ish officers to the immediate execution of the treaty, I have judged it proper that we should continue in readiness to receive the posts, and to run the line of limits. Further information on this subject will be communicated in the course of the session.

In connection with this unpleasant state of things on our western frontier, it is proper for me to mention the attempts of foreign agents, to alienate the affections of the Indian nations, and to excite them to actual hostilities against the United States. Great activity has been exerted by these persons, who have insinuated themselves among the Indian tribes, residing within the territory of the United States, to influence them to transfer their affections and force to a foreign nation; to form them into a confederacy, and prepare them for war against the United States.

Although measures have been taken to counteract these infractions of our rights; to prevent Indian hostilities; and to preserve entire their attachment to the United States, it is my duty to observe, that to give a better effect to these measures, and to obviate the consequences of a repetition of such practices, a law providing adequate punishment for such offences may be necessary.

The commissioners appointed under the fifth article of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation between the United States and Great Britain, to ascertain the river which was truly intended under the name of the river St. Croix, mentioned in the treaty of peace, met at Passamaquoddy bay, in October, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, and viewed the mouths of the rivers in question, and the adjacent shores and islands; and being of opinion that actual surveys of both rivers to their sources were necessary, gave to the agents of the two nations instructions for that purpose, and adjourned to meet at Boston, in August. They met; but the surveys requiring more time than had been supposed, and not being then completed, the commissioners again adjourned to meet at Providence, in the state of Rhode Island, in June next, when we may expect a final examination and decision.

The commissioners appointed in pursuance of the sixth article of the treaty, met at Philadelphia, in May last, to examine the claims of British subjects for debts contracted before the peace, and still remaining due to them from

citizens or inhabitants of the United States. Various causes have hitherto prevented any determinations; but the business is now resumed, and doubtless will be prosecuted without interruption.

Several decisions on the claims of citizens of the United States, for losses and damages sustained by reason of irregular and illegal captures or condemnations of their vessels or other property, have been made by the commissioners in London, conformably to the seventh article of the treaty. The sums awarded by the commissioners have been paid by the British government. A considerable number of other claims, where costs and damages, and not captured property, were the only objects in question, have been decided by arbitration, and the sums awarded to the citizens of the United States, have also been paid.

The commissioners appointed agreeably to the twentyfirst article of our treaty with Spain, met at Philadelphia, in the summer past, to examine and decide on the claims of our citizens for losses they have sustained in consequence of their vessels and cargoes having been taken by the subjects of his catholick majesty, during the late war between Spain and France. Their sittings have been interrupted; but are now resumed.

The United States being obligated to make compensation for the losses and damages sustained by British subjects, upon the award of the commissioners acting under the sixth article of the treaty with Great Britain; and for the losses and damages sustained by British subjects, by reason of the capture of their vessels and merchandise, taken within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, and brought into their ports, or taken by vessels originally armed in ports of the United States, upon the awards of the commissioners acting under the seventh article of the same treaty, it is necessary that provision be made for fulfilling these obligations.

The numerous captures of American vessels by the cruisers of the French Republick, and of some by those of Spain, have occasioned considerable expenses, in making and supporting the claims of our citizens before their tribunals. The sums required for this purpose, have, in divers instances, been disbursed by the consuls of the United States.-By means of the same captures, great numbers of our seamen have been thrown ashore in foreign

countries, destitute of all means of subsistence; and the sick, in particular, have been exposed to grievous sufferings. The consuls have, in these cases also, advanced moneys for their relief. For these advances, they reasonably expect reimbursements from the United States.

The consular act, relative to seamen, requires revision and amendment. The provisions for their support in foreign countries, and for their return, are found to be inadequate and ineffectual.-Another provision seems necessary to be added to the consular act. Some foreign vessels have been discovered sailing under the flag of the United States, and with forged papers. It seldom happens that the consuls can detect this deception, because they have no authority to demand an inspection of the registers and sea letters.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,-It is my duty to recommend to your serious consideration, those objects which, by the constitution, are placed particularly within your sphere, the national debt and taxes.

Since the decay of the feudal system, by which the publick defence was provided for chiefly at the expense of individuals, the system of loans has been introduced. And as no nation can raise within the year, by taxes, sufficient sums for its defence and military operations in time of war, the sums loaned, and debts contracted, have necessarily become the subject of what have been called funding systems. The consequences arising from the continual accumulation of publick debts, in other countries, ought to admonish us to be careful to prevent their growth in our own. The national defence must be provided for, as well as the support of government; but both should be accomplished, as much as possible, by immediate taxes, and as little as possible by loans.-The estimates for the service of the ensuing year, will, by my direction, be laid before you.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, We are met together at a most interesting period. The situations of the principal powers of Europe are singular and portentous. Connected with some by treaties, and with all by commerce, no important event there, can be indifferent to us. Such circumstances call with peculiar importunity, not less for a disposition to unite in all those measures, on which the honour, safety,

and prosperity of our country depend, than for all the exertions of wisdom and firmness.

In all such measures, you may rely on my zealous and hearty concurrence.

JOHN ADAMS.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CON

GRESS. JAN. 23, 1798.

AT the commencement of this session of Congress, I proposed in the course of it, to communicate to both Houses, further information concerning the situation of our affairs in the territories of the United States situated on the Mississippi river, and its neighbourhood,—our intercourse with the Indian nations, our relations with the Spanish government, and the conduct of their officers and agents: This information will be found in a report of the Secretary of State and the documents attending it, which I now present to the Senate and House of Representatives.

JOHN ADAMS.

REPORT

OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE то THE PRESIDENT OF

THE UNITED STATES.

'IN observance of your directions I have revised the communications from Mr. Ellicott, the commissioner of the United States at the Natchez, since my report of the 3d of July last, which, with the documents therein referred to, you, on the same day, laid before Congress; and now respectfully submit to you a statement of whatever appears therein to be material.

The last letter from Mr. Ellicott, of which a communication was made to Congress, bore date the 10th of May last. His next, dated the 27th of that month, I received the 24th of August. In this he mentions that reinforce

ments were sent from New Orleans to the post at Walnuthills, and that repairs were made on the fort at the Natchez: That he had received very satisfactory accounts from both the Chickasaws and Chactaws, that for more than eight months past, they had been tampered with by the Spanish agents and traders, to prevent the late treaty between his catholick majesty and the United States from being carried into effect;-though Mr. Ellicott thinks, without success. On the 11th of May, he wrote to governour Gayoso desiring a definitive answer as to the time he would be ready to proceed to the determination of the boundaries between the two nations, as specified in the treaty ;-to which he received an unsatisfactory answer. On the 16th he addressed governour Gayoso a retrospective view of their correspondence, and of that with lieutenant Pope, exhibiting the repeated promises and demonstrations of running the boundary line and evacuating the posts-the non-performance of those promises-and the varied pretences for the delay. To this detail of unfulfilled engagements and contradictory measures, the governour answered Mr. Ellicott on the 17th, "That he should not trouble him with justifying the motives which had caused some disagreement in his (the governour's) communications ;" adding however, that "they were far from being insincere."

In his next letter dated the 4th of June, Mr. Ellicott mentions that "The citizens of the United States who are trading on the Mississippi are frequently treated with great insolence, at the Spanish posts, and their property taken for the use of his catholick majesty, when wanted, and always at a reduced price." He instances the case of a Mr. M'Cluny, from whom a large quantity of flour. was thus taken at the Walnut-hills--and of Francis Baily, who was compelled to receive as cash, in payment for goods sold, a species of paper, which was passing at a discount of twelve per cent.

With this letter Mr. Ellicott transmitted the copy of a proclamation by the Baron de Carondelet, governour general of Louisiana, bearing date at New Orleans the 24th of May; and ordered to be published. In order to dissipate reports, which had alarmed the inhabitants of the Natchez, the Baron therein declares "That the suspension of the demarcation of the limits, and the