STATE PAPERS. 



447 



and Milan Decrees. This proceed- 

 ing, although made the groucd of 

 the repeal of the British Orders in 

 Council, is rendered, by the time 

 and manner of it, liable to many- 

 objections. 



The final communications from 

 our special minister to Denmark, 

 afford further proofs of the good 

 effects of his mission, and of the 

 amicable disposition of the Da- 

 nish government. From Russia 

 we have the satisfaction to re- 

 ceive assurances of continued 

 friendship, and that it will not be 

 affected by the rupture between 

 the United States and Great Bri- 

 tain. Sweden also professes sen- 

 timents favourable to existing har- 

 mony. 



With the Barbary powers, ex- 

 cepting that of Algiers, our affairs 

 remain on the ordinary footing. 

 The consul-general residing with 

 that regency, has suddenly, and 

 without cause, been banished, to- 

 gether with all the American citi- 

 zens found there. Whether this 

 was the transitory effect of capri- 

 cious despotism, or the first act of 

 predetermined hostility, is not as- 

 certained. Precautions were taken 

 by the consul on the latter suppo- 

 sition. 



The Indian tribes, not under fo- 

 reign instigations, remain at peace, 

 and receive the civilising attentions 

 which have proved so beneficial to 

 them. 



With a view to that vigorous 

 prosecution of the war to which 

 our national faculties are adequate, 

 the attention of Congress will be 

 particularly drawn to the insuffi- 

 ciency of the existing provisions 

 for filling up the military esta- 

 blishment. Such is the iiappy con- 

 i| dition of our country, arising from 

 1 the facility of subsistence, and the 



high wages for every species of oc- 

 cupation, that, notwithstanding the 

 augmented inducements provided 

 at the last session, a partial success 

 only has attended the recruiting 

 service. The deficiency has been 

 necessarily supplied during the 

 campaign by other than regular 

 troops, with all the inconveniencies 

 and expenses incident to them. 

 The remedy lies in establishing' 

 more favourably for the private 

 soldier, the proportion between his 

 recom pence and the term of his 

 enlistment : and it is a subject 

 which cannot too soon or too se- 

 riously be taken into consideration. 

 The same insufficiency has been 

 experienced in the provisions for 

 volunteers made by an act of the 

 last session. The recompence for 

 the service required in this case, 

 is still less attractive than in the 

 other : and although patriotism 

 alone has sent into the field some 

 valuable corps of ihat description, 

 those alone who can afford the sa- 

 crifice, can reasonably be expected 

 to yield to the impulse. It will 

 merit consideration also, whether, 

 as auxiliary to the security of our 

 frontier, corps may not be advan- 

 tageously organized, with a re- 

 striction of their services to parti- 

 cular districts convenient to them ; 

 and whether the local or occa- 

 sional services of marines or others 

 in the sea-port towns, under a si- 

 milar organization, would not be a v 

 proper addition to the means o f 

 their defence. 1 recommend a pro - 

 vision for an increase of the gen( >- 

 ral officers of the army, the def >. 

 ciency of which has been illu s- 

 trated by the number and distan ce 

 of separate commands, which t he 

 cause of the war, and the adv; nn- 

 tage of the service, have requin "d : 

 and 1 cannot press too strongly on 



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