h a l us wilmington g a z e t t e r r ii u r s d a y j u n e s 1797 philadelphia my 16 c o n g r e s s this day precifely at 12 o'clock tin pvefi dentof the united '. res met bochhoufes ofcongrefs in the hal ol the rlepvefen-j tatives where he add re lied them in th following speech : cc't.'at'tmn 0 the s<nate i ci>ni gentlemen oftbehoufe oj kfpre/enta r the pprfonnl i 1 ontpinence to i.ie members of the b«-!iate and of the houlb »{' reprefentatives in leaving theii famll s and private affairs at this fenfon < yr;ir are fo obviuuf that i uie iu l .-• c"trto:'tti >• h n v ■• * \ . - • ■ ■ iva jt l.or.fj mt m hi penfuble it would have afforded me tlv highcm fa tisfatflioii to have been able to congratulate yon on:i reltorai ionof peace to the nations of eutojie whole anirnofiti-es have enda •• gered our tranquiliry but c have ltill abundant caufe ol vr ;' " nde to the fupreme difpenfer of national bit-fling for genrralj health and promifing fcalons for douiedic aur facial happinels for the rapid progrefsl and ample acquifii ioi 1 ol indulli <• , through exrenfive territories for civil political-and religions liberty while other ft.uesarede oh^ed with foreign war or couvulled inteltine divifions the united states prefent the pleating pro peel of a nation governed by mild and equal laws •, generally iiti*fied with the poflehion of their rights ; neithet envying the advantages nor fearing t lie power ol other nations ; folicitous only foi the maintenance of order nnd jnitice and the preservation of liberty ; increaiing dailj in their attachment ton fyhem of govern rticnt in proportion to their experience of it milky ; yielding a ready and general obedience to laws flowing from the reafon and refifling on the only fuiid foundation the affections of the people it is with extreme regret that i fhall be obliged to turn your thoughts to ether cir ctimftances which adinonifli us chat bme of thefe felicities may nor be lading but if the tide of our pvofperity iu fiill nnd a c flux cornmeiieiti <* vitilant cji"cumfpejfrio»i ' • . > . liuj i lx ». . 1 ■>>',* ' v.kl fortitude and extricate out lelves n.'n their confequences with all the fkill e j feli mid all ihe efforts in our power in fivinit to congrets information o lie ftateofthe union and recommending 10 their confederation inch meafuresas ajjpsar to me to be necediry or expedient accor ding to my conftitiuional duty the cables and tlie objedlsof the prefeni cxtraodimry feiii'in will lif explaim i after the pren'denr oi the united starts received information that the french go vernment h-.id expr fled erioiia difconteats at fbme proci edings f the government ol t!u e hires laid ro affict the intertill of france he thought it expedient fo lend to that country a new minilter fully in(trti«ft ed to enter on fiich amicable difcuflions end fo-give fuch candid explanations as might happily remove the dilcontents and fulpici n of the french government and vindi cate the conduct of the united stares for this pur pole lit feledted from among his fel low-citizens a charac'ier whofe iuteirrity talents experience and fervices had placed iim in the rank of the moll elleemed and r ijcified in the nation : vht dirrct object ol i»!s miflion was exprefled in his letter of credence to the french republic being to niainrain that p,ood undeiltanding which from ; c commencement of t he alliance had fubfihed between th two nations and to efface unfavorable impreiiions ban i hi fa picions and reltore tlut cordiality which wns at onee the evidence nnd pledge of a friendjy union — and his instructions wert to the fame effect faithfully to reprefeni the difpofuion ofthe government aiid peo-l nle of the united states their djlpofition li'ing one to remove jealoufiea ami jhvjute complaints by fliewing that they were grouiidlefs to re more t 1i.il mutual confi deuce which had been fo unfortunately and iiijurionfly impaired and to explain tiie relative in tere(t of imth countries and the real lentiinents of ilis own a miuitter thus fpecially cominihioned it was expected would have proved the in liniment pi restoring mutual confidence be tween the two republics the firll ftep of tlie french government coivefponded with that expectation a few ii>ys before liis ariival at pa is the r'rencll miniller of fa 1 e i nil relations informed the american n>i nifter then refldent at paris of i iie formali ties to be obferved by himlclf in taking i'^ve and by i it fiiccchur preparatory to !•'« reception tticle formalities they ob erved ; and on the oth ol december pre ented officially 10 the minifter of foreign editions the one a copy of his letters ofi ccji the other a ropy of his letters of ere 1 ici'ce thefe were laid before ihc execu-j twe directory ■, two day afterwards tin minifter of foreign relations informed t'u recalled american minifter that the fcxe cu:ive ditectory had determined not to re ceive another minifler plcnipoi entiary from the united states until afier the redrefs of grievances demanded of the american go vernment ami which the french republic had a t i lit io expert from it the amei i can miufcter immediately endeavored roaf certain whether by refuting to receive him 1 1 was intended that he mould retire from the territories of the french republic uc verbal anfwerswere given tliat luch whs the i emion of the directory for his own i icv.ion in d-i ■ ed 11 wi itten anfwer ii 1 - • ' ••.-.■.■.,•!■; '' ' '• " r»f iiiu:n ; when receiving notice in writing iu quit he territories ol tiie republic he proceeded i amfterdam where he propof ed to wait for inllruction from tlii govern iment during his refulence at paris cards of hofpitality were rei ulcd him ami lie w.is threatened witli being fubjedied toihejurif dictiou of the minifter of police — but with becoming firmnefs he infilled onihe protec rion of 1 he law of nations due o him as ithe known minilter of a foreign power you will derive further information from ii is di f patches which will belaid before you as it is oiten necefliiry that nations fhuuid treat for the mutual advantage ol their al fairs and especially to accommodate and terminate differences and as they c:.u treati only b niiiiifters the r t v lit of enibally is well known nnd cftablifhed by the law a:id ufage ot nations ; the refufal on tlie part of france to receive and licai our niinider i lien the denial of aright but the refufal to receive him until v c have acceded to their demands without difcuftion and wirh out invetugation is to treat us neithrr ai allies nor as friends nor us a loves ii 1 1 flare with this conduct ofthe french govern tnenr it will be proper to take into view the public audience given to the tninilter ol • lie united srates on his raking leave c,t r!u executive directory the fpeech of :! < frefidenc difclofes fentimcuts more alarm ing than the refufal of a miniller becauf't ; .<■>■ r i\]"f <>••■> • •- •■■•■ ■ • '• jit , ai;d at ihc lame 1 i jii <- rtudiouflyj narked with indignities towards ti.e p,o vernment of the united states it evince 1 1 a difpofition to feparate the people ot the u nited states from the government : to per fuadc them that they have different affect i on principles and interclis from thole of tbeii fellow-citizens whom they tlieiu-i lelvcs h.ive chofen to manage their common com 1 ins and tiros o produce divifions fa j tul to our peace such attem.pis ought to be repelled with a decifion which lhall con vince france and the world that we are no a degraded people humiliated under a colo nial piiit of fear and fenfe ol inlerioritv iiued to be the miferable inftroments of u reign influence and regardlefs of national honor character and intereft i lliould have been happy to have tin own u vtii over thefe tran factions if it had been poffible to conceal them ; but they have paili'd on the eat theatre of the world in iht face of all europe and america and with fuchcircumltances of duplicity and lb lemnity that they cannot he difguifed and will no foon be forgotten ; tiiey hn.e in flitted a wound in the american breall — it is my fincere defire however that it may be healed it is my fincere i\ti\\c and in this i prefume 1 concur with y>u and with our enndituents to prefcrve pence and friend/hip vvit'n all nations and believing that neither the honor nor the interell ol ait united states abfolutely forbid iiir re petition of advances for fccuring thefe de liirtble objects with france i fliall iuftitute a fyfffli attempt at negotiation andfliall not tail to promote and accelerate an accommo dation on terms compatible with the rights duties interel'ts and honor of the nation : if we have committed errors and thefe can be demonflrated we fhall he willing to cor rect them ; if we have done injuries we fliall he willing on conviction to red re ft them and equal meafuresof juftice we havei a right to expert from france and every other nation — the diplomatic intercourse between the united states and france beina at prefent luljtended the government has no meant of obtaining official information fror that country nevcrthelefs there is reafon to believe that the kxecutive direc tory palled a decree on the 2d of march lair contravening in part the treaty of amity & commerce of 177 injurious to our iawi'nl commerce and endangering the lives of our citizens — a copy of this decree wili be jaid bclore yon w'liilr we are endeavoring to adj lift all our differences with france by amicable ne gociation ihe progrefsol the war in europe the depredations on our commerce tliel perfontl injuries to our citizens ami the general complexion of affairs render it my "• lifpenfabu duty to recommend to yout lonfi leration effedual meafurei of defence i he commerce of the united states has bccoi can interefting object of attention whci ter we confider it in relation to the wealth and finances or theftrength and re fourcesof the nation with a feacoalt of near 1000 miles in ex'eur opening a wjdej fi id r fi:'.ic::es navigation an commerce a j :.•.( portion of our citizens naturally ap 1 ply ir.fir indui'try and enterprise ro thetej pbjccui any fei ious and permanent injury '; i ( < ■ ncicc would not fail to produce the inhifi muarrafling difbrders to prevent it ;• m ng undermined and deftroyed ii is that it receive an adequate piotec ■ ■ ■ « i i ti '• naval eftablilhment ir.v occnr to every lunu who coi'li ins i-e ii inner com mined on our commerce the iufuhs uffeied to our citizens and the defu'iption ot the velli by which thefe abufes have been practiced : ns tlir furfefings of our mercan tile a;:d fcrfaring citizens cannot be al ct ibed ro the omiilion of duties demand ible confidering tlie neutpal fituation of our country they are to be attributed to tin hope of impunity arifing from a fuppofed inability on our part to afford protection — ro refill the conlequeuces of fuch iniprefli nns on the minds of foreign nations and ro guard a ninfl rhe degradation of the fe-j very which they mull tin illy itauip on the lamerican character is an important duiyj of government • ! a 1 1 i v ls 1 power n xt to the militia is the natural defence ofthe united states 1 he experience ot'rlic laft v p nr would be fuftici-j em 10 fhew that a moderate navy foice fuch ;-. i 5 would be eafily will in the prelent abilities of tlie union would have been rnflicieni to have bufbfd t!it.:.y formidable tranfportations of tioops from one late to another wi.uii were then practiced ; our fencoalts from their great extrni aie more : alily hitnoyed and iiitne ealily defendedj by a naval force than an fctherj with all 1 lie materials our conntry abounds id fkill { in ): i'-i architects and navigai ursare ctru 1 ro any atid commanders iij eainen will 1 inpt i ef anting |' : .-• • ' '• - 1 -- a bli.ii.'ii 1 f a pc • m 1 . ■• t iylit m of naval defence appears 1 ro i ■• 1 •- cjuifite ; i am fenfible ii cannot be forirwd lb fpeedily c*v extenfively as tlie pre lent enfis demands hitherto 1 haver thought proper to prevent the failing of j armed veflels except on voyages to the f.a indies where general ufage and the dan<v'r froni pirates appeared to render the penniffion proper 5 yet tlie reftricticn lias originated fblely from a wifh 10 prevent i icollufions with the powers a war contra 1 veiling the let of cougrett of june ore thoufand feven hundred and ninety-four ami not from an v doubt entertained by me of the policy and propriety of permitting our vtillh to employ means ot defienre while engaged in a lawful foreign com 1 ineice it remains for congrcfs to pre fcribe fuch regulations as will enable our eafaring citizens to dele»d heiuielvesj igainft violations of t!.e law of iintions and at the liune time reflraiu them com committing ut'ts of hollility againlt the powers nt war in additon to iliis volun laiy provifmn for defence by individual citizens it appears to me neccflar ti equip the frigates and provide other veiiclis of iiiicio !.•'< ■■», to take under convoy inch merchant veflelsas mall remain unarmed the greater part of the cruifers whof depredations have been molt injurious have been built and fome of them ana equipped in ihe united baits although an effectual remedy may be attended will difficulty yet i have thought ir my duty to prefent 1 1 . t ! ; l'jcc"t generally to your con-j ideiation if a mode can ue devifed by the wildom of congrefs to prevent the refourcesof the united states from being converted into the means ol annoying our trade a great evil will b pi evented 1 with the lame view j tliirk it proper to mention that fume of our citizens reiideni abroad have fitted out privateers an<l others have voluntarily taken 1 lie command or entered on board of them and commit ted fpoliationa on the commerce of the united states such unnatural and iniqui tous practices can he retrained oi.ly by levere puniflinients liut bfides a protection of our commerce on the leas 1 think it highly neceflary te protect it at home where it is collected in our niblt important ports tlie diltance ofthe united states from europe and t'ne well known promptitude ardour and cour tage o i:c people in defence of their conn my happily diminilh the probability of invafionj nevertheieft to again ft fud tlcn anj predatory incuriions the fituation of fome of our principal feaports demands your confideration and •** our countrj jis vulnerable in othtr interefti be/ides thofe ofics coamtrcc you will feriouh,y dtlibo rare whether the means nf general defence might not to be increaieel by an addition to ihe regular artillery and cavalry and by ar rangements for forming a provifional army with the fame view and asa mealure whit.li even in a tiii.e of ur.ivcrial peace ought not to be neoltcled i recommend to your confideraiion a revifion of the laws for organizing arming and difciplinillg the militia to render that natur.il and i,.fe defence of the country efficatioiu although it is very true that we ought not to involve ouik-lves in the political iviieni of euiope but to keep curfelveg always diflincl and ieperau turn it,il we can yet to eft'etl thil *-"'• pun&u j and continual ttrfdhuat ion ot the iurit.it chain of|tventa and of the political piojtttw in contemplation is no lefs i eidl'i ry than it we were directly concerned in then it isnectflary in order to the dif covery of ihe efforts made to draw us into ihe vortex in leaton tp makepreperations againft them however we may confi-jer cur.tlvc-j the maritime and commercial powejs of the world will cor.lider the united otjtes of america as forming a weight in that balance of power in europe which never can be forgotten or ntglected jt would not only be againft our nitcit.lt but it wouju be doing wrong to one halt of kurope at icait it we mould voluntarily ilirotv ourfelves into either fcile it it a natural polity tor a nation that ltudies to be neutral to confult wuh oilier nations engaged in the fame ftudies and purluits at the lame time that meafures might be purfued with this view our treaties with pruffia and sweden one of which is expi red and ihe other near expiring might be run we ii cctit/emetr of the ticufe cf repre/entaiives it i;-p rtiiulai y uur province to ennfi der theftate or the public lin.mces and to ;!('(. pc inch meafures relpcct:ng them as exigences hull be found to require the prcfervation rt public credit the regular extinguifhmedt of the public debt and aprovigotjof furids tc defray any exua ordinary expences will of fourie r.il for yo»ir fcrious attention although the im pufition of new burthens cannot br in it ivu agreeable vet there is no ground vy doubt th.k ihe amriican peeple will ex p.-tt from you uch meafures as tfier prefent fecurity and future inttrtili d mand gentlemen of the senate and centufiitn of the houfe of reprefentativetm the prefent ituation of our country iin pofes an obligajion on all the deparmeota of government to adopt an explicit i 1 decided conduct in my fituation an .•:-. poikion of the principle ny which ir-y sdminiflration will be governed ough net to be omitted it h impoflible toconcral f.om ourfelres or i!ie world what hns been before ob!«!r verl trut endeavors have been finplo « d to fofter and eftablifli a diviiion between the roverument and people of the ui;ir ed states to inveitigate the c;uifes which b.'ve encouraged this attempt is not nectflary but to repel by decided and muted com ills infmuationi fo derogatory to ihe honor and a^greuious io dangerous to the conftitution union and even inde pendence vt the nation is an indifpenfa b!e duly j ii mud not be permitted fo be doubted whether the people of the u states will fupport the government eftablifhed by their voluntary c'jnleur and appointed by their free choice ; or vrhether by furrei — deriig themlelves to the direclion of fc reigu and doinef.it factions in oppofition to their own government they will forefcic the honorable ration tliey have hitherto maintainedi i fomtyfelf b.iv\ngvcvcr been indifterrnr to what concerned r he interefls of my countryi devoted the bed part cfmy liie to obtain and fuppori its independence and constantly witneflcd the patiotifm fidelity and prefeverance ni r.:y follow chizentj on the molt trying occtfiuns t jis ikjt for me to hefitate or abai don <» caule in which my heart has been ic long engaged convinced thai the conduct of thr go vernment has been jult and impartial to io rci^n nations ; that thofe internal regulati on winch have been euablifhcd by law for the prcferraticnvf peace arc in thtif vol i.j no 23