178] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. 



and that, whilst the pubUc ex- 

 penditure will probably remain 

 stationarjr, each successive year 

 will add to the national resources, 

 by the ordinary increase of our 

 population, and by the gradual 

 development of our latent sources 

 of national prosperity. 



The strict execution of the 

 revenue laws, resulting principally 

 from the salutary provisions of 

 the act of the 20th of April last, 

 amending the several collection 

 laws, has, it is presumed, secured 

 to domestic manufactories all the 

 relief that can be derived from 

 the duties which have been im- 

 posed upon foreign merchandise 

 for their protection. Under the 

 influence of this relief, several 

 branches of thisimportantnational 

 interest have assumed great acti- 

 vity, and, although it is hoped 

 that others will gradually revive 

 and ultimately triumph over every 

 obstacle, yet the expediency of 

 granting farther protection is 

 submitted to your consideration. 



The measures of defence autho- 

 rized by existing laws have been 

 pursued with the zeal and activity 

 due to so important an object, 

 and with all the despatch prac- 

 ticable in so extensive and great 

 an undertaking. The survey of 

 our maritime and inland frontiers 

 has been continued ; and at the 

 points where is was decided to 

 erect fortifications, the work has 

 been commenced, and in some 

 instances considerable progress 

 has Keen made. In compliance 

 with resolutions of the last session, 

 the board of commissioners were 

 directed to examine in a particular 

 manner the parts of the coast 

 therein designated, and to report 

 their opinion of tlie most suitable 



sites for two naval depots. This 

 work is in "a train of execution. 

 The opinion of the board on this 

 subject, witli a plan of all the 

 works necessary to a general 

 system of defence, so far as it has 

 been formed, will be laid before 

 Congress, in a report from the 

 proper department, as soon as it 

 can be prepared. 



In conformity with the appro- 

 priations of the last session, trea- 

 ties have been formed with the 

 Quapaw tribe of Indians, inhabit- 

 ing the country on the Arkansaw, 

 and with the Great and Little 

 Osages north of the White river ; 

 with the tribes in the state of 

 Indiana ; with the several tribes 

 within the state of Ohio, and the 

 Michigan territory ; and with the 

 Chickasaws ; by which very ex- 

 tensive cessions of territory have 

 been made to the United States. 

 Negotiations are now depending 

 with the tribes in the Illinois 

 territory, and with the Choctaws, 

 by which it is expected that 

 other extensive cessions will be 

 made. I take great interest in 

 stating that the cessions already 

 made, which are considered so 

 important to the UHitcd States, 

 have been obtained on conditions 

 very satisfactory to the Indians. 



With a view to the security of 

 our inland frontiers, it has been 

 thought expedient to establish 

 strong posts at the mouth of the 

 Yellow-Stone-river, and at the 

 Mandan village, on the IMissouri; 

 and at the mouth of St. Peter's, 

 on the Mississippi, at no great 

 distance from our northern boun- 

 daries. It can hardly be pre- 

 sumed, while such posts are 

 maintained in the rear of the 

 Indian tribes, that they will 



venture 



