WILLIAM FEW, from Georgia.
_Ordered_, That Messrs. Butler, Morris, and Dickinson, be a committee to
wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that a quorum
of the Senate is assembled, and ready to receive any communication he
may be pleased to make to them.
_Ordered_, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that
a quorum of the Senate is assembled and ready to proceed to business;
and that they have notified the President of the United States that they
are ready to receive such communications as he may be pleased to make to
them.
Mr. IZARD, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President
of the United States, agreeably to the resolution of the two Houses, of
this day, reported that they had executed the business, and that the
President of the United States proposed to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, to
meet the two Houses of Congress in the Senate Chamber.
TUESDAY, October 25.
_Ordered_, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives that
the Senate are ready to meet them in the Senate Chamber, to receive any
communications the President of the United States may be pleased to make
to the two Houses of Congress; and that the usual seats will be assigned
them.
The House of Representatives having accordingly taken their seats, the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES came into the Senate Chamber, and
addressed both Houses of Congress as followeth:[39]
_Fellow-Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of
Representatives:_
I meet you upon the present occasion with the feelings
which are naturally inspired by a strong impression of the
prosperous situation of our common country, and by a
persuasion, equally strong, that the labors of the session
which has just commenced will, under the guidance of a
spirit no less prudent than patriotic, issue in measures
conducive to the stability and increase of national
prosperity.
Numerous as are the Providential blessings which demand our
grateful acknowledgments, the abundance with which another
year has again rewarded the industry of the husbandman is
too important to escape recollection.
Your own observations in your respective situations will
have satisfied you of the progressive state of agriculture,
manufactures, commerce, and navigation. In tracing their
causes, you will have remarked, with particular pleasure,
the happy effects of that revival of confidence, public as
well as private, to which the Constitution and laws of the
United States have so eminently contributed; and you will
have observed, with no less interest, new and decisive
proofs of the increasing reputation and credit of the
nation. But you, nevertheless, cannot fail to derive
satisfaction from the confirmation of these circumstances,
which will be disclosed in the several official
communications that will be made to you in the course of
your deliberations.
The rapid subscriptions to the Bank of the United States,
which completed the sum allowed to be subscribed in a
single day, is among the striking and pleasing evidences
which present themselves, not only of confidence in the
Government, but of resource in the community.
In the interval of your recess, due attention has been paid
to the execution of the different objects which were
specially provided for by the laws and resolutions of the
last session.
Among the most important of these, is the defence and
security of the Western frontiers. To accomplish it on the
most humane principles was a primary wish.
Accordingly, at the same time that treaties have been
provisionally concluded, and other proper means used to
attach the wavering, and to confirm in their friendship the
well-disposed tribes of Indians, effectual measures have
been adopted to make those of a hostile description
sensible that a pacification was desired upon terms of
moderation and justice.
These measures having proved unsuccessful, it became
necessary to convince the refractory of the power of the
United States to punish their depredations. Offensive
operations have therefore been directed, to be conducted,
however, as consistently as possible with the dictates of
humanity. Some of these have been crowned with full
success, and others are yet depending. The expeditions
which have been completed were carried on under the
authority, and at the expense, of the United States, by the
militia of Kentucky; whose enterprise, intrepidity, and
good conduct are entitled to peculiar commendation.
Overtures of peace are still continued to the deluded
tribes, and considerable numbers of individuals belonging
to them have lately renounced all further opposition,
removed from their former situations, and placed themselves
under the immediate protection of the United States.
It is sincerely to be desired, that all need of coercion in
future may cease; and that an intimate intercourse may
succeed, calculated to advance the happiness of the
Indians, and to attach them firmly to the United States.