- 
1809.] 
the Alibamas, have delivered up, for trial 
and- punifhment, individuals from among 
themfelves accufed of murdering citizens of 
the United States, on this fide the Miffiffippi; 
the Creeks are exerting themfelves to arreft 
offenders of the fame kcind, and the Cha¢taws 
have manifefted their readinefs and defire for 
amicable and juft arrangements, refpecting 
depredations committed by diforderly perfons 
of their tribe. And generally from a con- 
viétion that we confider them as a part of 
orfelves, and cherifh with fincerity their 
rights and interefts, the attachment of the 
Tidian tribes is gaining ftrength daily, is 
extending from the nearer to the more 
remote, and will amply requite us for the 
juftice and friendfhip praétifed towards them; 
hufbandry and houfehold manufaétures are 
advancing among them more rapidly with 
the fouthern than the northern tribes, from 
circumftances of foil and climate: and one of 
the two great divifions of the Cherokee na- 
tion have now under confideration, to folicit 
the citizenthip of the U ited States, and to 
be identified with us in laws and govern- 
ment, in fuch progreflive manner as we fhall 
think beft. 
In confequence of the appropriations of the 
laft Seffion of congrefs for the fecurity of 
our fea-port-towns, and harbours, fuch works 
of defence have been erected as feemed to be 
called for by the ficuation of the feveral pla- 
ces, their relative iraportance, and the feale 
of expence indicated by the amount of the 
appropriation. Thefe works will chiefly be 
finifhed ip the courfe of the. prefent feafon, 
except at New York and New Orleans, 
where moft was to be done 5 and although a 
great proportion of the laft appropriation has 
been expended on the former place, yet fome 
further views will be fubmitted to congrefs 
for rendering its fecurity entirely adequate 
again{ft naval enterprize. A view of what 
has been done at feveral places, and of what 
is propofed to be done, fhall be communi- 
cated as foun as the feveral- reports are re~ 
ceived. 
Of the gun-boats authorifed by the A& of 
December laft, it has been thought neceflary 
to build only 103 inthe prefent year; thefe, 
with thofe before poflefled, are fufficient for 
the harbours and waters moft expofed, and 
the refidue will require little time for their 
conftru@tion, when it fhall be deemed ‘ne- 
ceflary. 
Under the A& of the laft Seffion, for 
raifing an additional militfry force, fo many 
officers were immediately appointed as were 
_Meceffary, for carrying on the bufinefs .of re- 
cruiting ; andin proportion as it advariced, 
others have been added» We have reafon to 
believe their fuccefs has been fatisfaftory,,. al- 
though fuch returns have nut been received, 
as enable me to prefent. you a ftatement of 
the numbers engaged. 
I have not thought it neceflary, in the 
courts of the laft feafon, to call for any ge- 
Message of the President to the United States. 
989 
neral detachments of militia, or of volun- 
teers, under the laws paffed for that purpofe 
for the enfuing feafon, however, they will 
be required to bein readinefs, fhould their 
fervice be wanted. Some fmall and {pecial 
detachments have been neceflaty to maintain 
the laws of embargo, on that pastion of our 
Northern frontier which offered peculiar fae 
cilities for evafion ; but thefe were replaced, 
as foon as it could be done, by bodies of new 
recruits, By the aid of thefe, and of the 
armed veffels called into fervice in other 
quarters, the {pirit of difobedience and abufe, 
which manifetted itfelf early, and with fenfi- 
ble effect, while we were unprepared to meet 
it, has been confiderably reprefied. 
Confidering ‘the extraordinary character of 
the times in which we live, our attention 
fhould unremittingly be fixed on the fafety — 
of our country. Fora people whoare free, 
and who remain fo, a well organized and ar- 
med Mij)tia is the beft fecurity, It is 
therefore incumbent on us at every meeting, 
to revife the condition of the Militia, and 
to afk ourfelves if it is prepared to repel a 
powerful enemy at every point of our terri-° 
tories expofed to invafion. Some of the 
States. have paid a Jaudable attention to this 
objeé&t, but every degree of negleé&t is-to be 
found among others. Caygrefs alone having 
the power to produce an uniform ftate of 
preparation in this great organ of defence, 
the interefts which they fo deeply feel in 
their own and their country’s fecurity, will 
prefent this as among the moft important ob- 
jets of their deliberation. : 
Under the -A&ts of March 11, and April 
23, refpeGting arms, the difficulty of procu- 
ring them from abroad, during the prefent 
fituation and difpofitions of Europe, induced 
us to direét our whole efforts to the means 
of internal fupply, the public faétories have, 
therefore, been enlarged, additional machi- 
neries erected, and, in proportion as arti- 
ficérs can be found Or formed, their effeét, 
already more than doubled, may be increafed 
fo as to keep pace'with the yearly increafe 
of the Militia. The annual fums appropria- 
ted by the latter a&t, have been direéted to 
the encouragement of private fa‘tories of 
arms 3 and contracts have been entered into 
with individual. undertakers, to nearly the 
amount of the firft year’s appropriation. 
The fufpenfion of our foreign commerce, 
produced by the injuftice of the Belligerent 
Powers, and thé confequent loffes and facri- 
fices of our Citizens, ate fubjeéts of juft 
concern. ‘The fituation into which we have 
thus been forced, has impelled'us to apply a 
portion of our induftry and capital to inter- 
nal’ manufactures and improvements. The ~ 
extent of this converfion is daily encreafing, 
and little doubt remains that the eftublifh- 
ments formed and forming; will, under the 
aufpices of cheaper materials and fubfifience, 
the freedomyof labour ‘from taxation with us, 
and of protecting duties and prohibitions, be 
come 
