292 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
the Commiffioners have been paid 
by the Britifh government. A con- 
fiderable number of other claims, 
“where cofts and damages, and not 
‘Captured property, were the only 
objects in queftion, have been de- 
cided by arbitration ; and the fums 
‘awarded to the citizens of the U- 
nited States have alfo been paid. 
_, The Commiffioners appointed a- 
greeably to the 21ft article of our 
treaty with Spain, met at Philadel- 
phia in the fummer paft, to examine 
and decide on the claims of our ci- 
tizens fo? lofies they have fuftained 
in confequence of their veffels and 
cargoes having been taken by the 
‘fubjets of his Catholic Majefty, 
during the late war between Spain 
and France. 
been interrupted, but now are re- 
fumed. 
The United States being obligat- 
ed to make compenfation for the 
loffes and damages fuftained by Bri- 
tith fubjects, upon the award of the 
Commiffioners ating under the 
fixth article of the treaty with Great 
Britain, and for the loffes and da- 
mages fuftained by Britifh fubjects, 
_by reafon of the capture of their 
‘veflels and merchandize, taken 
within the limits and jurifdiftion of 
the United States, and brought in- 
to their ports, or taken by veffels 
originally armed in ports of the 
United States; upon the awards of 
the Commiffioners acting under the 
feventh article of the fame treaty, 
ut is neceflary that provifion be 
made for fulfilling thefe obliga- 
iions. 
The numerous captures of Ame- 
rican veflels by the cruizers of the 
French Republic, and of fome by 
thofe of Spain, have occafioned 
tonfiderable expences in making 
and fupporting the claim of our 
Their fittings have. 
citizens before their tribunals; and 
the fums required for the purpofe 
have, in divers inftances, been dif 
burfed by the Confuls of the Uni- 
ted States. By means of the fame 
captures, great numbers of our fea- 
men have been thrown afhore in 
foreign countries, deftitute of all 
means of fubfiftence; and the fick, 
in particular, have been expofed to 
grievous fufferings. The Confuls 
have in thefe eafes alfo advanced 
money for their relief.—For thefe 
advances they reafonably expect re- 
imburfements from the United 
States. 
The Confular A&, _ relative to 
feamen, requires revifion and a- 
mendment : the provifions for their 
fupport in foreign countries, and 
for their return, are found to be 
inadequate and ineffectual. Ano- 
ther provifion feems neceflary to be 
added to the Confular Aét: fome 
foreign veflels have been difcover- 
ed failing under the flag of the U- 
nited States, and with foreign pa- 
pers. It feldom happens that the 
Confuls can detect this deception, 
becaufe they have no authority to 
demand an infpection of the regifter 
and fea-letters. 
Gentlemen of the Houfe of 
Reprefentatives, 
It is my duty to recommend to 
your ferious confideration thofe ob- 
jets which, by the conftitution, 
are placed ‘particularly within your 
fphere, the National Debt and 
Taxes. 
Since the decay of the feudal 
fyftem, by which the public de- 
fence was provided for, chiefly at 
the expence of individuals,. the 
fyftem of loans has been introdu- 
ced: and as no nation can raife 
within the year, by taxes, fufficient 
fums — 
