44S ANNUAL REGISTER, 1S12. 



the earliest attention of the legisla- 

 ture, the importance of the re-or- 

 ganization of the staff establish- 

 ment, with a view to render more 

 distinct and definite the relations 

 and responsibilities of its several 

 departments : that there is room 

 for improvements which will ma- 

 terially promote both economy and 

 success, in what appertains to the 

 army and the war, is equally in- 

 culcated by the examples of other 

 countries, and by the experience of 

 our own. 



A revision of the militia laws, 

 for the purpose of rendering them 

 more systematic, and better adapt- 

 ing them to emergencies of the 

 war, is at this time particularly de- 

 sirable. Of the additional ships 

 authorised to be fitted for service, 

 two will be shortly ready to sail ; 

 a third is under repair, and delay 

 will be avoided in the repair of the 

 residue. Of the appropriations for 

 the purchase of materials for ship- 

 building, the greater part has been 

 applied to that object, and the pur- 

 chases will be continued with the 

 balance. The enterprising spirit 

 which has characterized our naval 

 force, and its success both in re- 

 straining insults and depredations 

 on our coasts, and in reprisals on 

 the enemy, will not fail to recom- 

 mend an enlargement upon it. 



There being reason to believe, 

 that the act prohibiting the accept- 

 ance of British licences is not a 

 sufficient guard against the use of 

 them, for purposes favourable to 

 tlie interests and views of the ene- 

 my ; further provisions on that 

 subject are higly important. Nor 

 is it less so, that penal enactments 

 should be provided for cases of 

 corrupt and perfidious intercourse 

 with the enemy, not amounting to 

 treason, nor yet embraced by any 

 statutory provisions. 



A considerable number of Ame- 

 rican vessels, which in England, 

 when the revocation of the Orders 

 in Council took place, were laden 

 with British manufactures, under 

 an erroneous impression that the 

 Non-Importation Act would im- 

 mediately cease to operate, have 

 arrived in the United States. It 

 did not appear proper to exercise 

 on unforeseen cases of such magni- 

 tude, the ordinary powers vested in 

 the treasury department to miti- 

 gate forfeitures without previously 

 affording Congress an opportunity 

 of making on the subjef^tsuch pro- 

 visions as they may think proper. 

 In their decision, they will, doubt- 

 less, equally consult what is due 

 to equitable considerations, and to 

 the public interest. 



The recei pts i nto the treasury d ur- 

 ing the year ending on the 30th of 

 September last, have exceeded six- 

 teen millions and a half of dollars ; 

 which hare been sufficitnt to de- 

 fray all the demands on the trea- 

 sury to that day, includiui^ a ne- 

 cessary reimbursement of near 

 three millions of the principal of 

 the public debt. In these re- 

 ceipts are included a sum of near 

 8,8o0,000 received on account of 

 the loans authorised by the acts of 

 last session. The whole sum actu- 

 ally obtained on loan amounts to 

 eleven millions of dollars, the resi- 

 due of which being receivable sub- 

 sequent to the 30tli of September, 

 will, together with the current re- 

 venue, enable us to defray all the 

 expences of this year. 



The duties on the late unexpect- 

 ed importations of British manu- 

 factures will render the revenue of 

 the ensuing year more productive 

 than could have been anticipated. 

 The situation of our country, fel- 

 low-citizens, is not without its dif- 

 ficulties, though it abounds in ani- 

 mating 



