and West Florida, fiould meet at the Natches, before the expiration of fix months after the exchange of the ratifications, which was effected at Aranjuez, on the 25th of April; and the troops of his catholic majefty, occupying any pofts with in the limits of the United States, were within the fame period to be withdrawn. The commiffioner of the United States, therefore, commenced his journey from the Natches in September, and troops were ordered to occupy the pofts from which the Spanish garrisons fhould be withdrawn. Information has been recently received of the appointment of a commiffioner on the part of his catholic majefty for running the boundary line, but none of any appointment for the adjustment of the claims of our citizens, whofe veffels were captured by the armed veffels of Spain. In purfuance of the act of congrefs, paffed in the laft feffion, for the protection and relief of American feamen, agents were appointed, one to refide in Great Britain, and the other in the West Indies. The effects of the agency in the Weft Indies are not yet fully afcertained; but those which have been communicated afford grounds to believe the measure will be beneficial. The agent deftined to refide in Great Britain declining to accept the appointment, the bufinefs has confequently devolved on the minister of the United States in London; and will command his attention, until a new agent fhall be appointed. After many delays and difappointments, arifing out of the European war, the final arrangements for fulfilling the engagements made to the dey and regency of Algiers will, in all prefent appearance, be crowned with fuccefs; but under great, though inevitable difadvantages, in the pecuniary transactions, occafioned by that war; which will render a further provifion neceffary. The actual liberation of all our citizens who were prifoners in Algiers, while it gratifies every feeling heart, is itfelf an earneft of a fatisfactory termination of the whole negotiation. Meafures are in operation for effecting treaties with the regenciesof Tunis and Tripoli. To an active external commerce the protection of a naval force is indifpenfable. This is manifeft. with regard to wars in which a ftate is itself a party; but befides this, it is our own experience, that the moft fincere neutrality is not a fufficient guard against the depredations of nations at war. To fecure respect to a neutral flag, requires a naval force, organized, and ready to vindicate it from infult or aggreffion. This may even prevent the neceffity of going to war, by difcouraging belligerent powers from committing fuch violations of the rights of the neutral party as may, firft or laft, have no other option. From the beft informa tion I have been able to obtain, it would feem as if our trade to the Mediterranean, without a protecting force, will always be infecure, and our citizens expofed to the calami ties from which numbers of them have but just been relieved. Thefe confiderations invite the United States to look to the means, and to fet about the gradual creation of a navy. The increafing progrefs of their navigation promifes them, at no diftant period, the requifite fupply of feamen; and their means, in other refpects, favour the undertaking. It is an encouragement, likewife, that their particular fitua (N 2) fior tion will give weight and influence to a moderate naval force in their hands. Will it not then be advifable to begin, without delay, to provide and lay up the materials for the building and equipping of fhips of war; and to proceed in the work by degrees, in proportion as our refources fhall render it practicable, without inconvenience; fo that a future war of Europe may not find our commerce in the fame unprotected ftate in which it was found by the prefent? Congrefs have repeatedly, and not without fuccefs, directed their attention to the encouragement of manufactures. The object is of too much confequence not to enfure a continuation of their efforts, in every way which will appear eligile. As a general rule, manufactures on a public account are inexpedient; but where the ftate of things in a country leaves little hope that certain branches of manufacture will, for a great length of time, obtain; when thefe are of a nature effential to the furnishing and equipping of the public force in the time of war, are not eftablishments for procuring them on the public account, to the extent of the ordinary demand for the public fervice, recommended by ftrong confiderations of national policy, as an exception to the general rule? Ought our country to remain in fuch cafes dependent on foreign fupply, precarious, because liable to be interrupted? If the neceffary articles fhould in this mode coft more in time of peace, will not the fecurity and independence thence arifing form an ample compenfa tion Eftablishments of this fort, commenfurate only with the calls of the public fervice in the time of peace, will, in time of war, easily be extended in proportion to the exigencies of the government, and even perhaps be made to yield a furplus, for the supply of our citizens at large; fo as to mitigate the privateers from the interruption of their trade. If adopted, the plan ought to exclude all thofe branches, which are already, or likely foon to be established in the country, in order that there may be no danger of interference with purfuits of individual industry. It will not be doubted that, with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in popula tion, and other circumftances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultiva tion of the foil more and more an object of public patronage. Inftitutions for promoting it grow up, fupported by the public purfe and to what object can it be dedicated with greater propriety? Among the means which have been employed to this end, none have been attended with greater fuccefs than the establishment of boards, compofed of proper characters, charged with collecting and diffufing infor mation, and enabled by premiums, and fmall pecuniary aids, to encourage and affift a spirit of difcovery and improvement. I have heretofore propofed to the confideration of congrefs the expediency of establishing a national univerfity, and alfo a military academy. The defirablenefs of both thefe inftitutions has fo conftantly increafed with every new view I have taken of the fubject, that I cannot omit the opportunity of once for all recalling your at tention to them. The affembly to which I addrefs my felf is too enlightened not to be fully 8 fully fenfible how much a flourish-merce by its authority, and which are, in other refpects, far from agreeable. ing ftate of the arts and fciences contributes to national profperity and reputation. True it is that our country, much to its honour, contains feminaries of learning, highly refpectable and ufeful; but the funds upon which they reft, are too narrow to command the ablest professors in the different departments of liberal knowledge, for the inftitution contemplated, though they would be excellent . auxiliaries. Among the motives to fuch an inftitution, the affimilation of the principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen, by the common education of a portion of our youth from every quarter, well deferves attention. The more homogeneous our citizens can be made in thefe particulars, the greater will be our profpect of permanent union; and a primary object of fuch a national inftitution fhould be the education of our youth in The fcience of government. In a republic, what fpecies of knowledge can be equally important; and what duty more preffing on its legiflature than to patronize a plan for communicating it to thofe who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country While, in our external relations, fome ferious inconveniences and embarrassments have been overcome, and others leffened, it is with much pain and deep regret I mention, that circumftances of a very unwelcome nature have lately occurred. Our trade has fuffered, and is fuffering, extenfive injuries in the West Indies, from the cruifers and agents of the French republic; and communications have been received from its minifter here, which indicate the danger of a further disturbance of our com It has been my conftant, fincere, and earnest with, in conformity with that of our nation, to maintain cordial harmony and a perfectly friendly understanding with that republic. This with remains unabated; and I fhall perfevere in the endeavour to fulfil it, to the utmoft extent of what fhall be confiftent with a juft and indifpenfable regard to the rights and honour of our country; nor will I easily cease to cherish the expectation, that a fpirit of justice, candour, and friendship, on the part of the republic, will eventually enfure fuccefs. In pursuing this courfe, however, I cannot forget what is due to the character of our government and nation; or to a full and entire confidence in the good fenfe, patriotifm, felf-refpect, and fortitude of my countrymen. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Addrefs of the Senate, prefented by 12. We thank you, fir, for your faithful and detailed expofure of the exifting fituation of our country; and we fincerely join in fentiments of gratitude to an overruling Providence for the diftinguified fhare of public profperity and private happiness, which the people of the United States fo peculiarly enjoy. We obferve with pleasure, that the delivery of the military pofts lately occupied by the Britif forces within the territory of the United (N 3) States, States, was made with cordiality and promptitude, as foon as circumftances would admit ; and that the other provisions of our objects of eventual arrangement are now about being carried into effect with entire harmony and good faith. We perfectly coincide with you in opinion, that the importance of our commerce demands a naval force for its protection against fo. reign infult and depredation; and our folicitude to attain that object will be always proportionate to its magnitude. The neceffity of accelerating the eftablishment of certain useful manufactures by the intervention of legislative aid and protection, and the encouragement due to agriculture by the creation of boards (compofed of intelligent individuals) to patronize this primary purfuit of fociety, are fubjects which will readily engage our most serious attention. A national univerfity may be converted to the most useful purpofes. The fcience of legislation being fo effentially dependent on the endowments of the mind, the public intereft muft receive effectual aid from the general diffufion of knowledge; and the United States will affume a more dignified ftation among the nations of the earth, by the fuccessful cultivation of the highest branches of li terature. We fincerely lament, that while the conduct of the United States has been uniformly impreffed with the character of equity, moderation, and love of peace, in the maintenance of all their foreign relationships, our trade should be fo harailed by the cruifers and agents of the republic of France, through out the extenfive departments of the Weft Indies. We cordially acquiefce in the reflection that the United States, under the operation of the federal government, have experienced a moft rapid aggrandizement and profperity, as well political as commercial. While contemplating the caufes that produce this aufpicious refult, we must acknowledge the excellence of the conftitutional fvftem, and the wisdom of the legislative provifions: but we fhould be deficient in gratitude and juftice, did we not attribute a great portion of these advantages to the virtue, firmness, and talents of your adminiftration, which have been con fpicuously displayed in the moft trying times, and on the moft critical occafions. It is, therefore, with the fincereft regret, "that we now receive an official notification of your intentions to retire from the public employments of your country. When we review the various fcenes of your public life, fo long and fo fuccefsfully devoted to the most arduous fervices, civil and military, as well during the ftruggles of the American revolution, as the convulfive periods of a recent date, we cannot look forward to your retirement without our warmest affections and moft anxious regards accompanying you, and without mingling with our fellow-citizens at large the fincereft withes for your perfonal happiness that fenfibility and attachment can exprefs. The most effectual confolation that can offer for the lofs we are about to fuftain, arifes from the animating reflection, that the influence of your example will ex rend tend to your fucceffors, and the United States thus continue to enjoy an able, upright, and energetic adminiftration. JOHN ADAMS, vice prefident of the United States, and prefi, dent of the senate. The Prefident's Reply. It affords me great fatisfaction to find in your addrefs a concurrence in fentiment with me on the various topics which I prefented for your information and deliberation; and that the latter will receive from you an attention proportioned to their refpective importance. For the notice you take of my public fervices, civil and military, and your kind wifhes for my perfonal happiness, I beg you to accept my cordial thanks. Those fervices, and greater, had I poffeff ed ability to render them, were due to the unanimous calls of my couhtry; and its approbation is my abundant reward. When contemplating the period of my retirement, I faw virtuous and enlightened men, among whom I refted on the difcernment and patriotifm of my fellow-citizens to make the proper choice of a fucceffor; men who would require no influential example to enfure to the United States an able, upright, and energetic adminiftration." To fuch men I fhall cheerfully yield the palm of genius and talents, to ferve our common country; but at the fame time I hope I may be indulged in expreffing the confoling reflection (which confcioufnefs fuggefts), and to bear it with me to the grave, that none can ferve it with purer intentions than I have done, or with a more difinterested zeal. GEORGE WASHINGTON. |