contest, and when the countenance 
of some of them towards our peare- 
able country, threatens that even 
that may not be unaflected by what 
is passing on the general theatre, a 
meeting of the representatives of the 
nation, in both houses of congress, 
has become more than usually desir- 
_ able. Comiug from every section of 
_ our country, ‘they bring with them 
the sentiments and the information 
ae the whole, and will be enabled to 
ive a direction to the public affairs, 
which the will and the wisdom of the 
: “whole will approve and support. 
_ In taking a view of the state of 
| our country, we, in the first place, 
“notice the great afiliction of two of 
our cities, under the fatal fever 
_ which, in latter times, has occasion- 
__ally visited our shores. Providence, 
in his goodness, gave it an early ter- 
¥ mination on this occasion, and les- 
_ sened the number of victims which 
have usually fallen before it. In the 
course of the several visitations of 
_ this disease, it has appeared that it 
” is strictly local, incident to cities, 
__ and on the tide waters only, incom- 
' municable in the country either by 
_, Persons under the disease,-or by 
goods carried from diseased places ; 
that its access is with the autumn, 
and it disappears with the early 
frosts. ‘hese restrictions, withia 
“narrow limits of time and space, 
give security even to our maritime 
Cities, during three-fourths of the 
aly and in the country always.— 
iIthough from these facts it appears 
of foreign nations, and cautions on 
_ their part not to be complained of 
_ in a danger whose limits are yet un- 
_ known to them, I have strictly ens 
joined ou the officers at the head of 
the customs, to certify with exact 
truth, for every vessel sailing for a 
‘ 
ST Ah PiAsPEARS. 
unnecessary, yet to satisfy the fears” 
679 
foreign port, the state of health re. 
specting this fever which prevails at 
the placefrom whence’she sails. Un. 
der every motive from character and 
duty to certify the truth, I have no 
doubt they have faithfully executed 
this injunction, \Much real injiry 
has, however, been sustained, from 
a propensity to identify with this en- 
demic, and to call: by the same name 
fevers of very diflerent kinds, which 
have been known at ail times, and 
in all countries, and never have been 
placed among those deemed conta- 
gious. As we advance in our know- 
ledge of this disease—as facis deve- 
lope the source from which indivi- 
duals receive it—the state authorities 
charged with the care of the public 
health, and congress with that of the 
general commerce, will become able 
to regulate with effect their respect- 
ive functions in these departments. 
The burthen of quarantines is felt at 
home as well as abroad; their effi- 
cacy merits examination, Aithough 
the health-laws of the states should 
be found to need no present revisal 
by congress, yet commerce claims 
that their attention be ever awake to 
them. 
Since our last meeting, the aspect 
of our foreign relations has consider- 
ably changed. Our coasts have 
been infested, and our harbours 
watched by private armed vesscis, 
some of them without commissiens, 
some with illegal commissions, others 
with those of legal form, but com- 
mitting piratical acts beyond the au- 
thority of their commissions. ‘They 
have captured, in the very entrance 
of our harbours, as well as upon the 
high seas, not only the vessels ef our 
friends coming to trade with us, 
but our own also. ‘hey have car- 
ried them off under pretence of legal 
adjudication ; but not daring to ap. | 
xXx 4 proach 
