State of the Union Addresses (1790-2008)United States. Presidents
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State of the Union Addresses (1790-2008)
United States. Presidents
Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
It is impossible to look back on the occurrences of the late wars in
Europe, and to behold the disregard which was paid to our rights as a
neutral power, and the waste which was made of our commerce by the
parties to those wars by various acts of their respective Governments,
and under the pretext by each that the other had set the example,
without great mortification and a fixed purpose never to submit to the
like in future. An attempt to remove those causes of possible variance
by friendly negotiation and on just principles which should be
applicable to all parties could, it was presumed, be viewed by none
other than as a proof of an earnest desire to preserve those relations
with every power.
In the late war between France and Spain a crisis occurred in which it
seemed probable that all controvertible principles involved in such wars
might be brought into discussion and settled to the satisfaction of all
parties. Propositions having this object in view have been made to the
Governments of Great Britain, France, Russia, and of other powers, which
have been received in a friendly manner by all, but as yet no treaty has
been formed with either for its accomplishment. The policy will, it is
presumed, be persevered in, and in the hope that it may be successful.
It will always be recollected that with one of the parties to those wars
and from whom we received those injuries, we sought redress by war. From
the other, by whose then reigning Government our vessels were seized in
port as well as at sea and their cargoes confiscated, indemnity has been
expected, but has not yet been rendered. It was under the influence of
the latter that our vessels were likewise seized by the Governments of
Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Naples, and from whom indemnity has
been claimed and is still expected, with the exception of Spain, by whom
it has been rendered.
With both parties we had abundant cause of war, but we had no
alternative but to resist that which was most powerful at sea and
pressed us nearest at home. With this all differences were settled by a
treaty, founded on conditions fair and honorable to both, and which has
been so far executed with perfect good faith. It has been earnestly
hoped that the other would of its own accord, and from a sentiment of
justice and conciliation, make to our citizens the indemnity to which
they are entitled, and thereby remove from our relations any just cause
of discontent on our side.
It is estimated that the receipts into the Treasury during the current
year, exclusive of loans, will exceed $18.5 millions, which, with the
sum remaining in the Treasury at the end of the last year, amounting to
$9,463,922.81 will, after discharging the current disbursements of the
year, the interest on the public debt, and upward of $11,633,011.52 of
the principal, leave a balance of more than $3 millions in the Treasury
on the first day of January next.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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