POLITICAL CENSOR*. No. I. Meeting of Congrefs-A Speaker chofen-Prefident's Speech. MONDAY, 7th December, 1795. THE Houfe, being met, proceeded to the choice of a Speaker and a Clerk, when Mr. Jonathan Dayton, one of the Reprefentatives for the State of NewJerfey, was chofen Speaker, and Mr. John Beckley Clerk. TUESDAY, 8th December, 1795. The Senators and Representatives being affembled in the chamber of the latter, the Prefident of the United States entered, took the chair, and opened the feffion with the following fpeech: Fellow-citizens of the Senate and I trust I do not deceive myself, while I indulge the perfuafion that I have never met you at any period when, more than at the prefent, the fituation of our public affairs has afforded juft caufe for mutual congratulation, and for inviting you to join with me in profound gratitude to the Author of all good for the numerous and extraordinary bleffings we enjoy. * This Number of the Cenfor was originally called The Profpect from the Congress Gallery; and as fuch it has been fome times referred to. The termination of the long, expenfive, and diftreffing war, in which we have been engaged with certain Indians north-weft of the Ohio, is placed in the option of the United States, by a treaty which the Commander of our army has concluded provifionally with the hoftile tribes in that region. În the adjustment of the terms, the fatisfaction of the Indians was deemed an object worthy no lefs of the policy than of the liberality of the United States, as the neceffary bafis of durable tranquillity. The object, it is believed, has been fully attained. The articles agreed upon will immediately be laid before the Senate for their confideration. The Creek and Cherokee Indians, who alone of the fouthern tribes had annoyed our frontiers, have lately confirmed their pre-exifting treaties with us; and were giving evidence of a fincere difpofition to carry them into effect, by the furrender of the prifoners and property they had taken.-But we have to lament, that the fair prospect in this quarter has been once more clouded by wanton murders, which some citizens of Georgia are reprefented to have recently perpetrated on hunting-parties of the Crecks; which have again fubjected that frontier to difquietude and danger, which will be productive of further expenfe, and may occafion more effufion of blood. Measures are pursuing to prevent or mitigate the ufual confequences of fuch outrages; and with the hope of their fucceeding-at leaft to avert general hoftility. A letter from the Emperor of Morocco announces to me his recognition of our treaty made with his father, the late Emperor, and confequently the continuance of peace with that power. With peculiar fatisfaction I add, that information has been received from an agent deputed on our part to Algiers, importing, that the terms of a treaty with the Dey and Regency of that country had been adjufted in fuch a manner a manner as to authorize the expectation of a speedy peace, and the restoration of our unfortunate fellowcitizens from a grievous captivity. The latest advices from our Envoy at the Court of Madrid give, moreover, the pleafing information, that he had received affurances of a speedy and fatisfactory conclufion of his negotiation. While the event, depending upon unjustified particulars, cannot be regarded as afcertained, it is agreeable to cherish the expectation of an iffue, which, fecuring amicably very effential interefts of the United States, will at the fame time lay the foundation of lafting harmony with a power whofe friendship we have uniformly and fincerely defired to cultivate. Though not before officially difclofed to the House of Representatives, you, Gentlemen, are all apprized, that a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, has been negotiated with Great Britain; and that the Senate have advised and confented to its ratification, upon a condition, which excepts part of one article. Agreeably thereto, and to the best judgment I was able to form of the public intereft, after full and mature deliberation, I have added my fanction. The refult on the part of his Britannic Majefty is unknown. When received, the subject will, without delay, be placed before Congrefs. This interefting fummary of our affairs, with regard to the foreign powers, between whom and the United States controverfies have fubfified; and with regard alfo to thofe of our Indian neighbours, with whom we have been in a state of enmity or mifunderstanding, opens a wide field for confoling. and gratifying reflections. If, by prudence and moderation on every fide, the extinguishment of all the caufes of external difcord, which have heretofore menaced our tranquillity, on terms compatible with our national rights and honour, fhall be the happy refult; refult; how firm and how precious a foundation will have been laid for accelerating, maturing, and eftablishing the profperity of our country! Contemplating the internal fituation, as well as the external relations of the United States, we difcover equal caufe for contentment and fatisfaction. While many of the nations of Europe, with their American dependencies, have been involved in a conteft unufually bloody, exhaufting, and calamitous, in which the evils of foreign war have been aggravated by domeftic convulfion and infurrection; in which many of the arts moft ufeful to fociety have been expofed to difcouragement and decay; in which fcarcity of fubfiftence has embittered other fufferings -while even the anticipation of a return of the bleffings of peace and repofe is alloyed by the fenfe of heavy and accumulating burdens, which prefs upon all the departments of induftry, and threaten to clog the future fprings of Governmentour favoured country, happy in a striking contraft, has enjoyed a general tranquillity; a tranquillity the more fatisfactory, because maintained at the expenfe of no duty. Faithful to ourselves, we have violated no obligation to others. Our agriculture, commerce, and manufactures profper beyond former example; the moleftations of our trade (to prevent a continuance of which, however, very pointed remonftrances have been made) being overbalanced by the aggre gate benefits which it derives from a neutral pofition. Our population advances with a celerity, which, exceeding the moft fanguine calculations, proportionally augments our strength and refources, and guarantees our future fecurity. Every part of the Union difplays indications of rapid and various improvement and with burdens fo light as fcarcely to be perceived; with refources fully adequate to our prefent exigencies; with Governments founded on the genuine principles of rational liberty, and with mild and wholesome laws; is it too much to fay, that our country exhibits a fpectacle of national happiness never furpaffed, if ever before equalled? Placed in a fituation every way aufpicious, motives of commanding force impel us, with fincere acknowledgment to Heaven, and pure love to our country, to unite our efforts to preferve, prolong, and improve our immenfe advantages. To co-operate with you in this defirable work, is a fervent and favourite wish of my heart. It is a valuable ingredient in the general estimate of our welfare, that the part of our country which was lately the scene of diforder and infurrection, now enjoys the bleffings of quiet and order. The mifled have abandoned their errors, and pay the refpect to our conftitution and laws, which is due from good citizens to the public authorities of the fociety. These circumftances have induced me to pardon, generally, the offenders here referred to; and to extend forgiveness to those who had been adjudged to capital punishment. For though I fhall always think it a facred duty to exercise with firm ́nefs and energy the conftitutional powers with which I am vefted; yet it appears to me no less confiftent with the public good, than it is with my perfonal feelings, to mingle in the operations of Government every degree of moderation and tenderness, which the national juftice, dignity, and fafety may permit. Gentlemen, Among the objects which will claim your attention in the course of the feffion, a review of our military establishment is not the leaft important. It is called for by the events which have changed, and may be expected fill further to change, the relative fituation of our frontiers. In this review, you will doubtless allow due weight to the confideration that the questions between us and certain foreign powers are |