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 -5 /- /,<• -i-^P 
 
 MESSAGE 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
 TO 
 
 TiOTn HOUSES OF COJSTGRESS 
 
 AT THE 
 
 <:OMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST SESSION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TWELFTH CONGRESS. 
 
 
 If 
 
 NOVEMBER 5, 1811. 
 
 Read, and the documents accompanying in part read. 
 
 NOVEMBER 6, 1811. 
 
 riic reading of the documents completed and referred to h 
 committee of the whole House un the state of the union. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 ./. 13* G. lyjYf VJUNtERS. 
 
 •1811. 
 
 * ' -^ 
 

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 '% 11 
 
% 
 
 MESSAGE. 
 
 Fellow citizens of the Senate 
 
 and of the House of Representatives ^ 
 
 In calling you together sooner than a separa- 
 tion from your homes would otherwise have 
 been required, I yielded to considerations drawn 
 from the posture of our foreign affairs ; and in 
 fixing the present for the time of your meeting, 
 regard was had to the probability of further deve- 
 lopemcnts of the policy of the belligerent powers 
 towards this country, which might the more unite 
 the iiational councils, in ihc measures to be pur- 
 sued. 
 
 At the close of the last session of Congress, 
 it was hoped that the successive confirmations of 
 the extinction of the French decrees, so far as 
 they violated our neutral commerce, would have 
 induced the government of Great Britain to re- 
 peal its orders in council, and thereby authorize a 
 reuKival of the existing obstruction.s to her com- 
 merce with the United Slates. 
 
 r 
 
instead of this reasonable step towards satis- 
 faction and friendship between the two nations, 
 the orders were, at a moment when least to have 
 been expected, put into more rigorous execution ; 
 and it was communicated through the British en- 
 voy just arrived, that whilst the revocation of the 
 edicts of France, as officially made known to the 
 British government, was denied to have taken 
 place ; it was an indispensable condition of the 
 repeal of the British orders, that commerce should 
 be restored to a footing that would admit the 
 productions and manufactures of Great Britain, 
 when owned by neutrals, into markets shut against 
 them by her enemy ; the United States being 
 given to understand that, in the mean time, a 
 continuance of their noti- importation act would 
 lead to measures of retaliation. 
 
 At a later date, it has indeed appeared, 
 that a communication lo the British government, 
 of fresh evidence of the repeal of the French de- 
 crees Dgainst our neutral trade, was followed by 
 an intimation, that it had been transmitted to the 
 British plenipotentiary here ; in order that it might 
 receive full consideration, in the depending dis- 
 cussions. This communication appears not tc 
 have been received : But the transmission of it 
 hither, instead of founding on it an actual repeal 
 of the orders, or assurances that the repeal would 
 ensue, will not permit us to rely on any effective 
 
change in the British cabinet. To be ready to 
 meet with cordiahty satisfactory proofs of such a 
 change, and to proceed, in tlie mean time, in 
 adapting our measures to the views which have 
 been disclosed throiijrh that minister, will best 
 consult our whole duty. 
 
 In the unfriendly spirit of those disclosures, 
 indemnity and redress for other wrongs have con 
 tinned to be withheld ; and our coasts and the 
 mouths of our harbors have again witnessed 
 scenes, not less derogatory to the dearest of our 
 national rights, than vexatious to the regular course 
 of our trade. 
 
 Among the occurrences produced by the con- 
 duct of British ships of war hovering on our 
 coasts, was an encounter between one of them 
 and the American frigate commanded by captain 
 Bodgers, rendered unavoidable on the part of 
 the latter, by a fire, commenced without cause, 
 by the former ; whose commander is, therefore, 
 alone chargeable with the blood unfortunately 
 shed in maintaining the honor of the An rican 
 flag. The proceedings of a court of entj liry 
 requested by captain Bodgcrs, are communica- 
 ted ; together with the correspondence relating 
 to the occurrence, between the secretary of state 
 and his Britannic majesty's envoy. To these 
 are added, the scver.il correspondences which 
 have passed on the subject of the British orders 
 
in council; and to both, the correspondence re* 
 !aii'.<4 10 the lioulas, in which Coni^rcas will be 
 m.icic acqtiiiimed. with the interposition which 
 the };ov\ri)mcnt of Great Britain has thought 
 proper lo make againtjt ihe proceedings of the 
 Uuiied S'ui ( s. 
 
 '1 iie justice and fairness which have been 
 evinced on 'he j)an of the United States towards 
 Franci', both before aiid since the revocation of 
 her decrees, auihoiiv:<d an expectation that her 
 government would have followed up that measure 
 by all -uch others as were due to uur reasonable 
 claims, iis "veil as dictated by its amicable pro- 
 fessions. No [)rooi, however, is yet given of an 
 intrntion to rep-n the other wrongs done to the 
 United States; and particularly to restore the 
 great amount ol American property seized and 
 conflennied under edicts, which, though not 
 afitcting our neutral relations, and, therefore, not 
 entering into questions between th United States 
 and oUicr bellit^crems, were nevertheless founded 
 in sueh unjust principles, that the reparation 
 ougiit to have been prompt and ample. 
 
 Ir^ addition to this, and other demands of 
 strict right, on tl-at nation, ihe United States 
 have mueh reason to be dissatisfied with the rigor- 
 ous and uiiexpicted resirictions, lo whi'h their 
 trade with the French dominions has been stdi- 
 jecttd; and which, if not discontinued, will re- 
 
i 
 
 quire at least corresponding restrictions on im- 
 porlatioiis from France into the (Jniud Stales. 
 
 On all those subjects our minister plenipo- 
 tentiary, lately sent to Pans, has carried uith 
 liim the neee^ihary instructions ; the result oF which 
 will be conimunieaied to you, and by ascertain- 
 ing the ulterior policy of the French government 
 towards the United States, will enable V(ju to 
 adapt to it, that ot the United Slates towards 
 France. 
 
 Our other foreign relations remain without 
 unfavorable changes. With Russia, they are 
 on the best footing of friendship. The ports of 
 Sweden have aftbrded proofs of friendly dispo- 
 fsitions towards our commerce, in the ctuincils 
 of that nation also. And the iniormation irom 
 our special minister to Denmark shews, that 
 the mission had been attended with valuable 
 effects to our citizens, whose property h;id been 
 so extensiv< ly violated and endangered, by cruis- 
 ers undtr the Danish flag. 
 
 Under the ominous indications which com- 
 manded attention, it became a duty, to exert 
 the means comrni»ted to the Executive Depart- 
 ment, in providing for the general security. 
 The works of defence on our m iritimc frontier 
 have accordingly been prosecuted with an activity 
 leaving little to be addi d for the completion of the 
 most important ones; and, as particularly suited 
 
8 
 
 ibr co-operations in emergencies, a portion of 
 the gun-boats have, in particuhir harbors, bet-n 
 ordered into use. The ships of war before in 
 commission, wiih the addition of a frigate, have 
 been chiefly tinphiyed, as a cruising guard to the 
 rights of our coast. And such a disposition 
 has been mode of our land forces, as was thought 
 to promise the services most appropriate and 
 important. In this disposition is included a 
 force consisting of regulars and militia, em- 
 bodied in the Indiana Territory, and marched 
 towards our North Western frontier. This 
 measure was made requisite by several murders 
 and depredations committed by Indians; but 
 more especially by the menacing preparations 
 and aspect of a combination of them, on the 
 Wabash, under the influence and direction of 
 a flinatic of the Shawanese tribe. With these 
 exceptions the Indian tribes retain their peace- 
 able dispositions towards us, and their usual 
 pursuits. 
 
 I must now add that the period is arrived, 
 which chiims from the legislative guardians of 
 the national rights a system of more ample pro- 
 visions for maintaining them. Nolwithstaiuling 
 the scrupulous justice, the protracted modera- 
 tion, and the multiplied ellbrts on the part of the 
 United Stales, to substitute for the accumulating 
 dangers to ihe peace of the two ''ijui.trie:; all lli. 
 
 ■Vf«ik^«k^*i^»- ^•msm^i.jii^^ivii^-'^ 
 
m 
 
 )ortion of 
 '^rs, bet-n 
 
 before in 
 ■afe, have 
 ird to the 
 ispositioii 
 3 thought 
 ri'Jte and 
 ^Iiidcd a 
 tia, em- 
 marched 
 T])is 
 murders 
 IS ; but 
 )arations 
 
 on the 
 uion of 
 h these 
 
 peace- 
 ■ usual 
 
 irrivcd, 
 ians of 
 e pro- 
 an ding 
 odtra- 
 of the 
 
 atine- 
 
 o 
 
 ii!! ilu- 
 
 mutual advantages of re-established friendship and 
 confidence ; we have seen that the British Cabi- 
 net perseveres not only in withholding a remedy 
 for other wrongs, so long and so loudlv calling 
 for it ; but in the execution, brought home to the 
 threshhold of our territory, of measures which, 
 under existing circumstances, have the character, 
 as well as the effect, of war on our lawful com- 
 merce. 
 
 With this evidence of hostile inflexibility, in 
 trampling on rights which no independent nation 
 can relinquish ; Congress will (eel the duty of 
 putting the United States into an armour and an 
 attitude demanded by the crisis, and correspond- 
 ing with the national spirit and expectations. 
 
 I recommend, accordingly, that adequate pro- 
 vision be made for filling the ranks and pro- 
 longing the enlistments of the regular troops; 
 for an auxiliary force, to be engaged for a more 
 limited term ; for the acceptance of volunteer 
 corps, whose patriotic ardor may court a pariici- 
 pation in urgent services ; for detachments, as they 
 may be wanted, of other portions of die militia; 
 and for such a preparation of the great body, as 
 will proportion its useluhiess to its intrinsic capa- 
 cities. Nor can the occasion fail to remind you 
 of the importance of those military seminaries, 
 which, in every event, will form a valuable and 
 frugal part of our military establishment. 
 
la 
 
 The manufacture of cannon and small arms, 
 has proceeded with due success, and the stock 
 and resources of all the necessary munitions are 
 adequate to emergencies. It will not be inexpe- 
 dient, however, for Congress to authorize an en- 
 largement of them. 
 
 Your attention will, of course, be drawn to 
 such provisions, on the subject of our naval force, 
 as may be required for the services to which it 
 may be best adapted. I submit to Congress, the 
 seasonableness, also, of an authority to augment the 
 stock of such materials, as are imperishable in their 
 nature, or may not at once be attainable. 
 
 In contemplating the scenes which distinguish 
 this momentous epoch, and estimating their claims 
 to our attention, it is impossible to overlook those 
 deveiopcing themselves among the great commu- 
 nities which occupy the southern portion of our 
 own hemisphere, and extend into our neighbor- 
 hood. An enlarged philanthropy, and an enlight- 
 ened forecast, concur in imposing on the national 
 councils an obligation to take a deep interest in 
 their destinies ; to cherish recijirocal sentiments of 
 good will ; to regard the progress of events, and 
 not to be unprepared for whatever order of things 
 may be ultimately established. 
 
 Under another aspect of our situation, the early 
 attention of Congress will be due to the expe- 
 diency of further guards against evasions and in- 
 
11 
 
 fractions of our commercial laws. The practice 
 of smuggling, which is odious every where, and 
 particularly criminal in free governments, where, 
 the laws being made by all for the good of all, a 
 fraud is committed on every individual as well 
 as on the state, attains its utmost guilt, when it 
 blends, with a pursuit of ignominious gain, a 
 treacherous subserviency, in the transgressors, to 
 a foreign policy, adverse to that of their own 
 country. It is then that the virtuous indignation 
 of the public should be enabled to manifest itself, 
 through the regular animadversions of the most 
 competent laws. 
 
 To secure greater re. j>ect to our mercantile 
 flag, and to the honest interest which it covers ; it 
 is expedient also, that it be made punishable in 
 our citizens, to accept licences from foreign go- 
 vernments, for a trade unlawfully interdicted by 
 thern to other American citizens ; or to trade un- 
 der false colors or papers of any sort. 
 
 A prohibition is equally called for, against the 
 acceptance, by our citizens, of special licences, 
 to be used in a trade with the United States ; and 
 against the admission into particular ports of tlic 
 United States, of vessels from foreign countries, 
 authorized to trade with particular ports only. 
 
 Although other subjects will press more im. 
 mediately on your deliberations, a portion of them 
 cannot but be will bestowed on the just and 
 
12 
 
 sound policy of securing to our manufactures the 
 success they have attained, and are still attaining, 
 in some degree, under the impulse of causes not 
 permanent ; and to our navigation, the fair extent 
 of which it is at present abridged by the unequal 
 regulations of foreign governments. 
 
 Besides the reasonableness of saving our manu- 
 facturei i from sacrifices which a change of circum- 
 stLinces mighi bring on them, the national mter- 
 est requires, that, with respect to such articles at 
 least as belong to our defence, antl our primary 
 vants, we should not be left in unnecessary de- 
 pendence on external supplies. And whilst for* 
 cit;:n [governments adhere to the existing dibcrimi- 
 nauons in their ports against our navigation, and 
 an equality or lesser discrimination is enjo} ed jjy 
 the! n iviir,it5on in our ports, the effect cannot be 
 mistaken, beca".se it has been seriously felt by 
 our shipping interests; and in pro|iortion as this 
 takes place, the advantages of an independent con- 
 ve} Miicc of our jiroducts to foreign markets, and 
 of a growing body of marines, trained by their 
 ocrnpations for the service of their country in 
 tint' s of danger, must be diminished. 
 
 The reeeipts into the treasury, (hiring the year 
 ending (in the thirtieth of September last, have 
 cxct t {\v(\ thirteen millions and a hall" of dollars, 
 an'' hnve enabled us to defray the current ex- 
 penses, including the interest on the public debt. 
 
13 
 
 
 aixl to reimburse more than five millions of dol- 
 lars of the principal, without recurring to the 
 loan authorized by the act of the last session. 
 The temporary loan obtained in the latter end of 
 the }ear one thousand eight hundred and ten, 
 has also been reimbursed, and is not included in 
 that amount. 
 
 The d( crease of revenue arising from the situ- 
 ation of our commerce, and the extraordinary 
 expenses which have and may become necessary, 
 must be taken into view, in making commensu» 
 rate provisions for the ensuing year. And I re- 
 commend to your consideration, the propriety of 
 ensuring a sufficiency of annual revenue, at least 
 to defray the ordinary expenses of government, 
 and to pay the interest on the public debt, includ- 
 ing that on new loans which may be authorized. 
 
 I cannot close this communication, without ex- 
 pressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you 
 are asscml)led, mv confidence in a wise and honor- 
 able result to your deliberations, and assurances 
 ol the faithful zeal with which my co-operat- 
 ing duties will be discharged; invoking, at the 
 same time, the blessing of Heaven on our be- 
 loved country, and on all the means that may 
 be employed, in vindicating its rights and ad- 
 vancing its welfare. 
 
 JAMES MADISON. 
 
 JVashUigtoti, November 5, 1811.