That they should experience the benefits of an impartial
dispensation of justice.
That the mode of alienating their lands, the main source of
discontent and war, should be so defined and regulated as
to obviate imposition, and, as far as may be practicable,
controversy concerning the reality and extent of the
alienations which are made.
That commerce with them should be promoted under
regulations tending to secure an equitable deportment
towards them, and that such rational experiments should be
made, for imparting to them the blessings of civilization,
as may from time to time suit their condition.
That the Executive of the United States should be enabled
to employ the means to which the Indians have been long
accustomed for uniting their immediate interests with the
preservation of peace.
And that efficacious provision should be made for
inflicting adequate penalties upon all those who, by
violating their rights, shall infringe the treaties, and
endanger the peace of the Union.
A system corresponding with the mild principles of religion
and philanthropy towards an unenlightened race of men,
whose happiness materially depends on the conduct of the
United States, would be as honorable to the national
character as conformable to the dictates of sound policy.
Pursuant to the authority contained in the several acts on
that subject, a district of ten miles square, for the
permanent seat of the Government of the United States, has
been fixed, and announced by proclamation; which district
will comprehend lands on both sides of the river Potomac,
and the towns of Alexandria and Georgetown. A city has also
been laid out, agreeably to a plan which will be placed
before Congress. And, as there is a prospect, favored by
the rate of sales which have already taken place, of ample
funds for carrying on the necessary public buildings, there
is every expectation of their due progress.
The completion of the census of the inhabitants, for which
provision was made by law, has been duly notified,
(excepting one instance in which the return has been
informal; and another, in which it has been omitted or
miscarried,) and the returns of the officers who were
charged with this duty, which will be laid before you, will
give you the pleasing assurance, that the present
population of the United States borders on four millions of
persons.
_Gentlemen of the Senate:_
Two treaties which have been provisionally concluded with
the Cherokees and Six Nations of Indians, will be laid
before you for your consideration and ratification.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:_
In entering upon the discharge of your legislative trust,
you must anticipate, with pleasure, that many of the
difficulties, necessarily incident to the first
arrangements of a new Government, for an extensive country,
have been happily surmounted by the zealous and judicious
exertions of your predecessors, in co-operation with the
other branch of the Legislature. The important objects
which remain to be accomplished, will, I am persuaded, be
conducted upon principles equally comprehensive, and
equally well calculated for the advancement of the general
weal.
It is particularly pleasing to me to be able to announce to
you that the revenues which have been established promise
to be adequate to their objects, and maybe permitted, if no
unforeseen exigency occurs, to supersede, for the present,
the necessity of any new burdens upon our constituents.[40]
An object which will claim your early attention is a
provision for the current service of the ensuing year,
together with such ascertained demands upon the Treasury as
require to be immediately discharged, and such casualties
as may have arisen in the execution of the public business,
for which no specific appropriation may have yet been made;
of all which a proper estimate will be laid before you.
_Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of
Representatives:_
I shall content myself with a general reference to former
communications for several objects, upon which the urgency
of other affairs has hitherto postponed any definitive
resolution. Their importance will recall them to your
attention; and, I trust that the progress already made in
the most arduous arrangements of the Government will afford
you leisure to resume them with advantage.
There are, however, some of them of which I cannot forbear
a more particular mention. These are: the Militia, the Post
Office and Post Roads, the Mint, Weights and Measures, and
a provision for the sale of the vacant lands of the United
States.
The disorders in the existing currency, and especially the
scarcity of small change, a scarcity so peculiarly
distressing to the poorer classes, strongly recommend the
carrying into immediate effect the resolution already
entered into concerning the establishment of a Mint.
Measures have been taken pursuant to that resolution for
procuring some of the most necessary artists, together with
the requisite apparatus.
A provision for the sale of the vacant lands of the United
States is particularly urged, among other reasons, by the
important considerations, that they are pledged as a fund
for reimbursing the public debt; that, if timely and
judiciously applied, they may save the necessity of
burthening our citizens with new taxes for the
extinguishment of the principal; and that, being free to
discharge the principal but in a limited proportion, no
opportunity ought to be lost for availing the public of its
right.