NOVEMBER, 1811.

in the Councils of that nation also. And the information from our special Minister to Denmark, shows that the mission had been attended with valuable effects to our citizens, whose property had been so extensively violated and endangered by cruisers under the Danish flag.

Under the ominous indications which commanded attention, it became a duty to exert the means committed to the Executive department in providing for the general security. The works of defence on our maritime frontier have accordingly been prosecuted with an activity leaving little to be added for the completion of the most important ones; and, as particularly suited for co-operation in emergencies, a portion of the gunboats have, in particular harbors, been or dered into use. The ships of war before in commission, with the addition of a frigate, have been chiefly employed as a cruising guard to the rights of our coast. And such a disposition has been made of our land forces, as was thought to promise the services most appropriate and important. In this disposition is included a force, consisting of regulars and militia, embodied in the Indiana Territory, and marched towards our Northwestern frontier. This measure was made requisite by the several murders and depredations committed by Indians, but more especially by the menacing preparations and aspect of a combination of them on the Wabash, under the influence and direction of a fanatic of the Shawanese tribe. With these exceptions, the Indian tribes retain their peaceable dispositions towards us, and their usual pursuits.

I must now add that the period is arrived which claims from the Legislative guardians of the national rights a system of more ample provisions for maintaining them. Notwithstanding the scrupulous justice, the protracted moderation, and the multiplied efforts, on the part of the United States, to substitute for the accumulating dangers to the peace of the two countries, all the mutual advantages of re-established friendship and confidence, we have seen that the British Cabinet perseveres, not only in withholding a remedy for other wrongs, so long and so loudly calling for it, but in the execution, brought home to the threshold of our territory, of measures which, under existing circumstances, have the character, as well as the effect, of war on our lawful commerce.

With this evidence of hostile inflexibility, in trampling on rights which no independent nation can relinquish, Congress will feel the duty of putting the United States into an armor and an attitude demanded by the crisis, and corresponding with the national spirit and expectations.

I recommend, accordingly, that adequate provision be made for filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops; for an auxiliary force, to be engaged for a more limited term; for the acceptance of volunteer corps, whose patriotic ardor may court a participation in urgent services; for detachments, as they may be wanted, of other portions of the militia; and for such a preparation of the great body as will proportion its usefulness to its intrinsic capacities. Nor can the occasion fail to remind you of the importance of those military seminaries which, in every event, will form a valuable and frugal part of our Military Establishment.

The manufacture of cannon and small arms has proceeded with due success; and the stock and resources of all the necessary munitions are adequate to emergencies. It will not be inexpedient, however, for Congress to authorize an enlargement of them.

SENATE.

Your attention will, of course, be drawn to such provisions on the subject of our naval force as may be re quired for the services to which it may be best adapted. I submit to Congress the seasonableness also of an authority to augment the stock of such materials as are imperishable in their nature, or may not at once be attainable.

In contemplating the scenes which distinguish this momentous epoch, and estimating their claims to our attention, it is impossible to overlook those developing themselves among the great communities which occupy the Southern portion of our hemisphere, and extend into our neighborhood. An enlarged philanthropy, and an enlightened forecast, concur in imposing on the national Councils an obligation to take a deep interest in their destinies, to cherish reciprocal sentiments of good will, to regard the progress of events, and not to be unprepared for whatever order of things may be ultimately established.

Under another aspect of our situation, the early attention of Congress will be due to the expediency of further guards against evasions and infractions of our commercial laws. The practice of smuggling, which is odious everywhere, and particularly criminal in free Governments, where the laws being made by all for the good of all, a fraud is committed on every individual as well as on the State, attains its utmost guilt when it blends, with a pursuit of ignominious gain, a treacherous subserviency in the transgressors to a foreign policy, adverse to that of their own country. It is then that the virtuous indignation of the public should be enabled to manifest itself through the regular animadversions of the most competent laws.

To secure greater respect to our mercantile flag, and to the honest interests which it covers, it is expedient also that it be made punishable in our citizens to accept licenses from foreign Governments for a trade unlawfully interdicted by them to other American citizens; or to trade under false colors or papers of any sort.

A prohibition is equally called for against the acceptance, by our citizens, of special licenses to be used in a trade with the United States; and against the admission into particular ports of the United States of vessels from foreign countries authorized to trade with particular ports only.

Although other subjects will press more immediately on your deliberations, a portion of them cannot but be well bestowed on the just and sound policy of securing to our manufactures the success they have attained, and are still attaining, in some degree, under the impulse of causes not permanent; and to our navigation the fair extent of which it is at present abridged by the unequal regulations of foreign Governments.

Besides the reasonableness of saving our manufacturers from sacrifices which a change of circumstances might bring on them, the national interest requires that, with respect to such articles at least as belong to our defence and our primary wants, we should not be left in unnecesary dependence on external supplies. And whilst foreign Governments adhere to the existing discriminations in their ports against our navigation, and an equality or lesser discrimination is enjoyed by their navigation in our ports, the effect cannot be mistaken, because it has been seriously felt by our shipping interests; and in proportion as this takes place, the advantages of an independent conveyance of our products to foreign markets, and of a growing body of mariners, trained by their occupation for the service of their country in times of danger, must be diminished.

The receipts into the Treasury during the year ending on the thirtieth of September last, have exceeded thirteen millions and a half of dollars, and have enabled us to defray the current expenses, including the interest on the public debt, and to reimburse more than five millions of dollars of the principal, without recurring to the loan authorized by the act of the last session. The temporary loan obtained in the latter end of the year one thousand eight hundred and ten, has also been reimbursed, and is not included in that

amount.

The decrease of revenue arising from the situation of our commerce and the extraordinary expenses which have and may become necessary, must be taken into view, in making commensurate provisions for the ensuing year. And I recommend to your consideration the propriety of insuring a sufficiency of annual revenue, at least to defray the ordinary expenses of Government, and to pay the interest on the public debt, including that on new loans which may be authorized.

I cannot close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled, my confidence in a wise and honorable result to your deliberations, and assurances of the faithful zeal with which my co-operating duties will be discharged; invoking, at the same time, the blessing of Heaven on our beloved country, and on all the means that may be employed in vindicating its rights and advancing its welfare.

JAMES MADISON.

WASHINGTON, November 5, 1811.

The Message and part of the documents therein referred to were read, and three hundred copies of the Message and of the documents, so far as they have been read, ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate.

WEDNESDAY, November 6.

JAMES LLOYD, from the State of Massachusetts, took his seat in the Senate.

The Senate proceeded in reading the documents referred to in the Message of the President of the United States of yesterday. And, after progress, adjourned.

THURSDAY, November 7.

The Senate proceeded in reading the documents referred to in the Message of the President of the United States of the 5th instant; and ordered that nine hundred and fifty copies of the Message and documents, in addition to the three hundred already ordered, be printed for the use of the Senate, making in the whole one thousand two hundred and fifty copies.

The following motions were submitted by Mr. GILES for consideration:

Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as concerns the relations between the United States and France and Great Britain, with the accompanying documents, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to examine and report thereon to the Senate, and that the committee have leave to report by bill, bills, or otherwise.

Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to the encounter between an American frigate and a British ship of

NOVEMBER, 1811.

war, with the accompanying documents, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to examine the same and report thereon to the Senate.

Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to the evasions and infractions of the commercial laws thereof, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to examine into the subject and report thereon to the Senate, and that the committee have leave to report by bill, bills, or otherwise.

Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to the manufactures thereof, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to examine into that subject, and report thereon to the Senate, and that the committee have leave to report by bill, bills, or otherwise.

FRIDAY, November 8.

On motion, by Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, Resolved, That Mountjoy Bayly, Doorkeeper and Sergeant at-Arms to the Senate, be, and he is hereby, authorized to employ one assistant and two horses, for the purpose of performing such services as are usually required by the Doorkeeper to the Senate, and that the sum of twentyeight dollars be allowed him weekly for that purpose, to commence with, and remain during the session and for twenty days after.

Mr. LEIB gave notice that on Monday he should ask leave to bring in a bill to authorize the transportation of certain documents free of postage.

Mr. VARNUM submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That two Chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress during the present session, one by each House, who shall interchange weekly.

Mr. WORTHINGTON submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to Indian affairs, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to examine into that subject, and report thereon to the Senate, and that the committee have leave to report by bill, bills, or otherwise.

The PRESIDENT communicated a resolution of the Republican Corresponding Society, met at Brookville, in the Indiana Territory, enjoining it on their Delegate in Congress to use his exertions in favor of a law authorizing the people of that Territory to elect their sheriffs and magistrates once in two years; which was read.

Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, gave notice that on Monday he should ask leave to bring in a bill making further provision for the Corps of Engi

neers.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion submitted yesterday, "that so much of 'the Message of the President of the United States as concerns the relations between the United 'States and France and Great Britain, with the accompanying documents, be referred to a select committee, with instructions to examine and report thereon to the Senate; and that the committee have leave to report by bill, bills, or otherwise;" and, having agreed, thereto, Messrs.

WEDNESDAY, November 13.

The PRESIDENT communicated the memorial of Matthew Lyon, stating that he was fined and imprisoned under the law commonly called the sedition act, and praying remission of the fine, for reasons stated at large in his memorial; which was read.

The bill making further provision for the Corps of Engineers was read the second time, and referred to a select committee, to consider and report thereon; and Messrs. SMITH of Maryland, ANDERSON, BRADLEY, CRAWFORD, and GERMAN, were appointed the committee.

Mr. BRADLEY gave notice that to-morrow he should ask leave to bring in a bill for the relief of Charles Minifie.

The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to authorize the transportation of certain documents free of postage," was read the third time, and passed.

On motion by Mr. BRADLEY, the bill originating in the Senate to authorize the transportation of certain documents free of postage, was postponed to the first Monday in December next.

The Senate proceeded to the election of a Chaplain to Congress on their part, in pursuance of the resolution of the two Houses; and, on counting the ballots, it appeared that the Rev. JOHN BRECK

ENRIDGE had a majority, and was accordingly

elected.

Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House, information whether tobacco of the growth of the United States may be purchased by the regie to the full extent of the consumption of France; if not, in what proportion may such tobacco be purchased by the regie; whether the supplies of tobacco imported into France (and which may be transported through France into Germany and other European States) is subjected to a transit duty; if so, what is the amount of such duty. And, also, to cause to be laid before this House a tariff of the duties imposed by France on such of the produce and manufactures of the United States the entry of which is permitted, and particularly of tobacco, cotton, fish oil, and dried fish, and stating (if any) the difference of duty charged on such goods imported from the United States, and similar articles when introduced into France from other States, either over land or otherwise.

Mr. WORTHINGTON submitted the following motion for consideration:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire if any, and, if any, what, further provision or alterations are necessary for the disposition of the public lands of the United States, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

NOVEMBER, 1811.

THURSDAY, November 14.

The Senate resumed the motion made yesterday, by Mr. SMITH, of Maryland; and, on motion by Mr. LLOYD, it was agreed that the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate resumed the motion made yesterday, by Mr. WORTHINGTON; and,

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire if any, and, if any, what, further provisions or alterations are necessary for the disposition of the public lands of the United States, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise.

Messrs. WOTHINGTON, FRANKLIN, GREGG, GOODRICH, and BRADLEY, were appointed the committee.

Mr. BRADLEY asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill for the relief of Charles Minifie; and the bill was read and passed to a second reading.

The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: To the Senate and House of

Representatives of the United States:

I communicate to Congress copies of a correspondence between the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain and the Secretary of State, relative to the aggressions committed by a British ship of war on the United States frigate Chesaference between the two countries is terminated by an peake, by which it will be seen that that subject of difoffer of reparation, which has been acceded to.

JAMES MADISON.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 1811..

The Message and papers therein referred to were read and ordered to lie on the table. The following Message was also received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:

To the Senate and House of

Representatives of the United States:

I lay before Congres the result of the census lately taken of the inhabitants of the United States, with a letter from the Secretary of State relative thereto. JAMES MADISON.

NOVEMBER 13, 1811.

The Message and documents therein referred to were read and ordered to lie on the table.

FRIDAY, November 15.

A message from the Houre of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have appointed the Reverend Mr. SNETHEN Chaplain to Congress for the present session, on their part.

The bill for the relief of Charles Minifie was read the second time, and referred to a select committee, to consider and report thereon; and on balloting, Messrs. GILES, BRADLEY, and GOODRICH, were elected.

On motion by Mr. BRADLEY, hejwas excused, as was also Mr. GREGG, standing the next highest on the ballot; and it was agreed that Messrs. GILES, GOODRICH, and FRANKLIN, be the committee.

The Senate resumed the motion made the 13th instant, by Mr. SMITH, of Maryland; and, on motion, by Mr. TAYLOR, it was agreed that the fur

Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, gave notice, that on Monday next he should ask leave to bring in a bill to authorize the surveying and marking of certain roads in the State of Ohio, as contemplated by the treaty of Brownstown, in the Territory of Michigan.

On motion, by Mr. LEIB, the Secretary of the Senate was directed to procure, from the Department of State, a proportionate number of the printed copies of the third census for the use of the members, which the Message of the President of the United States announced as being in that Department, subject to the order of Congress.

MONDAY, November 18.

Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to authorize the surveying and marking of certain roads in the State of Ohio, as contemplated by the treaty of Brownstown, in the Territory of Michigan; and the bill was read, and passed to the second reading.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made the 13th instant, by Mr. SMITH, of Maryland; and, on motion, by Mr. LLOYD, the original motion was amended and agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House information whether tobacco of the growth of the United States may be purchased by the Administration en regie to the full extent of the consumption of France; if not, in what proportion may such tobacco be purchased by the Administration en regie; whether the surplus of tobacco imported into France (and which may be transported through France and Germany and other European States) is subjected to a transit duty; if so, what is the amount of such duty: And whether the surplus above mentioned may be exported by sea to any country in amity with France. And also, to cause to be laid before this House a tariff of the duties imposed by France on such of the produce and manufactures of the United States, the entry of which is permitted, and particularly of tobacco, cotton, fish oil, and dried fish, and stating (if any) the difference of duty charged on such goods imported from the United States and similar articles when introduced into France from other States, either over land or otherwise.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act to alter the time of holding one of the terms of the district court in the District of Maine;" in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill last brought up for concurrence was read, and passed to the second reading.

TUESDAY, November 19.

SENATE.

WORTHINGTON, and BIBB, were appointed the committee.

The bill, entitled "An act to alter the time of holding one of the terms of the district court in the District of Maine," was read the second time, and ordered to a third reading.

WEDNESDAY, November 20.

Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, presented the memorial of the representatives of the Religious Society of Friends of the yearly meeting held in Baltimore, stating that a traffic has been carried on in negroes and people of color, in which those of the latter description, entitled to freedom, are frequently deprived thereof, and praying for a revision of the law in relation to this subject; and the memorial was read, and referred to a select committee, to consider and report thereon by bill or otherwise; and Messrs. SMITH, of Maryland, TAYLOR, and TAIT, were appointed the committee. A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House have passed a bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Abraham Whipple, late a Captain in the Navy of the United States;" also, a bill entitled "An act extending the time for opening the several Land Offices established in the Territory of Orleans;" in which bills they desire the concurrence of the Senate. The bills last mentioned were read, and severally passed to the second reading.

The bill entitled "An act to alter the time of holding one of the terms of the district court in the District of Maine ;" was read the third time and passed.

THURSDAY, November 21.

The bill, entitled "An act extending the time for opening the several Land Offices established in the Territory of Orleans," was read the second time, and referred to a select committee, to consider and report thereon, and Messrs. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, FRANKLIN, and CUTTS, were appointed the committee.

The bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Abraham Whipple, late a Captain in the Navy of the United States," was read the second time, and referred to a select committee to consider and report thereon; and Messrs. BRADLEY, FRANKLIN, and GOODRICH, were appointed the committee.

FRIDAY, November 22.

JONATHAN ROBINSON, from the State of Vermont, took his seat in the Senate.

Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, from the committee to whom was referred the bill to authorize the surveying and marking of certain roads in the State of Ohio, as contemplated by the treaty of Brownstown, in the Territory of Michigan, reported the bill without amendment, and the bill was considered as in Committee of the Whole, and no amendments having been proposed, the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Mr. TAIT presented the petition of Thomas O'Bannon, a citizen of Madison county, in the