The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
 |
MESSAGE TO THE SPECIAL SESSION OF CONGRESS. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
MESSAGE TO THE SPECIAL SESSION OF CONGRESS.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:
On this first occasion of meeting you it affords me much
satisfaction to be able to communicate the commencement
state of which induced a session of Congress at this early
period.
In consequence of the provisions of the act interdicting
commercial intercourse with Great Britain and France, our
ministers at London and Paris were without delay instructed
to let it be understood by the French and British Governments
that the authority vested in the Executive to renew
commercial intercourse with their respective nations would be
exercised in the case specified by that act.
Soon after these instructions were dispatched it was found
that the British Government, anticipating from early proceedings
of Congress at their last session the state of our
laws, which has had the effect of placing the two belligerent
powers on a footing of equal restrictions, and relying on the
conciliatory disposition of the United States, had transmitted
to their legation here provisional instructions not only to
offer satisfaction for the attack on the frigate Chesapeake,
and to make known the determination of His Britannic Majesty
to send an envoy extraordinary with powers to conclude
a treaty on all the points between the two countries, but,
moreover, to signify his willingness in the meantime to withdraw
his orders in council, in the persuasion that the intercourse
with Great Britain would be renewed on the part of
the United States.
These steps of the British Government led to the correspondence
and the proclamation now laid before you, by
virtue of which the commerce between the two countries will
be renewable after the 10th day of June next.
Whilst I take pleasure in doing justice to the councils of His
Britannic Majesty, which, no longer adhering to the policy
which made an abandonment by France of her decrees a
prerequisite to a revocation of the British orders, have substituted
the amicable course which has issued thus happily,
I can not do less than refer to the proposal heretofore made
on the part of the United States, embracing a like restoration
which has at no time been intermitted, and to the
result which now calls for our congratulations, as corroborating
the principles by which the public councils have been guided
during a period of the most trying embarrassments.
The discontinuance of the British orders as they respect the
United States having been thus arranged, a communication
of the event has been forwarded in one of our public vessels
to our minister plenipotentiary at Paris, with instructions
to avail himself of the important addition thereby made to the
considerations which press on the justice of the French Government
a revocation of its decrees or such a modification
of them as that they shall cease to violate the neutral commerce
of the United States.
The revision of our commercial laws proper to adapt them
to the arrangement which has taken place with Great Britain
will doubtless engage the early attention of Congress. It will
be worthy at the same time of their just and provident care
to make such further alterations in the laws as will more
especially protect and foster the several branches of manufacture
which have been recently instituted or extended by
the laudable exertions of our citizens.
Under the existing aspect of our affairs I have thought it
not inconsistent with a just precaution to have the gunboats,
with the exception of those at New Orleans, placed in a
situation incurring no expense beyond that requisite for their
preservation and conveniency for future service, and to have
the crews of those at New Orleans reduced to the number
required for their navigation and safety.
I have thought also that our citizens detached in quotas
of militia amounting to 100,000 under the act of March,
1808, might not improperly be relieved from the state in
which they were held for immediate service. A discharge
of them has been accordingly directed.
The progress made in raising and organizing the additional
military force, for which provision was made by the act of
appear by a report which the Secretary of War is preparing,
and which will be laid before you.
Of the additional frigates required by an act of the last
session to be fitted for actual service, two are in readiness,
one nearly so, and the fourth is expected to be ready in
the month of July. A report which the Secretary of the
Navy is preparing on the subject, to be laid before Congress,
will shew at the same time the progress made in officering
and manning these ships. It will shew also the degree in
which the provisions of the act relating to the other public
armed ships have been carried into execution.
It will rest with the judgment of Congress to decide how
far the change in our external prospects may authorize any
modifications of the laws relating to the army and navy
establishments.
The works of defence for our seaport towns and harbors have
proceeded with as much activity as the season of the year
and other circumstances would admit. It is necessary,
however, to state that, the appropriations hitherto made
being found to be deficient, a further provision will claim
the early consideration of Congress.
The whole of the 8 per cent stock remaining due by the
United States, amounting to $5,300,000, had been reimbursed
on the last day of the year 1808; and on the 1st day
of April last the sum in the Treasury exceeded $9,500,000.
This, together with the receipts of the current year on account
of former revenue bonds, will probably be nearly if not
altogether sufficient to defray the expenses of the year.
But the suspension of exports and the consequent decrease
of importations during the last twelve months will necessarily
cause a great diminution in the receipts of the year 1810.
After that year, should our foreign relations be undisturbed,
the revenue will again be more than commensurate to all the
expenditures.
Aware of the inconveniences of a protracted session at the
of the Legislature to any matters not particularly urgent. It
remains, therefore, only to assure you of the fidelity and
alacrity with which I shall cooperate for the welfare and
happiness of our country, and to pray that it may experience
a continuance of the divine blessings by which it has been
so signally favored.
May 23, 1809.
| The writings of James Madison, | |