126] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. 
laden; and also are not to engage 
inthe British coasting trade of the 
East Indies: 4. Consuls for the 
protection of trade are to reside 
freely in each country: 5, This 
convention is to continue in 
force during four years. 
On December 5th President 
Madison transmitted to both 
houses of Congress a message in 
which a detailed account is given 
of the most important occurrences 
since their last meeting. It be- 
gins with relating the successful 
termination of the war which had 
been commenced by the regency 
of Algiers against the United 
States. It is next mentioned as 
a source of satisfaction, that the 
treaty of peace with Great Britain 
has been succeeded by a commer- 
cial convention, the disposition 
shown in which, it is hoped, will 
be improved into liberal arrange- 
ments on other subjects which 
might otherwise endanger future 
harmony. The existing relations 
between the States and the Indi- 
ans on their frontiers are then ad- 
verted to; and it is said, that whilst 
treaties of amity have been enter- 
ed into with the greater part of 
the tribes on the western and 
north-western borders, a restless- 
ness has been manifested by those 
on the southern frontier, who had 
been chastised into peace, which 
has called for preparatory mea- 
sures to repress it. Two follow- 
ing paragraphs relate to the act 
passed for the military peace esta- 
blishment, respecting which, dif- 
ficulties had occurred which still 
required legislative aid. The re- 
vival of the public credit is then 
spoken of with satisfaction, and a 
statement is given of the late 
receipts into the treasury. The 
national debt, as ascertained ig 
October last, is reckoned at 120 
millions of dollars, to which some 
addition would probably occur on 
the liquidation of the public ac- 
counts; and it is observed that 
the improved condition of the re- 
venue would not only afford the 
means of maintaining the faith of 
the government towards its cre- 
ditors, but would justify an im- 
mediate alleviationof burthensim- 
posed by the war. Various ob- 
jects of internal improvement are 
then pointed out for the conside- 
ration of congress, among which 
is the establishment of a national 
seminary of learning within the 
district of Columbia. ‘The mes- 
sage closes with a congratulatory 
view of the situation and pros- 
pects of the country. ‘“ Whilst 
other portions of mankind: (says 
the President) are labouring un- 
der the distresses of war or strug- 
gling with adversity in other 
forms, the United States are in 
the tranquil enjoyment of pros- 
perous and honourable peace. In, 
reviewing the scenes through 
which it has been attained, we 
can rejoice in the proofs given, 
that our political institutions, 
founded in human rights, and 
framed for their preservation, are 
equal to the severest trials of war, 
as well as adapted to the ordi- 
nary periods of repose.’” 
The other great portion of the 
American continent has continued 
to be the theatre of a sanguinary 
civil war, the occurrences in 
which have, as before, been so — 
differently represented by the op- 
posite parties, that it is difficult 
to form a distinct idea of the ex- 
isting state of affairs, or a probable 
conjecture of the final issue. 
