the publick convenience. A provision for the sale of the vacant lands of the United States, is particularly urged, among other reasons, by the important considerations; that they are pledged as a fund for reimbursing the publick debt; that if timely and judiciously applied, they may save the necessity of burdening our citizens with new taxes for the extinguishment of the principal; and that being free to discharge the principal, but in a limited proportion, no opportunity ought to be lost for availing the publick of its right. GEORGE WASHINGTON. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO SPAIN, AND NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI. JAN. 11, 1792. [See Vol. x. p. 102.] MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS. MARCH 5, 1792. KNOWING the friendly interest you take in whatever may promote the happiness and prosperity of the French nation, it is with pleasure that I lay before you the translation of a letter which I have received from his most Christian Majesty, announcing to the United States of America, his acceptance of the constitution presented to him by his nation. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Translation of a Letter from the King of France, of Sept. 19, 1791. Very dear, great Friends and Allies, We make it our duty to inform you, that we have accepted the Constitution which has been presented to us in the name of the nation, and according to which France will be henceforth governed. We do not doubt that you take an interest in an event so important to our kingdom, and to us; and it is with real pleasure we take this occasion to renew to you assurances of the sincere friendship we bear you: Whereupon we pray God to have you, very dear, great friends and allies, in his just and holy keeping.-Written at Paris, the 19th of September, 1791. Your good Friend and Ally. To the United States of North America. LOUIS. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES RELATIVE TO NEGOTIATIONS AT MADRID. MARCH 7, 1792. [See Vol. x. p. 103.] MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS, APRIL 13, 1792. I HAVE thought it proper to lay before you a communication of the 11th instant, from the minister plenipotentiary of Great Britain, to the Secretary of State, relative to the commerce of the two countries; together with their explanatory correspondence, and the Secretary of State's letter to me on the subject. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Philadelphia, April 13, 1792. SIR,-I have the honour to lay before you a communication from Mr. Hammond, minister plenipotentiary of his Britannick Majesty, covering a clause of a statute of that country relative to its commerce with this; and notifying a determination to carry it into execution henceforward.Conceiving that the determination announced could not be really meant as extensively as the words import, I asked and received an explanation from the minister, as expressed in the letter and answer herein enclosed; and, on consideration of all circumstances, I cannot but confide in the opinion expressed by him, that its sole object is to exclude foreign vessels from the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. The want of proportion between the motives expressed and the measure, its magnitude and consequences, total silence as to the proclamation on which the intercourse between the two countries has hitherto hung, and of which, in this broad sense, it would be a revocation, and the recent manifestations of the disposition of that government, to concur with this in mutual offices of friendship and good will, support his construction. The minister moreover assured me verbally, that he would immediately write to his court for an explanation, and in the mean time is of opinion, that the usual intercourse of commerce between the two countries (Jersey and Guernsey excepted) need not be suspended. I have the honour to be, &c. THOMAS JEFFERSON. The President of the United States. Philadelphia, April 11, 1792. SIR, I have received by a circular despatch from my court, directions to inform this government, that, considerable inconveniences having arisen from the importation of tobacco in foreign vessels into the ports of his majesty's dominions, contrary to the act of the 12th Charles 2. chap. 18. Sect. 3. (commonly called the navigation act) it has been determined in future strictly to enforce this clause, of which I take the liberty of enclosing to you a copy; and I have the honour to be, with perfect esteem and respect, sir, your most obedient humble servant. GEORGE HAMMOND. Mr. Jefferson. 12 Charles 2. Chap. 18. Sect. 3. And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no goods or commodities whatsoever, of the growth, production, or manufacture of Africa, Asia, or America, or of any part thereof, which are described or laid down in the usual maps or charts of those places, be imported into England, Ireland, or Wales, islands of Guernsey and Jersey, or town of Berwick upon Tweed, in any other ship or ships, vessel or vessels, whatsoever, but in such as do truly and without fraud, belong only to the people of England or Ireland, dominion of Wales, or town of Berwick upon Tweed, or of the lands, islands, plantations or territories in Asia, Africa, or America, to his majesty belonging, as the proprietors and right owners thereof, and whereof the master and three-fourths at least of the mariners are English, under the penalty of the forfeiture of all such goods and commodities, and of the ship or vessel in which they were imported, with all her guns, tackle, furniture, ammunition and apparel, one moiety to his majesty, his heirs and successors, and the other moiety to him or them who shall seize, inform, or sue for the same, in any court of record, by bill, information, plaint or other action, wherein no essoine, protection, or wager of law shall be allowed. Philadelphia, April 12, 1792. SIR, I am this moment favoured with the letter you did me the honour of writing yesterday, covering the extract of a British statute forbidding the admission of foreign vessels into any ports of the British dominions, with goods or commodities of the growth, production, or manufacture of America. The effect of this appears to me so extensive, as to induce a doubt whether I understand rightly the determination to enforce it, which you notify, and to oblige me |