18035.] 
gine a wife nation expects of us, I princi- 
pally have the following before my mind. 
In the firit place, the putting an end to 
that ftate of uncertainty with refpect to 
our internal governinent, which has long 
fince tired and fatigued the people, and 
which’ woul have terminated in defpaic 
znd diffolution, 
‘© In the fecond place, the improvement 
of the finances of the country, brought 
to the brink of ablolute ruin, by the con- 
{equences ot Internal trouoles, and of ruin- 
ous wars. 
‘¢ And laftly, the embracing and main- 
taining a firm political fyftem, calculated 
according to the fi'uation of Europe, and 
fit to infpire our allies with confidence, 
our friends with good-will, and our ene- 
mies with awe. 
<< When we fhall have attained the two 
former, objects, the latter (as far as de- 
pends on us, and not on events cut of our 
powcr) will be eafily attainable, pro- 
vided we only take care that we 
(always keeping in mind the great 
changes which have taken place in Fu- 
rope, and in our relations with our neigh- 
bours,) do convince all nations which fur- 
round us, that-our welfare and our proipe- 
riry can never be detrimental to theirs, 
atid that they may fully depend upon our 
good faith in fu filling our engagements. 
“‘ In order to reiore the folidity and 
energy of our internal Government, I 
deem nothing more fit than an unchange- 
able attachment to the holy principles of 
juftice ; the doing equal juttice to ail, 
without difference of rank or opinions ; 
the reftoring the weceflary vigour to the 
Jaws, and the requifite authority and the 
ancient refpect to ali the lawful authori- 
ties; homage to talents, bravery, and 
merit ; every poflible indulgence to mil- 
apprehenfion ; inexorable rigour to mif- 
deeds. 
‘¢ The reftoration of the finances of the 
country will be our mo# laborious branch. 
Can you deem it neceflary, High and 
Mighty Lords, that a melancholy picture 
thereof fhould be exhibited to you on this 
occajion? or is that fad trath not fufficr- 
eotly known, that all the prefent ordinary 
revenue of the ftate is hardly fufficient 
to pay the intereft of our debts? and can 
it, after this, be required to add any thing 
to make you feel the grievous ftate of our 
finances ? 
*« Without eficacious remedies, there 
is no poffible falvation from fo great an 
evil ; and all the authoriry granted by the 
conititution to the executive power is ab- 
folutely neceflary to arrive at thefe great 
State of Public Affairs in May, 1805. 501 
meafures, which, fince the origin-of the 
Republic, at various periods, have al- 
ways been defired by great ftatefmen, and 
recommended by fome; but cenitantly 
fratirated by the clathing of the powers, 
and the eternal*oppohtion either of pre. 
judice or of mean telt-interelt, oftentimes 
badly underftood. 
‘* By thofe efficacious remedies, High 
and Mighty Loids, I do not by any 
means aim at a violation of our engage- 
ments. As little do I aim at an order tor 
new and extraordinary impolts. Thefe 
would, in my judgment, either be politi. 
cally impracticable, or end ina general 
emigration of all who can emigrate, and 
in a tot.] corruption cf thole remaining 
behind. And therefore they fnail never 
make a part of the meafures which will 
be propofed to your High Mightinefles in 
the courfe of my adminiftration. 
“The meafures I aim at, High and 
Mighty Lords, confift, on the one hand, 
in the introducing a much greater fimpli- 
city in the branches of -adminiltiation, 
and in making very conliderable favings ; 
and, ontne other hand, and principally, 
in introducing a new fyftem of general 
taxation. 
‘© This fyftem, operating uniformly 
according to the relat.ve abilities of the 
inhabitants in the different dillricts, will 
be able very confiderably to ircreaie the 
relources of the country, as well by its 
fimplicity as by the certainty of the re- 
ceipts. This increafe, united with the 
faving of the expenditure, wiil enable the 
poblic Treafury regularly to anfwer all 
ordinary demands; and when war, or 
other evils, require any extraordinary ex- 
pences, they will be raifed by tuch means 
as will be found the lealt prefiing upon 
the public. 
‘** Tcis towards thefe important objects 
that I with to draw the attention of your 
High Mightinefles, and in the completion 
of which I expect the moft earnett affift- 
ance from your wildom and patriotiim ; 
and in the accomplifiment of which I 
cannot but think the people will, ina 
great meafure, re-eltablifh the former 
{tate of affairs. 
“« T think what I have advanced is fuf- 
ficient tor the prefent: but perhaps your 
High Mignhtinefles, perhaps the nation, 
have a right to examine and confider upon 
the meafures I intend to adopt for the re- 
drefs of their grievances, and the renew- 
ing of their protperity. 
‘* It is neediels to fay a fingle word re- 
{petting my inclination and refoluticn to 
facrifice what is moft dear to me, in order 
to 
