nestness, and pretty much at large, in opposition to the resolution, on the ground as well of its terms, as of hostility to the toleration of slavery in any shape, or under any pretence, by the legislation of congress. The amendments reported by the military committee were severally agreed to. Mr, Cocke moved to strike out of the senate's amendments the provision for "one major-general, with two aids-de-camp;" which motion was sup[During the progress of this speech, Mr. Allen ported by Messrs. Cocke, Foot, Cobb, Hardin, Litée, was called to order by Mr. Trimble, because discus-Mallary and R. Moore, on principle and expedising not the question before the house, but a ques-ency; and it was opposed by Messrs. Barbour, Storrs, tion decided at the last session. The speaker, how. Clay and Nelson, of Va. on the ground that, as the senate had made the amendment, they would proever, overruled this objection.] Mr. Allen concluded by moving to amend the re-bably adhere to it; that if disagreed to by this house, solution by striking out the word citizen, wherever it might put the whole bill in jeopardy; that muck it occurs in the resolution, as above printed, and to would still have been done in the way of retrenchinsert in lieu thereof "free negro or mulatto." ment, even if this provision passed, and it would be. Mr. R.Moore, of Penn. then required the previ- better not to endanger the bill by rejecting this ous question, believing that this subject had been provision. Mr. Kinsey opposed the motion on prinso long debated, as to require that it be decided, inciple, deeming a major general nécessary to make one way or another, without further consumption the proposed system perfect and fully efficient. After an ineffectual call, by Mr. Nelson, of Va. for of the time of the house. Ninety-five members having risen to second this the previous question-the debate having continumotion, and the yeas and nays having been required some timeed thereon by Mr. Randolph The question was taken on striking out the proThe question was stated in the following form: vision for the major-general, and was negatived, by "Shall the main question be now put?" and was decid-yeas and nays as follows: ed as follows: For the previous question 109 The main question was then accordingly put, viz. "Shall the resolution be engrossed and read a third time?" and decided as follows: For the third reading 86 The resolution was then ordered to be read a third time this day, but not without considerable opposition. The resolution was accordingly read a third time, and put on its passage. Mr. Randolph, in a speech of some twenty minutes, delivered the reasons why he should not vote for the resolution: For striking out 73 Mr. Smith, of Md. moved to strike out the provision "for one judge advocate, with a salary of 2000 dollars;" and the motion was agreed to without a division. Mr. Cannon then moved so to amend the amendments of the senate, as, instead of four regiments of artillery and seven regiments of infantry, to reduce the number of regiments to two of artillery and four of infantry, and to make the companies consist of After some remarks by Mr. 84, instead of 42 men. G. in support of his amendment, amendments of this house thereto. The motion was negatived without a division. The amendments of the senate, as amended by this house, were then agreed to; and ordered to be The final question was then taken on the reso-be returned to the senate for concurrence in the lution, and decided in the affirmative, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Abbot, Alexander, Allen, Tenn. Anderson, Archer, Md. Archer, Va. Baldwin, Ball, Barbour, Bateman, Bayly, Blackledge, Bloomfield, Brevard, Brown, Bryan, Butler, Lou. CauHon, Clark, Clay, Cobb, Cocke, Crawford, Croweli, Culbreth, Culpepper, Cuthbert, Davidson, Eddy, Edwards, N C. Fisher, Floyd, Ford, Gray, Guyon, Hackley, Hall, N. C. Hardin, Hill, Hooks, Jackson, Johnson. Jones Va. Jones, Ten. Little, McCoy. McCreary, McLean, Ky. Meigs, Mercer, Metcalf, Montgomery, S. Moure, T. L Moore, Neale, Nelson, Va. Newton, Overstreet, Pinckney, Rankiu, Reid, Rhca, Ringgold, Robertson, Rogers, Sawyer, Settle, Shaw, Simkins, Smith, N. J. Smith, Md. A. Smyth, Va. Smith, N. C. South ard, Stevens, Storrs, Swearingen, Trimble, Terrel, Tucker, Va. Tucker, S. C. Tyler, Udree, Walker, Warfield, Williams, Va. Williams, N. C.-87. The house then resumed the consideration of the bill for the relief of the purchasers of the public lands the merits of which, and of certain amendments, were discussed at considerable length. Eihally, the bill, with its amendments, was ordered to be read the third time to morrow. Several bills from the senate were read and refer red. Mr. Storrs, from the joint committee appointed on the subject, made a report of the business which it was deemed proper for congress to act on at the present session. NAYS.-Messrs. Adams, Allen, of Mass. Allen, of N. Y. Baker, Beecher, Boden, Brush, Buffum, Butler, N. H. Campbel. Case, Clagett, Cook, Cushman, Dane, Darlington, Dennison, Dewitt, Dickinson, Edwards, Con. Edwards, Pa. Eustis, Fay, Folg r, Foot, Mr. Nelson, of Va. from the committee on foreign Forrest, Fuller, Gorham, Gross, N. Y. Gross, Pa. Hall, N. Y. Hempbill, Hendricks, Herrick, Hibshman, Hobart, Hostetter, Kendall, Kinsey, Kinsley, Lathrop, Lincoln, Livermor. Maclay, MeCul-relations, reported a bill for carrying into execution lough, Mallary, Marchand, Me ch, Monell, R. Moore, Morton, Mose the recent treaty between the United States and ley, Murray, Nelson, Mass. Parker, Mass. Patterson Phelps. Phik Spain; which was twice read and committed. son, Pitcher, Plumer, Randolph, Rich, Richards, Richmond, Ross, Russ, Sergeant, Silsbee, Sloan, Street, Strong. Vt. Strong, N. Y. Tarr, Tomlinson, Tracy, Upham, Van Rensselaer, Wallace, Wdover, Whitman, Wood.-81. So the resolution was passed, and ordered to be sent to the senate for concurrence. And the house adjourned. On motion of r. Newton, the house proceeded to the consideration of the bill to exempt French ships from certain duties, Mr. Newton explained the object of the bill. By the original act, time enough had not been allowed to give notice to French vessels of the passage of Tuesday, Feb. 27. Mr. A. Smyth; from the committee on military affairs, to which had been refer- the act; in consequence of which, a few vessels had red the amendments of the senate to the bill to re-found their way into our ports, and the extraordina duce the military peace establishment, reported the ry duty had thus been levied in cases not intended This bill was to provide for a remissame with sundry amendments thereto-one of by the act. which was a section adopting for the government sion of the amount of extra duty in such cases. After some remarks from several members, the of the army and militia, when in service, the system of regulations for the army, compiled by maj. bill was ultimately passed, without a division. gen. Scott-the other amendments were of a minor character. Mr. Baldwin then moved that the house do resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the bill laying a duty on sales at auction. This motion was negatived, 59 to 43. Which was agreeed to-and, after debate, the bill was laid on the table. In the course of the reThe house then, on motion of Mr. Barbour, of marks upon it, Mr. Floyd said, that the Choctaws Va. resolved itself into a committee of the whole, had fairly retorted on the United States their own on the bill to amend the act for the gradual increase policy, and got possession, by treaty, of about one of the navy, so as to reduce the annual appropria-third of the whole of the population of the territo. tion therefor from one million to half a million of ry of Arkansaw. dollars per annum, and extend the term of appro Mr. Phelps, from the select committee on the ge. priation from three to six years, Mr. Allen, of Mass.neral post office, made a long report—which shall in the chair After some remarks from Mr. Barbour and Mr. Fuller, the bill was ordered to lie on the table till to-morrow. be inserted hereafter. senate, originating in that house, were received, The bills which yesterday and to-day passed the severally twice read, and committed. The bill from the senate to extend the charters Mr. Williams, of N. C. with a view to acting on the great mass of private bills before the house, of certain banks in the district of Columbia, was moved that the house now have a recess of two read the third time and passed-ayes 74, noes 34. hours, with a view to acting on business of that description on meeting again. This motion was ne-acts relative to the treasury, war and navy departThe engrossed bill further to amend the several gatived, 49 to 46. ments was read the third time, passed and sent to On motion of Mr. Smith, of Md. the bill further to the senate for concurrence. to amend the several acts relative to the treasury, The bill from the senate, for the relief of the war, and navy departments, was taken up and or-purchasers of public lands, was read the third time, dered to be engrossed for a third reading. as amended by this house, and passed, by yeas and On motion of Mr. Cannon, the bill for the relief nays, as follows: of Robert Purdy was passed through a committee of the whole; when Mr. Cobb moved to postpone the bill indefinitely. This motion gave rise to debate, in which Messrs. Cobb, Moore, Cannon, Ross, Mc Coy, Rhea, Cocke, Metcalf, Culpepper, Baldwin, and Williams, of N. C. took part. [From the debate, it appears that this bill proposes to indemnify col. Purdy from a judg ment obtained against him by an individual, who was the keeper of a disorderly house on the skirts of an encampment of the army, which house, in order to preserve the discipline of the army, col. P. had caused to be destroyed.] The vote being taken on the question of indefi nite postponement, was decided in the affirmative, 57 to 47. So the bill was rejected. And the house adjourned. Wednesday, Feb. 28. Various reports, &c. were received, which shall be noticed in their progress. Mr. Kent, from the committee on the District of Columbia, reported, without amendment, the bill from the senate for continuing the charters of certain banks in the District of Columbia. [This bill provides for the continuation of the charters of the Bank of the Metropolis, the Bank of Washington, the Patriotic Bank in the city of Washington, the Union Bank, the Farmers' and Mechanics Bank, the Bank of Columbia, in Georgetown; the Bank of Alexandria, and the Farmers' Bank, in Alexandria, until the year 1836. It authorizes the consolidation of the Union Bank of Alexandria with the Bank of Potomac, and extends the the charter of the said united bank to the same term as the others. The Central Bank is allowed to proceed forthwith to liquidate and close all the concerns of the corporation, and for that purpose its corporate authority is continued for five years.] This bill, after opposition, was read a third time and passed. Adams Alexander Baldwin Brown Beecher Clay Cobb YEAS.-Messrs. Ford Gorbam Gross, of N. Y. Hooks Jackson Johnson Jones, of Va. Crawford McCullough Crowell McLean, of Ken Marchand Mercer Monell T. L. Moore NAYS.-Messrs. Floyd Foot Gray Guyen Richards Hall, of N. Y. Russ Hibshman Lincoln Little Livermoré McCoy The bill was ordered to be sent to the senate for concurrence in the amendments. Mr. Sergeant moved that the house proceed to the consideration of the bill from the senate to es Mr. Southard reported an amendment to the In-tablish an uniform system of Bankruptcy, on which dian trade bill, to the following effect "That the secretary of war skall cause to be dis. posed of at public sale, all the property, now be longing to the United States, employed in the Indian trade, and the proceeds thereof to be paid into the public treasury; and that, from the first day of November next, the offices of superintendant of Indian trade and of factors, &c. shall cease and determine." motion Mr. Edwards, of N. C. demanded the yeas and nays. nays, and decided in the affirmative-ayes 78, noes The question was accordingly taken by yeas and 59; and the bill was taken up. postpone it, to lay it on the table, &c. were made, [Many motions,--such as to recommit the bill, to which consumed much time, with calling the yeas and nays on adjournment, &c. In the course of the debate, Messrs. Clay. Sergeant, Wood, Robertson, 'Little, Storrs, Warfield, &c. expressed themselves in favor of the bill, and Messrs. Edwards, of N. C. Cobb, Stevens, McLean, Rhea, Cannon, Tucker, Williams, of N. C. Meigs, Johnson, of Ky. Trimble, Nelson, of Va. Ball, &c. were either opposed to the bill, or to acting upon it then. Van Dyke, Walker, of Alab. Walker, of Geo. Williams of M man, Macon, Mills, Noble, Otis, Ruggles, Sanford, Smith, Tw The senate resumed the consideration of th bill from the house of representatives, «to co tinue in force an act to provide for persons wi Mr. Baldwin moved that the house resolve itself revolutionary war, and for other purposes;" and, were disabled by known wounds received in t into a committee of the whole on the bill concern-motion, the same was indefinitely postponed. ing sales at auction; but the motion was negatived, ayes 53, noes 62.. The first motion for adjournment was rejected 77 to 59-the second ditto, 71 to 48; the third ditto 73 to 55. The motion to lay the bill on the table was rejected 78 to 55; another to the same effect 70 to 51. Mr. Culpepper protested against precipitation, &c. The following were the yeas and nays on the motion to postpone the bankrupt bill indefinitely— Abbott Alexander Allen, Tenn. Archer, of Va. Baldwin YEAS.--Messrs. Garnet Hardin Hooks Nelson, of Va. Parker, of Mass. Phelps Philson Plumer Bryan Jones, of Va. Rankin Buffum The bill, from the house of representatives, f ed; and, after debate, the bill was ordered to a thi the relief of the family of O H. Perry, was resur reading by the following vote: YEAS-Messrs. Dana, Dickerson, Edwards Elliot, Gaillar Taylor, Walker of Alab. Williams of Miss.-8. And the bill was immediately read a third time and passed. The amendments of the house of representatives to the bill for the relief of purchasers of public land prior to the 1st day of January, 1820, were taker. up and greed to. And, having transacted some executive business, the senate adjourned. March 1. Many bills were variously disposed of -as will appear hereafter. That to provide for the "execution of the laws in the state of Missouri," was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. The act from the house about duties on French vessels, with an amendment, was taken up and Williams, of N. C.-58. agreed to and passed, and sent to the other house for concurrence in the amendment. Monell Montgomery S. Moore Storrs Strong, of N. Y. Tomlinson Upham Van Rensselaer Whitman Wood.-73. And the house immediately adjourned, leaving this bill the unfinished business for to-morrow. It was about half past 7 o'clock when the house rose after an unpleasant session.] FURTHER PROCEEDINGS. IN THE SENATE—February 28. The amendments of the house to the army bill were received and agreed to. Many private bills were passed, and much other business transacted, as will appear in the sequel. The resolution from the house of representatives, declaring the admission of the state of Missouri into the union, was read a third time; and the question on its final passage was decided as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Barbour, Chandler, Eaton, Edwards, Gaillard, Holmes of Maine, Holmes of Miss. Horsey, Hunter, Johnson of Ky. hnson of Lou. King, of Alab. Lowrie, Morril, Parrott, Pink. Mey, Pleasants, Roberts, Southard, Stokes, Talbot, Taylor, Thomas, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 1. Mr. Hendricks offered a resolution, whic'. had for its purpose the grant of a liberty to certain states to tax the lands of the United States. The house refused to have it read a second time, and would not order it to be printed. Several bills were passed, or advanced, &c. af which shall be noticed in our next. The great subject, the bankrupt bill, came up-it was debated and ordered to lie on the table, 64 to 58. The appropriation bill was considered, and, after three bours spent thereon, the committee of the whole rose, when the speaker counted the house and found that a quorum was not present: so the house adjourned, after a session of ten hours. Wholesale. Two hundred and seventy writs have been issued for the branch of the United States dollars. bank at Cincinnati, for debts amounting to 1,600,000 lately presented their pastor, the rev. Mr. WellingA load of wood! The citizens of Templeton, Mass. ton, with a sled load of wood-it measured thirtynine and 53-128th parts of a cord, and was drawn by eighty-two yoke of oxen. The sled was made for the purpose. Recommendation! At the commencement of the late war, (says the Washington City Gazette), a very worthy member of congress, was said to have asked the appointment of captain of artillery for one of his friends; and gave, as evidence of fitnese for that service-"he' is so strong, he can carry the big end of a small cannon himself, alone." Skating. Three young men lately travelled on skates from Woburn to Boston, a distance of nine miles, in twenty seven minutes. PRINTED BY WILLIAM OGDEN NILES, AT TĦB FRANKLIN PRESS, WATER-STREET, EAST OF SOUTH-STRBET. NEW SERIES. NO. 2-Vol. VIII.] BALTIMORE, MARCH 10, 1821. [No. 2-VOL.XX. WHOLE NO. 496 THE PAST THE PRESENT-FOR THE FUTURE. EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES, AT §5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. The title page and index for the last volume, Pennsylvania, the defendant a citizen of fennessee. accompanies the present number. The action was brought upon a promissory note indorsed by the defendant. The note was drawn For several weeks to come, our pages must be by a citizen of Tennessee, in favor of the defenappropriated to the publication and record of in-dant: and the question was, whether the drawer teresting papers, domestic and foreign - of which and endorser, being citizens of the same state, the we have a very valuable stock on hand. We shall holder could sue the endorser in a court of the publish some of the laws passed at the late session United States of congress. The question turned upon the 6th section of the FLORIBA Although we have published the Flo-judiciary act. rida treaty, we shall re-insert it, together with its explanations, &c. about the grants of lands, as lately ratified by the president and senate of the United States. The court decided in favor of the jurisdiction. March 2. Mr. justice Johnson delivered the opinion of the court in the case of Anderson vs. Dunn, (argued by Mr Hall for the plaintiff, and by the atAn interesting account of this country has just torney general and Mr. Jones for the defendant,) appeared in the Charleston Courier, which we have in which the judgment of the court below was at Jaid off for publication. It appears capable of fur-firmed; and this court decided, that the warrant isnishing most of the products of the West Indies, sued by the speaker of the house of representaand, no doubt, will soon receive a great augmentatives was a lawful authority, which justified the detion of inhabitants: but we value its possession fendant in arresting and imprisoning the plaintiff. more as relieving us of bad neighbors, and on ac March 3. Mr. chief justice Marshall delivered count of its harbors, for the defence of our southern the opinion of the court in the case of Cohens vs. frontier. The State of Virginia, upon the motion made by Mr. Barbour to dismiss the writ of error, argued by that gentleman and Mr. Smyth for the defendant in error, and by vir. Ogden and Mr. Pinckney for the plaintiff in error. The court sustained its jurisdiction, upon the ground that this court possesses an appellate jurisdiction from the final judg ment of the highest court of law or equity of a state having jurisdiction of the particular cause, although such state may be a party to the cause as defendant in error, where is drawn in question the validity of an authority, &c. exercised under the constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States, and the decision of the state court is against the validity of the authority, &c. claimed under the constitution, &c. THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. We have the pleasure to publish Mr. Monroe's speech on his second inauguration, as president of the United States. It is a very interesting article; and, though it does not go so far as some wished, or others believe that the state of the country requires, there is evidence in it of a disposition to rest upon our own resources, which, we hope, will be favorably received. FOREIGN NEWS, It appears that the allied kings are taking a very high ground. Their intentions are clearly developed-the object of an alliance, impiously called "holy," is to keep the people in chains. They summoned the old king of Naples to appear before them to give an account of himself, and he obeyed, as perhaps it was most prudent that he should do so, though the act was derogatory to him. They have also ordered the king of Spain to appear-but we are glad to understand that the cortes have declared that he shall not leave the kingdom. England and France, though really parties to this conspiracy of kings, appear to act with considerable caution. Neither of these powers manifest a disposition to meddle directly with the affairs of Spain or Naples, though each of them has refused to receive the new ministers from the latter. The Portuguese have lately published a spirited manifesto to the sovereigns and nations of Europe. CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS. It will be seen by a reference to the proceedings of the supreme court, inserted below, that the great question to which the state of Virginia was a party, has been decided unfavorably to the opinion entertained by the legislature of that state, as to the jurisdiction of the court; but in the matter as to the right to dis pose of "National lottery tickets," within the states which have laws to regulate lotteries and which gave rise to the controversy, the dignity of the state laws has been maintained. March 5. Mr. chief justice Marshall delivered the opinion of the court in the case of Cohens vs. The State of Virginia, that the corporation of the city of Washington had no right, under the act of congress authorizing lotteries in that city, to sell the tickets in any state of the union, by the laws of which the sale of tickets, not authorized by an act of the state legislature, are prohibited. The court deemed it unnecessary, in the present case, to express any opinion whether congress could or could not legalize the sale of tickets throughout the union, of a lottery established in the district of Columbia, if the legislative will had been expressed to that effect. The judgment of the state court was therefore affirmed. Inaugural Speech. On Monday last, the 5th of March, in the great hall of the house of representatives, which was completely filled with people, chief justice Marshall, administered the oath of office to Mr. Monroe, previous to his entering upon the duties of his second term of service as president of the U. States: After which he delivered the following speech: SUPREME COURT. An interesting question, of Fellow citizens-I shall not attempt to describe general importance, was decided by court, in Young the grateful emotions which the new and very disvs. Bryan. The plaintiffs below were citizens of tinguished proof of the confidence of my fellow Vol. XX, 2 citizens, evinced by my re-election to this high | tation of our naval force, as should be well adapttrust, has excited in my bosom. The approbation ed to both purposes. The laws, making this prowhich it announces of my conduct, in the preced-vision, were passed in 1815 and 16, and it has been ing term, affords me a consolation which I shall since, the constant effort of the executive, to carry profoundly feel through life. The general accord them into effect. with which it has been expressed, adds to the great and never-ceasing obligations which it imposes. To merit the continuance of this good opinion, and to carry it with me into my retirement, as the solace of advancing years, will be the object of my most zealous and unceasing efforts. The advantage of these fortifications, and of an augmented naval force, in the extent contemplated, in point of economy, has been fully illustrated, by a report of the board of engineers and naval commissioners, lately communicated to congress, by which it appears, that in an invasion by twenty thousand men, with a correspondent naval force, in a campaign of six months only, the whole expense of the construction of the works would be defrayed by the difference in the sum necessary to main. tain the force which would be adequate to our defence with the aid of those works, and that which would be incurred without them. The f this difference is obvious. I fortifications are ju. diciously placed on our great inlets, as distant from Having no pretension to the high and commanding claims of my predecessors, whose names are so much more conspicuously identified with our revolution, and who contributed so pre-eminently to promote its success, I consider myself rather as the instrument than the cause of the union which has prevailed in the late election. In surmounting, in favor of my humble pretensions, the difficulties which so often produce division in like occurrences, it is obvious that other powerful causes, indicating our cities, as circumstances will permit, they will the great strength and stability of our union, have form the only points of attack, and the enemy will essentially contributed to draw you together. That be detained there by a small regular force, a suffithese powerful causes exist, and that they are per- cient time to enable our militia to collect, and remanent, is my fixed opinion: that they may produce pair to that on which the attack is made. A force a like accord in all questions, touching, however adequate to the enemy, collected at that single remotely, the liberty, prosperity, and happiness, of point, with suitable preparation for such others as our country, will always be the object of my most might be menaced, is all that would be requisite. fervent prayers to the Supreme Author of all good. But, if there were no fortifications, then the enemy In a government which is founded by the people, might go where he pleased, and, changing his powho possess exclusively the sovereignty, it seems sition, and sailing from place to place, our force proper that the person who may be placed by their must be called out and spread in vast numbers suffrages in this high trust, should declare, on com- along the whole coast, and on both sides of every mencing its duties, the principles on which he in-bay and river, as high up in each as it might be natends to conduct the administration. If the person, vigable for ships of war. By these fortifications, thus elected, has served the preceding term, an supported by our navy, to which they would afford opportunity is afforded him to review its principal occurrences, and to give such further explanation respecting them as, in his judgment, may be useful to his constituents. The events of one year have influence on those of another; and, in like manuer, of a preceding on the succeeding administration. The movements of a great nation are connected in all their parts. If errors have been committed, they ought to be corrected; if the policy is sound, it ought to be supported. It is by a thorough It need scarcely be remarked, that these meaknowledge of the whole subject that our fellow-sures have not been resorted to in a spirit of hosticitizens are enabled to judge correctly of the past,lity to other powers. Such a disposition does not and to give a proper direction to the future. like support, we should present to other powers, an armed front from St. Croix to the Sabine, which would protect, in the event of war, our whole coast and interior from invasion; and even in the wars of other powers, in which we were neutral, they would be found eminently useful, as, by keeping their public ships at a distance from our cities, peace and order in them would be preserved, and the government be protected from insult. exist towards any power. Peace and good will Just before the commencement of the last term, have been, and will hereafter be, cultivated with the United States had concluded a war with a all, and by the most faithful regard to justice. They very powerful nation, on conditions equal and ho- have been dictated by a love of peace, of economy, norable to both parties. The events of that war and an earnest desire to save the lives of our fel. are too recent, and too deeply impressed on the low-citizens from that destruction, and our country memory of all, to require a development from me. from that devastation, which are inseparable from Our commerce had been, in a great measure, driven war, when it finds us unprepared for it. It is befrom the sea; our Atlantic and inland frontiers were lieved, and experience has shown, that such a preinvaded in almost every part; the waste of life along paration is the best expedient that can be resorted our coast, and on some parts of our inland frontiers, to, to prevent war. I add, with much pleasure, to the defence of which our gallant and patriotic that considerable progress has already been made citizens were called, was immense; in addition to in these measures of defence, and that they will which, not less than one hundred and twenty mil-be completed in a few years, considering the great lions of dollars were added at its end to the public extent and importance of the object, if the plan debt. be zealously and steadily persevered in. As soon as the war had terminated, the nation, admonished by its events, resolved to place itself in a situation, which should be better calculated to prevent the recurrence of a like evil, and, in case it should recur, to mitigate its calamities. With this view, after reducing our land force to the basis of a peace establishment, which has been further modified since, provision was made for the construction of fortifications at proper points, through the whole extent of our coast, and such an augmen-1 The conduct of the government, in what relates to foreign powers, is always an object of the highest importance to the nation. Its agriculture, com merce, manufactures, fisheries, revenue; in short, its peace, may all be affected by it. Attention is, therefore, due to this subject. At the period adverted to, the powers of Eu rope, after having been engaged in long and de structive wars with each other, had concluded a peace, which happily still exists. Our peace with the |