Fellow citizens of the Senate & House of Representatives.

ºIt is a circumstance of sincere gratification to me, that on meeting the great council of our nation, I am able to announce to them, on grounds of reasonable certainty, that the wars & troubles, which have for so many years afflicted our sister-nations, have at length come to an end; & that the communications of peace & commerce are once more opening among them. whilst we devoutly return thanks to the beneficent being who has been pleased to breathe into them the spirit of conciliation & forgiveness, we are bound, with peculiar gratitude, to be thankful to him that our own peace has been preserved through so perilous a season, & ourselves permitted quietly to cultivate the earth, & to practise and improve those arts which tend to increase our comforts. the assurances indeed of friendly disposition recieved from all the powers, with whom we have principal relations, had inspired a confidence that our peace with them would not have been disturbed. but a cessation of the irregularities which had afflicted the commerce of neutral nations, & of the irritations & injuries produced by them, cannot but add to this confidence; and strengthens, at the same time, the hope that wrongs committed on unoffending friends, under a pressure of circumstances, will now be reviewed with candor, & will be considered as founding just claims of retribution for the past, & new assurance for the future.

ºAmong our Indian neighbors also a spirit of peace and friendship generally prevails; & I am happy to inform you that the continued efforts to introduce among them the implements & the practice of husbandry & of the houshold arts have not been without success: that they are becoming more & more sensible of the superiority of this dependance, for clothing & subsistence, over the precarious resources of hunting & fishing: & already we are able to announce that, instead of that constant diminution of numbers produced by their wars & their wants, some of them begin to experience an increase of population.

ºTo this state of general peace with which we have been blessed, one only exception exists. Tripoli, the least considerable of the Barbary states, had come forward with demands unfounded either in right or in compact, & had permitted itself to denounce war, on our failure to comply before a given day. the style of the demand admitted but one answer. I sent a small squadron of frigates into the Mediterranean, with assurances to that power of our sincere desire to remain in peace; but with orders to protect our commerce against the threatened attack. the measure was seasonable & salutary. the Bey had already declared war in form. his cruisers were out. two had arrived at Gibraltar. our commerce in the Mediterranean was blockaded: and that of the Atlantic in peril. the arrival of our squadron dispelled the danger. one of the Tripolitan cruisers having fallen in with, & engaged the small schooner Enterprize, commanded by Lieutt. Sterritt, which had gone as a tender to our larger vessels, was captured, after a heavy slaughter of her men, without the loss of a single one on our part. the bravery exhibited by our citizens on that element will, I trust, be a testimony to the world, that it is not a want of that virtue which makes us seek their peace; but a conscientious desire to direct the energies of our nation to the multiplication of the human race, & not to it’s destruction. unauthorised by the constitution, without the sanction of Congress, to go beyond the line of defence, the vessel being disabled from committing further hostilities, was liberated with it’s crew. the legislature will doubtless consider whether, by authorising measures of offence also, they will place our force on an equal footing with that of it’s adversaries. I communicate all material information on this subject, that in the exercise of the important function, confided by the constitution to the legislature exclusively, their judgment may form itself on a knolege & consideration of every circumstance of weight.

ºI wish I could say that our situation with all the other Barbary states was entirely satisfactory. discovering that some delays had taken place in the performance of certain articles stipulated by us, I thought it my duty, by immediate measures for fulfilling them, to vindicate to ourselves the right of considering the effect of departure from stipulation on their side. from the papers which will be laid before you, you will be enabled to judge whether our treaties are regarded by them as fixing at all the measure of their demands; or as guarding from the exercise of force our vessels within their power: & to consider how far it will be safe and expedient to leave our affairs with them in their present posture.

ºI lay before you the result of the Census lately taken of our inhabitants, to a conformity with which we are now to reduce the ensuing ratio of representation & taxation. you will percieve that the increase of numbers during the last ten years, proceeding in geometrical ratio, promises a duplication in little more than twenty two years. we contemplate this rapid growth, & the prospect it holds up to us, not with a view to the injuries it may enable us to do to others in some future day, but to the settlement of the extensive country, still remaining vacant within our limits, to the multiplication of men, susceptible of happiness, educated in the love of order, habituated to self-government, & valuing it’s blessings above all price.

ºOther circumstances, combined with the increase of numbers, have produced an augmentation of revenue arising from consumption in a ratio far beyond that of population alone: and tho’ the changes in foreign relations, now taking place so desireably for the whole world, may for a season affect this branch of revenue, yet weighing all probabilities of expence, as well as of income, there is reasonable ground of confidence that we may now safely dispense with all the internal taxes, comprehending excise, stamps, auctions, licenses, carriages & refined sugars; to which the postage on newspapers may be added to facilitate the progress of information:1 and that the remaining sources of revenue will be sufficient to provide for the support of government, to pay the interest of the public debts, & to discharge the principals within shorter periods than the laws, or the general expectation had contemplated. war indeed, & untoward events may change this prospect of things, & call for expences which the impost could not meet. but sound principles will not justify our taxing the industry of our fellow citizens to accumulate treasure for wars to happen we know not when, & which might not perhaps happen but from the temptations offered by that treasure.

ºThese views however of reducing our burthens, are formed on the expectation that a sensible, & at the same time a salutary reduction may take place in our habitual expenditures. for this purpose those of the civil government, the army & navy, will need revisal. when we consider that this government is charged with the external & mutual relations only of these states, that the states themselves have principal care of our persons, our property, & our reputation, constituting the great field of human concerns, we may well doubt whether our organisation is not too complicated, too expensive; whether offices & officers have not been multiplied unnecessarily, & sometimes injuriously to the service they were meant to promote. I will cause to be laid before you an essay towards a statement,2 of those who, under public employment of various kinds, draw money from the treasury, or from our citizens. time has not permitted a perfect enumeration, the ramifications of office being too multiplied & remote to be completely traced in a first trial.3 among those who are dependant on Executive discretion, I have begun the reduction of what was deemed unnecessary. the expences of diplomatic agency have been considerably diminished. the Inspectors of internal revenue, who were found to obstruct the accountability of the institution, have been discontinued. several agencies, created by Executive authority, on salaries fixed by that also, have been suppressed, and should suggest the expediency of regulating that power by law,4 so as to subject it’s exercises to legislative inspection & sanction. other reformations of the same kind will be pursued with that caution which is requisite, in removing useless things, not to injure what is retained. but the great mass of public offices is established by law, & therefore by law alone can be abolished. should the legislature think it expedient to pass this roll in review, and to try all it’s parts by the test of public utility, they may be assured of every aid & light which Executive information can yield. considering the general tendency to multiply offices and dependancies, & to increase expence to the ultimate term of burthen which the citizen can bear, it behoves us to avail ourselves of every occasion which presents itself for taking off the surcharge; that it never may be seen here that, after leaving to labour the smallest portion of it’s earnings on which it can subsist, government shall itself consume the whole residue of what it was instituted to guard.

ºIn our care too of the public contributions entrusted to our direction, it would be prudent to multiply barriers against their dissipation, by appropriating specific sums to every specific purpose susceptible of definition; by disallowing all applications of money varying from the appropriation in object, or transcending it in amount; by reducing the undefined field of Contingencies, & thereby circumscribing discretionary powers over money; and by bringing back to a single department all accountabilities for money, where the examinations may be prompt, efficacious, & uniform.

An account of the reciepts & expenditures of the last year, as prepared by the Secretary of the treasury, will as usual be laid before you. the success which has attended the late sales of the public lands shews that, with attention, they may be made an important source of reciept. among the paiments, those made in discharge of the principal & interest of the national debt, will shew that the public faith has been exactly maintained. to these will be added an Estimate of appropriations necessary for the ensuing year. this last will of course be affected by such modifications of the system of expence as you shall think proper to adopt.

ºA statement has been formed by the Secretary at war, on mature consideration of all the forts & stations where garrisons will be expedient, & of the number of men requisite for each garrison. the whole amount is considerably short of the present military establishment. for the surplus, no particular use can be pointed out. for defence against invasion, their number is as nothing. nor is it concieved needful or safe that a standing army should be kept up, in time of peace, for that purpose. uncertain as we must ever be of the particular point in our circumference where an enemy may chuse to invade us, the only force which can be ready at every point, & competent to oppose them, is the body of neighboring citizens, as formed into a militia. on these, collected from the parts most convenient, in numbers proportioned to the invading force, it is best to rely, not only to meet the first attack, but, if it threatens to be permanent, to maintain the defence until regulars may be engaged to relieve them. these considerations render it important that we should, at every session continue to amend the defects, which from time to time shew themselves, in the laws for regulating the militia, until they are sufficiently perfect: nor should we now, or at any time, separate, until we can say we have done every thing for the militia which we could do were an enemy at our door.

The provision of military stores on hand will be laid before you, that you may judge of the additions still requisite.

ºWith respect to the extent to which our naval preparations should be carried some difference of opinion may be expected to5 appear: but just attention to the circumstances of every part of the Union will doubtless reconcile all. a small force will probably continue to be wanted for actual service in the Mediterranean. whatever annual sum beyond that you may think proper to appropriate, to naval preparations, would perhaps be better employed in providing those articles which may be kept without waste or consumption, & be in readiness when any exigence calls them into use.   Progress has been made, as will appear by papers now communicated, in providing materials for seventy-four-gun ships as directed by law.

ºHow far the authority given by the legislature for procuring & establishing sites for naval purposes, has been perfectly understood & pursued in the execution, admits of some doubt. a statement of the expences already incurred on that subject is now6 laid before you. I have, in certain cases, suspended or slackened these expenditures, that the legislature might determine whether so many Yards are necessary as have been contemplated. the works at this place are among those permitted to go on; & five of the seven frigates directed to be laid up, have been brought and laid up here, where, besides the safety of their position, they are under the eye of the Executive administration, as well as of it’s agents, and where yourselves also will be guided by your own view, in the legislative provisions respecting them, which may from time to time be necessary. they are preserved in such condition, as well the vessels as whatever belongs to them, as to be at all times ready for sea on a short warning. two others are yet to be laid up, so soon as they shall have recieved the repairs requisite to put them also into sound condition.   As a superintending officer will be necessary at each yard, his duties & emoluments hitherto fixed by the Executive will be a more proper subject for legislation. a communication will also be made of our progress in the execution of the law respecting the vessels directed to be sold.

ºFortifications. The fortifications of our harbours, more or less advanced, present considerations of great difficulty. while some of them are on a scale sufficiently proportioned to the advantages of their position, to the efficacy of their protection, & the importance of the points within it, others are so extensive, will cost so much in their first erection, so much in their maintenance, and require such a force to garrison them, as to make it questionable what is best now to be done.   a statement of those commenced, or projected, of the expences already incurred, & estimates of their future cost, as far as can be foreseen, shall be laid before you, that you may be enabled to judge whether any alteration is necessary in the laws respecting this subject.

ºAgriculture, manufactures, commerce & navigation, the four pillars of our prosperity, are then most thriving when left most free to individual enterprize. protection from casual embarrasments however may sometimes be seasonably interposed. if, in the course of your observations or enquiries, they should appear to need any aid, within the limits of our constitutional powers, your sense of their importance is a sufficient assurance they will occupy your attention. we cannot indeed but all feel an anxious solicitude for the difficulties under which our carrying trade will soon be placed. how far7 it can be relieved, otherwise than by time, is a subject for important8 consideration.

ºApplications from different persons suffering prosecution under the act usually called the Sedition act, claimed my early attention to that instrument. our country has thought proper to distribute the powers of it’s government among three equal & independant authorities, constituting each a check on one or both of the others, in all attempts to impair it’s constitution. to make each an effectual check, it must have a right, in cases which arise10 within the line of it’s proper functions, where, equally with the others, it acts in the last resort & without appeal, to decide on the validity of an act according to it’s own judgment, & uncontrouled by the opinions of any other department. we have accordingly, in more than one instance, seen the opinions of different departments in opposition to each other, & no ill ensue. the constitution moreover, as a further security for itself, against violation even by a concurrence of all the departments, has provided for it’s own reintegration by a change of the persons exercising the functions of those departments. succeeding functionaries have the same right to judge of the conformity or non-conformity of an act with the constitution, as their predecessors who past it. for if it be against that instrument, it is a perpetual nullity. uniform decisions indeed, sanctioned by successive functionaries, by the public voice, and by repeated elections would so strengthen a construction as to render highly responsible a departure from it.11   On my accession to the administration, reclamations against the Sedition act were laid before me by individual citizens, claiming the protection of the constitution against the Sedition act. Called on by the position in which the nation had placed me, to exercise in their behalf my free & independant judgment, I took that act into consideration, compared it with the constitution, viewed it under every aspect of which I thought it susceptible, and gave to it all the attention which the magnitude of the case demanded. on mature deliberation, in the presence of the nation, and under the tie of the solemn oath which binds me to them & to my duty, I do declare that I hold that act to be in palpable & unqualified contradiction to the constitution. considering it then as a nullity, I have relieved from oppression under it those of my fellow-citizens who were within the reach of the functions confided to me. in recalling our footsteps within the limits of the Constitution, I have been actuated by a zealous devotion to that instrument. it is the ligament which binds us into one nation. it is, to the national government, the law of it’s existence, with which it began, and with which it is to end. infractions of it may sometimes be committed from inadvertence, sometimes from the panic, or passions of a moment. to correct these with good faith, as soon as discovered, will be an assurance to the states that, far from meaning to impair that sacred charter of it’s authorities, the General government views it as the principle of it’s own life.

ºThe Judiciary system of the United states, & especially that portion of it recently erected, will of course present itself to the contemplation of Congress. and that they may be able to judge of the proportion which the institution bears to the business it has to perform, I have caused to be procured from the several states, and now lay before Congress, an exact statement of all the causes decided since the first establishment of the courts, & of those which were depending when additional courts & judges were brought in to their aid.

ºAnd while on the Judiciary organisation, it will be worthy your consideration whether the protection of the inestimable institution of juries has been extended to all the cases involving the security of our persons & property.   Their impartial selection also being essential to their value, we ought further to consider whether that is sufficiently secured in those states where they are named by a marshal depending on Executive will, or designated by the court, or by officers dependant on them.

ºI cannot omit recommending a revisal of the laws on the subject of naturalisation. considering the ordinary chances of human life, a denial of citizenship under a residence of fourteen years, is a denial to a great proportion of those who ask it: and controuls a policy pursued, from their first settlement, by many of these states, & still believed of consequence to their prosperity. and shall we refuse, to the unhappy fugitives from distress, that hospitality which the savages of the wilderness extended to our fathers arriving in this land? shall oppressed humanity find no asylum on this globe? the constitution indeed has wisely provided that, for admission to certain offices of important trust, a residence shall be required, sufficient to develope character & design. but might not the general character & capabilities of a citizen be safely communicated to everyone manifesting a bonâ fide purpose of embarking his life & fortunes permanently with us? with restrictions perhaps to guard against the fraudulent usurpation of our flag; an abuse which brings so much embarrasment & loss on the genuine citizen, and so much danger to the nation of being involved in war, that no endeavor should be spared to detect & suppress it.

These, fellow citizens, are the matters respecting the state of the nation which I have thought of importance to be submitted to your consideration at this time. some others of less moment, or not yet ready for communication, will be the subject of separate messages. I am happy in this opportunity of committing the arduous affairs of our government to the collected wisdom of the Union. nothing shall be wanting on my part to inform, as far as in my power, the legislative judgment; nor to carry that judgment into faithful execution. the prudence & temperance of your discussions will promote within your own walls that conciliation which so much befriends rational conclusion: and, by it’s example, will encourage among our constitutents that progress of opinion which is tending to unite them in object and in will. that all should be satisfied with any one order of things is not to be expected: but I indulge the pleasing persuasion that the great body of our citizens will cordially concur in honest and disinterested efforts, which have for their object to preserve the general & state governments in their constitutional form & equilibrium; to maintain peace abroad, & order & obedience to the laws at home; to establish principles & practices of administration favorable to the security of liberty & property; & to reduce expences to what is necessary for the useful purposes of government.