State of Nation Addresses Jefferson's State of the Nation Address: 8 November, 1804
by Thomas Jefferson
The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
To a people, fellow citizens, who sincerely desire the happiness and
prosperity of other nations; to those who justly calculate that their
own well-being is advanced by that of the nations with which they
have intercourse, it will be a satisfaction to observe that the war
which was lighted up in Europe a little before our last meeting has
not yet extended its flames to other nations, nor been marked by
the calamities which sometimes stain the foot-steps of war. The
irregularities, too, on the ocean, which generally harass the
commerce of neutral nations, have, in distant parts, disturbed ours
less than on former occasions; but in the American seas they have
been greater from peculiar causes, and even within our harbors and
jurisdiction infringements on the authority of the laws have been
committed which have called for serious attention. The friendly
conduct of the Governments from whose officers and subjects these
acts have proceeded, in other respects and in places more under their
observation and control, gives us confidence that our representations
on this subject will have been properly regarded.
While noticing the irregularities committed on the ocean by others,
those on our own part should not be omitted nor left unprovided for.
Complaints have been received that persons residing within the
United States have taken on themselves to arm merchant vessels and
to force a commerce into certain ports and countries in defiance of the
laws of those countries. That individuals should undertake to wage
private war, independently of the authority of their country, can not
be permitted in a well-ordered society. Its tendency to produce
aggression on the laws and rights of other nations and to endanger the
peace of our own is so obvious that I doubt not you will adopt
measures for restraining it effectually in future.
Soon after the passage of the act of the last session authorizing the
establishment of a district and port of entry on the waters of the
Mobile we learnt that its object was misunderstood on the part of
Spain. Candid explanations were immediately given and assurances
that, reserving our claims in that quarter as a subject of discussion
and arrangement with Spain, no act was meditated in the mean time
inconsistent with the peace and friendship existing between the 2
nations, and that conformably to these intentions would be the
execution of the law. That Government had, however, thought
proper to suspend the ratification of the convention of 1802; but the
explanations which would reach them soon after, and still more the
confirmation of them by the tenor of the instrument establishing
the port and district, may reasonably be expected to replace them in
the dispositions and views of the whole subject which originally
dictated the convention.
I have the satisfaction to inform you that the objections which had
been urged by that Government against the validity of our title to
the country of Louisiana have been withdrawn, its exact limits,
however, remaining still to be settled between us; and to this is to be
added that, having prepared and delivered the stock created in
execution of the convention of Paris of 1803 April 30, in
consideration of the cession of that country, we have received from
the Government of France an acknowledgment, in due form, of the
fulfillment of that stipulation.
With the nations of Europe in general our friendship and intercourse
are undisturbed, and from the Governments of the belligerent powers
especially we continue to receive those friendly manifestations
which are justly due to an honest neutrality and to such good offices
consistent with that as we have opportunities of rendering.
The activity and success of the small force employed in the
Mediterranean in the early part of the present year, the
reenforcements sent into that sea, and the energy of the officers
having command in the several vessels will, I trust, by the
sufferings of war, reduce the barbarians of Tripoli to the desire of
peace on proper terms. Great injury, however, ensues to ourselves,
as well as to others interested, from the distance to which prizes
must be brought for adjudication and from the impracticability of
bringing hither such as are not sea worthy.
The Bey of Tunis having made requisitions unauthorized by our
treaty, their rejection has produced from him some expressions of
discontent, but to those who expect us to calculate whether a
compliance with unjust demands will not cost us less than a war we
must leave as a question of calculation for them also whether to
retire from unjust demands will not cost them less than a war. We
can do to each other very sensible injuries by war, but the mutual
advantages of peace make that the best interest of both.
Peace and intercourse with the other powers on the same coast
continue on the footing on which they are established by treaty.
In pursuance of the act providing for the temporary government of
Louisiana, the necessary officers for the Territory of Orleans were
appointed in due time to commence the exercise of their functions
on the 1st day of October. The distance, however, of some of them
and indispensable previous arrangements may have retarded its
commencement in some of its parts. The form of government thus
provided having considered but as temporary, and open to such future
improvements as further information of the circumstances of our
brethren there might suggest, it will of course be subject to your
consideration.
In the district of Louisiana it has been thought best to adopt the
division into subordinate districts which had been established
under its former government. These being 5 in number, a
commanding officer has been appointed to each, according to the
provisions of the law, and so soon as they can be at their stations
that district will also be in its due state of organization. In the
mean time, their places are supplied by the officers before
commanding there, and the function of the governor and judges of
Indiana having commenced, the government, we presume, is
proceeding in its new form. The lead mines in that district offer so
rich a supply of that metal as to merit attention. The report now
communicated will inform you of their state and of the necessity of
immediate inquiry into their occupation and titles.
With the Indian tribes established within our newly acquired limits,
I have deemed it necessary to open conferences for the purpose of
establishing a good understanding and neighborly relations between
us. So far as we have yet learned, we have reason to believe that
their dispositions are generally favorable and friendly; and with these
dispositions on their part, we have in our own hands means which
can not fail us for preserving their peace and friendship. by pursuing
an uniform course of justice toward them, by aiding them in all the
improvements which may better their condition, and especially by
establishing a commerce on terms which shall be advantageous to
them and only not losing to us, and so regulated as that no incendiaries
of our own or any other nation may be permitted to disturb the
natural effects of our just and friendly offices, we may render
ourselves so necessary to their comfort and prosperity that the
protection of our citizens from their disorderly members will become
their interest and their voluntary care. Instead, therefore, of an
augmentation of military force proportioned to our extension of
frontier, I propose a moderate enlargement of the capital employed
in that commerce as a more effectual, economical, and humane
instrument for preserving peace and good neighborhood with them.
On this side of the Mississippi an important relinquishment of
native title has been received from the Delawares. That tribe,
desiring to extinguish in their people the spirit of hunting and to
convert superfluous lands into the means of improving what they
retain, has ceded to us all the country between the Wabash and Ohio
south of and including the road from the rapids toward Vincennes, for
which they are to receive annuities in animals and implements for
agriculture and in other necessaries. This acquisition is important,
not only for its extent and fertility, but as fronting 300 miles on the
Ohio, and near half that on the Wabash. The produce of the settled
country descending those rivers will no longer pass in review of the
Indian frontier but in a small portion, and, with the cession
heretofore made by the Kaskaskias, nearly consolidates our
possessions north of the Ohio, in a very respectable breadth - from
Lake Erie to the Mississippi. The Piankeshaws having some claim
to the country ceded by the Delawares, it has been thought best to
quiet that by fair purchase also. So soon as the treaties on this
subject shall have received their constitutional sanctions they shall
be laid before both houses.
The act of Congress of 1803 February 28, for building and employing a
number of gun boats, is now in a course of execution to the extent
there provided for. The obstacle to naval enterprise which vessels
of this construction offer for our sea port towns, their utility toward
supporting within our waters the authority of the laws, the
promptness with which they will be manned by the sea men and
militia of the place in the moment they are wanting, the facility of
their assembling from different parts of the coast to any point where
they are required in greater force than ordinary, the economy of
their maintenance and preservation from decay when not in actual
service, and the competence of our finances to this defensive
provision without any new burthen are considerations which will
have due weight with Congress in deciding on the expediency of
adding to their number from year to year, as experience shall test
their utility, until all our important harbors, by these and auxiliary
means, shall be secured against insult and opposition to the laws.
No circumstance has arisen since your last session which calls for
any augmentation of our regular military force. Should any
improvement occur in the militia system, that will be always
seasonable.
Accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the last year, with
estimates for the ensuing one, will as usual be laid before you.
The state of our finances continues to fulfill our expectations.
$11.5M, received in the course of the year ending the 30th of
September last, have enabled us, after meeting all the ordinary
expenses of the year, to pay upward of $3.6M of the public debt,
exclusive of interest. This payment, with those of the two preceding
years, has extinguished up ward of $12M of the principal and a greater
sum of interest within that period, and by a proportionate diminution
of interest renders already sensible the effect of the growing sum
yearly applicable to the discharge of the principal.
It is also ascertained that the revenue accrued during the last year
exceeds that of the preceding, and the probably receipts of the
ensuing year may safely be relied on as sufficient, with the sum
already in the Treasury, to meet all the current demands of the year,
to discharge upward of $3.5M of the engagements incurred under the
British and French conventions, and to advance in the further
redemption of the funded debt as rapidly as had been contemplated.
These, fellow citizens, are the principal matters which I have
thought it necessary at this time to communicate for you
consideration and attention. Some others will be laid before you in
the course of the session; but in the discharge of the great duties
confided to you by our country you will take a broader view of the
field of legislation.
Whether the great interests of agriculture, manufactures,
commerce, or navigation can within the pale of your constitutional
powers be aided in any of their relations; whether laws are provided
in all cases where they are wanting; whether those provided are
exactly what they should be whether any abuses take place in their
administration, or in that of the public revenues; whether the
organization of the public agents or of the public force is perfect in
all its parts; in fine, whether anything can be done to advance the
general good, are questions within the limits of your functions
which will necessarily occupy your attention. In these and all other
matters which you in your wisdom may propose for the good of our
country you may count with assurance on my hearty cooperation and
faithful execution.