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Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
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I was for some time apprehensive that it would be necessary, on account of
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the contagious sickness which afflicted the city of Philadelphia, to
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convene the National Legislature at some other place. This measure it was
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desirable to avoid, because it would occasion much public inconvenience and
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a considerable public expense and add to the calamities of the inhabitants
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of this city, whose sufferings must have excited the sympathy of all their
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fellow citizens. Therefore, after taking measures to ascertain the state
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and decline of the sickness, I postponed my determination, having hopes,
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now happily realized, that, without hazard to the lives or health of the
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members, Congress might assemble at this place, where it was next by law to
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meet. I submit, however, to your consideration whether a power to postpone
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the meeting of Congress, without passing the time fixed by the Constitution
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upon such occasions, would not be a useful amendment to the law of 1794.
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Although I can not yet congratulate you on the reestablishment of peace in
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Europe and the restoration of security to the persons and properties of our
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citizens from injustice and violence at sea, we have, nevertheless,
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abundant cause of gratitude to the source of benevolence and influence for
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interior tranquillity and personal security, for propitious seasons,
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prosperous agriculture, productive fisheries, and general improvements,
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and, above all, for a rational spirit of civil and religious liberty and a
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calm but steady determination to support our sovereignty, as well as our
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moral and our religious principles, against all open and secret attacks.
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Our envoys extraordinary to the French Republic embarked--one in July, the
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other in August--to join their colleague in Holland. I have received
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intelligence of the arrival of both of them in Holland, from whence they
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all proceeded on their journeys to Paris within a few days of the 19th of
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September. Whatever may be the result of this mission, I trust that nothing
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will have been omitted on my part to conduct the negotiation to a
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successful conclusion, on such equitable terms as may be compatible with
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the safety, honor and interest of the United States. Nothing, in the mean
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time, will contribute so much to the preservation of peace and the
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attainment of justice as manifestation of that energy and unanimity of
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which on many former occasions the people of the United States have given
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such memorable proofs, and the exertion of those resources for national
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defense which a beneficent Providence has kindly placed within their
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power.
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It may be confidently asserted that nothing has occurred since the
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adjournment of Congress which renders inexpedient those precautionary
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measures recommended by me to the consideration of the two Houses at the
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opening of your late extraordinary session. If that system was then
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prudent, it is more so now, as increasing depredations strengthen the
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reasons for its adoption.
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Indeed, whatever may be the issue of the negotiation with France, and
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whether the war in Europe is or is not to continue, I hold it most certain
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that permanent tranquillity and order will not soon be obtained. The state
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of society has so long been disturbed, the sense of moral and religious
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obligations so much weakened, public faith and national honor have been so
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impaired, respect to treaties has been so diminished, and the law of
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nations has lost so much of its force, while pride, ambition, avarice and
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violence have been so long unrestrained, there remains no reasonable ground
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on which to raise an expectation that a commerce without protection or
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defense will not be plundered.
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The commerce of the United States is essential, if not to their existence,
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at least to their comfort, their growth, prosperity, and happiness. The
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genius, character, and habits of the people are highly commercial. Their
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cities have been formed and exist upon commerce. Our agriculture,
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fisheries, arts, and manufactures are connected with and depend upon it. In
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short, commerce has made this country what it is, and it can not be
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destroyed or neglected without involving the people in poverty and
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distress. Great numbers are directly and solely supported by navigation.
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The faith of society is pledged for the preservation of the rights of
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commercial and sea faring no less than of the other citizens. Under this
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view of our affairs, I should hold myself guilty of a neglect of duty if I
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forbore to recommend that we should make every exertion to protect our
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commerce and to place our country in a suitable posture of defense as the
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only sure means of preserving both.
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I have entertained an expectation that it would have been in my power at
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the opening of this session to have communicated to you the agreeable
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information of the due execution of our treaty with His Catholic Majesty
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respecting the withdrawing of his troops from our territory and the
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demarcation of the line of limits, but by the latest authentic intelligence
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Spanish garrisons were still continued within our country, and the running
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of the boundary line had not been commenced. These circumstances are the
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more to be regretted as they can not fail to affect the Indians in a manner
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injurious to the United States. Still, however, indulging the hope that the
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answers which have been given will remove the objections offered by the
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Spanish officers to the immediate execution of the treaty, I have judged it
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proper that we should continue in readiness to receive the posts and to run
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the line of limits. Further information on this subject will be
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communicated in the course of the session.
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In connection with this unpleasant state of things on our western frontier
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it is proper for me to mention the attempts of foreign agents to alienate
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the affections of the Indian nations and to excite them to actual
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hostilities against the United States. Great activity has been exerted by
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those persons who have insinuated themselves among the Indian tribes
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residing within the territory of the United States to influence them to
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transfer their affections and force to a foreign nation, to form them into
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a confederacy, and prepare them for war against the United States. Although
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measures have been taken to counteract these infractions of our rights, to
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prevent Indian hostilities, and to preserve entire their attachment to the
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United States, it is my duty to observe that to give a better effect to
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