re ee ee 
' to expect. 
STATE PAPERS. 
reviewing these injuries from some of 
the belligerent powers, the modera- 
tion, the firmness, and the wisdom 
of the legislature, will be called into 
action. We ought still to hope that 
time, and a more correct estimate 
of interest as well as of character, 
will produce the justice we are bound 
But sheuld any nation 
' deceive itself by false calculations, 
and disappoint that expectation, we 
_ must join in the unprofitable con- 
_ them. 
test, of trying which party can do 
the other most harm. Some of these 
injuries may perhaps admit a peace- 
able remedy. Where that is com- 
petent, it is always the most desira- 
ble. But some of them are of a na- 
ture to he met by force only, and all 
of them may lead to it. I cannot 
therefore but recommend such pre- 
parations as circumstances call for. 
The first object is to place our sea- 
portitowns out of the danger of in- 
sult. Measures have already been 
taken for furnishing them with heavy 
cannon, for the service of such land 
batteries as may make a part of their 
defence against vessels approaching 
In aid of these, it is desira- 
ble we should have a competent 
number of gun-boats ; and the num- 
ber, to be competent, must be con- 
siderable. If immediately begun, 
they may be in readiness for service 
_ at the opening of the next season. 
Whether it will be necessary to 
augment eur land forces, will be de- 
cided by occurrences probably in the 
course of your session. In themean 
time, you will consider whether it 
would not be expedient, for a state 
of peace as well as of war, so to or- 
ganize or class the militia, as would 
enable us, on any sudden emergency, 
to call for the services of the 
younger portions, unincumbercd 
with the old and those having fami- 
/ 
681 
lies, Upwards of 300,000 able 
bodied men, between the age of 18 
and 26 years, which the last Census 
shows we may now count within 
our limits, will furnish a competent 
number for offence or defence, in any 
point where they may be wanted, 
and will give time for raising regu- 
lar forces, after the necessity of them 
shall become certain; and the re- 
ducing to the early period of life all 
its active service, cannot but be de- 
sirable to our younger citizens of 
the present as well as future times, 
inasmuch as it engages to them jn 
more advanced age, a quiet and un- 
disturbed repose in the bosom of 
their families. I cannot then but 
earnestly recommend to your early 
consideration the expediency of so 
modifying our militia system, as, by 
a separation of the more active part 
from that which is less so, we may 
draw from it, when necessary, an 
eflicient corps, fit for real and active 
service, and to be calied to in regu. 
lar rotation. 
Considerable provision has been 
made, under former authorities from 
congress, of materials for the con- 
struction of ships of war of 74 guns. 
‘These materials are on hand, subject 
to the further will of the iegislature, 
An immediate prohibition of the 
exportation of arms and ammunition 
is also submitted to your determina- 
tion. 
{The message then alludes to the 
events that have lately happened at 
Tripoli and Tunis; enters into a 
view of the transactions that have 
taken place with the Indian nations, 
and concludes in the following man- 
ner: | 
The receipts of the treasury dur- 
ing the year ending on the 30th day 
of September last, have exceeded 
the sum of fhirteen millions of dol- 
Jars, . 
