value which they have invariably attached to the friendship of the Emperor, and their solicitude to cultivate the best understanding with his Government. In the discussions to which this interest has given rise, and in the arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European

Powers.

Since the close of the last session of Congress, the commissioners and arbitrators for ascertaining and determining the amount of indemnification which may be due to citizens of the United States under the decision of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia, in conformity to the convention coneluded at St. Petersburgh on the 12th of July, 1822, have assembled in this city, and organized themselves as a board for the performance of the duties assigned to them by that treaty. The commission constituted under the eleventh article of the treaty of the 22nd of February, 1819, between the United States and Spain, is also in session here; and as the term of three years, limited by the treaty for the execution of the trust, will expire before the period of the next regular meeting of Congress, the attention of the legislature will be drawn to the measures which may be necessary to accomplish the object for which the commission was instituted.

In compliance with a resolution of the House of representatives,

adopted at their last session, instructions have been given to all the ministers of the United States accredited to the powers of Europe and America, to propose the proscription of the African slave trade, by classing it under the denomination, and inflicting on its perpetrators the punishment, of piracy. Should this proposal be acceded to, it is not doubted that this odious and criminal practice will be promptly and entirely suppressed. It is earnestly hoped that it will be acceded to, from a firm belief that it is the most effectual expedient that can be adopted for the purpose.

At the commencement of the recent war between France and Spain, it was declared by the French government that it would grant no commissions to privateers, and that neither the commerce of Spain herself, nor of neutral nations, should be molested by the naval force of France, except in the breach of a lawful blockade. This declaration, which appears to have been faithfully carried into effect, concurring with principles proclaimed and cherished by the United States, from the first establishment of their independence, suggested the hope that the time had arrived when the proposal for adopting it as a permanent and invariable rule in all future maritime wars might meet the favourable consideration of the great European powers. Instructions have accordingly been given to our ministers with France, Russia, and Great Britain, to make those proposals to their respective governments; and when the friends of humanity reflect on the essential amelioration to the condition of the human race which would result from the abolition of private war on the sea,

and on the

great facility by which it might be accomplished, requiring only the consent of a few sovereigns, an earnest hope is indulged that these overtures will meet with an attention, animated by the spirit in which they were made, and that they will ultimately be successful. The ministers who were appointed to the republics of Columbia and Buenos-Ayres, during the last session of congress, proceeded, shortly afterwards, to their destinations. Of their arrival there, official intelligence has not yet been received. The minister appointed to the Republic of Chili will sail in a few days. An early appointment will also be made to Mexico. A minister has been received from Columbia, and the other Governments have been informed that ministers, or diplomatic agents of inferior grade, would be received from each, according as they might prefer the one or the other.

The minister appointed to Spain proceeded, soon after his appointment, to Cadiz, the residence of the Sovereign to whom he was accredited. In approaching that port, the frigate which conveyed him was warned off by the Commander of the French squadron, by which it was blockaded, and not permitted to enter, although apprised by the captain of the frigate of the public character of the person whom he had on board, the landing of whom was the sole object of his proposed entry. This act, being considered an infringement of the rights of ambassadors and of nations, will form a just cause of complaint to the government of France, against the officer by whom it was committed.

The actual condition of the public finances more than realizes the

favourable anticipations that were entertained of it at the opening of the last session of Congress. On the 1st of January, there was a balance in the Treasury of 4,287,427 dollars and 55 cents. From that time to the 30th of September the receipts amounted to upwards of 16,100,000 dollars, and the expenditures to 11,400,000 dollars. During the fourth quarter of the year, it is estimated that the receipts will, at least, equal the expenditures; and that there will remain in the Treasury, on the 1st day of January next, a surplus of nearly 9,000,000 of dollars.

On the 1st of January, 1825, a large amount of the war debt, and a part of the revolutionary debt, become redeemable. Additional portions of the former will continue to become redeemable annu¬ ally,until the year 1835. It is believed, however, that if the United States remain at peace, the whole of that debt may be redeemed by the ordinary revenue of those years during that period, under the provision of the act of March 3, 1817, creating the sinking fund, and in that case the only part of the debt that will remain after the year 1835 will be seven millions of five per cent stock subscribed to the bank of the United States, and the three per cent revolutionary debt, amounting to 13,296,099 dollars 6 cents both of which are redeemable at the pleasure of the government.

The state of the army, in its organization and discipline, has been gradually improving for several years, and has now attained a high degree of perfection. The military disbursements have been regularly made, and the accounts regularly and promptly rendered for settlement. The supplies of various descriptions have been of good

quality and regularly issued at all of the posts. A system of economy and accountability has been introduced into every branch of the service, which admits of little additional improvement. This desirable state has been attained by the act, re-organizing the staff of the army, passed on the 14th of April, 1818.

The monies appropriated for fortifications have been regularly and economically applied, and all the works advanced as rapidly as the amount appropriated would admit. Three important works will be completed in the course of this year-that is, Fort Washington, Fort Delaware, and the Fort at the Rigolets, in Louisiana.

The board of engineers, and the topographical corps, have been in constant and active service in surveying the coast, and projecting the works necessary for its defence.

The military academy has attained a degree of perfection in its discipline and instruction equal, as is believed, to any institution of its kind in any country.

The money appropriated for the use of the Ordnance department has been regularly and economically applied. The fabrication of arms at the national armories, and by contract with the department, has been gradually improve ing in quality and cheapness. It is believed that their quality is now such as to admit of but little improvement.

The completion of the fortifications renders it necessary that there should be a suitable appropriation for the purpose of fabricating the cannon and carriages necessary for those works.

Under the appropriation of 5,000 dollars for exploring the western waters for the location of a

site for a western armoury, a commission was constituted, consisting of colonel M'Ree, colonel Lee, and captain Talcott, who have been engaged in exploring the country. They have not yet reported the result of their labours, but it is believed that they will be prepared to do it at an early part of the session of congress.

During the month of June last, general Ashley and his party, who were trading under a licence from the general government, were attacked by the Ricarees while peaceably trading with the Indians, at their request. Several of the party were killed and wounded, and their property taken or destroyed.

Colonel Leavenworth, who commanded Fort Atkinson at the Council Bluffs, the most western post, apprehending that the hostile spirit of the Ricarees would extend to other tribes in that quarter, and that thereby the lives of the traders on the Missouri, and the peace of the frontier would be endangered, took immediate measures to check the evil.

With a detachment of the regiment stationed at the Bluffs, he successfully attacked the Ricaree village, and it is hoped that such an impression has been made on them, as well as on other tribes on the Missouri, as will prevent a recurrence of future hostility.

The report of the secretary of war, which is herewith transmitted, will exhibit in greater detail the condition of the department in its various branches, and the progress which has been made in its administration during the three first quarters of the year.

I transmit a return of the militia of the several states, according to the last reports which have been

made by the proper officers in each, to the department of war. By reference to this return, it will be seen that it is not complete, although great exertions have been made to make it so. As the defence, and even the liberties of the country must depend, in times of imminent danger, on the militia, it is of the highest importance that it be well organized, armed, and disciplined, throughout the union. The report of the secretary of war shows the progress made during the three first quarters of the present year, by the application of the fund appropriated for arming the militia. Much difficulty is found in distributing the arms according to the act of congress providing for it, from the failure of the proper departments in many of the States to make regular returns. The act of the 12th of May, 1820, provides that the system of tactics and regulations of the various corps in the regular army shall be extended to the militia. This act has been very imperfectly executed, from the want of uniformity in the organization of the militia, proceeding from the defects of the system itself, and especially, in its application to that main arm of the public defence. It is thought that this important subject, in all its branches, merits the attention of Congress.

The report of the secretary of the Navy, which is now communicated, furnishes an account of the administration of that depart ment for the three first quarters of the present year, with the progress made in augmenting the navy, and the manner, in which the vessels in commission have been employed. The usual force has been maintained in the Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and along the

Atlantic coast, and has afforded the necessary protection to our commerce in those seas.

In the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico, our naval force has been augmented by the addition of several small vessels, provided for by the "act authorizing an additional naval force for the suppression of piracy," passed by Congress at their last session. That armament has been eminently successful in the accomplishment of its object. The piracies by which our commerce in the neighbourhood of the island of Cuba had been afflicted have been repressed, and the confidence of our merchants, in a great measure, restored.

The patriotic zeal and enterprise of commodore Porter, to whom the command of the expedition was confided, has been fully seconded by the officers and men under his command. And, in reflecting with high satisfaction on the honourable manner in which they have sustained the reputation of their country and its navy, the sentiment is alloyed only by a concern that, in the fulfilment of that arduous service, the diseases incident to the season and to the climate in which it was discharged, have deprived the nation of many useful lives, and among them of several officers of great promise.

In the month of August a very malignant fever made its appearance at Thompson's Island, which threatened the destruction of our station there. Many perished, and the commanding officer was severely attacked. Uncertain as to his fate, and knowing that most of the medical officers had been rendered incapable of discharging their duties, it was thought expedient to send to that post an officer of rank and ex

perience, with several skilful surgeons, to ascertain the origin of the fever, and the probability of its recurrence there in future seasons; to furnish every assistance to those who were suffering, and, if practicable to avoid the necessity of abandoning so important a station. Commodore Rogers, with a promptitude which did him honour, cheerfully accepted that trust, and has discharged it in the manner anticipated from his skill and patriotism. Before his arrival, commodore Porter, with the greater part of the squadron, had removed from the island and returned to the United States, in consequence of the prevailing sickness. Much useful information has however, been obtained, as to the state of the island, and great relief afforded to those who had been necessarily left there.

Although our expedition, cooperating with an invigorated administration of the government of the island of Cuba, and with the corresponding active exertions of a British naval force in the same seas, have almost entirely destroyed the unlicensed piracies from that island, the success of our exertions has not been equally effectual to suppress the same crime, under other pretences and colours, in the neighbouring island of Porto Rico. They have been committed there under the abusive issue of Spanish commissions. At an early period of the present year, remonstrances were made to the governor of that island, by an agent who was sent for the purpose, against those outrages on the peaceful commerce of the United States, of which many had occurred. That officer, professing his own want of authority to make satisfaction for our just complaints, answered only

by a reference of them to the government of Spain. The minister of the United States to that court was specially instructed to urge the necessity of the immediate and effectual interposition of that government, directing restitution and indemnity for wrongs already committed, and interdicting the repetition of them. The minister, as has been seen, was debarred access to the Spanish government, and, in the mean time, several new cases of flagrant outrage have occurred, and citizens of the United States in the island of Porto Rico have suffered, and others been threatened with assassination, for asserting their unquestionable rights, even before the lawful tribunals of the country.

The usual orders have been given to all our public ships to seize Ame rican vessels engaged in the slavetrade, and bring them in for adjudication; and I have the grati. fication to state, that not one so employed has been discovered; and there is good reason to believe, that our flag is now seldom, if at all, disgraced by that traffic.

It is a source of great satisfac tion, that we are always enabled to recur to the conduct of our navy with pride and commendation. As a means of national defence, it enjoys the public confidence, and is steadily assuming additional importance. It is submitted whether a more efficient and equally economical organization of it might not, in several respects, be effected. It is supposed that higher grades than now exist by law would be useful. They would afford wellmerited rewards to those who have long and faithfully served their country; present the best incentives to good conduct, and the best means of ensuring a proper dis