The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:
At the period of our last meeting I had the satisfaction
of communicating an adjustment with one of the principal
belligerent nations, highly important in itself, and still more
so as presaging a more extended accommodation. It is
with deep concern I am now to inform you that the favorable
prospect has been overclouded by a refusal of the British
Government to abide by the act of its minister plenipotentiary,
and by its ensuing policy toward the United States as seen
through the communications of the minister sent to replace
him.
Whatever pleas may be urged for a disavowal of engagements
formed by diplomatic functionaries in cases where by
the terms of the engagements a mutual ratification is reserved,
or where notice at the time may have been given of a departure
from instructions, or in extraordinary cases essentially
violating the principles of equity, a disavowal could not have
been apprehended in a case where no such notice or violation
existed, where no such ratification was reserved, and more
especially where, as is now in proof, an engagement to be
executed without any such ratification was contemplated
been carried into immediate execution on the part of the
United States.
These considerations not having restrained the British
Government from disavowing the arrangement by virtue of
which its orders in council were to be revoked, and the event
authorizing the renewal of commercial intercourse having
thus not taken place, it necessarily became a question of equal
urgency and importance whether the act prohibiting that
intercourse was not to be considered as remaining in legal
force. This question being, after due deliberation, determined
in the affirmative, a proclamation to that effect was
issued. It could not but happen, however, that a return
to this state of things from that which had followed an execution
of the arrangement by the United States would involve
difficulties. With a view to diminish these as much as possible,
the instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury now laid
before you were transmitted to the collectors of the several
ports. If in permitting British vessels to depart without
giving bonds not to proceed to their own ports it should appear
that the tenor of legal authority has not been strictly pursued,
it is to be ascribed to the anxious desire which was felt that
no individuals should be injured by so unforesen an occurrence;
and I rely on the regard of Congress for the equitable interests
of our own citizens to adopt whatever further provisions
may be found requisite for a general remission of penalties
involuntarily incurred.
The recall of the disavowed minister having been followed
by the appointment of a successor, hopes were indulged that
the new mission would contribute to alleviate the disappointment
which had been produced, and to remove the
causes which had so long embarrassed the good understanding
of the two nations. It could not be doubted that it would
at least be charged with conciliatory explanations of the step
which had been taken and with proposals to be substituted
for the rejected arrangement. Reasonable and universal
the first official disclosures of the new minister it was found
that he had received no authority to enter into explanations
relative to either branch of the arrangement disavowed nor
any authority to substitute proposals as to that branch which
concerned the British orders in council, and, finally, that
his proposals with respect to the other branch, the attack
on the frigate Chesapeake, were founded on a presumption
repeatedly declared to be inadmissible by the United States,
that the first step toward adjustment was due from them,
the proposals 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 toward 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
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 materially 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 favored 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 neighbors, the just and benevolent
system continued toward 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 Secretary
of War it will be seen that the fortifications on our maritime
frontier are in many of the ports completed, affording the
defense 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 toward providing for the public exigency.
The act of Congress providing for the equipment of our
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 30th of September last (and amounting to more than
$9,000,000), have enabled us to fulfill 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 on 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 invigorated 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 flowing 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
everywhere 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.
| The writings of James Madison, | |