ST AcT+E oP. ApPeEcR: S. 
been my conftant folicitude to pre- 
ferve. A government which re- 
quired only a knowledge of the 
truth to juftify its meafures, could 
not but be anxious to have this ful- 
ly and frankly difplayed. 
Georce WASHINGTON. 
Speech of the Prefident of the United 
States of America to Congre/s, on ofen- 
ing the Seffion, May \6th, 1797. 
Gentlemen of the Senate, and 
Gentlemen of the Houfe of 
Reprefentatives, 
THE perfonal inconveniences 
to the Members of the Senate and 
of the Houfe of Reprefentatives, in 
. leaving their families and private 
_ affairs at this feafon of the year, 
_ are fo obvious, that I the more re- 
_gret the extraordinary occafion 
which had rendered the convention 
of Congrefs indifpenfable. 
It would have afforded me the 
_higheft fatisfaction to have been 
_ able to congratulate you ona refto- 
. ration of peace to the nations of 
- Europe, whofe animofities have en- 
_ dangered our tranquillity; but we 
. have {till abundant caute of grati- 
- tude to the Supreme Difpenfer of 
national bleffings, for general health 
and promifing feafons; for domef- 
_ tic and focial happinefs; for the ra- 
. pid progrefs and ample acquifitions 
of induftry, through extenfive ter- 
ritories; for civil, political, and re- 
ligious liberty. While other ftates 
_.are defolated with foreign war, or 
convulfed with inteftine divifions, 
the United States prefent the pleaf- 
ing profpect of a nation governed 
by mild and equal laws; generally 
fatisfied with the pofleflion of their 
rights; neither envying the advan- 
tages, nor fearing the power of 
other nations; folicitous only for 
the maintenange of order and juf- 
wit 
tice, and the prefervation of liberty ; 
increafing daily in-the attachment 
toa fyftem of government, in pro- 
portion to their experience of its 
utility; yielding a ready and gene- 
ral obedience to laws Howing from 
reafon, and refting on the only fo- 
lid foundation, the affeétion of the 
people. 
It is with extreme regret that I 
fall be obliged to turn your thoughts 
to other circumftances, which ad- 
monifh us that fome of thefe felici- 
ties may not be lafting; but if the 
tide of our profperity is full, and a 
reflux commencing, a vigilant cir- 
cumfpection becomes us, that we 
may meet our reverfes with forti- 
tude, and extricate ourfelves from 
their confequences, with all the 
fkill we poffefs, and all the efforts 
in our power. 
In giving to Congrefs information 
of the ftate of the union, and re- 
commending to their confideration 
fuch meafures as appear to me to 
be expedient or neceflary, accord- 
ing to my conftitutional duty, the 
caufes and the objects of the pre- 
fent extraordinary feffion will be 
explained. Q 
After the Prefident of the United 
States received information that the 
French government had expreffed 
ferious difeontents at fome proceed- 
ings of the government of thefe 
States, faid to affect the interefts of 
France, he thought it expedient to 
fend to that country a new minifter, 
fully inftructed to enter on fuch 
amicable difcuffions, and to give 
fuch candid explanations as might 
happily remove the difcontents and 
fulpicions of the French govern- 
ment, and vindicate the conduét of 
the United States. For this pur- 
pofe he feleéted from among, his 
fellow-citizens a character, whofe 
integrity, talents, experience, and 
3 fervices 
