nimated by the fenfe of his independence. Thus, you will fignalize thofe ftill more degraded beings, who, being fold to the enemies of the republic, drag from clime to clime a life overwhelmed with mifery and contempt-wretches, whom hiftory will not call to remembrance, except to perpetuate their difgrace. The ufe of the French chanceries, the national protection will not be granted to any Frenchman but thote who perfectly fenfible of the dignity attached to the title of citizen, fhall take a pride in wearing conftantly the tri-coloured cockade. The executive directory of the French republic have pronounced thus. Being the organ of their defitions, I communicate them with pleasure to my fellowcitizens. As for those who, although Frenchmen born, have ceafed to be Frenchmen, I do not fpeak to them; the public voice will inform them of their exclufion. Done at Philadelphia, the 12th Brumaire, the fifth Year of the French republic, one and indivifiible. (Signed) Philadelphia, Nov. 7. P. A. ADET this day, address their demands or claims to the conful general of the republic. At Philadelphia, the 25th Addrefs of the Prefident of the United December 7, 1795: Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Repre fentatives, fituation of our country, fince I IN recurring to the internal had the pleasure to addrefs you, I find ample reafon for a renewed expreffion of that gratitude to the Ruler of the Univerfe, which a continued feries of profperity has fo often and fo juftly called forth. required fpecial arrangements, have The acts of the laft feffion, which been, as far as circumftances would admit, carried into operation. the Creek nation at Oolerain, in The meeting of the deputies from the flate of Georgia, which had for a principal object the purchase of a parcel of their land by that ftate, plished: the nation having, prebroke up without its being accomvious to their departure, inftructed them againft making any fale; the occafion, however, has been imtreaty with the Creeks, their preproved, to confirm, by a new exifting engagements with the United States, and to obtain their confent to the eftablishment of trading houfes and military pofts within their boundary, by means of which their friendship, and the general peace, may be more effectually fecured. As As foon as the governor-general of Canada could be addreffed with propriety on this fubject, arrangements were cordially and promptly concluded for their evacuation, and the United States took poffeffion of the principal of them, comprehending Ofwego, Niagara, Detroit, Michaliminac, and Fort Miami, where fuch repairs and additions have been ordered to be made as appeared indifpenfable. The commiffioners appointed on the part of the United States, agreeably to the feventh article of the treaty with Great Britain, relative to captures and condemnation of veffels and other property, met the commiffioners of his Biitannic Majefty in London, in Auguft laft, when John Trumball, Efq. was chofen by lot for the fifth commiffioner. In October following the board were to proceed to business. As yet there has been no communication of commiffioners on the part of Great Britain, to unite with those who have been appointed on the part of the United States, for carrying into effect the fixth article of the treaty. The treaty with Spain required that the commiffioners for running the boundary line, between the territory of the United States and his Catholic Majefty's provinces of Eaft and West Florida, fhould meet at the Natches, before the expiration of fix months after the exchange of the ratifications, which was effected at Aranjuez, on the 25th of April, and the troops of his Catholic majefty, occupying any pofts within the limits of the United States, were within the fame period to be withdrawn. The commiflioner of the United States, therefore, commenced his journey from the Natches in September, and troops were ordered to occupy the pofts from which the Spanish garrifons fhould be withdrawn. Information has been recently received of the appointment of a commiffioner on the part of his Catholic majefty for running the boundary line, but none of any appointment for the adjuftment of the claims of our citizens, whofe veffels were captured by the armed veffels of Spain. In purfuance of the act of congrefs, paffed in the last session, for the protection and relief of American feamen, agents were appointed, one to refide in Great Britain, and the other in the Weft Indies. The effects of the agency in the Weft Indies are not yet fully af certained; but those which have been communicated afford grounds to believe the meature will be be neficial. The agent deftined to refide in Great Britain declining to accept the appointment, the bunnefs has confequently devolved on the minifter of the United States in London; and will command his attention, until a new agent shall be appointed. After many delays and difappointments, arifing out of the European war, the final arrangements for fulfilling the engagements made to the Dey and regency of Algiers will, in all prefent appearance, be crowned with fuccefs; but under great, though inevitable dif advantage, in the pecuniary traní. actions, occafioned by that war; which will render a further prov fion neceffary. The actual liberation of all our citizens who were prifoners in Algiers, while it gratifies every feeling heart, is itfelt an earnett earneft of a fatisfactory termination of the whole negotiation. Meafures are in operation for effecting treaties with the regencies of Tunis and Tripoli. To an active external commerce the protection of a naval force is indifpenfable. This is manifest with regard to wars in which a fiate is itself a party; but befides this, it is our own experience, that the most fincere neu rality is not a fufficient guard against the depredations of nations at war. To fe cure respect to a neutral flag requires a naval force, organized, and ready to vindicate it from infult or aggreffion. This may even prevent the neceffity of going to war, by difcouraging belligerent powers from committing fuch violations of the rights of the neutral party as may, firft or lat, receive no other option. From the beft information I have been able to obtain, it would feem as if our trade to the Mediterranean, without a protecting force, will always be infecure; and our citizens expofed to the calamities from which numbers of them have but juft been relieved. These confiderations invite the United States to look to the means, and to fet about the gradual creation of a navy. The increafing progrefs of their navigation promifes them, at no diftant period, the requifite fupply of feamen; and their means, in other refpects, favour the undertaking. It is an encouragement, likewife, that their particular fituation will give weight and influence to a moderate naval force in their hands. Will it not then be advitable to begin, without delay, to provide, and lay up the materials for the building and equipping of thips of war; and to proceed in the work by degrees, in proportion as our refources fhall render it practicable, without inconvenience; fo that a future war of Europe may not find our commerce in the fame unprotected fiate in which it was found by the prefent? Congrefs have repeatedly, aud not without fuccefs, directed their attention to the encouragement of manufactures. The object is of too much confequence not to enfure a continuation of their efforts, in every way which will appear eligible. As a general rule, manufacturers on a public account are inexpedient; but where the ftate of things in a country leave little hope that certain branches of manufacture will, for a great length of time, obtain; when thefe are of a nature eflential to the furnishing and equipping of the public force in the time of war, are not eftablifhments for procuring them ou public account, to the extent of the ordinary demand for the public fermice, recommended by ftrong confiderations of national policy, as an exception to the general rule? Ought our country to remain in fuch cases dependant on foreign fupply, precarious, becaufe liable to be interrupted? If the neceffary articles fhould in this mode colt more in time of peace, will not the fecurity and independence thence arifing form an ample compenfation? Eftablishments of this fort, commenfurate only with the calls of the public fervice in the time of peace, will, in time of war, eafily be extended in proportion to the exigencies of government, and even perhaps to be made to yield a furplus, for the fupply of our citizens at large; fo as to mitigate the pri vateers vateers from the interruption of their trade. If adopted the plan ought to exclude all thofe branches, which are already, or likely foon to be established in the country, in order that there may be no danger of interference with purfuits of individual induftry. It will not be doubted that, with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population, and other circumftances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of the foil more and more an object of public patronage. Inftitutions for promoting it grow up, fupported by the public purfe; and to what object can it be dedicated with greater propriety? The means which have been employed to this end, none have been attended with greater fuccefs than the establish ment of boards, compofed of proper characters, charged with collecting and diffufing information, and enabled by premiums, and fmall pecuniary aids, to encourage and affift a fpirit of difcovery and improvement. I have heretofore propofed to the confideration of Congrefs the expediency of cftablishing a national univerfity, and alfo a military academy. The defirableness of both thefe inftitutions has fo conftantly increafed with every new view I have taken of the fubject, that I cannot omit the opportunity of once for all recalling your attention to them. The affembly to which I addrefs myfelf is too enlightened not to be fully fenfible how much a flourishing ftate of the arts and fciences contributes to national profperity and reputation. True it is that our country, much to its honour, contains feminaries of learning, highly refpectable and ufetul; but the funds upon which they reft, are too narrow to command the ableft profeffors in the different departments of liberal knowledge, for the inflitution contemplated, though they would be excellent auxiliaries. Amongst the motives to fuch an inftitution, the affimilation of the principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen, by the common education of a portion of our youth from every quarter, well deferves attention. The more homogeneous our citizens can be made, in thefe particulars, the greater will be our profpe&t of permanent union; and a primary object of fuch a national inftitution fhould be the education of our youth in the fcience of government. In a republic, what fpecies of knowledge can be equally important; and what duty more prefling on its legiflature than to patronize a plan for communicating it to thofe who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country? While in our external relations, fome ferious inconveniences and embarraffments have been overcome, and others leffened, it is with much pain and deep regret I mention, that circumftances of a very unwelcome nature have lately occurred. Our trade has fuffered, and is fuffering, extenfive injuries in the Wett Indies, from the cruizers and agents of the French republic; and communications have been received from its minifter bere which indicate the danger of a further disturbance in our commerce by its authority, and which are, in other refpects, far from agree able. It has been my conftant, fincere, and earnest with, in conformity with that of our nation, to maintain cordial harmony and a perfectly friendly understanding with that republic. This with remains unabated; and I fhall perfevere in the endeavour to fulfil it, to the tmoft extent of what thall be confiftent with a juft and indifpenfable regard to the rights and honour of our country; nor will I easily cease to cherish the expectation, that a fpirit of juftice, candour, and friendship, on the part of the republic, will eventually enfure fuccefs. In purfuing this courfe, however, I cannot forget what is due to the character of our government and nation; or to a full and entire confidence in the good fenfe, patriotifm, felf-refpect, and fortitude of my countrymen. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Anfwer to the above addrefs prefented by the Vice president. WE thank you, fir, for your faithful and detailed expofure of the exifting fituation of our country; and we fincerely join in fentiments of gratitude to an over-rul ing providence for the diftinguithed thare of public profperity and private happinefs, which the people of the United States fo peculiarly enjoy. We obferve with pleafure, that the delivery of the military pofts lately occupied by the British forces within the territory of the United States, was made with cordiality and promptitude, as foon as circumftances would admit; and that the other provifions of our objects of eventual arrangement are now about being carried into effect with entire harmony and good faith. We perfectly coincide with you in opinion, that the importance of our commerce demands a naval force for its protection against foreign infult and depredation, and our folicitude to attain that object will be always proportionate to its magnitude. The neceflity of accelerating the eftablishment of certain useful mamufactures by the intervention of legiflative aid and protection, and the encouragement due to agriculture by the creation of boards (compofed of intelligent individuals) to patronize this primary purfuit of fociety, are fubjects which will readily engage our most serious attention. A national univerfity may be converted to the mott ufeful purpofes. The fcience of legiflation being fo effentially dependent on the endowments of the mind, the / public intereft muft receive effecjual aid from the general diffufion of knowledge, and the United States will affume a more dignified ftation among the nations of the earth, by the fuccefsful cultivation of the higheft branches of literature. We fincerely lament, that while the conduct of the United States has been uniformly impreffed with the character of equity, moderation, and love of peace, in the maintenance of all their foreign relationfhips, our trade fhould be fo harafied by the cruifers and agents of the republic of France, throughout the extenfive departments of the Weft Indies. We |