712 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



offices consistent with that as avc 

 have opportunities of rendering. — 

 The activity and success of the 

 small force employed in the Medi- 

 terranean in the early part of the 

 present year, the reinforcements 

 sent into that sea, and the energy 

 of the officers having command in 

 the several vessels, will, I trust, by 

 the suftcrings of war, reduce the 

 barbarians of Tripoli to the desire 

 of peace, on pro])er terms. Great 

 injury, however, ensues to ourselves, 

 as well as to others interested, from 

 the distance to which the prizes must 

 be brought for adjudication, and 

 from the impracticability of bring- 

 ing hither such as are not sea-wor- 

 thy. The bey of Tunis having 

 made requisitions unauthorised by 

 our treaty, their rejection has pro- 

 duced from him some expressions of 

 discontent. But to those who ex- 

 pect us to calculate whetiier a com- 

 pliance with unjust demands will not 

 cost us less than a war, avc must 

 leave as a question of calculation 

 for them also, whether to retire 

 from unjust demands will not cost 

 them less than a war. We can 

 do to each other very sensible 

 injuries by war. Jjut the mutual 

 advantages of peace make that the 

 best interest of both. Peace and 

 intercourse with the other powers 

 on the same coast continue on the 

 footing on which they are establish- 

 ed I)y treaty. In pursuance of the 

 act, providing for the temporary 

 government of l^ouisiana, the ne- 

 cessary officers for the territory of 

 Orleans, were appointed in due 

 time to commence the exercise of 

 their functions on the 1st day of 

 October. The distance, however, 

 of some of them, and indispensi- 

 ble previons arrangements, may have 

 retarded its commencemeut in soaie 



of its parts. The form of govern- 

 ment thus provided, having been 

 considered but as temporary, and 

 open to such future improvements, 

 as further information of the cir- 

 cumstances of our brethren there 

 might suggest, it will of course be 

 subject to fair consideration. In 

 the district of Louisiana it has been 

 thought best to adopt the division 

 into subordinate districts which had 

 been established under its former 

 government. These, being five in 

 number, a commanding officer has 

 been appointed to each, according 

 to the provisions of the law; and 

 so soon as they can l),c at their sta- 

 tions, that district will also be in its 

 due state of organization- In the 

 mean time, their places are supplied 

 by officers before commanding there, 

 and the functions of the governor 

 and judges of Indiana having com- 

 menced, the government, we pre- 

 sume, is proceeding in its new form. 

 The lead mines in that district offer 

 so rich a supply of that metal as to 

 merit attention. Th>; report now 

 committed will inform you of their 

 state, and of the necessity of im- 

 mediate inquiry into their occupa- 

 tion and titles. With the Indian 

 tribes established within our newly- 

 acquired limits, I have deemed it ne- 

 cessary to open conferences for the 

 purpose of establishing a good un- 

 derstanding aiul neighbourly rela- 

 tions between us. So far as we have 

 yet learned, we have reason to be- 

 lieve that their dispositions are gene- 

 rally favourable and friendly. And 

 with these dispositions on their part, 

 we have in our hands means which 

 cannot fail for preserving their peace 

 and friendship. Instead of an aug- 

 mentation of military force, pro- 

 portioned to an augmentation of 

 frontier, I propose a moderate en- 



larsement 



