1806.] 
enemies, has been alfo carried on by public 
armed fhips, to the great arinoyance and op- 
preffion of our commerce. New principles too 
‘have been interpolated into the law of natians, 
founded neither in juftice nor the ufage or 
acknowledgment of nations. According to 
thefe a belligerent takes to itfelf a commerce 
with its own enemy, which it denies to a 
neutral, on the ground of its aiding that ene- 
my inthe war. But reafon revolts at fuch 
inconfiftency, and the neutral having equal 
right with the belligerent to decide the quef- 
tion, the interefts of our conftituents, and the 
duty of maintaining the authority of rea- 
fon, the only umpire between juft nationsy 
impofe on us the obligation of providing an 
effectual and determined oppofition to a doce 
trine fo injurious to the rights of peaceable na- - 
tfons. Indeed the confidence we ought to 
have in the juftice of others, ftill counte- 
nances the hope that a founder view of thofe 
rights willittelr induce from every bellige- 
rent a more corrett obfervance of them. 
** With Spain our negociations for a fet- 
tlement of differences have not hada fatisfac- 
tory ifive. Spoliations during the former 
war, for which the had formerly acknowledg- 
ed herfelf refponfible, have been refufed to 
be compenfated but on conditions affecting 
other claimsin no wife conneéted with them. 
Yet the fame praétices are renewed in the 
prefent war, and are already of great amount, 
“On the Mobile commerce paffing through 
that river continues to be obftruéted by arbi- 
trary duties and vexatious fearches. Propofi- 
tions for adjufting amicably the boundaries of 
Louifiana have not been acceded to. While, 
however, the might is unfettled, we have 
avoided changing the ftate of things by taking 
new pofts, or ftrengthening ourfelves in the 
difputed territories, in the hope that the 
other power would not, bya contrary: con- 
duct, oblige us to meet their example, and 
endanger confli@s of authority, the iffue of 
which may not be eafily controlled, But in 
this hope we have now réafon to lefien our 
confidence. Inroads have been recently made 
inéo the territories of Orleans and the Mif- 
fillippi, our citizens have been feized and 
their property plundered in the very parts of 
the former which had been aétually. delivered 
up by Spain, and this by the regular officers 
and foldiers of that government. I have 
therefore found it neceffary at length to give 
orders to our troops on that frontier to be in 
readinéfs to prote¢t our citizens, and to repel 
by arms any fimilar agereffions in future. 
Other details, neceflary for your full infor- 
mation of the ftate of things between this 
country and that, fhall be the fubject of ano- 
ther communication. In reviewing thefe in- 
Juries from fome of the belligerent powers, 
the moderation, the firmnefs, and the wifdom 
of the legiflature will all be called into ac- 
tion, We ought ftill to. hope that time and 
& more correct effimate of interef# as well as 
af character, will produce the juftice we ate 
Mon ruty Mac. No. 139. 
State of Public Affairs in Fanuary, 1806, 
73 
bound to expeét. But fhould any nation de- 
ceive itfelf by falfe calculations, and difap- 
point that expetation, we muft join in the 
unprofitable conteft, of trying which party 
can do the other the moft harm.Some of thefe 
injuries may perhaps admit a peaceable reme- 
dy. Where that is competent it is always the 
moft defirable. But fome of them are of a 
nature to be met by force only, and all of 
them may leadto it. I cannot therefore but 
recommena fuch preparations as circumftances 
call for. ‘The fir obje& is to place our fea- 
port towns out of the danger of infult. Mea- 
fures have been already taker for furnifhing 
them with heavy cannon for the fervice of 
fuch land batteries as may make a part of their 
defence againfi armed veffels approaching 
them. In aid of thefe it is defirable we 
fhould have a competent number of gun-boats, 
and the number to be competent muft be con- 
fiderable, If immediateiy begun, they may 
he in readinefs for fervice at the opening of 
the next feafon, 
‘© Whether it will be neceffary to augment 
our land forces, will be decided by occurren- 
ces probably in the courfe of your fefiion. 
In the mean time, you will conlider whe- 
ther it would not be expedient, for a ftate of 
peace as well as of war, fo to organize or clafs 
the militia, as would enable us, on any fud- 
den emergency, to call for the fervices of the 
younger portions, unincumbered with the old 
and thofe having families. Upwards of 
300,600 able-bodied men, between the ages 
of 18 and 26 years, which the lait Centus 
fhows we may now count within our limits, 
will furntfh a competent number for offence 
or defence, in any point where they may be 
wanted, and will give time for raifing regular 
forces, after the neceflity of them fhall be- 
come certain; and the reducing to the early 
period of life all its aétive fervice, cannot but 
be defirable to our younger citizens of the 
prefent as well as future times, inafmuch as 
it engages to them in more advanced age, a 
quiet and undifturbed repofz in the bofom of 
their families. I cannot then but earneitly 
recommend to your early confideration the ex- 
pediency of fo mocifying our militia fyftem, 
as, by a feparation ur the more active part 
from that which is lefs fo, we may draw 
from it, when neceflary, an efficient corps, 
fit for real and a@tive feivice, and to be called 
to it in regular rotation. 
‘* Coniiderable provifion has been maie, 
under former authorities from Congrefs, of 
materials for the conftrection of fhips of war 
of 74 guns. . Thefe materials are on hand, 
fubje& to the further will of the Legiflature, 
‘¢ An immediate prohibition of the expor- 
tation of arms and ammunition is allo fub- 
mitted to your determination. 
« Turning from thefe unpleafant views of 
violence, I congratulate you on the liberation 
of our fellow citizens who were ftranded on 
the coaft of Tripoli, and made prifoners of 
war. Ina government bottumed on the will 
K of 
