will be at liberty so to do: and in that case their] persons will be respected.

In unfolding to my countrymen the principles by which I shall be governed, in the fulfilment of those duties, my first resort will be to that constitution, Eighteenth-Any doubt that may arise in the stipula- which I shall swear, to the best of my ability, to pretions of the articles of the present treaty, will be in-serve, protect and defend. That revered instrument terpreted in favor of the individuals of the Spanish army.

enumerates the powers, and prescribes the duties, of the executive magistrate; and, in its first words, declares the purposes to which these, and the whole action of the government, instituted by it, should be invariably and sacredly devoted-to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to the people of this union, in their successive' generations. Since the adoption of this social compact, one of these generations has passed away. It is the work of our forefathers. Administered by some of the most eminent men, who contributed to its formaItion, through a most eventful period in the annals of

the world, and through all the vicissitudes of peace me, to observe that the great result of this experiment and war, incidental to the condition of associated upon the theory of human rights, has, at the close of man, it has not disappointed the hopes and aspira- that generation by which it was formed, been crowntions of those illustrious benefactors of their age and ed with success equal to the most sarguine expectanation. It has promoted the lasting welfare of that tions of its founders. Union, justice, tranquility, the country, so dear to us all; it has, to an extent, far common defence, the general welfare, and the blessbeyond the ordinary lot of humanity, secured the ings of liberty-all have been promoted by the gofreedom and happiness of this people. We now re-vernment under which we have lived. Standing at this ceive it as a precious inheritance from those to whom point of time; looking back to that generation which we are indebted for its establishment, doubly bound has gone by, and forward to that which is advancing, by the examples which they have left us, and by the we may, at once, indulge in grateful exultation, and blessings which we have enjoyed, as the fruits of their in cheering hope. From the experience of the past, labors, to transmit the same, unimpaired, to the suc- we derive instructive lessons for the future. Of the two great political parties which have divided the ceeding generation. In the compass of thirty-six years, since this great opinions and feelings of our country, the candid and national covenant was instituted, a body of laws enact- the just will now admit, that both have contributed splendid talents, spotless integrity, ardent patriotism ed under its authority, and in conformity with its pro-and disinterested sacrifices, to the formation and advisions, has unfolded its powers, and carried into practical operation its effective energies. Surbordinate de- ministration of this government; and that both have partments have distributed the executive functions in required a liberal indulgence for a portion of human The revolutionary wars of Eutheir various relations, to foreign affairs, to the re-infirmity and error.

venue and expenditures, and to the military force of rope, commencing precisely at the moment when the the union, by land and sea. A co-ordinate depart-government of the United States first went into opement of the judiciary has expounded the constitution ration under this constitution, excited a collision of and the laws; settling, in harmonious coincidence sentiments and of sympathies, which kindled all the with the legislative will, numerous weighty questions passions, and embittered the conflict of parties, till of construction which the imperfection of human lan- the nation was involved in war, and the union was guage had rendered unavoidable. The year of jubi-shaken to its centre. This time of trial embraced a lee since the first formation of our union has just elapsed; that of the declaration of our independence is at hand. The consummation of both was effected by this constitution. Since that period, a population of four millions has multiplied to twelve. A territory, bounded by the Mississippi, has been extended from sea to sea. New states have been admitted to the union, in numbers nearly equal to those of the first confederation. Treaties of peace, amity and commerce, have been concluded with the principal dominions of the earth. The people of other nations, inhabitants of regions acquired, not by conquest, but by compact, have been united with us in the participation of our rights and duties, of our burdens and blessings. The forest has fallen by the axe of our woodsmen-the soil has been made to teem by the tillage of our farmers; our commerce has whitened every ocean. The dominion of man over physical nature has been extended by the invention of our artists. Liberty and law have marched, hand in hand. All the purposes of human association have been accomplished as effectively as under any other government on the globe; and at a cost, little exceeding, in a whole generation, the expenditures of other nations in a single year.

period of five-and-twenty years, during which, the policy of the union, in its relations with Europe, constituted the principal basis of our political divisions, and the most arduous part of the action of our federal government. With the catastrophe in which the wars of the French revolution terminated, and our own subsequent peace with Great Britain, this baneful weed of party strife was uprooted. From that time, no difference of principle, connected either with the theory of government, or with our intercourse with foreign nations, has existed, or been called forth, in force sufficient to sustain a continued combination of parties, or give more than wholesome animation to public sentiment, or legislative debate. Our political creed is, without a dissenting voice that can be heard, that the will of the people is the source, and the happiness of the people the end, of all legitimate government upon earth-That the best security for the beneficence, and the best guaranty against the abuse of power, consists in the freedom, the purity, and the frequency of popular elections-That the general government of the union, and the separate governments of the states, are all sovereignties of limited powers; fellow servants of the same masters, uncontroled within their respective spheres, uncontrolable by encroachments upon each other-That Such is the unexaggerated picture of our condition, the firmest security of peace, is the preparation, durunder a constitution founded upon the republican ing peace, of the defences of war-That a rigorous principle of equal rights. To admit that this picture economy, and accountability of public expenditures, has its shades, is but to say that it is still the condition should guard against the aggravation, and alleviate, of men upon earth. From evil, physical, moral and when possible, the burden of taxation-That the mili political, it is not our claim to be exempt. We have tary should be kept in strict subordination to the civil suffered, sometimes by the visitation of Heaven, power-That the freedom of the press and of relithrough disease; often by the wrongs and injustice of gious opinion should be inviolate-That the policy of ether nations, even to the extremities of war; and, our country is peace, and the ark of our salvation, lastly, by dissentions among ourselves-dissentions, union, are articles of faith upon which we are all perhaps, inseparable from the enjoyment of freedom, agreed. If there have been those who doubted whebut which have more than once appeared to threaten ther a confederated representative democracy were a the dissolution of the union, and, with it, the over-government competent to the wise and orderly ma throw of all the enjoyments of our present lot, and all nagement of the common concerns of a mighty nation, our earthly hopes of the future. The causes of these dissentions have been various, founded upon differences of speculation in the theory of republican government; upon conflicting views of policy, in our relations with foreign nations; upon jealousies of partial and sectional interests, aggravated by prejudices and prepossessions, which strangers to each other are ever apt to entertain,

It is a source of gratification and of encouragement to

those doubts have been dispelled. If there have been projects of partial confederacies, to be erected upon the ruins of the union, they have been scattered to the winds. If there have been dangerous attachments to one foreign nation, and antipathies against another, they have been extinguished.Ten years of peace, at home and abroad, have assuaged the animosities of political contention, and blended into harmony the most discordant elements

of public opinion. There still remains one effort of by that eminent citizen, at the time of his first induc magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, tion to this office, in his career of eight years, the into be made by the individuals throughout the nation, ternal taxes have been repealed; sixty millions of the who have heretofore followed the standards of poli- public debt have been discharged; provision has been tical party. It is that of discarding every remnant of made for the comfort and relief of the aged and indirancor against each other; of embracing, as country-gent, among the surviving warriors of the revolution; men and friends; and of yielding to talents and virtue the regular armed force has been reduced, and its alone, that confidence which, in times of contention constitution revised and perfected; the accountability for principle, was bestowed only upon those who bore for the expenditures of public moneys has been made the badge of party communion. more effective; the Floridas have been peaceably acThe collisions of party spirit, which originate inquired, and our boundary has been extended to the speculative opinions, or in different views of admi-Pacific ocean; the independence of the southern na nistrative policy, are, in their nature, transitory. tions of this hemisphere has been recognised, and reThose which are founded on geographical divisions, commended, by example and by council, to the poadverse interests of soil, climate, and modes of do- tentates of Europe; progress has been made in the mestic life, are more permanent, and, therefore, per- defence of the country, by fortifications and the inhaps, more dangerous. It is this which gives inesti-crease of the navy-towards the effectual suppression mable value to the character of our government, at of the African traffic in slaves-in alluring the abo once federal and national. It holds out to us a per-riginal hunters of our land to the cultivation of the petual admonition to preserve, alike and with equal soil and of the mind-in exploring the interior reanxiety, the rights of each individual state in its own gions of the union, and in preparing, by scientific regovernment, and the rights of the whole nation, in searches and surveys, for the further application of that of the union. Whatever is of domestic con- our national resources to the internal improvement cernment, unconnected with the other members of of our country. the union, or with foreign lands, belongs exclusively In this brief outline of the promise and performto the administration of the state governments.ance of my immediate predecessor, the line of duty, Whatsoever directly involves the rights and interests for his successor, is clearly delineated. To pursue of the federative fraternity, or of foreign powers, is, to their consummation those purposes of improveof the resort of this general government. The du- ment in our common condition, instituted or recomties of both are obvious in the general principle, mended by him, will embrace the whole sphere of though sometimes perplexed with difficulties in the my obligations. To the topic of internal improvedetail. To respect the rights of the state government, emphatically urged by him at his inauguraments is the inviolable duty of that of the union: tion, I recur with peculiar satisfaction. It is that the government of every state will feel its own obli- from which I am convinced that the unborn millions gation to respect and preserve the rights of the whole. of our posterity, who are in future ages to people this The prejudices every where too commonly entertain-continent, will derive their most fervent gratitude to ed against distant strangers, are worn away, and the the founders of the union; that in which the benefijealousies of jarring interests are allayed by the com-cent action of its government will be most deeply position and functions of the great national councils, felt and acknowledged. The magnificence and annually assembled from all quarters of the union, at this place. Here the distinguished men from every section of our country, while meeting to deliberate upon the great interests of those by whom they are deputed, learn to estimate the talents, and do justice to the virtues of each other. The harmony of the nation is promoted, and the whole union is knit together by the sentiments of mutual respect, the habits of social intercourse, and the ties of personal friendship, formed between the representatives of its several parts, in the performance of their service at this metropolis.

splendor of their public works are among the imperishable glories of the ancient republics. The roads and aqueducts of Rome have been the admiration of all after ages, and have survived, thousands of years, after all her conquests have been swallowed up in despotism, or become the spoil of barbarians. Some diversity of opinion has prevailed with regard to the powers of congress for legislation upon objects of this nature. The most respectful deference is due to doubts, originating in pure patriotism, and sustained by venerated authority. But nearly twenty years have passed since the construction of the first national road was commenced. The authority for its construction was then unquestioned. To how many thousands of our countrymen has it proved a benefit? To what single individual has it ever proved an injury? Repeated liberal and candid discussions in the legislature have conciliated the sentiments, and approximated the opinions of enlightened minds, upon the question of constitutional power. I cannot but hope that, by the same process of friendly, patient and persevering deliberation, all constitutional objections will ultimately be removed. The extent and limitation of the powers of the general government, in relation to this transcendently important interest, will be settled and acknowledged, to the common satisfaction of all; and every speculative scruple will be solved by a practical public blessing.

Passing from this general review of the purposes and injunctions of the federal constitution, and their results, as indicating the first traces of the path of duty, in the discharge of my public trust, I turn to the administration of my immediate predecessor, as the second. It has passed away in a period of profound peace; how much to the satisfaction of our country, and to the honour of our country's name, is known to you all. The great features of its policy, in general concurrence with the will of the legislature, have been-To cherish peace while preparing for defensive war-To yield exact justice to other nations, and maintain the rights of our own-To cherish the principles of freedom and of equal rights, wherever they were proclaimed-To discharge, with all possible promptitude, the national debt-To reduce, within the narrowest limits of efficiency, the military force-To improve the orga- Fellow-citizens, you are acquainted with the pecu nization and discipline of the army-To provide and liar circumstances of the recent election, which sustain a school of military science-To extend equal have resulted in affording me the opportunity of adprotection to all the great interests of the nation-To dressing you at this time. You have heard the expopromote the civilization of the Indian tribes; and-Tosition of the principles which will direct me in the proceed in the great system of internal improvements within the limits of the constitutional power of th union. Under the pledge of these promises, mad

e

a

fulfilment of the high and solemn trust imposed upon me in this station. Less possessed of your confidence, in advance, than any of my predecessors, Į

am deeply conscious of the prospect that I shall stand, | through the intervention of his excellency governor
more and oftener, in need of your indulgence. In- Cass, specimens of an ore of this metal taken from a
tentions, upright and pure; a heart devoted to the solid vein, recently discovered in the region referred
welfare of our country, and the unceasing applica- to. The precise locality of this vein, is the extremity
tion of the faculties allotted to me, to her service, of the great peninsula of Keweena, which stretches
are all the pledges that I can give for the faithful from the southern shore of the lake, and is distant
performance of the arduous duties I am to undertake. about two hundred and twenty-five miles from this
To the guidance of the legislative councils; to the post.
assistance of the executive and subordinate depart-
ments; to the friendly co-operation of the respec-
tive state governments; to the candid and liberal sup-
port of the people, so far as it may be deserved by
honest industry and zeal, I shall look for whatever
success may attend my public service: and knowing
that, except the Lord keep the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain, with fervent supplications for
his favor, to his overruling Providence, I commit,
#ith humble but fearless confidence, my own fate, and
the future destinies of my country.

A deep bay washes the eastern side of this peninsula, receiving a small river, whose transverse direction nearly isolates this prominent point of land from the main shore; and thus forming a route of communication for travelling canoes, which saves a circuitous navigation of ninety miles, and is interrupted only by a portage of two hundred and seventy-five rods. This is the channel pursued by the expedition through the upper lakes in 1820; and we were, consequently, precluded from making any personal observations upon the extremity of that long projection of the shore. Heavy barges, however, such as are usually employed in the fur trade, are unable to the lake. In this voyage they pass a small bay and point of rock, known to the traders under the name of La Roche Verd, which is, in fact, an open vein of copper ore; of the kind and quality of which, you will be enabled to judge from the specimens transmitted.

Eighteenth Congress-2d Session. pass this portage, and compelled to keep the shore of

SENATE.

February 25. The president communicated a report from the secretary of the treasury, on the memorial of the chamber of commerce of the city of New York, with a report from the collector of the port of New York, showing the difficulties that arise The gentleman whom I employed to visit this locain the discharge of his duties in relation to drawbacks.lity, (Mr. George Johnston, an intelligent trader), The report was read. left this place early in the month of May last, and has vein of ore is about one fathom in width, rising, with a returned within a short time. He reports, that the extends in a straight line through the rock, inland, broken, hackly surface, out of the water, and that it dipping a little in its course; which is distinctly mark ed by its green color, strongly contrasted with the adjacent rocks.

Mr. Chandler, from the committee on the militia, to whom was referred the report of the secretary of war, together with an abstract of infantry tactics, submitted the following resolution. He observed, they had been at great expense in furnishing the militia with arms, and were of opinion, they should

be furnished with the means to make use of them, for the benefit of the country. It was now too late in the session to bring in a bill for the purpose, and it was the object of the resolution to obtain suficient information to act on it at the ensuing session.

Resolved, That the secretary of war be directed to advertise, for three months, in the National Intelligencer, that he will receive, at any time before the first day of December next, sealed proposals for printing 40,000 copies of the abstract of infantry tactics, which was reported to the senate by the secretary of war, on the 3d day of February instant. to be delivered at the war department, bound in beards, and that he, the secretary, will state, in bis advertisemente, as near as may be, the size of the work, the number of pages and plates, which it will contain, and report such proposals as he may receive, to the senate, in the first week of the next session

of congress.

The resolution was read, considered, and agreed to.

The senate proceeded, as in committee of the whole, (Mr. Lowrie in the chair), to consider the act authorizing the occupation of the Oregon river.

Mr. Benton moved an amendment, providing an additional paymaster, and extending the time allowed for the officers to send in their accounts; which was agreed to; and then, (on account of the temporary absence of the chairman of the committee), the bill was laid on the table.

The senate then, as in committee of the whole, proceeded to consider the bill making an appropriation to appoint commissioners to treat with the Chippewa Indians, for the right of discovering and working certain copper mines supposed to be on the south side of lake Superior.

Mr. Dickerson make a few remarks against the bill, to whom Mr. Benton replied, and in the course of his argument, read the following letter form Henry R. Schoolcraft:

Sault Ste. Marie, July 28, 1824. SIR: Having on a former occasion been requested to communicate such information as I possessed respecting the existence of copper on the shores of lake Superior, I now take the liberty to transmit to you,

He further represents, that this part of the lake is accessible to vessels of considerable burthen, whose anchorage is sheltered by an island, where they may lie in safety from the prevailing north-west winds.

No experiment has been made to determine the
richness of the ore. It appears, from external cha-
racters, to be the compact malachite of authors, which
is stated generally to yield, at the mines of Cornwall
and Saxony, from 56 to 70 per cent. of copper, the
remainder being chiefly carbonic acid and water. It
is consequently among the number of those ores of
copper,which are profitably wrought in the large way.
It may be pertinent to add to the foregoing remarks,
that I have succeeded, in the course of the present
season, in procuring from lake Superior, a mass of
native copper, weighing forty-two pounds, which is
very pure and malleable, and contains small points of
native silver. This mass is from the banks of the
Ontonagon; but is no part of the great mass well
known to exist upon that metalliferous stream.

I have the honor to be, sir, with great regard, your
most obedient servant, HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT,
U. S. agent for Indian affairs.
Hon. John C. Calhoun, secretary of war.
After a few remarks by Messrs. Johnson, of Ky. and
Findlay, it was passed to a third reading-ayes 23.

The senate, then, as in committee of the whole,
proceeded to consider the bill authorizing the estab
lishment of a navy yard and depot, at or near Pensa-
cola.

After Mr. Lloyd, of Mass. had explained the advantages of the measure proposed, and the rejection of an amendment offered by Mr. Hayne, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The bill, as amended, authorizing the subscription of stock in the Chesapeake and Delaware canal company, was read a third time, passed, and returned to the house. Yeas 19, nays 11.

The bill for the continuation of the Cumberland road, was read a third time, passed, and returned to the house. Yeas 23, nays 6.

The senate then proceeded to consider the resolution of the house of representatives disagreeing to the amendment made by the senate to the appropriation bill for certain fortifications for the year 1825, providing for the formation of a school of practice for the light artillery at Fortress Monroe. It was decided that the senate do insist on their amendment -ayes 21, noes 11.

A number of private bills were passed to a third reading, &c. Adjourned.

February 26. Several engrossed bills were passed

and sent to the house for concurrence.

The senate receded from their amendment to the bill making appropriations for certain fortifications: providing for a school of practice for the light artillery at Fortress Monroe.

The senate then resumed, as in committee of the whole, (Mr. Mills, in the chair), the consideration of the bill for the occupation of the Oregon river.

After considerable discussion, during which Mr. Barbour advocated the policy of the measure, and Mr. Dickerson opposed it, the bill was laid on the table-ayes 19, noes 17.

The following message was received from the sident of the United States: To the senate of the United States:

pre

A large number of bills were taken up, in committee of the whole, and severally discussed; and, having been engrossed for a third reading, were subsequently read a third time, passed and sent to the house for concurrence.

The senate, at 4 o'clock, having got through the whole of their own bills, spent a short time in the consideration of executive business; and then adjourned till 6 o'clock, P. M. Evening session.

At 6 o'clock the senate re-assembled, and spent about 2 hours in the reception, reading, and referring

to committees, of the bills received from the other
house to-day for concurrence; and then

After the consideration of executive business,
Adjourned.

March 1. The following bills, from the other house, were taken up in committee of the whole, discussed, and severally passed to a third reading, viz:

The bill further to amend the act authorizing the payment for property lost or destroyed by the ene

my;

The bill to authorize the sale of unserviceable ordnance, arms and military stores;

The bill for altering the time of holding the district court of the United States in the eastern district of Louisiana;

The bill to extend the time for issuing military land warrants to the soldiers of the revolutionary war.

Mr. Benton moved that the senate resume the consideration of the bill to authorize the occupation of the mouth of the Columbia, (or Oregon) river.

Mr. Chandler opposed, and Messrs Benton and Talbot supported the motion: the senate refused to take up the bill, 16 to 22.

Just before the termination of the last session, an act, entiled "an act concerning wrecks on the coast of Florida," which was then proposed, was presented to me, with many others, and approved, and, as I thought, signed. It appeared, however, after the adjournment, that the evidence of such approbation had not been attached to it. Whether the act may be considered in force under such circumstances, is a The senate took up the bill from the other house point on which it belongs not to me to decide. To re- "to reduce into one the several acts establishing and move all doubt on the subject, I submit to the con-regulating the post office establishment." sideration of congress, the propriety of passing a declaratory act to that effect. JAMES MONROE.

February 26, 1825.

The senate then passed an hour in the consideration of executive business; after which, various acts, brought over from the house, severally received their first reading.

The senate proceeded, as in committee of the whole, to consider the bill granting the consent of congress to the act of the legislature of Alabama, authorizing the imposition of duties on vessels, for the improvement of the port of Mobile.

When, after some remarks from Messrs. Lloyd, King, Brown, Smith and Holmes, the senate adjourned. February 28. The following message was received from the president of the United States:

Some amendments were made, and the bill ordered to a third reading.

Mr. Hayne renewed the motion to take up the "Oregon bill"-much debate followed. Mr. Lowrie moved to lay it on the table, which was decided by yeas and nays as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Barton, Bell, Branch, Brown, Chandler, Clayton, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Edwards, Elliott, Findlay, Gaillard, Holmes, of Maine, King, of Alab. Lanman, Lowrie, Macon, Parrott, Seymour, Smith, Tazewell, Van Buren, Van Dyke, Williams-23.

NAYS--Messrs. Barbour, Benton, Bouligny, Cobb, Hayne, Jackson, Johnson, of Ky. Johnston, of Lou. Lloyd, of Mass. Mills, Noble, Ruggles, Talbot, Tho

mas-14.

To the president of the senate of the United States:

The president of the senate communicated the folI communicate, herewith, to both houses of con-lowing letter from the president elect of the United States: gress, copies of the treaties between the United States and the Quapaw nation of Indians, concluded at Harrington's, in the territory of Arkansas, on the 15th day of November last; and, between the United States and the Choctaw nation of Indians, concluded at the city of Washington on the 20th day of January last; which have been duly ratified.

JAMES MONROE.

Washington, 25th February, 1825. A variety of bills from the house received their second reading and were severally referred.

Mr. Hayne submitted the following resolution, which was laid on the table:

Resolved, by the senate of the United States, That congress possesses no power to appropriate the public land of the United States "to constitute and form a fund to aid the emancipation of slaves," within any of the United States, or "to aid the removal of such slaves;" and that to constitute such a fund, or "to pledge the faith of the United States," for the appropriation thereof towards these objects, would be a departure from the conditions and spirit of the compact between the several states; and that sneb measures would be dangerous to the safety of the states holding slaves, and be calculated to disturb the peace and harmony of the uni

SIR: I ask the favor of you to inform the honorable
senate of the United States that I propose to take the
oath, prescribed by the constitution, to the president
of the United States, before he enters on the execu-
tion of his office, on Friday, the fourth instant, at
12 o'clock, in the hall of the house of representatives.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect,
sir, your very humble and obedient servant,
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

The letter was read; and
The senate adjourned to 6, P. M.
Evening session. Pursuant to adjournment, the pre-
sident of the senate resumed the chair.

The president communicated a report from the secretary of the treasury, with an abstract of official emoluments and expenditures for the year 1824, of the officers of customs, which was read.

In compliance with a resolution, offered by Mr. Mills, Messrs. Mills, Van Buren and Eaton were ap