The following is the Letter alluded to in the 7th Article of the above Treaty:

Sir,

Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1793.

I am honoured with yours of Auguft 30. Mine of the 7th of that month affured you, that meafures were taken for excluding from all further afylum in our ports, veffels armed in them to cruife on nations with which we are at peace, and for the reftoration of the prizes, the Lovely Lafs, Prince William Henry, and the Jane, of Dublin; and that should the measures for reftitution fail in their effect, the prefident confidered it as incumbent on the United States to make compenfation for the veffels.

We are bound by our treaties with three of the belligerent nations, by all the means in our power to protect and defend their veffels and effects in our ports or waters, or on the feas near our fhores, and to recover and restore the fame to the right owners when taken from them. If all the means in our power are used, and fail in their effect, we are not bound by our treaties with thefe nations to make compenfation.

Though we have no fimilar treaty with Great Britain, it was the opinion of the prefident, that we fhould ufe toward that nation the fame rule, which, under this article, was to govern us with the other nations; and even to extend it to captures made on the high feas, and brought into our ports, if done by veffels which had been armed within them.

Having, for particular reafons, forborne to use all the means in our power for the reftitution of the three veffels mentioned in my letter of August 7, the president

thought it incumbent on the United States to make compenfation for them. And though nothing was faid in that letter of other veffels taken under like circumftances, and Drought in after the fifth of June, and before the date of that letter, yet when the fame forbearance had taken place, it was and is his opi nion, that compenfation would be equally due.

As to prizes made under the fame circumftances, and brought in after the date of the above letter, the prefident determined, that all the means in our power should be ufed for their reftitution. If these fail, as we fhould not be bound by our treaties to make compenfation to the other powers in the analogous cafe, he did not mean to give an opinion that it ought to be done to Great Britain. But ftill, if any cafe fhall arife fubfequent to that date, the circumftances of which fhall place them on fimilar ground with those before it, the president would think compenfation equally incumbent on the United States.

Inftructions are given to the governors of the different ftates, to ufe all the means in their power for reftoring prizes of this laft defcription, found within their ports. Though they will of course take measures to be informed of them, and the general government had given the aid of the custom-house officers for this purpofe, yet you will be fenfible of the importance of multiplying the channels of their information, as far as fhall depend on yourself, or any perfon under your direction, in order that the governors may ufe the means in their power for making reftitution.

Without knowledge of the capture they cannot restore it. It will always be beft to give the notice to

them directly; but any information which you fhall be pleased to fend to me at any time fhall be forwarded to them as quickly as distance will permit.

Hence you will perceive, fir, that the prefident contemplates reftitution or compenfation in the cafes before the 7th of Auguft; and after that date, reftitution if it can be effected by any means in our power. And that it will be important that you should fubftantiate the fact, that such prizes are in our ports or waters.

Your lift of the privateers illicit ly armed in our ports, is, I believe, .correct.

With refpect to loffes by detention, wafte, or fpoliation, fuftained by veffels taken as before mention ed, between the dates of June 5th and August 7th, it is propofed as a provifional measure, that the collector of the customs of the diftrict, and the British conful, or any other perfan you pleafe, fhall appoint perfons to eftablifh the value of the veffel and cargo, at the time of her capture, and of her arrival in the port, into which the is brought, according to their value in that port. If this fhall be agreeable to you, and you will be pleafed to fignify it to me, with the names of the prizes understood to be of this defcription, inftructions will be given accordingly to the collector of the cuftoms where the respective veffels are.

I have the honour, &c. (Signed) THOMAS JEFFERSON. George Hammond, efq.

The Speech of the Prefident of the United States of America to both Houfes of Congrefs, December 8, 1795.

Fellow citizens of the fenate, and

houfe of reprefentatives, I trust I do not deceive myself, while I indulge the perfuafion, that I have never met at any period, when, more than at the prefent, the fituation of our public affairs has afforded juft caufe of mutual congratulation, and for inviting you to join with me in profound gratitude to the Author of all good, for the numerous and extraordinary blessings we enjoy.

The termination of the long, expenfive, and diftrefling war in which we have been engaged with certain Indians north-weft of the Ohio, is placed in the option of the United States, by a treaty which the commander of our army has concluded, provifionally, with the hoftile tribes in that region.

In the adjustment of the terms, the fatisfaction of the Indians was deemed an object worthy no lefs of the policy than of the liberality of the United States, as the neceffary bafis of durable tranquillity. This object has been fully attained. The articles agreed upon will immediately be laid before the fenate, for their confideration.

The Creek and Cherokee Indians, who alone of the fouthern tribes had annoyed our frontiers, have lately confirmed their preexifting treaties with us, and were giving evidence of a fincere difpofition to carry them into effect, by the furrender of the prifoners and property they had taken: but we have to lament that the fair profpect in this quarter has been once more clouded by wanton murders, which fome citizens of Georgia are reprefented to have recently perpetrated on hunting parties of the Creeks; which have again fubjected that frontier to difquietude and danger, which will be productive of fur

ther

ther expence, and may occafion further effufion of blood. Meafures are purfing to prevent or mitigate the ufual confequences of fuch outrages; and with the hope of their fucceeding, at least to avert a general hoftility.

pe

A letter from the emperor of Morocco announces to me his recognition of our treaty made with his father the late emperor; and confequently the continuance of peace with that power. With culiar fatisfaction I add, that information has been received from an agent deputed on our part to Algiers, importing, that the terms of the treaty with the dey and regency of that country had been adjusted in fuch a manner, as to authorize the expectation of a speedy peace, and the restoration of our unfortunate fellow citizens from a grievous captivity.

The latest advices from our envoy at the court of Madrid give, moreover, the pleafing information, that he had received affurances of a speedy and fatisfactory conclufion of his negotiation. While the event, depending upon unadjusted particulars, cannot be regarded as afcertained, it is agreeable to cherish the expectation of an iffue, which, fecuring amicably the very effential interefts of the United States, will, at the fame time, lay the foundation of lafting harmony with a power, whofe friend hip we have uniformly and fincerely defired to cultivate."

Though not before officially difclosed to the house of reprefentatives, you, gentlemen, are apprized, that a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, has been negotiated with Great Britain; and that the fenate have advised and confented to its ratification, upon a condition which excepts part of 1795.

one article. Agreeably thereto, and to the best judgment I was able to form of the public intereft, after full and mature deliberation, I have added my fanction. The refuit on the part of his Britannic majefty is unknown. When received, the fubject will, without delay, be placed before congrefs.

This interefting fummary of our affairs with regard to the foreign powers, between whom and the United States controverfies have fubfifted, and with regard alfo to thofe of our Indian neighbours with whom we have been in a state of enmity and misunderstanding, opens a wide field for confoling and gratifying reflections. If, by prudence and moderation on every fide, the extinguifhment of all the caufes of external difcord, which have heretofore menaced our tranquillity, on terms compatible with our national rights and honour, fhall be the happy refult, how firm and how precious a foundation will have been laid for accelerating, maturing, and establishing the profperity of our country?

Contemplating the internal fituation, as well as the external relations, of the United States, we difcover equal caufe for contentment and fatisfaction. While many of the nations of Europe, with their American dependencies, have been involved in a conteft unufually bloody, exhaufting, and calamitous; in which the evils of foreign war have been aggravated by domeftic convulfions and infurrection; in which many of the arts moft ufeful to fociety have been expofed to difcouragement and de cay; in which fcarcity of subsistence has embittered other fuferings; while even the anticipations of a return of the bleflings of peace and repofe are alloyed by the fenfe (M)

of

of heavy and accumulating burdens, which prefs upon all the departments of industry, and threaten to clog the future fprings of government; our favoured country, happy in a ftriking contraft, has enjoyed general tranquillity-the more fatisfactory, becaufe maintained at the expence of no duty. Faithful to ourselves, we have vio-, lated no obligation to others. Our agriculture, commerce, and manufactures profper beyond former example; the moleftations of our trade (to prevent a continuance of which, however, very pointed remonftrances have been made) being over-balanced by the aggregate benefits which it derives from a neutral pofition. Our population advances with a celerity which, exceeding the most fanguine expectations, proportionally augments our ftrength and refources, and guarantees our future fecurity. Every part of the union difplays indications of rapid and various improvement, and with burdens fo light as fcarcely to be perceived; with refources fully adequate to our prefent exigencies; with governments founded on the genuine principles of rational liberty, and with mild and wholefome laws; is it too much to fay, that our country exhibits a fpectacle of national happiness never furpaffed, if ever before equal led?

Placed in a fituation every way fo aufpicious, motives of commanding force impel us, with fincere acknowledgment to heaven, and pure love to our country, to unite our efforts to preferve, prolong, and improve our immenfe advantages. To co-operate with you in this defirable work, is a fervent and favourite with of my heart.

It is a valuable ingredient in the general eftimate of our welfare, that

the part of our country, which was lately the fcene of diforder and infurrection, now enjoys the bleffings of quiet and order. The misled have abandoned their errors, and pay the refpect to our conftitution and laws, which is due from good citizens to the public authorities of the fociety.-Thefe circumstances have induced me to pardon, generally, the offenders here referred to; and to extend forgiveness to those who have been adjudged to capital punishment.- For, although I fhall always think it a facred duty, to exercife with firmnefs and energy the conftitutional powers with which I am vefted; yet it appeared to me no lefs confiftent with the public good, than it is with my perfonal feelings, to mingle in the operations of government every degree of moderation and tendernefs, which the national justice, dignity, and fafety may permit.

Gentlemen,

Among the objects which will claim your attention in the course of the fefiion, a review of our military eftablifhment is not the leaft important. It is called for by the events which have changed, and may be expected ftill further to change, the relative fituation of our frontiers. In this review, you will doubtlefs allow due weight to the confiderations, that the queftions between us and certain foreign powers, are not yet finally adjusted; that the war in Europe is not yet terminated; and that our western pofts, when recovered, will demand provifion for garrifoning and fecuring them. Aftatement of our prefent military force will be laid before you by the department of

ed that of the militia. It will merit enquiry, what imperfections in the existing plan, further experience may have unfolded. The fubject is of fo much moment, in my estimation, as to excite a conftant folicitude, that the confideration of it may be renewed until the greatest attainable perfection fhall be accomplished. Time is wearing away fome advantages for forwarding the object, while none better deferves the perfevering attention of the public councils.

While we indulge the fatisfaction, which the actual condition of our western borders fo well authorizes; it is neceffary that we should not lefe fight of an important truth, which continually receives new confirmations; namely, that the provifions heretofore made with a view to the protection of the Indians from the violence of the lawlefs part of the frontier inhabitants are infufficient. It is demonftrated, that these violences can now be perpetrated with impunity. And it can need no argument to prove, that unlefs the murdering of Indians can be restrained, by bringing the murderers to condign punith ment, all the exertions of the government to prevent deftructive retaliations by the Indians, will prove Fruitless, and all our prefent agree able profpects illufory. The frequent deftruction of innocent women and children, who are chiefly the victims of retaliation, must continue to fhock humanity; and an enormous expence to drain the trea fury of the union.

To enforce upon the Indians the obfervance of juftice, it is indifpenfable that there fhall be competent means of rendering juftice to them. If these means can be devifed by the wifdom of congrefs, and especially if there can be added

an adequate provision for supplying the neceflities of the Indians, on reasonable terms, (a measure, the mention of which I the more readily repeat, as in all the conferences with them, they urge it with folicitude,) I should not hesitate to entertain a ftrong hope of render. ing our tranquillity permanent. I add, with pleasure, that the probability even of their civilization is not diminished by the experiments which have been thus far made under the aufpices of government. The accomplishment of this work, if practicable, will reflect undecaying luftre on our national character, and adminifter the most grateful confolations that virtuous minds can know.

Gentlemen of the houfe of representatives,

The ftate of our revenue, with the fums that have been borrowed and reimburfed, purfuant to the different acts of congrefs, will be fubmitted from the proper departments; together with an eftimate of the appropriations neceflary to be made for the service of the enfuing year.

Whether measures may not be advisable to reinforce the provision for the redemption of the public debt, will naturally engage your examination.-Congrefs have demonstrated their fenfe to be, and it were fuperfluous to repeat mine, that whatfoever will tend to accelerate the honourable extinction of our public debt, accords as much with the true interefts of our country, as with the general fenfe of our conftituents.

Gentlemen of the fenate, and

houfe of reprefentatives, The statement which will be laid before you, relative to the mint, (M2)

will