,//^: *>1 
 
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 ^J^ /€^^,^^ 
 
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A GENERAL OUTLINE 
 
 OP 
 
 THE UNITED STATES 
 
 OF NORTH AMERICA, 
 
 HER RESOURCES AITD PROSPECTS, 
 
 WITH 
 
 A STATISTICAL COMPARISON, 
 
 SHEWING, AT ONK VIEW, THE ADVANCE SHE HAS MADE IN NATIONAI, 
 OVULh-KCE, IN THE PERIOD OF THIRTY YEARS. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 A COLLECTION OF OTHER INTERESTING FACTS, 
 
 AND SOME HINTS AS TO POLITICAL, PHYSICAL AND MORAL CAUSES. 
 ISCI.ClllNG 
 
 THE REFUTATION OF A THEORY, 
 
 ADVANCtU WITH IlESPECT TO THISCOUXTnr, 
 
 BY A LONDON WHITER, ON THE " STATE OF THE BRITISH 
 NATION." 
 
 IEI3JG THE SUBSTANCE OF LETTEUS, AllDRESSEII FIIO.T PHILADELPHIA, IW 1823, 
 TO A FUIEND IS ENGLAND; AND SOJIE ADDITIONAL MATTEH. 
 
 fiCLUDiNO A Sheet Map op the United States, extkndinr to the Pa- 
 cific; ON which is a Delineation of the actual and proposed 
 Navigation I.mproveme.nts, intersecting the couxtht. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY H. S TANNER. 
 L. Johmson, Pbinteh. 
 
 1825. 
 
Eastern IHsfricf of Pennsylvania, to wit: 
 
 HK I r KKVlKMHKiiKI), that on the twentieth clay of November, in 
 thetortv mmliyear of ilw ludepenilenceorUie United States of America, 
 A D. 1824, Hetuy S. Tinner, of the said district, hatli deposited in this 
 offii-.p the itie of a Book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor in 
 the words following, to wit: 
 
 " A general outline of the United States of North America, her resour- 
 ces ;ind prospects; with a Statistical Comparison, shewing, at one 
 v'l'W, the advance she h«s made in Na'ional Opolenre, in the p< riod 
 of tliirty years. Also, a Collection of othf^r interesting P'ans. and 
 some Hints as to Political, Physical ami Moral Cansfs. Including the 
 R fniation of a I'heory, advanced with respect to this Country, by a 
 London Writ< r, on the " S'ate of 'he British Nation." Being the sub- 
 stance of Letters, addressed from Philadelfjliia, in 1823, toafrieml in 
 Engl'.nd; and some additional matter Illustrated with Engravings, 
 inoluding a sheet .Map of the United States, extending tn the Pacific; 
 on wliich is a deliufation of the actual and proposed Navigation Im- 
 provements, intersecting the Country." 
 
 In conformity to tlie act of the Congressof the United States, inti'uled, 
 " An at for the encouragement of learning, l)y sccurii'g the cofies of 
 Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, 
 durint; the tiines therein mentioned:" and al.so to an act, c nti-Jed. «' An 
 act supplementary to an act, entitled ' An a'-i f<u' the encouragement of 
 learning, by seruringllie copies of Maps Ch.rts and Book-, to the au- 
 tin fs and proprit-tors of such copies duririH the times therein inention- 
 ed,' and fxUMidingthe benefits thereof tothe arts of designing, engrav- 
 ing, and etching, historical and other prints." 
 
 D.C\I-1)WELI,. 
 Clerk of the Eastern IJistnd of i'mmyhiania. 
 
TO 
 
 THE ENLIGHTENED PUBLIC. 
 
 The pages here submitted, had their origin, as 
 stated in the titlepage, in a private correspondence. 
 The author has not been sohcited to make them pub- 
 lic; and therefore, if he errs, he has not the privilege 
 and convenience of saying, it is to be ascribed to the 
 partiality of his friends. He cannot, at an extremi- 
 ty, take shelter there, or shift any part of the weight 
 of responsibility, from off his own shoulders. 
 
 The author is aware, that many of the persons, 
 who, by the publication of the work are invited to a 
 perusal of it, may possibly deem this act of publicity 
 to require both prefatory explanation and conse- 
 quent excuse ; and to satisfy such of his readers, in 
 both particulars, as well as he can, he most willingly 
 constructs the present introductory page, and states, 
 
 That a while after the period when most of the 
 facts and sentiments were first penned, the sugges- 
 tion of making them pubhc arose in the author's 
 mind, and was accidental ; and the chief and leading 
 motive with him for attending to this suggestion, has 
 been to render of some general utility, that which 
 
was originally private and iutended to remain so. 
 And, in order to accomplish this object, he, the au- 
 thor, has endeavoured not to swell out a hook, but 
 rather to compress his collection of facts within a 
 limited compass, and exhibit them in such reciprocal 
 bearings and connexion, as would be likely to at- 
 tract the most attention, both to them and to any 
 brief but interesting hints, which the writer could at 
 the same time throw out; — hints of a nature to excite 
 public enquiry, and bring forward superior talents, 
 upon topics, which, by the actual circumstances of 
 this country, and the actual circumstances of the 
 world at large, are rendered, at the present day, of 
 superlative importance; and of course, are more and 
 more intrinsically interesting, as the whole subject is 
 more closely viewed, and critically searched into. 
 
 The author trusts that he has now sufficiently ex- 
 plained and apologized; and would hope, that the 
 motive may be received, as sufficient to atone for all 
 delicieucies and faults in the execution. All the me- 
 rit he would presume herein to claim, arises out of 
 the eflbrt he has made, in obedience to the motive, 
 to bring imj)oiiant matter foncardf and introdiicc 
 it to public scrutiny. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Ph iladelph ia, June, 1824. 
 
LETTERS IN DECEMBER, 1822, 
 
 AND CONTINUED IN 182. 
 
 Philadelphia, Dec. 8th, 1822. 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I met, the other day, with a London work, on the 
 " State of the British Nation" at the commencement 
 of the present year. 
 
 The writer of it appears to have talent, and, so far 
 as I can judge, to be well enough supplied with in- 
 formation at home, but, with respect to things locally 
 distant, even on occasions when and where correct 
 information is easily accessible, you no doubt have 
 many times been entertained in remarking what mis- 
 takes men of ability are apt to slide into when theory 
 is in question: with what readiness, iu order to build 
 up and establish a theory, the mind permits itself to 
 be satisfied with almost any unexamined statement of 
 things, as premises to reason from. Do but produce 
 facts as they are, and the whole of them, and you of- 
 ten sadly interfere with conclusions drawn from a 
 spurious, or only partial source ; — a distorted or im- 
 perfect authority. Touch but the key-stone with 
 more violence than the builder calculated on, and the 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 edifice falls; the chain of a supposed analogy is at 
 once broken, and perchance a favourite hypothesis 
 upset amid the ruins. 
 
 The following extract will show the matter I am 
 led to speak of 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 ''London, 1822. 
 "Of all the nations in the world, America has 
 suffered most, by tlie rf^turn of peace. Her com- 
 merce, her customs, and her total reveime l.ave been 
 diminished at certain periods since tlie peace, by 
 more than one half In the year 1HI5, the net pro- 
 duce of her customs exceeded thirty-six millions* of 
 dollars In the year 1819^ the pr<»(luce of the same 
 duties was only seventeen millions, being a iliminu- 
 tion of nineteeu out of thirty-six Nor total revenue 
 in 18 i 5, was, in round figures, forty-nine and a half 
 millions of dollars. In 1819, her total revenue was 
 not twenty one and a half This diminution v\as 
 chiefly in her customs, which declined from the ces- 
 sation of her carrying-trade, and the resumption bj 
 foreign nations of their own connnerce. 
 
 " These circumstances in her situation are of so 
 much more importance to us, as the) at once explain 
 the cause which, in a less degree, affected ourselves, 
 and as the operation in both countries has been, in 
 kind, the same. As England, during the war, manu- 
 factured for the world, America in a very great de- 
 gree, was the carrier of the world: even her raw 
 produce was raised lo an immense price, by the de- 
 mand for it in the Continent of Europe. There was 
 
 * Not war, but peace itself caused this high amount of cus- 
 toms, from a superabundant importation of goods into tlie 
 United States. It took place after that a war with Great 
 Britain had exhausted the country of British and other goods. 
 
S UNITED STATES. 
 
 a constant exportation of her flour to England, on an 
 average exceeding five hundred thousand barrels, 
 and in the years 1801, 1802, 1811, it exceeded a 
 million of barrels each. Her fluur, cotton, tobacco, 
 and whatever else she exported of raw produce, thus 
 attained a price, exceednig in all articles, one third, 
 and in nia y, double its present amount. Her 
 freights, her .shipjjing, her navy. — her price of land, 
 her auiount of cin-ulating currency, her wages of la- 
 bour, and her returns of capital; — in a word— her 
 agriculture, her navigation, her connnerce, her inter- 
 nal industry and iniproveujents, and whatever she 
 possessed of rough domestic manufactures, increased 
 in the same general rate as amongst ourselves. Under 
 the general ron-petition of one branch of employ-r 
 ment with another, added to a universal demand tor 
 labour, and the abundance of luoney in paper and 
 cash, prices rose throughout all commodities, and in 
 every division of industry. 
 
 '"'' The general peace overtook America in this 
 state of thiiigs.* Her coumierce immediately fell; 
 and fell by nearly one half. Her circulating capital, 
 her paper currency, was necessarily called in, or 
 forced back in the same proportion Most of her 
 banks, trading only on accommodation, broke up, 
 
 * Not so. That state of thins^s had ceased to exist in the 
 United States more than seven years. In December 1807, a 
 restrictive system commenced relative to commerce; which, 
 variously modified, was continued dowr. to the declaration of 
 war against England in lb 12. 
 
UNITED STATES. 9 
 
 and by their uankruptcy, and the general alarm ex- 
 cited by it, still further reduced, or rather almost ex- 
 tinguished, their paper medium. 
 
 " Under this general state of things, prices now fell 
 as abruptly in peace, as they had risen during the 
 war. The cessation of a great portion of foreign de- 
 mand necessarily caused a glut of all raw produce in 
 her markets. Prices thus fell from abundance. The 
 withdrawing of foreign carrying-trade, and of foreign 
 commerce in general, reduced the general income of 
 the nation: and, as this trade had been carried on in 
 a great degree by new men, and as profits, however 
 large, had either been expended by a more profuse 
 mode of living, or been embarked in augmenting 
 stocks, (now violently rendered of less than half their 
 recent value,) income was destroyed before capitals 
 were accumulated. Prices thus fell from the second 
 cause of the reduced general means. The diminution 
 of the quantum of the currency of cash and paper 
 necessarily followed, as above said, the diminution of 
 trade. There were fewer dealings, and of course 
 less occasion for the medium by which they were 
 computed. There was no security in future profits, 
 and of course no loans nor accommodation. There 
 was no employment for capital, and of course neither 
 the means nor the inducement to create or to con- 
 tinue it artificially; and prices thus fell from the third 
 cause of the reduced quantity of money. 
 
 " Under this concurrence of circumstances, Ame- 
 rica has been suffering in a greater degree than our- 
 2 
 
10 UNITED STATES. 
 
 selves, and affords a strong illustration of the actual 
 causes of what we have seen amongst our own mer- 
 chants, manufacturers, and farmers. If we have suf- 
 fered indeed in a less degree from some of these 
 causes, it is only because our state of society is more 
 advanced, and our capitalists are less dependent on 
 their income from year to year. The national wealth 
 of England is composed of two descriptions, viz. ac- 
 cumulated capital, and current income. The one 
 may suffer in the vicissitudes of commerce, trade, 
 and the pecuniary value of produce in the markets; 
 but the other fund is necessarily more permanent, 
 and in a rich society, will maintain a large consump- 
 tion for many successive* years; but in all new coun- 
 tries like America, the national wealth consists of 
 little more than in the annual income. For the time, 
 the withdrawing of income is, with them, reduction 
 to poverty." 
 
 * This is Undeniably true, provided it be supposed that 
 those chisses of persons in possession of ^yealth are ready to 
 dis-tiibute it; that is to say, provided they have the disposi- 
 tion, as well as the ability, to create and give employment, 
 at all events, to the working classes; and thus keep up a large 
 consumption by means, on their part, of an increased expen- 
 diturej but otherwise, not true. 
 
 It avails nothing to the artist, or the labouring man thrown 
 out of employment, that his neighbour is rich, if he himself 
 can be furnished with no material for his industry to work 
 upon. 
 
UNITED STATES. U 
 
 Now, with all due acknowledgments to the Lon- 
 don writer for any sympathy he might intend to ex- 
 press, in considering the hardships enumerated in the 
 case of the United States of America, I may suggest 
 that there are some reasons to induce a belief that 
 this country has not, as a nation, suffered in her sub- 
 stantial interests by the event he particularly speaks 
 of having taken place at the epoch when it did take 
 place. The event, I mean, of the " resumption by 
 foreign nations of their own comnierce." 
 
 The shock occasioned by it to this nation, was the 
 more transient, and the less severe, inasmuch as the 
 community had already undergone a sort of^ prepara- 
 tion, by a course of restrictions and curtailment of 
 mercantile pursuits, ever since 1807, a period of more 
 than seven years; during which, a very considerable 
 portion of the capital that had been engaged in foreign 
 commerce, passed into other channels. Besides which, 
 the " surrendering up to Cassar," being what in the 
 nature of things must, sooner or later, take place, 
 there are strong grounds for thinking that something 
 propitious was in the moment which determined the 
 event. The country, whilst in possession, availed 
 herself of the immense advantages which that com- 
 merce presented, and the capital, created by rapid 
 returns and general circulation, came to be prodi- 
 gious in amount, considering the few years only which 
 that extraordinary opportunity lasted. The succes- 
 sive increments had been almost wholly directed to 
 the same line of pursuit, which was too alluring by its 
 
12 UNITED STATES. 
 
 immediate profits to admit of any great share of at- 
 tenlion being given to other objects; but, before the 
 epoch in question had arrived, the chief part of this 
 accumulated current capital, being released, as above 
 stated, from that employment, had necessarily a new 
 one to seek; and this was found in objects of the 
 highest permanent importance to the nation. It is 
 highly probable that no extra accumulation of floating 
 wealth through the means of commerce exclusively, 
 could have constituted an adequate compensation for 
 delaying to prosecute a very pointed inquiry and 
 deep research, such as had then commenced, into 
 some concerns more literally at home; namely, the 
 exploring and examining into the state of our own 
 possessions, and ascertaining with some degree of 
 precision, what it is that we actually have, and what, 
 with the exertions of an intelligent industry, there 
 may be the means of our having in time to come; 
 and, in consequence, to enter upon such a system of 
 internal improvements as shall ultinjately bring for- 
 ward the powers of the country in production and 
 usefulness, to the utmost point of perfection attain- 
 able. In this pursuit much capital has been engaged 
 within the last few years, and it will more and more 
 continue to be so. 
 
 The London writer had certainly been misled by 
 erroneous or superficial reports made relative to the 
 state of things in this country. They had presented 
 to him a much too highly coloured picture of our 
 
UNITED STATES. 13 
 
 distresses consequent on the return of peace in the 
 year 1815. 
 
 Doubtless, the restoration of peace to Europe, by 
 which it became necessary for the United States, at 
 one and the same time when her own peace was 
 made with Great Britain, to surrender up to different 
 nations, their own respective portions of a property, 
 which she had held as it were in trust, and, during a 
 term of years antecedent to her diflcrence with En- 
 gland, had enjoyed the lucrative benefits of; — doubt- 
 less, I say, this did occasion a severe, and a distress- 
 ing shock to hundreds of individuals amongst us, 
 perhaps thousands, who had embarked their capitals 
 and their credit in commercial enterprises, and who 
 had their plans, and their engagements, and their 
 mode of living; all more or less adapted to a renewal 
 of that state of things, and to no other. But, any 
 serious embarrassments were far from having ex- 
 istence among the people at large; and much less 
 does the inference follow that the nation herself fell 
 thereupon into ruinous circumstances; or, in the 
 writer's own words, that the withdrawing of such 
 " current income" produced by a foreign commerce, 
 was, in the case of the United States, though a 
 young country, " reduction to poverty." 
 
 If the said writer were to view the face, or a part 
 of the face of this country, I do not doubt of his rea- 
 diness to admit a modification of his maxim in politi- 
 cal economy touching young countries. The prefix 
 of some for that of ai/, would probably appear to him 
 
14 UNITED STATES. 
 
 a proper change. He would here behold something 
 more tangible and permanent than a mere fleeting 
 shadow; something more real in the people's posses- 
 sion than a mere remembrance of that kind of capital 
 wiiich he denominates ''capital of current income," 
 and which his present doctrine would persuade us, 
 hath passed away and left no trace! 
 
 He would find, whatever may be the case as to 
 numbers of individuals, or their condition, that, with 
 regard to the government and the nation at large, 
 they have neither " slumbered during the harvest," 
 nor been " improvident spendthrifts" in the day of 
 prosperity. 
 
 At every point towards which his observation 
 might be directed, he would see evidences of "accu- 
 mulated capital," and that accumulation moreover in 
 active and spirited operation for greater and con- 
 tinued accumulations; for the attainment of which, 
 perhaps, also, he would perceive that there exists, in 
 the nature and circumstances of this country, com- 
 bined with those of the times we live in, and under 
 the blessing of Providence, such a field for successful 
 exertion; such a scope for the exercise of intelligent 
 industry, as we are not presented with a parallel to, 
 in the rising circumstances of other nations, either 
 by contemporary observation or from the records of 
 history. 
 
 If the said writer, by his observations here on the 
 spot, found the United States still to have the charac- 
 teristics of a youthful nation, he \vould also find us. 
 
UNITED STATES. J^ 
 
 iioi still in a state o^ helpless infancy. The whole of 
 that stage of existence has effectually passed away: 
 but it has so passed as to be now succeeded by a 
 youth of vigour; unimpaired, and competent, in itself, 
 to great purposes. In a word, I am well assured the 
 respectable writer would have it made manifest to his 
 observation, that the United States has within herself 
 a very large fund of accumulated wealth or capital ; — 
 that, along with good governmental regulation for the 
 freedom and protection of her enterprises, she pos- 
 sesses also science to direct, and industry to execute 
 whatever is desirable in her operations to progressive 
 wealth ; and therefore, that we do not fall within that 
 class of young countries, which must, by the vicissi- 
 tudes of a foreign commerce happening to withdraw 
 an annual income once enjoyed, necessarily be re- 
 duced to poverty. 
 
 But, there is another proposition which stands op- 
 posed to the said writer's doctrine as to young coun- 
 tries; the evidence whereof will, I believe, be quite 
 equal to that of the above. It is this; that in a country 
 like the United States, fruitful beyond calculation in 
 various raw productions, as well for manufacture 
 as serving for sustenance; these productions having 
 no Hmitation in quantity but by the quantity of land 
 which it may please the cultivator to throw into cul- 
 tivation; with a population extremely limited in com- 
 parison with the resources of the soil; at the same 
 time possessing capital sufficient to give scope to all 
 the industry of that population, so as to developc 
 
10 I'N'rrHl) STATl.S. 
 
 i^radually tl>o rcsouiTos of tlir land, aiul, in bringing 
 llicso into activity, to nuilliply prriodically both na- 
 tional capital and the quantity of raw materials, in a 
 ratio at least equivalent to the progressive course of 
 the population; — in such a country, I say, so cir- 
 cunislanccil, it appears extremely probable, if not 
 amounting quite to demonstration, that any tempo- 
 rary deprivation of an accustomed foreign commerce, 
 or any sudden depreciation in the pecuniary value of 
 produce in the markets, will not, either of them or 
 both, cause so heavy or general a distress to the body 
 of the people, as in the event of a like disapi>ointment, 
 or in other words, the loss of " income*' for the time, 
 must be felt in the older country, although this latter 
 should be replenished and overllowing with capital, 
 or, in other words, be " rich," but at the same time, 
 should possess a great and overllowing population 
 con^pared with the internal resources of her own soil: 
 Tor, in the latter case, by the very circumstance of a 
 great population, it naturally iollows that all the de- 
 partments of industry are theleby constantly supplied 
 and kept lull, or nearly so; and that therefore, in case 
 of disappointment diminishing the proportion of de- 
 mand in any one branch, there can be but little room 
 for the industry corresponding to it to resort to an- 
 other branch, in such a way as, that the whole mass 
 of industry may, at all tinu's, fmd employment. It 
 scenis quite clear, that the lluctuations of trade, from 
 any sudden unfavourable revolution in things abroad, 
 alVecting any particular department of industry en- 
 
UNITKI) STATES. 17 
 
 gaged therein, will fall Uie heavier, inasmuch as a 
 remedy is nol so immodiatcly vvitfiin reach as it is in 
 the former supposed case; where tlic mass of em- 
 ployment bears a greater proportion to that of labour, 
 and where new enterprise, which the circumstances 
 of the country every day give rise to, is continually 
 creating additions to the general mass of employment. 
 Tn one case, the national industry is dependent, for 
 full employment, partly on events abroad; whilst in 
 the other case, the nation possesses within herself, 
 by means of the advancing state of her improvements, 
 resources for the full employment of her limited po- 
 pulation. If, in consequence of the diminution, or 
 the cessation of an accustomed foreign trade, or a 
 fall in value of the country's productions at foreign 
 markets, or of both together, a check be given to 
 these particular pursuits of the capitalist, or we will 
 say, to his pursuits generally, upon the same scale as 
 before; if, by reason of this check, a depression even 
 does take place in the general value of labour, it will 
 yet be found that the fall has not been more violent 
 or disastrous than a fall from very high to less high 
 wages; and, under the circumstances supposed, the 
 languor of a late active course of business can by no 
 means reduce this value disproportionately to the ne- 
 cessaries of living, or below the rate of affording a 
 comfortable siibsistcnce to the aggregate industry of 
 the country. Moreover, capital being actually in ex- 
 istence, whilst every day some new object may be 
 presented to the attention of capitalists, for its em- 
 3 
 
18 LXITED STATES 
 
 ploynient, it is obvious Ihal any sudden depression in 
 the value of labour from high to moderate wages, 
 arising from foreign causes, can be only of temporary 
 duration. Wages must have a constant tendency to 
 be on a scale considerably above procuring the bare 
 necessaries of life, so long as the stale of the popula- 
 tion bears such a relation to the internal resources of 
 the country as, on every occasion of a fresh or sud- 
 den demand for labour, a scanty supply of it can only 
 be had, and so long as there are capitalists who every 
 day may chance to be tempted to bring a part of tiiosc 
 resources into activity which previously had lain dor- 
 mant. The great law of " supply and demand" is well 
 enough known to operate on the price, or wages of 
 labour, as it does on the price of every commodity 
 whatsoever. 
 
 I will endeavour, in a (gw words, to recapitulate, 
 or attempt to vary the pomt of view, briefly as I can. 
 As this country, by its vast extent and fertility, has, 
 and will have for many years to come, a capability of 
 periodical production in useful articles, great in pro- 
 portion to its population and to the quantity of in- 
 dustry this population can supply; as also, there arc 
 in the country both capital and intelligence, to ex- 
 plore and bring its resources forward; it follows that, 
 so long as the articles produced are in demand, either 
 for consumption at home or at maikcts abroad, and 
 whether they consist almost wholly in raw produce or 
 have in greater or less proportion undergone a pro- 
 cess of manufacture; so long will the labour of the 
 
UNITED STATES. 19 
 
 country at large be well paid, because generally speak- 
 ing, fully employed, and were there more of it, would 
 still be employed: in other words, wages will continue 
 high ; and the comforts as well as the necessaries of life 
 be attainable to the labourer. Again, as the articles 
 of production, besides the circumstance of their great 
 abundance in waiting for the hand of labour, are 
 likewise various in kind, and appertain to different 
 climates, it also follows, that there is room for a freer 
 resort to be had to one class in preference to another, 
 according to fluctuations in tlie markets and a pre- 
 doniinance of demand for one or other kind of pro- 
 duction. A partial change is perhaps made for a sea- 
 son, of more or less duration, in the direction of the 
 country's industry and the country's capital; but they 
 both continue to be employed and remunerated. 
 
 And tinally, as a mind of general intelligence and 
 capacity is found to pervade the population of this 
 country, in so much that there is manifested, in num- 
 berless instances, a remarkable aptitude for profi- 
 ciency in more than one department of industry by 
 the same indi^^idual, or same set of individuals; so it 
 follows necessarily, from all these premises together, 
 that the labouring community can not know distress 
 from want; that is to say, the wages of labour will 
 continue good, and wealth be liberally distributed. 
 Unless it so happen, that either the powers of the 
 soil, or the faculties of its inhabitants and their pre- 
 sent habits, undergo a change; or until the period 
 arrive, when a surcharged population shall furnish a 
 
20 UNITED STATES. 
 
 greater mass of industry than can be employed, in 
 supplying all the current demand at home, and all 
 the current demand in markets abroad collectively. 
 Which period may in(?eed be very long delayed, if 
 not put off ad infinitum,* provided our own domestic 
 wants and refinements do but keep even pace with 
 population; going on to increase and vary their de- 
 mands upon labour, in its numerous departments, as 
 fast as population can supply it. In which continually 
 growing demands, it is especially to be noted, the 
 
 * It may well be understood, that no decision is here intend- 
 ed upon the abstract proposilion; or the question between" means 
 of subsistence," and the " principle ol" population" extended 
 to its ultimate effects. There is, happily, scope in this land 
 for a very long- period in prospective, during which, it is to 
 be hoped there will exist no cause to view the continual ac- 
 cessions to population, in any other light than as propor- 
 tionate enlargements of the sphere of human enjoyment. 
 And moreover, considering the signal happiness which has 
 been conferred on all of us at the present epoch, whose lot of 
 existence, it is allowed, has been cast in an age pregnant 
 with wonderful discoveries, perhaps it may not be thought 
 too Utopian, — too remote from all reasonable hope, in any 
 genuine philanthropist, if he should even permit his imagina- 
 tion to luxuriate in a belief that there are yet discoveries to 
 be made; not only in the physical world, but also perhaps in 
 modifications of the principle of " moral restraint," or the 
 combination of both together and their application; by which, 
 the resources for both the subsistence and happiness of the hu- 
 man race, may possibly, at a future day, be increased or 
 multiplied to a degree fur beyond any calculation that could 
 now be made, or that the generality of mankind have ever 
 yet dreamed of. 
 
UNITED STATES. 21 
 
 entire population enjoys a real effective concern ; for, 
 we are most happily exempt from monopolies^ or as 
 some of them have been termed, " encouragements," 
 favouring or professing to favour particular callings, 
 or some one branch of industry; and operating lo the 
 detriment of others and of the community, as is found 
 to be the case in countries where such partialities 
 have obtained a footing. Here, all is free and open 
 to an upright acquisition of wealth, as choice in the 
 mode of pursuit may direct, and to a happy distribu- 
 tion of it when acquired. 
 
 But, another combination of a few facts, may per- 
 haps form a conclusive reply to the positions regard- 
 ing these United States, laid down in the work re- 
 ferred to. I am led to state them thus: 
 
 1. It is a fact, that since the establishment of 
 peace, (now about eight years,) which the London 
 writer depicts as so disastrous for the United States, 
 this country has enjoyed such prosperity, that a 
 greater quantity of internal improvement of every de- 
 scription, particularly in giving facilities to intercom- 
 munication and trade, one district with another, has 
 actually taken place, than could antecedently be ef- 
 fected in a much longer period of the federal govern- 
 ment, and in this same spirit the work is advancing. 
 
 2. It is a fact also, that the prosperity of the Uni- 
 ted States, since the late war ceased, and peace look 
 place, has been so great, that government found it 
 not needful to continue certain taxes which were 
 then in force; and the country is accordingly now 
 exempt from excise and every direct tax to the Fede- 
 
22 UNITED STATES. 
 
 ral Government: whose dependence for revenue, is 
 solely on the customs and the sales of public lands. 
 Tlio which, as things are situated, are found ade- 
 quate to the national expenditure, including what is 
 requisite for both the interest and the extinction 
 gradually of a moderate public debt. 
 
 3. It is moreover a fact, that the public revenue, 
 fiom the two sources specified, is actually in a state 
 of considerable increase; also, that industry through 
 the country is every day taking a wider range, and a 
 portion of the product of it as constantly converted 
 into " permanent capital," or solid national wealth. 
 This is so conspicuously the case, as to be visible to 
 every one of common observation, whose opportuni- 
 ties lead to a view of tlie passing occurrences. 
 
 And therefore, 
 
 4. It appears evident, that the United Slates, not 
 only did not suffer any great national distress by the 
 return of peace in 1815, but also, that, through the 
 opportunities peace has afforded, she is at this day ad- 
 vanced to a state of much greater affluence than she 
 then, or ever before enjoyed; with the fairest pros- 
 pect of still advancing in national wealth, and power, 
 and happiness, so long as the state of peace suffers no 
 interruption, and so long, be it especially said, as the 
 government and fundamental institutions of the na- 
 tion, which now have successfully undergone the test 
 of experience, shall subsist in their purity and energy, 
 and, together therewith, so long as public and pri- 
 vate good morals shall continue to be cultivated and 
 cherished in the land. 
 
i 
 
 UNITED STATES. 23 
 
 Although in the foregoing pages, I have much sur- 
 passed perhaps, what was meet to be said in the re- 
 ply I undertook, yet with your leave, I will still prose- 
 cute the interesting theme of this country, and ad- 
 vance with it a stage or two farther. 
 
 The President's opening message to Congress 
 has reached this city from Washington. You will 
 read.it in the public prints, and doubtless with interest ; 
 and perhaps will find in it a confirmation of some of 
 my remarks on the " state of the nation." You will 
 at the same time, I believe, discern, that along with 
 the many warm and well applied congratulations to 
 the country, suggested by the present situation of af- 
 fairs, there is the opposite of any tendency, to re- 
 lax in salutary vigilance and precaution. Our Go- 
 vernment has still a watcliful eye, that steadily is 
 looking forward to reverses and the worst that may 
 happen. Critics we have, who believe they discover 
 in the composition, that the key note is war, mili- 
 tary power, &c. &c. &c. but perhaps without the 
 smallest just foundation; for the usual reply may be, 
 and in point of fact is, given, that if we are enjoined to 
 arm ourselves " at all points," and keep on the alert, 
 it is, that such a state of preparation is the most like- 
 ly preservative in favour of peace, or, at the worst, 
 constitutes such kind of ready means as the nation 
 ought to be furnished with, of asserting her rights 
 with effect, in any emergency that may by possibility 
 
24 UNITED STATES. 
 
 happen. The wliich, as things have gone in the 
 world, considered, you will probably say is not un- 
 wise policy. The President, too, is a friend to a vigo- 
 rous prosecution of internal improvements, although 
 for mere commercial purposes, or indeed for almost 
 any purpose other than defensive, they are thought 
 by him, not to have been brought by our constitu- 
 tional pact, within the province of the federal govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Of course, you have heard much of the New York 
 canals, a western one, length 350 miles and upwards, 
 to connect Lake Erie at Buffalo, with the Hudson 
 at Albany; a northern one, to connect the waters of 
 the St. Lawrence river via Lake Champlain, with the 
 Hudson also. The latter is finished, save a short cut 
 hereafter to be made into the other. Governor 
 Clinton laid tlie last stone at Waterford a few days 
 ago, and witnessed the passing of boats, which had 
 come from Lake Ontario, via the St Lawrence and 
 Sorel rivers: tiie western canal is expected, from of- 
 ficial report, to be finished in 1825. 
 
 The undertaking of these works in the State of 
 New York, in 1817, although, by reason of its mag- 
 nitude, it did not at the time escape the shafts of ridi- 
 cule, had soon the effect of an extra stimulant to us 
 at most of the leading points of the country, for simi- 
 lar undertakings; and this spirit, which now becomes 
 every day more and more diffused, there seems good 
 reason to believe will, before the lapse of many years, 
 give existence to a great chain of public or private 
 
 m 
 
UNITED STATES. 25 
 
 works, (canals, roads and bridges) through the coun- 
 try; all unithig in one object; that of giving as much 
 facility as can be devised to commercial intercourse, 
 one district with another, of our vast regions. As a 
 necessary consequence, there will be brought into 
 activity the various resources of the interior, those 
 which already are, with more or less precision, 
 known to exist, and others (many no doubt) yet to 
 be explored; and thus to multiply the materials for 
 domestic exchange and use, as well as for foreign 
 trade. 
 
 Foreign trade, and home trade, will thus go on flour- 
 ishing together, and advancing towards that period, 
 when markets are no longer to be found abroad for 
 the increasing quantities of our exportable produc- 
 tions. To arrive speedily at which period, nothing, 
 it is pobable, will be left unattempted, which the 
 spirit of improvement I have just now mentioned can 
 stir up any hopes of accomplishing; and under such 
 an influence, nothing short of a very general circu- 
 lation of useful industry must be quickened and re- 
 ceive accelerated force ; increasing, in a proportionate 
 degree, the national wealth and security. 
 
 Considering these things, one may naturally be led 
 to propound the question, what are the nation's ulti« 
 mate prospects? what is the state she may arrive at? 
 
2(i tMlTEt) STATES. 
 
 Tliere is indeed some danger of a visionary temeri- 
 ty in our anticipations, if a latitude of indulgence be 
 allowed, in imagining what the national means here- 
 after will be capable of accon)plishing within certain 
 given periods-, especially should these periods em- 
 brace any great distance of time: but, in taking a re- 
 view of the present state of America, and recurring 
 to what America was, only a very few fears ago; if a 
 careful examination be made into the causes which, 
 in so short an interval, have brought about this great 
 difference of condition; if also, the spirit of the times, 
 which actuates present exertion, be duly considered; 
 we may in this way, free from any risk of being 
 grossly mistaken in the speculation, carry our ideas 
 forward to a short distance, and form a conjecture 
 of what is to happen, within at least a limited period 
 of the future: always, however, I would still say, with 
 a proviso, that in this operation, we do not omit to 
 make allowances for the occurrence of political dis- 
 aster; of the which, although it may happen to seem 
 most unlikely, if not impossible, that any should inter- 
 vene, of such a nature as to defeat altogether the con- 
 sunnnation of certain national objects suggested with- 
 in our mind, yet various degrees of mischance may, 
 nowithstanding, be continually starting up in a shape 
 to delay the fulfilment of events, and thereby vary the 
 real periods or stages of the nation''s advancing state 
 of prosperity, from those periods of time which calcu- 
 lation, without such allowances, vi^ould have assigned 
 toil 
 
UNITED STATES. 27 
 
 But, in forming our conjectural estimate of the fu- 
 ture advancement of this country in riches and pow- 
 er, we are released, it seems, from reasoning by that 
 course of analogy vvhicli lias reforcnco to v\lial has 
 happened in and to other countries. We are released, 
 as a consequence to our very great dissimilarity of 
 political situation, with any other nation of which his- 
 tory makes any report. 
 
 Some striking difference in our lot, physical or 
 moral, is obvious on every comparison that can be 
 made. It may be abserved, 
 
 That our Geographical position, or place on the 
 globe, in relation to neighbourhood, or to facility 
 of being approached; at the same time that it pro- 
 tects us from all outward future danger, supposa- 
 ble or probable, in the shape of invasion or of 
 encroachment, imposes on us no necessity for 
 the adopting of measures of partiality in our ex~ 
 ternal concerns, through the means cither of alli- 
 ances or otherwise; no political restraints; but on 
 the contrary, secures us in the exercise of a free 
 intercourse with every other nation, in all the 
 latitude which our own interest and the law of mu- 
 tual accommodation may suggest and find expe- 
 dient. 
 
 That our political institutions at home, in all their 
 detail, are adapted, or at least, that we are at full 
 
2S UNITED STAIES, 
 
 liberty to improve and adapt them, to our actual 
 occasions and the state of the times, in the fullest 
 extent of their usefulness; unshackled and with- 
 out restraint, from the consideration of any claims 
 to partialities or inexpedient privileges, amongst 
 the members of our own body politic; such, for in- 
 stance, as we may suppose to have been derived 
 from ancient customs and obsolete opinions, or to 
 have had an origin in any state of society and 
 things in " olden times," incongruous with the pre- 
 sent. 
 
 That the nation (or people, both collectively and in- 
 dividually) has all the power desirable over her 
 periodical revenues; that is to say, has liberty to 
 apply the totality thereof, — diminished only by a 
 small portion payable partly for interest on a mo- 
 derate public debt and partly for local taxes, to the 
 purposes of her advancement in prosperity. It is 
 mostly converted into fresh active capital in the 
 hands or management of individuals. 
 
 Free, therefore, without and loilhin^ so to express 
 it — exempt from any entanglements constraining the 
 nation in her measures regarding external relations; 
 and at home, exempt alike from restraints of ^myi- 
 /ege, as well in all the routine of govermental regula- 
 tions and measures for the public weal, as m the se- 
 veral vocations or pursuits of individuals, which have 
 
UNITED STATES. 29 
 
 not been encumbered, for instance, with either cor- 
 poration — claims or compulsory apprenticeships: — In 
 a word, liberty in the nation, both collectively and 
 individually, to pursue (on equitable ground) her own 
 undeviating course; and that liberty connected with 
 a command over nearly the whole amount of her 
 periodical revenues, applicable consequently to her 
 advancement: — these are traits, which arc not found 
 in the circumstances of other nations. It may fur- 
 ther be observed, 
 
 That, if along with these diBtinguisliing traits, it be 
 true that there exists a bountiful endowment of 
 intelligence; or, in other words, a good sound un- 
 derstanding amongst all ranks of people; that un- 
 derstanding, I mean, which is the result of strong 
 intellect from nature, exercised by habits of local 
 observation and inquiry, (for by the way, inquisi- 
 tiveness and a roving propensity are allowed to be 
 American characteristics) aided also in general by 
 at least an elementary education; in such sort that, 
 most commonly, no very incorrect or unsound 
 judgment is formed by any class or number of indi- 
 viduals taken together, not merely regarding the 
 particular immediate calling of each individual re- 
 spectively, but upon topics of more general con- 
 cern, and such especially as regard the value to be 
 attached to those benefits actually arising to each 
 as members of the body-politic, compared with any 
 
;30 UNITED STATES. 
 
 supposable different state of things in the country 
 and the countr}''s institutions.* 
 
 That, if it be true witlial, that ealighlcncd intellect is 
 by no means parsimoniously scattered through the 
 land; but rather, our youthful stage of existence 
 considered, that the country has become possessed 
 of a liberal share of cultivated faienf; imbued, I 
 hope I may say, with the unction of both patriot- 
 ism and philanthropy; zealous on one hand, in 
 the cause of religion, morahty and science; in 
 another direction, prepared for the high purpose 
 of assisting to guide and work the great machine 
 of state. In which last vocation, perhaps this por- 
 tion of the country's abilities is not the less expert 
 and efficient for having grown up whilst the ma- 
 chine has been forming into its present shape and 
 circumstance of consistency, solidity, and power; 
 and for having consequently, had opportunity to in- 
 spect and review all or most of its springs, and 
 fixtures, and other distinct parts, as they have been 
 fashioned and brought together. 
 
 • At this place, I can not refrain from a quotation: not 
 ,only as it is a passage apposite to this branch of my subject, 
 but as the imagery it embraces in a small compass is de- 
 lightful to the fancy. It is from an American living writerj 
 the several productions of whose pen aid in deciding a ques- 
 tion that has been more than needfully agitated, and form in 
 themselves, a fine illustration of the fact, that a very young 
 country can be a possessor of taste and talent in general lite- 
 rature. It is now some years since the occurrence took 
 place, and since, of course, the quoted article was written. — 
 See Appendix. 
 
UNITED STATES. Si 
 
 I say then, if these last positions, which, though I 
 have stated them hypothetically, will probably be as 
 little disputed as those which precede, be granted, 
 it must, I conceive, likewise be granted, that the 
 United States departs still more widely, that is to say, 
 considered as a nation in the vigour of youth, from 
 the precise line of analogy, or similarity of circum- 
 stance with other nations, ancient* or modern ; and 
 therefore, that her prospective career is not to be 
 measured in idea by any series of events which have 
 ever happened hitherto to them. In the speculation 
 before us, we dismiss the ancient guide, and start 
 with a new one. It is the act of comparing America 
 with America herself; from the recent past, to infer 
 the proximate future. Which, with the discretionary 
 allowances always understood, will, I trust, prove a 
 safe conductor, and lead to what time shall unfold to 
 be the TRUTH, 
 
 Permit me then, to bring you to a few plain arith- 
 metical and other facts, exemplified in the following 
 brief — 
 
 * The ancients we have every reason for believing, did 
 never, in their maturest state of civilization and refinement, 
 enjoy the benefits of a spread ofg^enerai knowledge and moral 
 character, into the lower grades of society. And we have still 
 better authenticated assurances, as to the flourishing nations 
 of modern times, that such benefits did not attach to them in 
 the early periods of their history. Their youthful state, on 
 the contrary was, throus^h the lower orders, hnrbari»m. 
 
35 
 
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46 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Now, these facts iu view, how stands the proposi- 
 tion between us? You will remark that, although in 
 my statement above, our Navy finds an anchorage 
 corner, yet I have not introduced into quarters the 
 army and appendages, military posts, fortifications, 
 &c. 
 
 Without any particular enumeration of these, or 
 of many other objects, which, besides the above, 
 might have been brought into view, and considered 
 as national acquisitions, the sketch, as I give it, is 
 abundantly sufficient for the purpose, which was not 
 to sum up into one total, the wealth of the country at 
 this day, but, by a comparison of the leading features 
 in her condition at the commencement, with the same 
 at the close of a period of 30 years, to show what the 
 state of this country is, relatively to herself; and to 
 draw an inference. 
 
 I ask then, how stands the proposition ? Shall we 
 say, if a given power, exerted during a lioiited time, 
 produces additional power in a certain ratio; will not 
 this augmented power, exerted with equal force, in a 
 
 1 
 
UNITED STATES. 47 
 
 like limited time, produce a second augmentation of 
 power in the same ratio? And what will the whole 
 then amount to, compared with the original? And 
 so on, at successive periods of like duration, each, 
 what will the aggregate of power thus brought into 
 existence respectively and finally be? If our nation- 
 al means in their present accumulated state, be ex- 
 erted through the future, with the same vigour and 
 equally forcible concurrent circumstances, as, from 
 original means, has been experienced during the pe- 
 riod of our history under consideration, what will this 
 result be, in time, or times, to come? 
 
 It might indeed at once, by this " rule of three" 
 method, which sometimes has been likewise named 
 " the golden Rule," be accurately defined, and there- 
 fore confidently anticipated in all its parts, but for 
 the one things which has been adverted to, as always 
 understood, and necessary to have a place in such 
 operations; namely, a latitude of allowances for 
 Jmman casualty^ in order to bring events and peri- 
 ods properly together. In forming and distributing 
 these allowances, lies the only difficulty. 
 
 And now, if you please, I will leave the problem 
 where it is, for you to solve; by combining with the 
 premises such contingencies, of a nature to obstruct 
 or affect our national career, as you foresee, or con- 
 jecture may happen, and may happen to fall within 
 one or other of the periods alluded to, or within such 
 
18 UNITED STATES. 
 
 period or periods as may be contemplated in your 
 miiul. It gives me pleasure to despatch it over to you, 
 in its ni'eseiit lorm and state, for tlie exercisinc; ofjour 
 judgment upon a proper solution; and I hope, at 
 least, tlie process will agreeably entertain your imagi- 
 nation. In order to assist a little, I proceed to oiler, 
 as I proposed to do, a levv additional considerations, 
 along with the above table of facts and previous mat- 
 ter. 
 
UNITED STATES. . 49 
 
 To remark, how little vvc are removed, in point 
 . of time, from the very epoch of our infancy in the 
 scientific arts, as well as in some other attamments; 
 when canals were first projectetl in Pennsylvania, to 
 unite the rivers Susquehanna, Schuylkill, and Dela- 
 ware, a gentleman was sent for from England, ex- 
 pressly to carry on the works. They were commen- 
 ced; but it only served to prove that the country was 
 not then mature for such undertakings, as, after the 
 expenditure of a large sum of money, the project 
 was dropped. 
 
 Only thirty years and some months have elapsed 
 since that gentleman came over from England, to assist 
 us; and at the present day it is certain, were a call to 
 be made on us (allowing the supposition) to return the 
 service in kind — it is certain, I say, that we could do 
 it with great facility, and perhaps with no small credit 
 to that department of the country's acquired prac- 
 tical knowledge. Engineers and Architects are nu- 
 merous in the United States: men of acknowledged 
 talent, uniting science with practical and successful 
 business. Our bridges are, some of them, perhaps 
 
50 UNITED ST All iLM. 
 
 not unvvortliy to lie admired, as models for imitation, 
 in almost any country. In short, let there be but a 
 call made lor the exercise of skill upon any object, 
 through a vast range of ingenuity, particularly me- 
 chanical and of the useful, and I believe, an occasion- 
 al reference to the oflice of our much respected 
 friend at Washington, and inspection into some of 
 its contents,* would be suHicient to bear me out in 
 saying, it can almost instantly be supplied. You are 
 of course no stranger to the character of Mr. Per- 
 kins'*s establishment in London, and perhaps know 
 something intimately of iiis new discoveries in steam. 
 Col. Fairmau, a connexion in the engraving line, 
 might formely be known to you in Pliiladelphia. 
 
 But, if the concurrent progress and diffusion of 
 useful science, with tlie growth of this country in 
 population and settlement of territory within so short 
 a period, be very remarkable, the rapid increase of 
 her capital to its present extent, it must be allowed, 
 is as much or more so; for there can be no doubt 
 it is to this very occurrence, that the nation's other 
 acquisitions are in a great degree attributable. The 
 disproportionate increase of wealth, whatever the 
 amount of that disproportion was, which so favoura- 
 bly intluenced our situation in other respects, may 
 be traced to that lucrative course of foreign trade al- 
 
 * This collection now forms an immense national museum 
 of the arts, and presents a most interesting spectacle. 
 
 1 
 
UNITED STATES. 51 
 
 ready spoken of; which was prosecuted during some 
 years of the period, and was such, in regard to ex- 
 tent of profit, as may not again occur; these United 
 States having become, for a while, carriers, in a great 
 measure, to the beihgerent world, and having besides, 
 the raw productions of her soil raised to an excessive 
 price in the markets of Europe and elsewhere. 
 
 Capital, or in other words, available riches^ whe- 
 ther for the purposes of agriculture, commerce, or 
 manufactures, the general comforts of society, or the 
 political strength and aggrandizement of the nation, 
 must of necessity accumulate, in some degree or 
 other, in any free state, where industry is duly ex- 
 erted, even although the advantages of an external 
 commerce should happen to be entirely wanting, until 
 such time as the population becomes excessive, 
 or beyond the soil's capability of furnishing to its 
 numbers the means of sustentation and the other en- 
 joyments. If the state possesses also a foreign com- 
 merce, her field of industry is widened, and her pros- 
 perity accelerated, according to the extent and op- 
 portunities of the same. With regard to the United 
 States, as her foreign commerce at the epoch al- 
 alluded to, was great, and the opportunities which it 
 afforded, almost, if not quite, beyond any example, 
 so it may confidently be affirmed, that she realized 
 a considerable excess of wealth, over and above that 
 which would naturally have accrued to her from 
 equally industrious exertions, had the times and sea- 
 
 ■% 
 
52 UNITED STATES. 
 
 sons continuerl merely as. before. And thus the na- 
 tion was indebted, for the excess, to an accidental 
 occiiirence. On the other liand, a war of two years 
 and a half with Great Britain, whicii was also an 
 accidental occurrence, operated for the time it lasted, 
 to check the accumulation of wealth, and carry us 
 backward. In what des;ree or proportion we retro- 
 graded 1 do not decide; but we acquired, as a nation, 
 some profitable knowledge and experience, even 
 from that occurrence; m particular, a much more 
 intimate acquaintance than we had before, with ow- 
 st'/i't'S and the resourcesof our interior. Our strength 
 too, having become great, and our slock been en- 
 larged and multiplied, we could well spare something 
 out of our abundance. 
 
 4 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 
 The population of the tJnited States, it is reasona- 
 ble to suppose, will about maintain the same propor- 
 tional advancement as of late, for many years to 
 come; the natural effect of industry and capital, em- 
 ployed upon lands selected out of a superabundance, 
 furnishing an easy subsistence to the cultivator. So 
 that by this condition of the country, population and 
 agriculture will necessarily increase together, and 
 probably their respective increments will be nearly 
 proportional The latter however, i. e. agriculture, 
 will so regulate itself, that, in articles serving for food, 
 the quantity produced will always be proportioned to 
 the country's wants, together with such superfluity 
 as any foreign demand can carry off. And, as to the 
 raw materials for manufacture, whenever the quantity 
 produced of these shall become excessive, so that an 
 adequate price for the whole can no longer be ob- 
 tained in the markets abroad, we shall then, notwith- 
 standing, go on to produce those articles, and in- 
 crease their amount, as before, by bringing succes- 
 sively into service, fresh increases to our lands under 
 cultivation: but, from that moment, it is evident, 
 
54 UNITED STATES. 
 
 manufaclures wili claim special attention. They 
 will claim it, inasmuch as a portion of the nalion''s 
 industry and capital may then be profitably turned 
 into that channel, without requiring the aid of 
 hmmtics, prohibitions^ or excessiiie import duties; the 
 effects of which unnatural stimulants, are necessarily 
 injurious to the other orders of industry, and in a de- 
 gree, more or less, always so to the whole nation 
 where they prevail; as can easily be proved, and so 
 conclusively proved, from experience and the lights of 
 the present day thrown upon this subject, as to 
 amount to demonstration in tlie mind of every well 
 informed and competent analyzer of the question. 
 The same lights also show, that in but a very few 
 cases, if any, have those artificial aids^ formed out 
 of legislative interference, had the effect of conferring 
 more than a mere transient benefit on the very class 
 itself, namely, one branch or other of manufacturing 
 interest, in whose favour the partiality has been 
 manifested. The benefit in this way, enjoyed at first 
 by a few capitalists only, niust speedily be shared 
 with other men of capital, who will bring forward 
 equally just and vahd claims to exclusive privilege, 
 and come in for a share of the monopoly. 
 
 Manufacturing employments will with us, it is to 
 be hoped, in their own proper time, advance to their 
 station, and succeed, according to the natural course 
 and order of things. All attempts, I undertake to re- 
 peat, in the form of laws, made to bring forward par- 
 
UNITED STATES. 55 
 
 ticular employments whilst yet immature, are worse 
 than nugatory: and it behoves the United States of 
 the present period, well to guard against entailing 
 upon tiie United States of after-times, like injurious 
 consequences to those now experienced by some na- 
 tions of the world, from commercial regulations by 
 law, on the plan of privilege and exclusion^ the 
 work of former ages. At the present day, the evil 
 of tliese regulations, in many instances, is severely 
 felt; yet does not, in most cases, admit of an easy re- 
 moval, by reason of their having grown into systems, 
 in which conflicting interests of magnitude and great 
 complication are involved. 
 
 All excessive duty of impost on the commodities 
 of importation, is of the nature of a burthensome tax 
 on the community; and if laid upon particular se- 
 lected articles, for the partial purpose, or with tke 
 partial effect of favouring one class of individuals and 
 injuring another class, it is made additionally oppres- 
 sive and exceptionable. Mr. Malthus is not the only 
 writer who has commented with force upon the 
 evils arising from this branch of taxation ; which may 
 well be styled unnecessary, or inadvertent taxation. 
 Myriads, who are not writers, in different countries, 
 may be found to attest that they are made to feel the 
 pressure of such taxes ; and in no case or shape more 
 grievously than where a rigorous excise has been in- 
 stituted, and resorted to for revenue, in the place of 
 a judicious moderate tariff of customs ; the customs. 
 
5G UNITED STATES. 
 
 in such instances, having been precluded from their 
 natural productiveness, through prohibitions of some 
 foreign articles, and excessive importation duties on 
 some others, tantamount nearly to prohibition; both 
 of them too. holding forth encouragement to the im- 
 morality of contraband practices. So that, in all re- 
 spects that can well be thought of, the nation is made 
 to suffer by an injudicious prohibitory tariff wher- 
 ever such a thing prevails. Her revenue to govern- 
 ment from customs, if not destroyed, is lessened by 
 it; the public are constrained to pay an exorbitant 
 price for an inferior home fabricated article; and the 
 privileged manufacturer himself, has in his turn, to- 
 gether with the payment of excise duties, to enter- 
 tain the domiciliary visits of the officers of an excise 
 establishment. 
 
 But to revert, for a moment, to manufactures with- 
 in the United States; we do manufacture at the pre- 
 sent time, and successfully, in a limited way; the 
 New England district always has manufactured, both 
 forborne use, and transportation, and exportation; 
 and the annual amount of Pennsylvania manufactur- 
 ed articles is now large;* many of them of the very 
 
 ■* The value of dutiable articles, tliat is, such as if import- 
 ed would have paid duty, now manufactured within the Uni- 
 ted States, annually, has been computed at 30,000,000 dollars, 
 and probably it is much g:reater. Certainly much greater. 
 The citv and suburbs of Philadelphia alone, contain about 
 
UNITED STATES. 57 
 
 first quality, and of highly finished workmanship; 
 Philadelphia and Pittsburg may in fact both be termed 
 manufacturing cities: but how distant, or how near, 
 the period may be, when the United States is to 
 become, emphatically speaking, a manufacturing 
 country^ is a problem for solution. 
 
 It may, without any disadvantage, on the contrary 
 with advantages, be delayed, except as to a limited 
 progressive extent, so long as there can be found 
 markets abroad for the vast increasing produce of 
 her soil. Possessing, however, as the United States 
 appears to do, peculiar inherent advantages and re- 
 sources, as well in regard to process, as in the variety 
 and quantity of raw materials to work upon; there is 
 a probability that whenever the time does arrive, it 
 will be found that she has, in addition to all other 
 means, been gradually collecting from various quar- 
 ters, and has formed within herself, a body of ex- 
 perienced practical talent, capable of prosecuting 
 various departments of manufacture, on a very large 
 scale. 
 
 five thousand looms iu full operation, and thirty cotton facto- 
 ries; some of which, are not inconsiderable establishments. 
 The mechanical work, in machinery, amounts high. 
 
58 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Foreign commerce, in the wide sense of the word, 
 if it cannot, in peaceable times, like the present, be 
 carried on by the United States, with similar bene- 
 ficial results to those engaged in it, and of course to 
 the country, as it was at the particular period which 
 has been noticed, will notwithstanding ever continue 
 to be one of the staple sources of wealth to the coun- 
 try ; and her conmiercial flag will continue to be high- 
 ly respected and respectable in the ports of foreign 
 nations. The goodness of her ships and seamen, 
 the enterprizing spirit of her merchants, and the 
 mofleratc terms on which she can navigate, arc cir- 
 cumstances likely always to insure to her a full share 
 in the general competition; and probably indeed, the 
 sea commerce of the United States will not descend 
 in rank, or be second to that of any nation besides 
 thai ol Great Britain. 
 
 But, in times hereafter, whether of peace or war, 
 this branch of national pursuit, respectable, and even 
 great, as it may be, and necessary to us as it now is 
 and muai continue to be, will rank but secondary in 
 
 ■feA 
 
UNITED STATES. 59 
 
 importance, compared with the whole domestic com- 
 merce of the nation, or that in which the produc- 
 tions of the land are in some way concerned; a 
 definition, however, which I am aware, embraces 
 some portion'of the sea-commerce we have just been 
 considering. I make this donnestic commerce to 
 consist, 
 
 1. In effecting exchanges of commodities, between 
 
 one district or place, and another, according to 
 the different wants of the inhabitants of each. 
 
 2. In transporting to ports of deposite, that portion 
 
 of commodities destined for exportation, and 
 exporting the same. 
 
 3. In supplying the interior with imported articles, 
 
 derived from the sales of commodities exported. 
 
 And, considering the diversity of the country's 
 useful productions, consequent on a variety in soil 
 and climate, through so great an extent of territory, 
 there seems indeed to be scarcely any supposition of 
 advantages that a speculative mind can make, which 
 may not possibly, in future times be realized, by an 
 assiduous cultivation of these commercial opportuni- 
 ties within ourselves. 
 
60 UNITED STATES. 
 
 It has been observed, by a gentleman* of ingenuity 
 in his profession, that the natural commercial facili- 
 ties between the Atlantic States of the country, and 
 the valleys of the great rivers Mississippi and St. 
 Lawrence, admit of three divisions: they are these, 
 
 Northern division. All that part of North America, 
 watered by the St. Lawrence river and its confluent 
 branches, situate to the north of Niagara Falls. 
 This will continue to have its principal commercial 
 outlet and inlet, by that river, through Montreal 
 and Quebec. 
 
 South and SW. of the rapids of the Ohio at Louis- 
 ville. For the principal outlet to exportable com- 
 modities, the production of human industry in this 
 great district, New Orleans is by nature pointed 
 out; of course also the natural channel for supplies 
 of foreign articles needed by the district in return. 
 Tlie exceptions to this course eventually, whether 
 great or small, may be considered as owing chiefly 
 to facilities of general communication, in the de- 
 gree of perfection to which these facilities may be 
 carried by artificial improvements through the 
 country. 
 
 * Mr. Wm. Darby, topographical engineer, and late one 
 of the commissioners of the United States for determining 
 boundaries under the treaty with Great Britain. 
 
UNITE© STATES. 61 
 
 Middle District. Between the Falls of Niagara and 
 the rapids at Louisville, and from the Alleghany 
 Mountains to the sources ot the rivers of Lake 
 Superior; this constitutes the natural middle dis- 
 trict; and New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, 
 appear admirably situate as competitors for the 
 profits of commercial exchange therewith. The 
 city of Detroit and Buffalo, also Cincinnati and 
 Pittsburg, are found within the natural channel of 
 intercourse here presented ; besides w hich, it is easy 
 to perceive that many intermediate towns, through 
 this interesting tract of country, must rise into 
 great importance, according as they will be found 
 to be advantageously located for thoroughfares 
 and places of temporary deposite. Some situations 
 of the district, it is however, to be observed, do at 
 present deviate in their trade from this course; 
 and no doubt, eventually may continue to do so, 
 more or less; in some instances occasionally, in 
 others permanently. Without any question, arti- 
 ficial improvement on the Canada border of the 
 lakes and river St. Lawrence, as well as on our 
 border, will be carried to as great perfection as 
 local circumstances admit of, for the purpose of 
 giving facility to transportation: for which, and 
 other reasons, it may be expected that, in regard 
 to some parts of the country, a competition will 
 subsist between the Canada outlet, through Mon- 
 treal and Quebec, and the United States' outlet 
 through her Atlantic ports abovementioned. 
 
G2 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Tlie same professional gentleman has given us a 
 computation, in square miles, of the three grand di- 
 visions of country in question, as thus: — 
 
 The Valley of the St. Lawrence, below 
 ^iia^ara 1 alls, as above described; 
 art a computed, . . Sq Miles. 240,000 
 
 The Middle or central section, . do. 320,000 
 
 The South and SW. do. . do. 1,200,000 
 
 And, by a different mofle of statement, we are 
 presented with a comparative computation of the 
 whole sujjerticies of country drained by the St. Law- 
 rence river and that drained by the Mississippi, in- 
 cludin;; ti)e tributary streams, or branches of each, 
 as follows. — 
 
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66 UNITED STATES. 
 
 It is obvious, that t!ie " Middle district" of country 
 described above, beinj* the great connecting portion 
 of tile whole, all facilities of transportation through 
 the same, and thence to the principal ports on our 
 Atlantic border, have a paramountclaim to attention 
 in the first instance, because, whilst lliey immediately 
 tend to call into activity the latent riches of the dis- 
 trict itself, they also have a proportionate favourable 
 bearing on the trade of the more distant parts, and 
 may in many instances, determine the course such 
 trade is to take in future times. 
 
UNITED STATES. 67 
 
 I HAVE mentioned the great canal works, going 
 briskly forward, in New York: which state is also 
 laudably attentive to her roads. In this state, 
 (Penns.) although we have not escaped some re- 
 proach for supineness, in not having bestirred our- 
 selves in canal operations with all the boldness of our 
 neighbours, yet a great deal of useful solid improve- 
 ment over the State-surface has, at all times, been 
 going forward ; and much is accomplished. We pos- 
 sess at this day, 
 
 1940 miles complete, of excellent turnpike roads, 
 traversing the State, and having on their surface 
 no angle greater than 5°, even where they cross 
 the highest mountains. This includes as follows: 
 
 One stone road of 300 miles, between Philadel- 
 phia and Pittsburgh; and part of another be- 
 tween the same cities, in progress, by a dif- 
 ferent route. 
 
 One continued road from Philadelphia to the 
 town of Erie on Lake Erie, passing through 
 
68 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Sunbury, Bellefonte, Philipsburg, Franklin, 
 Meadville; forming in the way, an eligible 
 communication between the lake-country and 
 the navigable waters of the Susquehanna. 
 
 Two other roads, from Philadelphia to the New 
 York line at Bradford counfy and Susque- 
 hanna county; one passing through Berwick, 
 the other towards the N. passing through 
 Bethlehem. 
 
 Part of a road, from Pittsburg to Erie, passing 
 through Butler, Meadville, Waterfordj in 
 progress. 
 
 Thus, you will perceive, on reference to a map of 
 Pennsylvania, how the Northern, the N. West, and 
 the Western sections of the State are already well 
 connected with this metropolis, and with each other. 
 These works are always going forward, and turnpike 
 roads increasing. And with respect to water-im- 
 provements, we are now entitled, at the least, to boast 
 of two great works, in such satisfactory progress, 
 that one of them, whereby the whole course of the 
 river Schuylkill, 117 miles, will be rendered naviga- 
 ble, is far advanced, and will be completed, in all 
 probability, being contracted for, in less than two 
 years; the other work, which is to connect by canal, 
 70 miles, the navigable waters of the Susquehanna 
 with the Schuylkill, will, it is expected, be finished 
 
UNITED STATES. 69 
 
 at, or about the same time, say in 1825, or at the 
 farthest in 1 826. The two works have a point of 
 union al Reading, whence the Schuylkill canal con- 
 tinues in a N. Western direction to Mount Carbon, 
 and the other strikes off S. Westwardly to the Swa- 
 tara river, at Middleton, near the Susquehanna. 
 
 We hope from these, our Pennsylvania works, 
 very beneficial effects, considered even without refer- 
 ence to others; but should there, in addition, be set 
 on foot, as present indications make probable, an en- 
 terprise to unite the Delaware and Chesapeake- wa- 
 ters; and another, by a cut across New Jersey, to 
 connect the Delaware and Rariton; all these, consi- 
 dered in connexion with the Erie and Champlain 
 canals of New York, and a certain canal to the 
 Southward which has lately been completed, called 
 the " Dismal Swamp Canal," will soon form a chain 
 of inland navigation of vast consequence to the coun- 
 try. Yet, as I have heretofore shown, our views 
 are not to be confined within even such a range of 
 enterprise as this. 
 
 I will here present you with a little specimen of 
 New York accomptantship, in relation to neiv pro- 
 jects. It displays the kind of ideas that are enter- 
 tained on the subject, in that quarter; which is my 
 reason for transcribing it, as follows: 
 
:U UNITED STATES. 
 
 The Erie and Cbamplain canals, when 
 complete, io ISij. will have cost, at the 
 highest estimate. Doll. 7.500 000 Whereof 
 the interest, ou DolL 4,000.000 paying 6 
 percent, . is . . D.»IL 240 000 
 
 Doll. S.oOOfiOO at o per cent, is 175,000 
 
 1 
 
 Making, to be pro\ide J tor, Doll. 4 1 5.000 
 
 The proceeds of the canal-fund, exclusive of 
 tolls, auiounted, in the year ISi^. to 
 Doll. 216,902, say only . . DolL ;215,UU0 
 
 At Rome, 40.000 tons paid freight, in this 
 year; but it is supposed that after lSi5, 
 the quantity will be increased from three 
 to six times. Say three times only ; i. r . 
 120.000 tonsL, maki.ns for the distance 
 on the Erie canal, S6S miles^ at U els. 
 per ton 653,400 
 
 DolL 86S400 
 
 Wliich income of Doll. 868,400 
 will, without any thing from the 
 Chaniplain canal, proiide for the 
 above interest 415.000 
 
 For repaii-s and expenses, suppose oS .^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 4c^.4L'C> 
 
 Leaving an annual surplus of . . DolL 400.000 
 
INITI.D STATES. 71 
 
 Which it is proposed to apply, as so much interest 
 money on new loans to the amount of seven millions 
 of dollars, for the purpose o( new impnyi'enunts, 
 
 I may observe also, that in New York there is 
 prosecutins::; at tnis moment a Geological and Mme- 
 ralogical Survey, through the tract between Albany 
 and Lake Erie; for the special purpose of rendering 
 such information as shall be obtained from it, bene- 
 ficial to the State. 
 
 So mucli for prospects and projects in New York. 
 The Dismal Swamp canal, let me inform you, is situ- 
 ate between Yirgiuia and North Carolina, connect- 
 ing the Chesapeake and Albemarle Sound, by a cut 
 from Elizabeth river to Pasquotank. It is in length 
 22 1 miles, S8 feet wide at the surface, (5 feel deep, 
 and is calculated for Sloop navigation, admitting 
 vessels to pass through the locks with sixty or se- 
 
 • venty hogsheads of tobacco, or about three hundred 
 
 * barrels of tlour, with masts standing. 
 
 To be somewhat more particular on the topic of 
 fiuiher enierprise, I have to observe, that the public 
 mind is turned towards a thorough inland navigLd)le 
 communication, between the Northern, the Southern, 
 the \Yestern, and the Atlantic waters of the United 
 States; which, provided the country continues to 
 be blessed with peace, will, in all probability, be ac- 
 complished before the lapse of a long series of years. 
 
72 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Several plans have been brought forward for a 
 junction of the Mississippi with the great lakes; most 
 of these plans proposing the river Ohio as a medium, 
 and the canal to strike from some point of Lake Erie. 
 Amongst the plans of a different route, one by the 
 Chicago and Illinois rivers, has been suggested, and 
 is represerited as being comparatively of very easy 
 execution. The two rivers intermingle their sources, 
 and present one of those remarkable instances of 
 rivers originating in a plain so nearly approaching 
 to the curve of a sphere, as to leave for the discharge 
 of the waters, scarcely a sufficient inclination to deter- 
 mine their course. I ought to have mentioned, that 
 the Chicago is a river discharging into Lake Michi- 
 gan, near the SW. extremity. There are no inter- 
 vening mountains to obstruct canal-work, and the 
 distance is short. The rivers themselves, said to be 
 free from rapids and shoals, so as to supply an unim- 
 peded navigation* down to the Mississippi. 
 
 In the present state however, of the country, the 
 Ohio route is more interesting, by reason of the 
 density of its population and actual productiveness 
 of the land, than is as yet the Illinois track; but the 
 passage of that river is interrupted, in the dry season 
 of the year, at the rapids below Louisville;! to remedy 
 
 * My information concerning the Illinois route, is from 
 Mr. Darby. 
 t Here dwells honest Byrne. 
 
UNITED STATES. 73 
 
 which, a lock-construction is there requisite. Upon 
 the whole, it appears highly probable that the Ohio 
 and Illinois rivers will eventually both become, by the 
 aid of canals, channels of communication between 
 the Great Lakes and the Western waters. Other im- 
 provements being also made, the several divisions of 
 the country will hereafter have, in their commercial 
 intercourse, a choice, both of different markets, for 
 their commodities, and of different routes to the same 
 market; to be availed of, the one or the other, ac- 
 cording to the season of the year and other circum- 
 stances. 
 
 The track between New York and St. Louis, 
 Missouri, I will here note down, by way of ennume- 
 rating a few local distances, and for the purpose of 
 pointmg to another fact. 
 
 w York to Albany, 
 
 . 160 Miles. 
 
 
 Canandaigua, 
 
 . 213 
 
 373 
 
 
 Buffalo, 
 
 . 92 
 
 465 
 
 
 Erie, . 
 
 . 90 
 
 555 
 
 
 Cleveland, . 
 
 . 90 
 
 645 
 
 
 Detroit, 
 
 . 110 
 
 755 
 
 
 Fort Gratiot, 
 
 . 67 
 
 822 
 
 
 Michilimakinac, 
 
 . 190 
 
 1012 
 
 
 M. of Chicago river, 2S0 
 
 1292 
 
 
 Head of Illinois, 
 
 . 40 
 
 1332 
 
 
 Mouth of do. 
 
 . 400 
 
 1732 
 
 
 St. Louis, . 
 
 . 30 
 
 . 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 1762 
 
74 UNITED STATE>. 
 
 Tlie other tact alluded to, you have, perhaps, 
 anticipated me in; namely, lliat the Buffalo and Al- 
 bany canal once tjnished. there will be no more 
 wauling than the Chicago canal, tor the whole range 
 of couutry Westward, and S. Westward, compre- 
 hending the Mississippi river, and rivers tlowing into 
 the Mississippi, and their tributary streams, being 
 la'd open, by a navigable passage, to the commercial 
 enterprise cf the city of New York and intermedi- 
 ate places. Of which range, the distance to St. 
 Lotiis, as above sketched, makes but a small part. 
 How soon this may be fully realized, I do not know; 
 but in the mean time, we shall have etfecied some- 
 thing in other quarters. 
 
 You will readily call to mind, among the little in- 
 cidents of the tour we made together in 1808, tlie 
 perusal of a copy, just then received by a certain 
 gentleuian. of Mr Secrt tary Gallatin's fauious re- 
 port U[xin inland navigation and roads. It projected 
 in particular, a line of canals along the Atlantic coast, 
 from Boston harbour to Carolina; which appeared 
 to gather friends desirous for its execution The 
 navigation projwsed, was to be for sea-vessels, and 
 the connexion, to be eflected by four canals, as 
 follows: 
 
 1. Boston harbour to Rhode Ulaud. 
 
 2. Uanton river to the Delaware. 
 
 S. Peninsula between the D^iaware and Chesa- 
 peake. 
 4. Chesapeake to Albemarle Sound. 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 Botivoen 
 
 
 
 Weymouth and Taunion. . 
 
 2G 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Brunswick and Tioutou, . 
 
 28 
 
 do. 
 
 Christiana and Elk, 
 
 22 
 
 do. 
 
 Eiizabeih river ami Pasquotank, 
 
 22 
 
 do. 
 
 At that time however, and for years after, the na- 
 tion was too much engaged wiili some other objects, 
 to dchberate wilii eilect upon tliis undertaking; and 
 since then, when Congress took up the matter, and 
 decided in favour of the work of internal improve- 
 ment on a general scale, it was arrested, by a negative 
 opinion of the President, touching constitiitioiwl tm- 
 ihoiity in the Federal government to execute such 
 works. 
 
 Whether a greater latitude may hereaitei- be al- 
 lowed to constructive authority^ so as to embrace the 
 point, or whether an amendment to the constitution- 
 al instrument may be resorted to, so as to do away 
 the doubt by an erpress authority, is uncertain; but 
 in one of the two ways the ditTiculty will probably be 
 gotten over; for, that it should exist at all. is by many, 
 whose views are extensive, regretted. They per- 
 ceive a reasonable propriety in some part of the ex- 
 pected overflowings of the national treasury being ap- 
 plied to an object, than wliich one of greater public 
 prospective utility couKl not well be devised. 
 
76 UNITED STATES. 
 
 At tlie very last session of Congress, a committee 
 reported iu favour of surveys being gone into, with 
 a view to tiie following, as national undertakings. 
 They proposed, 
 
 1. The line of canals along the Atlantic coast, as 
 
 above described. 
 
 2. A great road from Washington city to New Or- 
 
 leans. 
 
 3. Canals, to connect the waters of the Ohio river 
 
 above, with those below the rapids at Louis- 
 ville; Lake Erie with the river Oino; the 
 tide-waters of the Potomac at Washington, 
 witli the same river at Cumberland. 
 
 i. Canal-communication between the Susquehanna, 
 and the rivers Seneca and Genessee. 
 
 5. Canal-communication between the Tennessee and 
 Savannah rivers; and between the Tennessee, 
 the Alabama and Tombecbee rivers. 
 
 But, according to what is above related, all effectu- 
 al steps in this, so far as regards the general govern- 
 ment, must probably be suspended for the present, 
 by the constitutional dou t. In t!ie mean time, you 
 will have seen from what I state, that, the great 
 work is advancing by piecemeal, in different quarters: 
 
UNITED STATES. 77 
 
 incorporated companies, composed of individuals and 
 their particular State governments, are zealous in 
 it, at least in proportion to the views they each 
 entertain of respective local advantages. 
 
 On speaking of the turnpike roads in the State of 
 Pennsylvania, I might have observed, that near the 
 sum of seven milHons of dollars has been expended 
 in the first formation of them, besides the needful 
 expenditure, from time to time, to keep them in re- 
 pair. 
 
 I have properly characterized above, our works, 
 now in great forwardness, on and between the rivers 
 Schuylkill and Susquehanna; when complete, they 
 will have most beneficial consequences. The city 
 of Philadelphia is beginning to receive coal from some 
 of the mines situate on the Schuylkill. 
 
 The Delaware and Chesapeake canal, (one of Mr. 
 Gallatin's four) was undertaken many years ago; but 
 after a while, suspended, from temporary causes: this, 
 it is almost certain, will be resumed forthwith, with 
 provision made for a prompt completion of it; and 
 the intention is, to adapt it to ship-navigation ; so that 
 vessels from Philadelphia bound to sea, may then 
 have a choice between the Capes of Delaware, and 
 the Capes of Virginia, to depart from ; and of course, 
 inward vessels arriving on the coast, the same choice 
 «f Capes to enter by. 
 
78 UNITED STATES. 
 
 The Dismal Swamp Canal, between Virginia and 
 North Carolina, is another of Mr. Gallatin's four; and 
 it is quite probable, as before stated, that a third one 
 of the four will soon be undertaken, viz. the cut across 
 New Jersey; if which should be made a shii>-pas- 
 sage, as is likewise probable, then may large vrssels 
 navigate within land, from the Capes of Virginia 
 quite to Rhode Island, and vice versa; and besides, 
 may proceed up the Hudson river, to within a very 
 few miles of Albany; where, if a short lock-irn- 
 provement be made, to overcome an impediment yet 
 existing, then may ships come in contact with the 
 Erie, and the Champlain canals, and have the benefit 
 of an inland navigation, from the very point of union 
 at Albany, to the Capes of Virginia, or of Delaware, 
 at pleasure, as also between Albany and Rhode Is- 
 land. This is no inconsiderable range within land, 
 for vessels of burthen, either equipped for sea, or not. 
 as the case may happen and objects require. 
 
 Amongst other matters urtder consideration, for 
 accomplishment by individual means and State go- 
 vernment aid, a prominent one is to improve the 
 navigation of the Potomac, by a lock-construclion 
 and series of works, between tide-water at Washing- 
 ton, and Cumberland on the same river, and thence 
 to the waters of the Ohio, to form a junction with 
 that river; a distance in all, of perhaps three hun- 
 dred and fifty miles. The State of Virginia has 
 actually passed a law to subscribe one million of 
 
UNITED STATES. 79 
 
 dollars, or 2-5i]\s of a stock of 2| millions to be 
 created tor that purpose, as soon as the other 3-5ths 
 or 1,500,000 dollars shall be elsewhere subscribed. 
 That state has, I believe, a standing law, whereby 
 a Board of commissioners are empowered to sub- 
 scribe, on behalf of the state, 2-5th9 toward any 
 works of approved general utility within the State, 
 conditionally that the other 3-5ths are subscribed 
 and partly paid in. 
 
 The Maryland legislature has passed resolutions, 
 directing a survey to determine as to the practica- 
 bility of a canal from Baltimore to the river Potomac, 
 and of another from Baltimore to the Susquehanna 
 near Conawago falls. 
 
 In South Carolina, some of the rivers are already 
 connected by valuable canal-works. 
 
 In Massachusetts, the Middlesex canal, connect- 
 ing Boston harbour and the river Merrimack, is a 
 fine substantial work, and highly useful; and, what 
 most probably will become of great general utility, 
 though not as yet productive to the incorporated pro- 
 prietors, is a work situate behind the town of Boston, 
 now quite or nearly completed, at the expense of 
 near a million ; for the purpose of furnishing water 
 power. This is effected by means of two dams, 
 which admit and confine the tide: one of them mak- 
 
80 UNITED STATES. 
 
 ing a chord line, to a basin approaching to the cir- 
 cular form ; the other dam, which is perpendicular 
 to the chord, and about one mile in length, being al- 
 lotted for the erection of mills and lactones. 
 
UNITED STATES. 81 
 
 ^tt 
 
 1 HAVE now brought forward sundry facts and obser- 
 vations agreeably to ijitnnation; and, with the excep- 
 tion of one topic, comprising all that I had in my 
 mind in relation to the subject before us: 
 
 1. I have delineated in the form of a comparative 
 table, the prominent features of American opu- 
 lence in the year 1822, with reference to the 
 year 1792. 
 
 2. I have, for i easons given, assigned as the proxi- 
 mate cause of most of this accumulated wealth 
 of the country, the commercial opportunities 
 thrown in her way by the convulsions of Europe: 
 I say proximate, meaning that this cause, or oc- 
 casion, is not to be considered as alone and un- 
 connected, but to be taken in combination with 
 the previously formed industrious habits of a peo- 
 ple, with their mental intelligence, and with a 
 particular aptitude and skill which they possess, 
 in the pursuit of commerce; whereby, the occa- 
 sion being presented, there was found little tardi- 
 ness to profit by it, and as little mistake in the 
 
 11 
 
32 UNITED STATEb. 
 
 mode; and above all, taken in combination with 
 the circmnstance of our cuunlry's teeming with 
 productions, — ships and able seamen included in 
 the number, — such as happened at tiiat period to 
 be precisely those things, of which FAUope felt 
 the most pressing want. All this understood, I 
 have not hesitated to deduce the present national 
 opulence, as an immediate eifi ct of extraordinary 
 opportunities of foreign commerce, enjoyed dur- 
 ing some years; and I have hazarded some con- 
 jectures, or at the least, have sketched an outline 
 for conjectures, upon the operation of existing 
 causes for its further advancement. 
 
 3. I have endeavoured to place in view, a few of the 
 leading improvements on the face of the country, 
 actually finished or in progrcvss of execution, 
 with others projected; especially as relating to 
 facilities of commercial intercourse, bringing the 
 remote parts of this extensive country into close 
 intimacy, and consequent thereupon, tending 
 most eirectualiy to explore her latent sources of 
 treasure in every direction; by which, to increase 
 the mass as well as the number or variety of her 
 productions, and bring the whole of these into 
 rapid circulation. 
 
 l. I have endeavoured, by stating a few collateral 
 circumstances, to convey an idea of the active 
 spirit and intelligent power, w ith which these ini- 
 
UNITED STATES. 83 
 
 provements, and of course the several appropriate 
 industrious pursuits, are car ried on and extended, 
 in the road to further, and perhaps accelerated, 
 accumulations of wealth and power. 
 
 5. I have endeavoured through the whole, directly 
 or indirectly, to point also to American mind — its 
 original capability and its opportunities of expan- 
 sion — as being in itselfthegreatspring, or fountain 
 head, of all the rest. The anticipations we are 
 wont to indulge in, have their rise, their origin 
 and support, in what is observable in the state and 
 character of that mind; or the tendency which 
 we believe we discover in it, to support from 
 choice, and render permanent, the essential insti- 
 tutions of the country. 
 
 With the use then, of whatever these materials may 
 be found to add to your own previous stock and stores, 
 should you be induced to speculate deeply, and of 
 course with that warmth of interest, which I may well 
 suppose you have not ceased to feel in the destinies bf 
 this land of promise, there are few things in the 
 world could afford me a higher gratification than to 
 be favoured with the results of your speculations, ge- 
 neral and particular; not any thing perhaps remain- 
 ing in the world, which could equal towards me the 
 gratification I should have in the opportunity of con- 
 ferring with you upon them, and some other subjects, 
 here on the spot. 
 
84 UNITF.D STATES. 
 
 But, I have liinted just above, at some reserve in 
 respect to a certain topic. It is a point, I will ven- 
 ture to say, not yicldini^; in injj)oitance to any other 
 in my catalogue of premises; and yet, I believe that, 
 vviljioul violence to custom in speculations of the na- 
 ture before us. it might be cast into exclusion; or at 
 the least, might not be allowed to occupy the \ isil)le 
 place for consideration, which it certainly merits. I 
 have, it is true, hesitated at bringing it conspicuously 
 forward, knowing that it could not escape having a 
 pince in your consideration; but 1 finally concluded 
 the better way to be, to lay all open, and not wilfully 
 to abstain from any matter-of-fact suggestion or re- 
 mark, that might, by possibility, aid in awakening 
 youi- reflections on the subject, or widen the field of 
 view. 
 
 There is need of my craving your indulgence for 
 so iumioderate an iniroduclion. Perhaps by this time 
 you peiceive tluit what I allude to, bears relation to 
 the religious and moral character of the nation ;— 
 the influence that this may have, according as it shall, 
 or shall not, be established and maintained consistently 
 throughout; the influence, I sny, favourable or unfa- 
 vourable, that this may have, over the stability of this 
 country's present happy institutions.? My pen here 
 approaches to the fearful word Slavery. 
 
 Opinions with us are, I believe you Iviiow, at vari- 
 ance, as to the remote effects to be expected from this 
 
UNITED STATES. 85 
 
 evil; though it is nothing more than justice to say, 
 that many of those, if not nearly all, the most inte- 
 rested in this species of pro[)erty, do unite in ac- 
 knowledging the thing to be as I here name it. The 
 difficuUy in the way of discovering a remedy, you 
 are well enough aware of There are those amongst 
 us, whose exalted religious and huniane feelings 
 prompt thejn to look upon it as a most direful malady 
 in the body of the slate; and they behold, with all 
 the sorrow which an unquestionably ardent love for 
 their country can excite, the extension of it into neio 
 members. If pressed on tlie topic, but not otherwise, 
 they go the length of saying, that although there 
 should be a multiplicity of the best effects flowing 
 from wise institutions, virtuous motives, zealous exe- 
 cution, and successful application of talents; — all this 
 together, whilst it still shall constitute no more than 
 a preponderance of ^oorf, over an inherent mass of 
 evil in the land, may not, they apprehend, if the latter 
 be suffered to go on growing more and more into 
 strength, be sufficient to protect the nation, at some 
 period, sooner or later, from a great, and perhaps 
 deadly catastrophe! For my own humble part, I do 
 not undertake to pronounce upon these forebodings. 
 As to the force, or to the extent of such commotions, 
 decay, or disruption, as this growing malady, if it can- 
 not be eradicated, may eventually stir up in tlie body- 
 politic, I do not allow myself, at this early and elastic 
 stage of our political existence, to form a conjecture. 
 It is one of those unhappy national predicaments, 
 
SQ UNITED STATES. 
 
 vvliicli, although brought into being by man, through 
 inadvertency or the depravity of a past age, is yet 
 what man's experience and foresight together can by 
 no means compass all the consequences of; and very 
 probably what the mind of man is not competent to 
 construct any connected, feasible, philantrophic plan 
 for the removal of; and little more perhaps is in his 
 power than to cherish a hearty desire, and keep hope 
 alive within his breast, trusting chiefly to some provi- 
 dential discovery, hereafter, of means, which at pre- 
 sent do not appear. We have witnessed in this our 
 time, very unexpected and extraordinary events, com- 
 pared with the very trifling and insignificant begin- 
 nings or causes, which, to our perceptions, have brought 
 them ultimately to pass. We have seen the rise and 
 progress of the now numerous and various benevo- 
 lent associations, such as School, Missionary, Bible- 
 Societies, and the like, which both in this and other 
 countries, are every day spreading their influence; 
 and can it be too much to indulge a hope, ihat tiiese, 
 or some of these may, by and by, or in the end, aided 
 with a full light of experience, and perhaps, some 
 systematic union in their operations, be endowed 
 with a power which shall happily reach some of the 
 moral evils attendant hitherto on human society, 
 that iiitiierto we have been ratiier too much in the 
 habit of supposing there could be no remedy for? 
 The American Colonization Society's establishment 
 on the coast of Africa, taken singly, does not as yet 
 present any very encouraging aspect, but the requi- 
 
UNITED STATES. 87 
 
 site efforts once made, and its infancy properly as- 
 sisted, it is [nobable tiiat a iieallhy state of maturity 
 will succeed ; and this institution, perhaps co-operat- 
 ing with others, it is not impossible, may be a destin- 
 ed instrument for incalculable benefits eventually, to 
 the cause of civilization, morality, aud religion in the 
 world. 
 
 The fruit that is to be expected in due season, 
 from a moral, a religious, and a literary culture of the 
 mind, extended to all subjects, the first two without 
 limitation, the last in degree and circumstance; has 
 quite a foremost place in the contemplations of our 
 eminent characters of this day; and accordingly there 
 is a redoubled attention directed to education, in fa- 
 vour of the generation growing up, as well in the 
 more recently settled parts of the country, as those of 
 older dtate. In all the States, and especially our cities, 
 provision, more or less, is made for gratuitous instruc- 
 tion. A spectacle, in May last, of the sixth anniver- 
 sary procession and examination of the " Sunday 
 School Union" in the city of New York, excited strong 
 emotions in those who beheld it. It consisted of two 
 thousand five hundred children, belonging to forty-eight 
 different schools; and the number is said to have since 
 increased: it increases in fact along with the popula- 
 tion. In the state of Pennsylvania, education is, iSo 
 far as legislative provision for the object goes, laid 
 open to all. The State is laid out in districts, and 
 public schools are established therein, for the benefit 
 
88 UNITED STATES. 
 
 of all indii^ent clilklren. Without counting private 
 charity-schools, which in Philadelphia are numerous, 
 there are now in this one district, comprising the city 
 and county of Philadelphia, about five thousand puj)ils 
 taught readmg, writing, and aiithuietic. at the charge 
 of the commonwi alth. They are distributed, for the 
 greater part, through seminaries erected by the 
 commonwealth on the Lancasterian plan of instruc- 
 tion; the rest at common schools in some ot the coun- 
 ty-sections of the district. 
 
 As a single specimen of the earnestness and philo- 
 sophical intelligence, as well as practical minuteness, 
 with which, in pursuit of the main object, these ele- 
 mentary matters are handled in this -'young country," 
 I might here present you with a constitution and set 
 of rules, dravvn up for the government of a *■' Chil- 
 dren's Asylum," a private charity which now makes 
 one of the local embellishments of this city, in the 
 vicinity of the Schuylkill; but the instrument is too 
 long for a transcript, and you will excuse it. 
 
 Colleges are increasing in the different States, and 
 are enabled more and more to enlarge their field of 
 instruction, partly by means of private contribution, 
 but especially the means conferred by acts of the res- 
 pective State Legislatures. If the endowments of 
 most of them are not as yet aniple and effective as in 
 two or three instances of the origmal States, they are 
 however in a fair course for becoming so: not one of 
 
UNITED STATES. 89 
 
 ihe new States has been received into the Union, but 
 whose constitution contains a provision for schools, 
 academies, colleges, and universities; and great land- 
 ed investments are mortgaged to the object. There 
 are now more than three thousand under-graduates 
 matriculated at those universities and colleges, author- 
 ized to grant academical honours; more than one 
 thousand two hundred students at the medical schools, 
 which amount to fourteen, some of them justly cele- 
 brated, even beyond our shores, for the talents of their 
 professors ; at Philadelphia, the number of students at- 
 tendant on the medical lectures last winter, 1822 — 
 23, in the university, was four hundred and fifty-five. 
 There are several hundred at the theological semi- 
 naries; at least one thousand students of law. 
 
 The profound studies, and strictly classical learn- 
 ing connected with the dead languages, are as yet, but 
 very partially introduced ; nevertheless it is fair and 
 natural to believe that these also will have their day 
 of celebrity with us, without at all abating the ardour 
 which now prevails for the improvements of the age 
 in natural science, and politics. Doubtless, they 
 are powers that will coalesce in attractive influence, 
 and have votaries in common. The tree, in our soil, 
 retains its vitality thoughout, although some of the 
 branches are, as yet, not in so vigorous a state of 
 growth as some others. There is in the American 
 character too much inquisitiveness, and in the Ame- 
 rican intellect too much capacity, to allow it supposa- 
 12 
 
90 UNITED STATES. 
 
 ble <hat thai variety to be enjoyed, and that compre- 
 hcnsivcncss of thou2;ht to be attained, by partly em- 
 ploying!; the mental faculties in the cultivation of (ireck 
 and Latin literature; in metaphysical as well as in 
 physical and political science; — to allow it, I say, sup- 
 posable that these studies will not be indulged in to the 
 full. 
 
 In favor of education and of general knowledge,! 
 may likewise state, that within the last few years, 
 public libraries and private collections of book's with- 
 in the United Stales have vastly increased, both in 
 number and magnitude. 
 
 With regard to the constant publication and distri- 
 bution of books, and particularly of pamphlets and 
 papers, wliich are incessantly circulating informa- 
 tion, we find, in a discourse lately delivered* before 
 the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, 
 a passage as follows: 
 
 " The publication of books is so much cheaper in 
 this country than in Great Britain, that nearly all we 
 use are American editions. According to reports 
 from the Custom House made under a resolution of 
 the Senate in 1822, it appears that the importation 
 of books bears an extremely small proportion to the 
 American editions. The imported books are the 
 mere seed It is estimated that between two and 
 three millions of dollars worth of books are annually 
 
 * By C. J. Iij^ersoll, Esq. in October, 1823. 
 
UNITED STATES. 91 
 
 published in the United States. There have been 
 eight editions, comprising seven thousand five-hundred 
 copies, of D. Stewart's Philosopljy pubhshed here 
 since its appearance in Europe thirty years ago. Five- 
 hundred thousand dollars, was the capital invested in 
 one edition of Uees' Cyclopedia. Of a lighter kind of 
 reading, nearly two-hundred thousand copies of the 
 Waverley novels, comprising five hundred thousand 
 volumes, have issued from the American press in the 
 last nine years. Four thousand copies of a late Ame- 
 rican Novel were disposed of immediately on its pub- 
 lication. Five hundred dollars was paid by an enter- 
 prising bookseller for a single copy of one of these 
 novels, without any copy-right, merely by pron»pt re- 
 publication to gratify the eagerness to read it. Anjong 
 the curiosities of American literature, I must mention 
 the itenerant book-trade. There are, I understand, 
 more than two hundred wagons which travel through 
 the United States, loaden with books for sale. Many 
 biographical accounts of distinguished Americans 
 are thus distributed. Fifty thousand copies of Mr. 
 Weemys' " liife of Washington*" have been publish- 
 ed, and mostly circulated in this way thoughout the 
 interior. I might add to these instances, but it is un- 
 necessary. Education, the sciences, the learned pro- 
 fessions, the church, politics, together wilh ephemeral 
 and fanciful productions, maintain the press in re- 
 spectable activity. 
 
 " The modern manuals of literature and science, 
 Magazines, Journals, and Reviews, abound in the 
 
92 UNITED STATES. 
 
 United States, although they have to cope with a 
 larger field of News-papers than elsewhere. The 
 North American Review, of which ahout four thou- 
 sand copies are circulated, is not surpassed in know- 
 ledge or learning, is not equalled in liberal and judi- 
 cious criticism, by its great British models, the Edin- 
 burgh and (Quarterly Reviews, of which about four 
 thousand copies are also published in the United 
 Slates. Written in a pure old English style, and, for 
 the most part, a fine American spirit, the North 
 American Review superintends with ability the litera- 
 ture and science of America. 
 
 '' Not less than one thousand News-papers, some of 
 them with several thousand subscribers, are circulated 
 in this country i the daily fare of nearly every meal, in 
 almost every family; so cheap and common, that, like 
 air and water, its uses are undervalued. But a free 
 press is the great distinction of this age and country, 
 and as indispensable as those elements to the welfare 
 of all free countries. Abundant and emulous accounts 
 of remarkable occurrences concentrate and diffuse 
 information, stimulate inquiry, dispel prejudices and 
 multiply enjoyments. Copious advertisements quick- 
 en commerce; rapid and pervading publicity is a cheap 
 police. An American would forego the charms of 
 France or Italy for the luxury of a large News-paper, 
 which makes every post an epoch, and provides the 
 barrenest corner of existence with an universal suc- 
 cedaueum. Duly to appreciate the pleasures of it, 
 
UNITED STATES. 03 
 
 like health and liberty, we must undergo the tempo- 
 rary privation. Nor is our experience of the licen- 
 tiousness of the press, too dear a price to pay for its 
 freedom." 
 
 We have, too our popular prelections on a variety 
 of subjects; and they are likely to be still more 
 abundant. As many of the courses are conducted by 
 gentlemen of abilities, there can be no doubt of much 
 useful knowledge, as well as pleasure, being derived 
 to the public, from this fashionable resort for instruc- 
 tion. 
 
 Amongst associations, next after those for the spe- 
 cial promotion of religion and morality, the foremost 
 rank in promising usefulness must be assigned to our 
 agricultural societies: they are extending, and are so 
 connected, that a well organized correspondence is 
 carried on, both one with another in different parts 
 of the country, and with societies and individuals 
 abroad. They give occasion to fairs, which now are 
 held in sundry places, for the exhibition and sale of 
 the best breeds of neat cattle, sheep, and horses, im- 
 plements of husbandry, seeds, and various domestic 
 manufactures; and premiums are usually, at these 
 periods of meeting and shew, awarded. 
 
 Associations, besides, in various departments of 
 pursuit, in every town and district, are increasing in 
 number; all tending to encourage and advance, one 
 
94 UNITED STATES. 
 
 iis( fill art or another, or promoting discoveries as 
 applicable to the existing and growing occasions of 
 tlio country; and in general pursuing the twofold ob- 
 ject, of collecting and scattering /jnoir/a/ge. 
 
 " Knowledge is power," says the text of the day. 
 It heads a discourse to at least one of our literary 
 societies, in the South. Together with power, let us 
 devoutly trust, and assure ourselves that, taken in a 
 genuine sense, both the pursuit and the acquisition 
 will, nay must, be hapfnncss, seeing that, in relation 
 to our national career, it ni.iy be said, the kno\\ ledge 
 wc aspire after is, how to curb and finally to expel 
 the eri/, which has been unguardedly suffered to gain 
 a footing in this our world; and how best to thcriish 
 and promote the growth of ^ood; — the good which, 
 notwithstanding, we have providentially been per- 
 mitted thus far to become possessed of, in no parsi- 
 monious degree; not physical alone, but, be it said 
 with due acknowlcdginenls, moral also. 
 
 And, reverting for a moment to public schools and 
 primary instruction, — I would observe, that our comp- 
 trollers of these schools, and especially I speak of this 
 one of the Pennsylvania districts, are of that descrip- 
 tion of persons who, taking a comprehensive survey 
 of the subject, feel a conviction that ignorance, or ob- 
 scurity of intellect prevailing among any of the or- 
 ders of a connnunity, not excepting the very lowest, 
 is the great strength and stay of vice and depravity, 
 
UNITED STATES. 05 
 
 libera! information a necessary ground-work for in- 
 centives to virtue; and believe that, of ail the preser- 
 vative measures which society may adopt against the 
 spread of vice, and in favour of the security and du- 
 rability of the social establishments, no one can be 
 so etlicacious as that of ivniversal education to a cer- 
 tain extent; they believe that in general, the several 
 duties will be best performed, where best understood; 
 where the understanding is most enlightened upon the 
 true nature and tendency of them. Accordingly, actu- 
 ated by this principle, their endeavours are not spared 
 to induce parents and guardians of poor children, in 
 all cases, to cause the proffered benefit to be availed 
 of: and a course of instruction in useful elementary 
 learning, with observances pointing directly to a fu- 
 ture moral conduct, is ready to be imparted gratis, to 
 every indigent child, of both sexes, tcilhoxd distinction 
 of colour, 
 
 A fajct, which I feel more than an ordinary degree 
 of satisfiiction in here taking notice of is, that in the city 
 of Philadelphia, there has been instituted, by a colour- 
 ed man of abilities, a society called " The African 
 Literary Society," whose exercises consist in essay- 
 writing and debating, and the Society is composed of 
 thirty or forty members. They do not, it is true as yet, 
 pubhsh their transactions; nor do they, I am so inform- 
 ed, admit strangers to their debates. The name of 
 the person alluded to, is Russell Parrott; and he is said 
 to be preparing for the gospel ministiy.*' 
 
 'He is siiire dead. 
 
0(5 UNITED STATES 
 
 You have now the subject fully and clearly before 
 you; that is to sBy^ fully as the same was within my 
 own comprehension, and clearly as my mediocre quali- 
 fications have enabled me to spread it for your con- 
 templation. 
 
 There is no danger of your mistaking some pas- 
 sages of what is written, for attempts at disquisition 
 in the science of political economy. The occasion 
 called not for it, had even my pen been qualified. 
 With the exception of one evil, which indeed must 
 be acknowledged to be burthensome, and to merit 
 the most serious and persevering thoughts towards a 
 discovery of proper means to counteract its tenden- 
 cies, the circumstances of this country are happily 
 such as not yet to call for the absolute determination 
 of the seemingly intricate points which in some other 
 countries have, of late years, occupied the pens of so 
 many eminent writers on that science, and still oc- 
 cupy them most laudably. The modes oi prodncmg 
 wealth in the nation, as things are at present here con- 
 stituted, it would seem, are pretty thoroughly under- 
 
UNITED STATES. 97 
 
 stood, and the distribnticm also has the appearance 
 of going on, pretty nearly as might be wished. I 
 mean by this, no more than to observe, that in the 
 actual situation of the country, wealth docs, by a na- 
 tural and easy circulation, cheer and invigorate the 
 system through all its ramifications of industry. It 
 flows, as it were by a natural impulse, along and 
 through the various channels thereof, apparently 
 without obstruction or irregularity that hath need of 
 any artificial interference. Nevertheless, be it re- 
 membered, that nmv is the nation's happy adolescence ; 
 and,' although at present, so singularly happy as to 
 have her tide of pros})erity distributed with pure 
 equality, and seemingly without an exertion ; yet time 
 must necessarily bring its changes, and one-day the 
 powerful competition alone of a vast population, may, 
 without other causes, possibly require all the ingenuity 
 and energy of the statesman; all the philanthropy and 
 disinterestedness of the patriot, with the aid, more 
 and more, of positive institutions or enactments, to 
 maintain and perpetuate so even a balance as that 
 which now prevails, or the same clear and open 
 avenues to wealth, and the happiness that wealth 
 confers, throughout the community. And an unre- 
 mitted study, therefore, of the principles of political 
 economy^ it is evidently of very high importance 
 to us, should be followed up, and this noble science 
 be examined and sifted to the very bottom. An ac- 
 curate investigation into the principles of it, as they 
 are to be traced and tested by coniiuual observation 
 13 
 
9S UNITED STATES. 
 
 upon llie circumstances of other nations, may fur- 
 nisli tiic ihost vaiiiable conclusions, ami llu'se be to us, 
 ifwc sedulously store them up, a real depot of wis- 
 dom, against the day that shall call for its salutary 
 exercise. 
 
 What I have attempted is, too, for the best of rea- 
 sons, still more remote from any attempt at analysis of 
 i^ovcrnmenl., or discussion of the particular merits, 
 the particular defects, or excellencies of either o( the 
 three branches of our national administration, or 
 their relationship one to another and to the whole. 
 Dijiquisitions on these high points, and suggestions of 
 modes for amending, improving, qualiljing. and b(>st 
 adapting to a permanent end, must come from other 
 quarters. Content am I with being one in the multi- 
 tude of recipients and no more, for such portion of 
 this kind of knowledge as opportunities happen to 
 atlord, coming, in the shape of judicious remarks, 
 from the statesman the professional character or the 
 man of genius. In the review I have taken, my busi- 
 ness has rather been w ith the physical, moral, and in- 
 tellectual capabilities of this great country, and with 
 our national institutions taken in the aggregate; as- 
 suming for truth, tlie general excellence of the latter, 
 in virtue of the experience had, down to the present 
 day, of their etfects; also the probable stability of the 
 same as to essential outline and feature, in virtue of a 
 matter-of-fact or two, which, relative to that topic, 
 I have stated. And, in thus treating the great sub> 
 
UNITED STATES. 99 
 
 jcct, T have exerted my puisne strength in attempt- 
 ing to raise and cast aside a carrier of the veil, which 
 would seem as shrouding a MAGNIFICENT FU- 
 TUKE. 
 
 If then, my willin^i; lahoiirs, in collecting and intro- 
 ducing a few plain facts, and the plainest inferences I 
 could draw from them, subject to correction and es- 
 pecially to extension, do but succeed in exciting those 
 to whom the talent is given, to display, at proper 
 time and occasion, a perspective more distinct of 
 scenes behind the veil; or, if these humble labours, 
 though mere pioneer-duty, should yet be found to 
 have sufTiciently laid open and cleared a path for 
 some respectable force to occupy the ground, and 
 support the cause of truth and wisdom, with efficacy, 
 at any of the points that uiay require it; — fhey will 
 have fulfdled the appointed part, and will have their 
 reward. And here, it might perhaps be highly pro- 
 per that I should conclude, but a few additional 
 thoughts are presenting themselves, and some others 
 may yet rise up; with which, counting on your acqui- 
 escence, and time and occasion favouring me, I will 
 still continue the subject; and, though it be in a desul- 
 tory way, carry it on somewhat farther; stating now 
 and then a fact or two, amending or ex[)laining whorr; 
 I may, for the sake of accuracy, or of not being mis- 
 understood. To enlarge, however, upon any topic for 
 the mere sake of enlarging, will, assuredly, not bo 
 my aim. 
 
100 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Two or three years ago, it was asserted, tliat the 
 people of St. Louis would, at an early day, have a 
 commerce with Mexico for its silver, with the In- 
 dians of the Stony Mountains for their peltry, and 
 with China and the East Indies for the production 
 of those countries. 
 
 The prediction was received at the moment as in- 
 credible; but it was so received and treated, by those 
 not thoroughly familiar with the enterprising spirit of 
 our back-coimtry citizens. 
 
 Already, it has been in some degree, or so far as 
 relates to the two brandies of the three spoken of, 
 fultilled. An active trade of exchange now subsists 
 between the people of the Missouri, and various 
 tribes of Indians, quite to llie Stony Mountains, 
 otherwise named Chippevvan Mountains; and in the 
 course ol last year, 1822, several expeditions of great- 
 er or less amount, we are informed, were fitted out, 
 and passed to and from New Mexico. AVhat think 
 Tou of a train of loadcn wagons driven through the 
 
UNITED STATES. 101 
 
 State of Missouri, direct to the City of Santa Fe? 
 This, it is reported, actually took place,* and, it is 
 added, to the no small wonder of the Spaniards. With 
 regard to East India and China commerce in that 
 direction, it may in time, come also into existence; 
 but as yet, the impediments are not sufficiently known 
 or estimated, to render it supposable they can very 
 soon, or easily be surmounted; and besides, as a direct 
 trade with the ** East," must in that quarter become 
 every day an object of less value comparatively, by 
 means of the improving facilities of intercourse 
 through our country, to and from this border, so the 
 period for that direct trade taking place, may yet per- 
 haps be distant, and depend much on the previous 
 settlement of a part of our regions towards the Pa- 
 cific. In the mean time, we confidently trust, that no 
 inconsiderable quantities both of the silver and the furs 
 spoken of, will successively find their way to its, and 
 ail the commodities desired in return, including those 
 of the " East," be despatched by us from hence, and 
 be conveniently transported to their respective places 
 of consumption, however great the distance. No 
 
 * Since the insertion of this exploit from the then report 
 of it, a different account states, not a train of loaden wagons, 
 hut a single one. It adds however, tiiat the wagon itself 
 sold profitably at Santa Fe, and that a more considerable ex- 
 pedition of the kind, was preparing. Of the results in con- 
 tinuation, I am not prepared to speak. 'I'hcrc will soon be 
 published in England, a narrative of an exploratory expedition 
 to the North West under authority, by Major Long. I re- 
 commend a perusal of it. 
 
102 UNITED STATES. 
 
 doubt, our fur trade to China, may, and will, be much 
 strengthened and enlarged, by means of a settlement 
 at, or towards the mouth of Columbia river, when 
 the proper time shall arrive. At the present mo- 
 ment, the Russians appear to have raised up claims 
 a little adverse, along tlie North West coast, but these, 
 I presume, will vanish. 
 
 Forts will probably be erected up the Missouri, as 
 high as the Yellow Stone river, as soon as the Indians 
 will permit, and the fur trade be prosecuted largely. 
 I cannot cloak the fact, that there exists but too 
 much danger, our people will not content themselves 
 with a fair and an honourable exchange of conmiodi- 
 ties with the Indians. Cupidity and violence are 
 quite likely to despoil these poor aborigines, (rem- 
 nants of a noble race of men) to the uttermost of their 
 only means of subsistence, which is the produce of 
 the chase, and that too so prematurely, as not to al- 
 low time for a sufficient attempt to be made, to bring 
 them forward to a state of civilization, and give 
 them, by way of some indemnity, another mode to 
 exist by, in the cultivation of the earth. In. short, 
 " hunting and trapping" expeditions, are actually 
 planning by companies of individuals in Missouri, 
 and are, it is said, contemplated to extend over the 
 whole range of country. This will be resisted by the 
 Indians, at first by private and by open attacks, with 
 some loss of life; war will then be the consequence; 
 and finally, extermination! unless, by possibility, such 
 
 %*-1 
 
UNITED STATES. 103 
 
 restrictions, and provisions as the humanity and wisdom 
 of our government may interpose and make, shall 
 prove effectual, in preserving the few beings that 
 remain. Thete is an annual appropriation made by 
 Congress, for the civilization of the Indians; but it 
 must be said, the amount is not adequate. Small as it 
 is, whether or not it is applied with all the effect it 
 might be, I calinot say.* 
 
 I here present you with a water-route, from St. 
 Louis to the Pacific, by way of the Missouri, and Co- 
 hiiiibia rivers. Besides the main interruption of the 
 dividing mountain, there are some portages, from 
 falls and rapids, which will, one day or another, 
 possibly at no vast distance from the present, under- 
 go a change. 
 
 * I am now enabled to state, that the further, or second. Wa- 
 gon-expedition spoken of, will consist of several wagons with 
 an investment of merchandise to a considerable amount. 
 How many persons will be interested, it is not yet possible to 
 say, but about one hundred are to attend the expedition, well 
 provided with arms, including a field piece. The town of 
 Franklin, where the preparations are making, is situate one 
 hundred and seventy-six miles West of St.' Louis,'and the dis- 
 tance to travel, from thence to Santa, Fe, is about one thou- 
 sand miles, all nearly Indian country. The wagons, it is cal- 
 culated, will be on the road from seventy to eighty days. If 
 any of the party prefer to leave them by the way, and proceed 
 on,,^(Mjrate of travelling will, I presume, be much c[uickcr. 
 
104 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 St. 
 
 Louis to St. Charles, 
 
 . 21 miles. 
 
 
 Charette Village, 
 
 . 47 
 
 68 
 
 
 Gasconade, 
 
 . 32 
 
 100 
 
 
 Osage river, . 
 
 . 33 
 
 133 
 
 
 Lead mine, 
 
 . 20 
 
 153 
 
 
 Maniton creek. 
 
 8 
 
 161 
 
 
 Saline river, . 
 
 11 
 
 172 
 
 
 Maniton river, 
 
 . 9 
 
 181 
 
 
 G. Woman's river, . 
 
 8 
 
 189 
 
 
 Moine river, . 
 
 . 7 
 
 196 
 
 
 Two Charlton river, 
 
 . 24 
 
 220 
 
 
 Old Fort Oi leans, . 
 
 . 15 
 
 235 
 
 
 Grand river, . 
 
 . 4 
 
 239 
 
 
 Coal Bank, . 
 
 85 
 
 324 
 
 
 Blue water river, 
 
 9 
 
 333 
 
 
 Kansas river, . 
 
 S 
 
 3U 
 
 
 Little Platte river, . 
 
 9 
 
 3.50 
 
 
 Nodaway river, 
 
 . 100 
 
 450 
 
 
 Wolf river, 
 
 14 
 
 464 
 
 
 Big Nemaha, . 
 
 15 
 
 479 
 
 
 N'ashtabutome riverj 
 
 25 
 
 504 
 
 
 Little Nemaha, 
 
 8 
 
 512 
 
 
 Platte river, . 
 
 82 
 
 594 
 
 
 Bliifi: \E. side, 
 
 25 
 
 619 
 
 
 Three miles of Maha Vil- 
 
 
 
 
 lage, 
 
 209 
 
 828 
 
 
 Big Scionx river, 
 
 17 
 
 845 
 
 
 Copperas BlulTs, 
 
 26 
 
 8^ • 
 
 
 James river, . 
 
 70 
 
 941 
 
 
 Cataract Bhiff, 
 
 10 
 
 951 
 
 
 Ancient Fortification, 
 
 13 
 
 964 
 
UNITED STATES. 105 
 
 Quicourt, 
 
 Miles 22 986 
 
 Poncar river and Villa 
 
 'ge, . 
 
 10 996 
 
 White river, . 
 
 
 122 1118 
 
 Three miles of Scioux 
 
 pass. 
 
 22 1140 
 
 Enter great Bend, . 
 
 
 20 1160 
 
 Upper point of same, 
 
 
 30 1190 
 
 Teton river, . 
 
 
 60 1250 
 
 Cayenne river, 
 
 
 45 1295 
 
 Shawanee river. 
 
 
 87 1382 
 
 Waterhoe river, 
 
 
 25 1407 
 
 Ricaree Village, 
 
 
 4 1411 
 
 Cannon Ball river, . 
 
 
 12 1483 
 
 *Fort Madan. . 
 
 
 100 1583 
 
 Knife river, 
 
 
 6 1589 
 
 Miry river, 
 
 
 25 1614 
 
 Little Missouri, 
 
 
 57 1671 
 
 Approach of the Saskasawa 
 
 
 river and Missouri, 
 
 
 53 1724 
 
 Yellow Stone river, . 
 
 
 120 1844 
 
 Martha river, . 
 
 
 60 1904 
 
 Porcupine river. 
 
 
 60 1964 
 
 Little Dry river, 
 
 
 54 2018 
 
 Milk river, 
 
 
 45 2063 
 
 Big river. 
 
 
 25 2088 
 
 B ration's river, 
 
 
 98 2186 
 
 Muscleshell river, 
 
 
 57 2243 
 
 Judith river, . 
 
 
 169 2412 
 
 Here the exploring party of Clarke and Lewis wiatered 
 in 1803.— 1804. 
 
 14 
 
106 UNITED STATES. 
 
 
 Slaughter river, . Miles 14 U26 
 
 Natural Stone Wall, 
 
 26 2452 
 
 Maria river, . 
 
 41 ;2493 
 
 Snow river. 
 
 18 2511 
 
 Shields river, . 
 
 28 2539 
 
 Portage river. 
 
 7 2546 
 
 Great Falls, . 
 
 5 2551 
 
 Head of Falls, 
 
 13 2564 
 
 Enter the Chippewan mountains, . 
 
 30 2594 
 
 Heads of the Missouri and Colum- 
 
 
 bia rivers. 
 
 . Land 
 
 Mouth of Columbia, 
 
 964 3558 Water 
 
 Length of the Missouri, with its windings 
 and some short portages, as 
 above, . . . Miles 2594 
 
 Length, by Clarke's river, a branch of Co- 
 lumbia, to the Mouth of Colum- 
 bia, as above, . . . 964 
 
 Across the dividing-ridge to the Head 
 waters of the Clarke's branch 
 of Columbia, as above, . . 70 
 
 Total distance from St. Louis to the Pa- 
 cific, by Clarke's branch, . 3628 miics. 
 
UNITED STATES. 107 
 
 Itake pleasure in still consideringyouas Sitraveller, 
 and in the thoughts consequently, ol your being, on 
 your return to us, a full partaker in the nriany con- 
 veniences and comforts, which our late advancement 
 in the art of travelling, actually confers. The num- 
 ber of good roads we now have, form of course one 
 of the essentials j but, if these are in favour particu- 
 larly of celerity and despatch, you will nevertheless, 
 well understand, that what I would commend to you, 
 has no reference to expedition without prudence, for 
 that is neither a convenience nor a comfort. The 
 carriage-racing feats between city and city, are like- 
 ly to be suppressed, in virtue of a few admonitory 
 assessments made upon some of our drivers and 
 proprietors; for, to say the truth, these excesses 
 have occurred much too often, and to such a degree, 
 that in more instances than one lately, the unfortu- 
 nate passenger has had a worse fate than to hold the 
 lantern; a post which, on a certain occasion former- 
 ly, you will recollect a friend of yours was obliged 
 to fill, and a friend of mine a post correspondent to 
 it. 
 
lOS UNITED STATES. 
 
 By the things you witness, as to Steam Boafs^ where 
 you are, you will correctly enough judge of what the 
 introduction of them has done for us. They soon 
 proved to be eminently adapted to the waters of this 
 country, both coast and interior, but especially the 
 latter-, and we have in no sort delayed to profit by 
 the circumstance. They are very numerous: they 
 ply in numbers and with pointed regularity, both the 
 bold shore and the obstructed stream; and are now 
 generally considered with us, as a necessary part of 
 every line of conveyance, where the distance between 
 places is partly by water. It is indeed surprising, 
 when we cast our thoughts back for a moment, to 
 former times, to observe how much this steam-navi- 
 gation has multiplied the number, and enlarged the 
 circumferences of our social circles, not to speak of 
 what is strictly commercial in the intercourse. 
 
 You have travelled Southwardly here, and what 
 is more, have travelled over some of the charming 
 climes of Europe; yet I cannot refrain from think- 
 ing that, on this side of the Atlantic, we have still got 
 some wonders in reserve for you, the survey of 
 which may contribute to your gratification; and I 
 feel myself induced to transcribe on this p^per, a 
 certain outline, as a memorandum for your tablet, to 
 be referred to, whenever you shall so please, after 
 your return to this land. It is the outline of an 
 agreeable tour, in a direction contrary to those you 
 formerly made. I derive it from the gentleman 
 
UNITED STATES. 109 
 
 whose authority I have more than once quoted. It 
 would be misplaced m me, to enter into descriptions 
 of scenery to you, and especially of that which I have 
 myself not seen; but the tour in question is repre- 
 sented as comprising bodies of scenery so \aried, yet 
 so continuously delightful, that any previous imagi- 
 nation of it will be surpassed by the reality. In other 
 respects too tiian scenery, the localities of this tour 
 must have powers to interest you higlily. Six or 
 seven weeks, or less, may suffice for a convenient 
 survey of the most remarkable objects comprehended 
 in it. The shores of the St. Lawrence river, from 
 Kingston to Quebec, distance three hundred and 
 eighty miles, exhibit, it is said, such combinations of 
 the " sublime and beautiful," and so diversified a 
 spectacle at almost every point of view, by the dif- 
 ferent ways in which the two are blended together 
 and contrasted, that nothing at all equal, or ap- 
 proaching to the same, for impressiveness upon a 
 traveller for the first time, is to be found in any other 
 part of North America; and particularly so, as along 
 this tract of country, whatever there is that is grand 
 or beautiful in nature, must be viewed in connexion 
 with the many and great improvements made, in 
 point of cultivation and increase of the land's produce, 
 which have, within a very few years, started forward 
 as by magic: — But, it behoves me to stop, and tt. be- 
 seech your pardon for any mention, I may super- 
 fluously have made, both here and elsewhere, of 
 matters which may have beconte familiar to you. 
 
110 UNITED STATES. 
 
 from other sources. I was aware of all I am risk- 
 ing, before I began, so, be pleased, in favour of the 
 motive that governs through the whole, if of nothing 
 else, to vouchsafe a good reception to the following 
 
 PLAN OF A TOUR. 
 
 Philadelphia to New York; thence to Albany. 
 
 Thence, along the Mohawk ) . Tk """'^ ^T ''T\ 
 and Seneca rivers. »/ ""= ^'^'"^ '=''7''. ?' 
 Canandaigua to Buffalo. ^ "'. '"««« remarkable 
 ° -^ points. 
 
 Along Lake Erie, by steam boat, to Detroit. 
 
 Return to Buffalo: and the Niagara Strait, if passed 
 
 before, will again be passed, and the scene be 
 
 contemplated with renewed pleasure. 
 Lewistown or Qneenstown, by Steam Boat. 
 Along Lake Ontario, to Sackets Harbour. 
 Sackets Harbour and Kingston, to (Quebec, distance 
 
 three hundred and eighty miles. 
 Return, by Richelieu river. Lake Champlain, and 
 
 the Hudson, to Albany, and New York, and 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
UNITED STATES. 
 
 
 THE DISTANCES ARE, 
 
 Philadelphia to New York, . 
 
 90 Miles. 
 
 Albany, . 
 
 160 250 
 
 Utica, 
 
 101 351 
 
 Auburn, . 
 
 74 425 
 
 Geneva, . 
 
 22 447 
 
 Canandaigua, . 
 
 16 463 
 
 Genessee river. 
 
 26 489 
 
 Batavia, . ... 
 
 26 515 
 
 Buffalo, . 
 
 40 555 
 
 Dunkirk, 
 
 45 600 
 
 Erie, 
 
 45 645 
 
 Cleveland, 
 
 90 735 
 
 Sandusiiy Bay, 
 
 50 785 
 
 Bass Island, . 
 
 16 801 
 
 M. of Detroit river, . 
 
 23 824 
 
 Maiden, now Amherst, 
 
 5 829 
 
 Detroit City, . 
 
 16 845 
 
 Return to Buffalo, 
 
 290 1135 
 
 Falls of Niagara, . 
 
 21 1156 
 
 Queenston, C. Lewistovvn 
 
 5 
 
 U, S. . . . 
 
 7 1163 
 
 Fort Niagara, and Fort 
 
 
 George, and enter 
 
 
 Lake Ontario, 
 
 7 1170 
 
 Genessee river, . 
 
 74 1244 
 
 Great Sodus Bay, 
 
 35 1279 
 
 Oswego river. 
 
 28 1307 
 
 Sackets Harbour, 
 
 40 1347 
 
 111 
 
112 UNITED STATES. 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Cape Vincent, enter tht 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 St. Lawrence river 
 
 , 20 
 
 1367 
 
 Brock ville C. Morrisville 
 
 
 U. S. . 
 
 50 
 
 1U7 
 
 Ogdenburg, U. S. Pres- 
 
 
 cott, C. 
 
 \2 
 
 1429 
 
 Great Gallop Islands, 
 
 5 
 
 1434 
 
 Lower end of same, 
 
 9 
 
 1443 
 
 Hamilton, U. S. . 
 
 10 
 
 1453 
 
 Lat. 45^ St. Regis, U S. Corn 
 
 - 
 
 
 wail, C. 
 
 35 
 
 14SS 
 
 Montreal, 
 
 60 
 
 1548 
 
 ^'^\f \ Three Rivers, . 
 tide W r. ^ ' 
 
 10a 
 
 165S 
 
 Return to Montreal, 
 
 16a 
 
 1883 
 
 Piattsburg, 
 
 7S 
 
 1956 
 
 Albany, 
 
 ITS 
 
 2134 
 
 New York and Phila- 
 
 
 
 delphia, 
 
 i2aO 
 
 . . 2384 
 
UNITED STATES US 
 
 YoiR old liorticuUural acquaintance and protege^ 
 A. B. is still at ... . and doing, I hope, pretty well. 
 He may, with great truth, be said to '* deserve well'' 
 of the country, which he hath made to be irrevocably 
 " his." He has contributed both to improve and 
 populate it. The art he professes was, prior to his 
 time, little attended to, and as little understood, in that 
 neighbourhood. Now, the reverse is the case. He 
 found apt pupils. But the evil of it, for poor B. 
 has been, that he could not, from confined circum- 
 stances, render his talents and industry proiitable to 
 himself and family, in proportion to the benefits they 
 have conferred upon others. However, I believe 
 that he is gradually getting forward, though now in 
 tlie midst of a competition, which his knowledge and 
 instruction have brought into existence. 
 
 I omit describing changes, and degrees of change, 
 in the aspect of our good city of Philadelphia, since 
 you left it; willing rather to leave some of our novel- 
 ties untouched, to have the power of striking you, with 
 what force they may, at your return. One thing 
 
114 UNITED STATES. 
 
 however in point, I am loth to postpone; that, as re- 
 hgious societies are eveiy tiay increasiug in magni- 
 tude, or the number of tlieir practical members, 
 through all or most parts of the country; and as 
 those of tliis city happily partake of the general 
 augmentation; so tliis lias occasioned a call for new- 
 places of worship; and in virtue thereof. Philadelphia 
 has got some handsome churches added to those 
 you knew of, and others are building. I may like- 
 wise here notice our Academy of Fine Arts, not as to 
 the edifice, but the institution, which has become more 
 comprehensive. The " Philadelphia Museum" also, 
 formerly Peale's. which has considerably enlarged its 
 collection, and where a recreative plan of lecturing 
 on appropriate topics is adopted. 
 
 The elegant improvements on the river Schuylkill, 
 near Philadelphia, can hardly fail to surprise you, and 
 very agreeably, by that elegance alone, apart from the 
 immense present and prospective utility of them. 
 There is combined, a set of water-works, on a large 
 scale; and these, for the use of the citv', have been in 
 motion since July last, (18:22.) The river is dam- 
 med across at twelve hundred feet width, and its 
 whole contents of water brought under control, 
 amounting by connputation, at the cbmmon state of 
 the stream, to tour hundred and twenty millions of 
 gallons every twenty-tour hours. These works, con- 
 sequently, include a water-power, that may be ap- 
 plied to manufacturing purposes, almost without limit- 
 
UNITED STATES. 115 
 
 atiou, besides supplying the city to auy extent requi- 
 site: for the present, they are adapted to the move- 
 ment of eight wheels, capable together, of raising 
 ten tnillions gallons of water into the basins every 
 twenty-four hours, but as yet, only two (or three) of 
 these wheels are in motion, they giving a sufficient 
 supply. 
 
 I have touched above, upon tiie spread of religious 
 societies. To give a general idea as to the eflocts 
 that are taking place, from the present active condi- 
 tion of religion with us, I state, that according to com- 
 putation, there are not less than eight thousand places 
 of worship; an equal, or greater number of ecclesi- 
 astics or preachers, in the United States; besides 
 twelve theological seminaries, and many religious 
 houses, containing, the former about five hundred, 
 the latter, three hundred votaries; all which must, 
 with us, jou well know, be self-created, and depend 
 for support upon voluntary contributions. 
 
 The American Church of England, has already ex- 
 panded into . , .10 Bishoprics, 
 
 with 350 Clergynien, 
 
 and about .... 700 Churches. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Church, 
 
 into .... A metropolitan See. 
 
 with 10 Bishoprics, 
 
 and 160 Clergymen, 
 
 and about . . . .100 Churches. 
 
116 UNITED STATES. 
 
 and one very remarkable feature in the Roman 
 Catholic establishment in this country, is. the 
 present flourishing condition, and great influ- 
 ence of the celebrated society of the Jesitits. 
 
 In the New England States, there are upwards of 
 seven hundred Congregational Churches, with 
 about seven hundred clergymen. 
 
 The United States Presbyterian, additionally to the 
 Congregationalists, comprises 
 more than . . . UOO Churches, 
 about . . . .900 Ministers, 
 and . . . ,135 Licentiates, 
 
 and . . . .147 Candidates, 
 
 The Methodist Church, 
 contains 
 with . 
 and 4 
 they reckon 
 more than . 
 
 3 Diocesses, 
 UOO Itinerant clergy, 
 8000 Stationary ministers, 
 
 1/2 Conferences, 
 2500 Places of worship. 
 
 The Baptist Church, is stated as comprising two 
 thousand three hundred places of worship, and 
 probably a greater number of ministers. Of 
 this church there are three theological semi- 
 
 naries. 
 
 The Universalists, in the United States, 
 have . : 120 Preachers, 
 
UNITED STATES. 117 
 
 and . • 200 Separate societies, 
 
 and issue . . 8 Periodical publications. 
 
 The Lutheran Church, 
 
 The Dutch Reformed, 
 
 The Associate Reformed, J> and many others, 
 
 The Moravian, 
 
 The Friends, 
 
 who have their several seminaries of educa- 
 tion, and places of worship, with numerous 
 clergy and preachers. 
 
 I now give you the amount of the United States 
 exports, for the twelve months ending on the 30th 
 Sept. 1822; ascertained by official report from the 
 treasury department; thus, 
 
 P 
 
 Domestic, . . Doll. 49,874,079. 
 Foreign articles re-shipped, . 22,286.202. 
 
 Total Exports, . Doll. 72,160,281. 
 
 which forms a considerable advance, on the exports 
 of the year preceding, inserted in the table It is 
 moreover ascertained, that the domestic portion there- 
 of, is much undervalued in these returns, both with 
 regard to this year, and all antecedent years. As we 
 
118 UNITED STATES, 
 
 have no export duties, so a strict evaluation of eve- 
 ry item, entered outwardly at the custom-house, has 
 not always been observed; and a variety of articles 
 are also constantly going out of the country, without 
 reaching the custom-house record at all, but with all 
 the effect of an export, which is, by bringing wealth 
 back into it. This matter is likely now to be more 
 minutely attended to, for the sake of possessing our- 
 selves of full, and circumstantial information, on a 
 subject that has important bearings. 
 
 Much error has heretofore prevailed, both in this 
 and other countries, with regard to the balance-of- 
 trade doctrine, or at least, in the application of it to 
 particular cases. In fact, the error I allude to, has 
 arisen, as I believe, out of mis-statement No coun- 
 try can, for many successive years, import to a 
 greater amount of commodities, than she has the 
 means of paying, and actually does pay for, in some 
 shape or other, by her exports. And very often 
 has it happened, that, what has been termed, and 
 recorded as a balance of trade against the nation, 
 from a seeming excess of imports over exports, has in 
 truth, been so much profit, made by the nation, on 
 those exports. 
 
UNITED STATES. l[Q 
 
 I WILL endeavour to improve a little, upon the de- 
 scription above, of our grand water- works ; and give 
 you, in a small compass, their present state. The 
 place is named 
 
 FAIR MOUNT. 
 
 SUPPLY. 
 
 3 Wheels in motion, 15, 16, 16, feet diameter. 
 The Shafts, of iron, weight five tons each, 
 connected with 
 3 double Forcing pumps, 
 
 connected with 
 3 iron Mains, sixteen inches diameter, two 
 hundred and eighty-six feet long, 
 discharging into 
 2 Reservoirs, contents seven millions gallons. 
 
 Height of reservoirs, 
 102 feet above Schuylkill low-water at Fair 
 
 Mount; 
 5G feet above Philadelphia, the highest 
 ground. 
 
120' UNITED STATES. 
 
 Quantity of water every twenty-four hours, 
 raised by these three wheels in nio- 
 tion, 4 millions. 
 
 Quantity may be raised, by the 
 
 five wheels in reserve, . C do. 
 
 Total, gallons. 10 do. 
 
 DISTBIBUTION. 
 
 1 large iron distributing Main, from Fair 
 Mount to the intersection of Broad Street 
 and Chestnut Street, viz. 
 
 2661 feet, of 22 inches diameter, run- 
 running from Fair Mount to Cal- 
 lowhill and Broad Streets. 
 
 t>909 feet, of 20 inches diameter, run- 
 ning along Broad Street North, 
 to Chestnut Street. 
 
 9570 feet of Main. 
 
 Pipes from this Main, are laid along Chest- 
 nut Street, through to Water Street, Dela- 
 ware, also along other streets in part, and 
 are to be laid throughout. Diameter from 
 six to eight inches. 
 
UNITED STATES. 12 J 
 
 The old wooden pipes measured in length, 
 through the streets of the city, about thirty- 
 two miles. These are, from time to time, 
 as they decay, to be replaced with iron ones, 
 which will be extended likewise into the 
 Liberties, N. and S. 
 
 Total cost of these works, at their present extent 
 of machinery and pipes, . . Doll. 426,330 
 
 The site of them, is designated on a small map, 
 here affixed, of the city of Pliiladelphia and environs. 
 And, in order to convey a better impression of the 
 spot, and some of its interesting objects, than my 
 bare mention of them may perhaps do, I have also 
 here annexed, an engraved view of Fair Mount. 
 
 16 
 
1^2 UNITED STATES 
 
 For some of my Statistical representations, I am 
 indebted to the elaborate work of Doctor Adam Sey- 
 bert. 
 
 I could wish that gentleman were induced to give 
 the public a second or supplementary edition. There 
 is, in the occurrences of the few years which have 
 already elapsed, together with what is now occur- 
 ring, and very soon will occur, matter sufficient to 
 form an interesting, and very useful addition to the 
 work, as published in 1818. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 
UNITED STATES. 125 
 
 In the " comparative" view, given with these ob- 
 servations, I have omitted the State and Course of our 
 JVational Debt Which, as it may throw additional 
 light upon some points of the subject I have attempt- 
 ed, or may at least be a useful memorandum, I will 
 here supply. 
 
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12S UNITED STATES. 
 
 It appears, therefore, that during the first eleven 
 years here specified, not much progress was njade 
 in liquidation. Revenue, which was rapidly flowing 
 into the country, went, the pubhc part of it, to con- 
 sohdate the Federal Governnient, the private portion, 
 to increase individual capital and promote succes- 
 sively new enterprise. In the twelfth year, 1803, 
 by a purchase of Louisana, made from France, for 
 fifteen milhons of dollars, the public debt was actual- 
 ly increased about nine and a half milhons, instead 
 of being reduced five and a half, as it otherwise 
 would have been tiiat year. And. in the eight 
 following 3 ears of 1804 to 1811 inclusive, a reduc- 
 tion took place of forty-one millions out of eighty- 
 six, averaging better than five millions per annum; 
 which was efiecled, notwithstanding thai more than 
 half of this period w^as remarkable, on account of 
 very heavy restrictions laid by government, in differ- 
 ent shnpos. upon our trade and external concerns; 
 thereby reducing the foreign commerce of the coun- 
 try to a mere shadow of what it was. — to a mere 
 hai^atellc, compared with the importance it had ac- 
 
UNITED STATES. 129 
 
 quired prior to the end of 1807. The three years 
 which preceded 1815, included a war-period, ajid 
 increased the debt, as is above staled, to one hundred 
 and twenty-three milhons of dollars; whereof, in 
 eight years, ending 31st December, 1822, the sum 
 of thirty-nine millions two hundred and seventy-seven 
 thousand five hundred and ninety-five dollars, appears 
 to have been redeemed. It brings the debt, at that 
 date, down to eighty-three millions seven hundred and 
 seventy seven thousand four hundred and thirty-one 
 dollars. 
 
 All which evinces, that during fourteen or fifteen 
 of the early years of the series under consideration, 
 a foundation was laid, by a very extraordmary influx 
 of wealth, for a state of things within the country, 
 which was afterwards to shew itself more distinctly 
 than at first; that is to say, in an accelerated advance 
 of the nation's prosperity, at a season when, by some 
 thoughtful and able calculators, a much slower pro- 
 gress than before was rather to be expected: — a season 
 when the political sitvaticm of the world had changed, 
 and no longer permitted us, on the occasion of our 
 resuming an intercourse with foreign nations, those 
 exclusive advaiitages which we had before enjoyed. 
 
 It seems to account for two very remarkable facts, 
 
 First, that so young a country bad the ability, not 
 merely to encounter a war, but to support the 
 17 
 
130 UNITED STATES. 
 
 burtheu of its necessary attendant, war-taxes, 
 without any acute suffering tliroui;h the boiiy of 
 the people, or a sensation of their being oppressed 
 in any degree beyond the inconvenience of a 
 limited curtailment of supertluities in Ining; al- 
 though that same 7o;tJ:;"« commerce, wliich had 
 been the main instrument and vehicle of the 
 country's enjoyments in this respect, was lor the 
 time auniliilaled. 
 
 Second, that means are now found, — found in the 
 increased produce of industry through the coun- 
 try, bv the application of increased capital, to 
 enable government, at this season of altered cir- 
 cumstancesy to face a much greater annual ex- 
 penditure than before. 
 
 For. in relation to expenditure, apart from any 
 consideration of the existing public deb!, which it 
 mav. or may not, be thought lulvisable to extinguish, 
 or to suddenly reduce, by any operation of a sinknig- 
 fund; — apart, I say, from this, a considerable in- 
 crease has taken and is taking place, in the requisites 
 to the several great establisiuiients or departments of 
 State; which the advancement of the times has called 
 for. Our public revenue or annual receipt into the 
 National treasury, it nuist be remembered, is, and 
 has been, during peace, wholly derived, with a very 
 slender exception, from the Custom-House, or the 
 impost on foreign merchandise and tonnage-dutr. 
 
UNITED STATES. 131 
 
 Now, in the prosperous year of 1807, the net amount 
 of customs (lid not rise to more tlian sixteen millions 
 four hundred and ninety-luo thousand eight hun- 
 dred and ninety dollars; and iho average of the eight 
 years, 1804 to 1811 inclusive, was no more than 
 twelve millions two hundred and twenty-seven thou- 
 sand live hundred and fifty -one dollars per annum; 
 whereas the average net amount for the eight years 
 following the restoration of peace, viz. 1815 to IS22 
 inclusive, has risen to twenty-one millions two hun- 
 dred and sixty-four thousand three hundred and 
 twenty-nine dollars per annum; the net amount for 
 1822 being therein taken at only nineteen millions;* 
 an estimate which will be exceeded, and which the 
 present year's net customs, 1823, is likely much to 
 exceed in amount, if we may judge from the reviews 
 taken, of what has been passing in our ports of 
 entry. 
 
 * A report from tlic treasury department has since sliewii 
 the exact amount of net customs for 1S2'2 to be twenty mil- 
 lions five hundred thousand seven hundred and seventy-five 
 dollars. Consequently, better than the computation, by one 
 million five hundred thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. 
 
UNITED STATES. (SS 
 
 EXPLANATION. 
 
 The red line on the United States Map here pre- 
 sented, designates an uninterrupted course of inland- 
 navigation through the several sections of the country. 
 
 The line includes within it, the connecting artifi- 
 cial works described in the table hereafter inserted; 
 and it has its terminations at tiie Atlantic sea-ports, 
 at tliose of the Gulf of Florida, and at Columbia 
 river-mouth on the Pacific. 
 
 Engraved lines on the map, shew the several 
 routes oi Main post road in the United States, from 
 Washington city towards the different extremities of 
 the country, as described in the table which folloics. 
 
 A profile or vertical section of the Hudson and 
 Lake Erie canal, is shewn on this map. 
 
 y 
 
134 UNITED STATES. 
 
 It is to illustrate what has been said of the coun- 
 try's surface, and the facilities for internal convey- 
 ance, which, from nature and artificial works con- 
 jointly, are likely to exist, that I have caused to be 
 prepared this sheet-map of the United States, extend- 
 ed Wesi.vard to the Pacific. 
 
 A military survey of our whole line of sea-coast 
 and frontier by luiid, is prosecuting by an able corps 
 of engmeers, under the orders of government; and 
 at the next session of congress, it is probable there 
 will be made a detailed and very luminous report 
 upon the subject, comprising all matters in relation 
 to fortifications already constructed or in execution, 
 and all projects of defensive works against future 
 emergencies. I state this fact, particularly as it is 
 susceptible of having a strong bearing upon the wa- 
 ter improvements now pending; that is to say, in the 
 event of the General government deciding to engage 
 in the construction of any canal or canals, for mili- 
 tary defensive purposes. The constitution of the 
 United States is clear, at least on this point, and 
 
UNITED STATES. 135 
 
 leaves us in no doubt as to authority for all needful 
 undertakings of this description. A national high road 
 betvveen Washington city and New Orleans, has 
 been projected, and the subject been much canvass- 
 ed, and it is thought tiiat government will cause the 
 road to be made. 
 
 It will be seen, on inspection, that engraved lines 
 on the maps are made to radiate from the city of 
 Washington, and branch out towards the different 
 extremities of the country; so as to represent the se- 
 veral Main routes of post-road; which may be enu- 
 merated, and, together with the cross post-roads, be 
 summed up, as to distance, thus: 
 
 TABLE OF POST-ROADS. 
 
 The great North Eastern line of road, viz. 
 From W^ashington city to Rob- 
 
 biustown, in Maine, according 
 
 to surveys under authority, . 868 Miles. 
 From Washington city varied via 
 
 Providence, . . .154 
 
 From Washington city varied via 
 
 Newport, . . . .131 
 From Boston, Mass. to Concord, 
 
 N. H., ; . .84 
 
136 UNITED STATES. 
 
 
 
 From Springfield, Ms. to Montpel- 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 lier, Vt 
 
 161 
 
 
 From New York city to Cham- 
 
 
 
 plain, 
 
 The South line of road, viz. 
 
 373 
 
 1,771 
 
 From Washington city to St. 
 
 
 
 Mary's in Georgia, according 
 
 
 
 to survey, .... 
 
 808 
 
 
 From Washington city to Anna- 
 
 
 
 pohs and Dover, . 
 
 88 
 
 
 via Cleveland, 
 
 521 
 
 From Pittsburg to Erie-town, 
 
 1S4. 
 
 The West line of road, viz. 
 
 
 From Washington city to St. Lou- 
 
 
 is in Missouri, via Marietta and 
 
 
 Galliopolis, 
 
 957 
 
 From Pittsburg to Chillicothe, . 
 
 208 
 
 From Marietta to Maysville, 
 
 174 
 
 From Athens to Portsmouth, 
 
 15 
 
 896 
 
 The North Line. From Washington 
 city to fort Niagara, via Har- 
 risburg and Buffalo, . . . 470 
 
 The North Western line, viz. 
 
 From Fredericktown, Md. to De- 
 troit in Michigan Territory, 
 
 655 
 
 1,414 
 
UNITED STATES. > 137 
 
 The South Western line, viz. 
 
 From Washington city to New 
 Orleans, via Knoxville and 
 Nashville in Tennessee, . 1,394 
 
 From Wtishiugton city, varied via 
 Fredericksburg in Virg. and 
 Athens in Georgia, . . 1,128 
 
 From Washington city, varied via 
 
 Raleigh and ]Mobile, . 1,161 
 
 From Lexington in Kentucky to 
 
 Nashville in Tennessee, . 264 
 
 From Salisbury in N. C. to Au- 
 gusta in Geo. the upper route, 200 
 
 4,147 
 
 Some further extensions of Main-road, viz. 
 
 Southward; from St. Mary's, 
 through Florida, 
 
 North Westward; from Detroit, 
 through Michigan, 
 
 Westward, and South Westward; 
 from St Louis, and from New 
 Orleans, into Louisiana, Mis- 
 souri, and Arkansa, 
 And Cross-roads in all directions, 
 
 These together, making . 79,247 
 Total extent of Post-roads, estab- 
 lished by law, for the transportation 
 of the mail, down to the 31st Dec. 
 
 1823, Miles 88.600 
 
 18 
 
138 ^ UNITED STATH6. 
 
 Of Post-offices established,. down to this period, 
 the number is five thousand two hundred and fo'ty. 
 Of Post-masters, the same. The gross amount of 
 postage, for the twelve months ending on the 1st July, 
 1823, was i . . Doll. 1,114,345 
 Expenditure of the Office 
 during the same; viz. 
 Compensation to Post-masters, 353,996 
 Incidental expences, . . 30,866 
 Transportation of the Mails, . 784,600 
 Payments into the Treasury, . 423 
 
 1,169,885 
 
 A RED line on the map, is made to designate a se- 
 ries, or one continuous course of navigation, through 
 the great sections of the country, including within it, 
 the chief of the water improvements alluded to, and 
 shewing consequently, the general connexion: the ar- 
 tificial works in question being partly finished or in 
 execution, and partly contemplated. They will, in 
 their final state, connect, by lock and canal, all the na- 
 tural navigation of tlie interior, and be as links in a 
 chain of thorough, inland, navigable, commercial in- 
 tercourse, having communication with the sea, b) our 
 ports on the Atlantic border; by those in the Gulf of 
 Florida; and, at some future time, by those on the Pa- 
 cific. The particulars, I state as follows: 
 
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154 UNITED STATES. 
 
 The foregoins: table, altogether, gives, it will proba- 
 bly be admitted, a pretty comprehensive view of wa- 
 ter-! mprovements within the United States. Not- 
 witlistanding which, it is far from including every 
 thing of the kind that has been projected, or even 
 executed. I have noticed before, the Middlesex 
 canal in Massachusetts, and that in South Carolina, 
 some very useful canal-work is made to assist the 
 river-navigation of that state: as is the case also in 
 Virginia. In North Carolina, a course of navigation- 
 improvement has been entered on by the state; they 
 have commenced with Cape-Fear river, both below 
 and above the port of Wilmington; as well to deepen 
 tlie sliip-channe! from sea, as to render the upper 
 navigation practicable for steam vessels; and the 
 works are prosecuting, under a prospect of much 
 success. In New Jersey, besides the proposed cut 
 betv\een the rivers Delaware and Rariton, a North- 
 ern canal, to connect the Delaware and Passaick, is 
 under consideration by the legislature. In Penn- 
 sylvania the Cunevvago, the Conestoga, and the Le- 
 
UNITED STATES, 155 
 
 high rivers, have been highly improved; as there is 
 little doubt the river Delaware itself", very soon will 
 be, from the rapids at Trenton, upward to Easton; 
 and thence perhaps, to Carpenter's Point, seventy 
 miles iiigher than Easton: the river Susquehanna 
 likewise, at many points of its upper navigation, par- 
 ticularly above Middletown, or the moutli of the Svva- 
 tara, will receive improvement; and the junctions 
 signified in No. 14 and 15 of the table, being accom- 
 plished. Harrisburg, the present seat of the Pennsyl- 
 vania Government, will then be included in a direct 
 line of navigation from Philadelphia, as follows: — 
 
 1° To Lake Erie; by way of the river Schuvlkill, 
 the Union canal, Lake Seneca, and the Grand 
 canal of New York. 
 
 2° To the Ohio at Pittsburg; by way of the Schuyl- 
 kill, the Union canal, the Susequehanna, and 
 West branch thereof, or the Juniata. 
 
 Furthermore, there can be no doubt, that attempts 
 will be made, to clear the great Mississippi, in some 
 places, of snags and sawyers, or suid^en trees, which 
 now and then occasion fatal accidents. 
 
156 UNITED STATES. 
 
 It niiglit, very possibly, gratify a rising curiosity, 
 to ascertain, but it would at present be extremely dif- 
 ficult to cast up, with any approach to accuracy, the 
 length of a voyage, ivithin the United States which, 
 after all or the chief part of the canal-works enume- 
 rated in the table shall have been accomplished, and 
 supposing likewise, some enlargement in the scale of 
 this artificial navigation at certam points, in such sort 
 and degree as to accommodate vessels of burthen 
 throughout, — the length, I say. of a voyage, which 
 it might then be practicable for a Steam Boat of some 
 hundreds of tons, to make. Entering on the voyage, 
 we will suppose, at some one of our Eastern sea- 
 ports, and concluding it at the Balize, or at Mobile, 
 in the Gulf of Florida. The voyage to consist, in 
 visiting the different places to which the vessel caa 
 have access, proceeding from one to another, with- 
 out repetition, through all the navigable water-courses 
 of our great rivers and lakes; or, through them and 
 the tributary streams to both, whether great or small, 
 improved and connected as the whole will then be, 
 by artificial means. 
 
UNITED STATES. I57 
 
 We may indeed, enumerate the lakes, and primary 
 rirers of the country, and some of the secondary, and 
 third order of rivers ^ and so far, make an imperfect 
 sketch of a computation, as follows: — 
 

 
 
 
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IQ2 UNITED STATES. 
 
 But further, if at some time hereafter, a naviga- 
 ble pass should be effected from the head, or the up- 
 per falls of the Missouri river, through theChippewau 
 or Stony Mountains, to the head, or navigable water 
 of one of ihe branches of Columbia river; or, whai is 
 perhaps as much or more to be expected, a passage 
 of the kind should be effected, through the river Platte, 
 to Lewis' branch of the Columbia, our inland-navi- 
 gator may then comprise within his voyage, a very 
 great distance additionally to what is suggested in 
 the forgoing, in a direction Westward, pursuing the 
 main course of one or other of those great Western 
 streams, and visiting on his way the several confluent 
 streams, to the utmost points respectively of their na- 
 vigable condition; and finally, may conclude his voy- 
 age at the mouth of Coiuiiibia river, on the shore of 
 the Pacific; unless it happen, that he rather choose 
 to return from thence, through the interior, and con- 
 clude it elsewhere. Witliout, however, taking any of 
 the latter portion of the voyage into account, the sketch 
 of the plan, which I make' my navigator strike out 
 for himself, in reference lo the above computation, 
 is this: — 
 
 VOYAGE THROUGH THE INTERIOR. 
 
 To commence, from Boston harbour; or rather at 
 Newbury Port in the Merrimack, and so take through 
 
UNITED STATES. 163 
 
 the Middlesex canal, pursuing the inland line of 
 coast to New York; thence, by the Hudson, to Alba- 
 ny, and through the Grand canal to Buffalo: thence 
 througli the Great Lakes: and from the SW. of Lake 
 Michigan, through the river Illinois into the Mis- 
 sissippi: thence to the Falls of St. Anthony, and return ; 
 up the Missouri and tributaries tliereof, and return; 
 continue down the Mississippi, exploring on the W. 
 the St. Peter's and St. Francis' rivers, the Arkansa 
 and White rivers, and their tributaries; the Red ri- 
 ver on the W. also, and return; proceed down the 
 Mississippi to the mouth thereof, and again up the 
 same to the mouth of the Ohio; enter the Ohio and 
 proceed up, exploritig in the way, the Cumberland, 
 Wabash, Kentucky, Miami, Scioto, Kanhaway, Mus- 
 kingum, and other streams ; fron> the river Alleghany, 
 by canal enter the Susquehanna; which having ex- 
 plored, proceed by canal to the river Schuylkill, and 
 thence into the Delaware below Philadelphia. From 
 the Delaware, by canal, enter the Chesapeake ;explore 
 the waters of the Potomac, the Rappahanock, York, 
 James, and other Virginia rivers, and, proceeding 
 down the Chesapeake, thence pursue the inland line 
 of Atlantic coast, exploring by the way the Atlantic 
 rivers of North Carolina and South Carolina. Enter 
 and explore the Savannah river; and thence, by canal, 
 the Tennessee; and thence, by other canals, the 
 Tombecbee and Alabama rivers, concluding the 
 voyage at Mobile harbour, in the Gulf of Florida. 
 
164 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Should a direct inland passage from Boston liar- 
 boiir or other Atlantic port, to Mobile harbour, be re- 
 quired, a choice will be presented; namely, 
 
 B) way of the Great lakes, and the river Mississippi -^ 
 or the river Oiiio, and the Mississippi, through 
 New Orleans and the port of Balize; or through 
 the Tennessee and Alabama rivers. 
 
 By the Atlantic inland coast, and the Savannah, the 
 Tennessee, and Alabama rivers. 
 
 4 
 
 m 
 
UNITED STATES. 156 
 
 EXTRACT 
 
 REFERRED TO IN PAGE 30. 
 
 *'In inspecting the schools of our Western country, 
 we are alarmed lest the populatiou should iMinieas.ura- 
 bly outgrow the means ol instruction, and their m- 
 tellectual fall short ol their numerical weight in our 
 national councils. 
 
 "But the apprehension vanishes in a great degree, 
 before the activity, the emulation, and the sagacity 
 which characterize our tramontain brethren. Tiie 
 force with which the mind vegetates among them, 
 can be best illustrated by the growth of tlieir plants 
 in a virgin loam. All the faculties knit, spread, .-^nd 
 luxuriate, vigorously and wildly, as the branches of 
 their sycamore. 
 
 " This intense vitality of the intellect, when fed by 
 science, and the knowledge of mankind, sMust give 
 the most splendid results. We ma} judge, ironi the 
 
166 UNITED STATES. 
 
 specimens of the ore which we have seen in con- 
 gress, what the metal will be after sublimation. 
 
 '• I must confess, that I was lost in admiration, at 
 the prospects which open in that quarter, upon the 
 pride of human intelligence and power. It is a per- 
 spective, of which the magnificence can be credible, 
 only to those who have made their examination at 
 leisure upon the spot, and with a recollection of what 
 history relates, as to the adolescence of the mightiest 
 communities mentioned in its annals. At a distance, 
 hardly a suspicion is entertained of the promise — I 
 should say rather, the impending maturity of the 
 West. It is a great empire, lying as it were, in am- 
 bush for mankind ; and destined to explore all parts 
 of the intellectual world. 
 
 " lAheral education, by which I mean, the systema- 
 tic tuition of the sciences and classics, is there exceed- 
 ingly backward; but the riuljments of mere English 
 
 education are almost universal.'' 
 
 Am. Reg, 
 
UNITED STATES. 1G7 
 
 By official report from the Treasury department, 
 it was ascertained, that there remained in the United 
 States' treasury, at the close of the year 1823, a sur- 
 plus of above nine millions of dollars, waiting an ap- 
 propriation on the part of Congress: which has taken 
 place; and it goes towards reducing the Public debt. 
 
 It appears likewise, that the nation's Export, for 
 the twelve months which expired on the SOth Sept. 
 1823, amounted to, . . Doll. 74,699,030. 
 Exceeding, consequently, according to custom-house 
 entries, the export of the year before, by 
 
 Doll. 2,538,749. 
 
 The domestic portion of it however, had not in- 
 creased, but was something less than that of the year 
 immediately preceding. 
 
16S UNITED STATES. 
 
 I CANNOT better conclude, thau — I should say. I can- 
 not, in any other way, so well conclude, ds by insert- 
 [ds, the following official article, to serve as a memento; 
 it beins; S'> admirably adapted to excite the profound- 
 est rrflection upon the attitude and present concerns 
 of the nation. 
 
 The article is from the President of the United 
 States, written lately on the occasion of his finding it 
 expedient to urge the Senate to ratify a convention, 
 negotiated with Great Britian, for the suppression 
 of lawless attempts to carry on the Slave trade. On 
 which occasion, the President made the following 
 highly interesting communication: 
 
 " We have at this moment pending with Great 
 Britain, sundry other negotiations, intimately connec- 
 ted with the welfare and even the peace of our 
 Union. In one of these, nearly a third part of the ter- 
 ritory of the State of Maine is in contestation. In anO" 
 thei\ thena\igationof t!ie St. Lawr<^nce, the admission 
 of Consuls into the British Islands, and a system of 
 
UNITED STATES. 169 
 
 commercial intercourse between the United States and 
 all the British possessions in this hemisphere, are sub- 
 jects of discussion. In a thirds our territorial and 
 otiier rights upon the N W coast, are to be adjust- 
 ed; while a negotiation on the same interest is open- 
 ed with Russia. In a fourth^ all the most important 
 controvertible points of maritime-law in time of war 
 are brought under consideration: ♦^nrf in a fifths the 
 whole system of South American concerns, connect- 
 ed with a g< neral recognition of South American 
 independence, may again, from hour to hour, be- 
 come, as it has already been, an object of concerted 
 operations of the highest interest to both nations, 
 and to the peace of the world." 
 
 With Russia, our difference as to the N. W. coast, 
 is now. accordmg to report, adjusted satisfactorily, 
 
 Philadelphia^ June^ 18<24. 
 
 n 
 
170 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Ere the foregoing pages have all passed through 
 the press, and got into print, Congress, at Washington, 
 have opened their Stith Federal session, and the Pre- 
 sident's njessage, on the occasion, heing this day pub- 
 lished in Philadelphia, I cannot deny myself an ad- 
 vantage whici) the opportunity seems to offer; I cannot 
 retrain from thinking that a transcript of the mes- 
 sage may be considered in the light of a very suita- 
 ble and happy final appendage, to grace what will be 
 found to precede ; and therelbre, the message, at lull 
 lengiii, is here added. 
 
 1 do not think it at all needful to make a single re- 
 mark upon its various contents, but leave with Uiy re- 
 spected readers to decide, how far some of the points 
 of ni) production, which possibly might have been 
 thougiit to be involved in a degree of obscurity, are 
 now elucidatt'd and made clear; how far some other 
 things have, or have not, the advantage of now receiv- 
 ing corroboration and authenticity. 
 
 IHE AUTHOR. 
 Pliiladelphia, Dec. 9, 1824. 
 
THE 
 
 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 (N; 
 
 Fellow Citizens of the Senate^ 
 
 and of the House of Representatives — 
 The view which I have now to present to you of our 
 affairs, foreign and domestic, reahzes the most san- 
 guine anticipations which have been entertained, of 
 the pubhc prosperity. If we look to the whole, our 
 growth, as a nation, continues to be rapid beyond ex- 
 ample, if to the States, which compose it, the san-»e 
 gratifying spectacle is exhibited. Our expansion over 
 the vast territory within our limits, has been great, 
 without indicating any decline in those sections from 
 which the emigration has been most conspicuous. 
 We have daily gained strength, by a native population, 
 in every quarter: a population devoted to our happy 
 system of government, and cherishing the bond of 
 union with fraternal affection. Experience has al- 
 ready shown, that the difference of climate, and of in- 
 dustry proceeding from tliat cause, inseparable from 
 
172 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, 
 
 such vast domains, and which, under other systems, 
 might have a repulsive tendency, cannot fail to pro- 
 duce with us, under wise regulations, the opposite ef- 
 fect. What one portion wants, the other may sup- 
 ply, and this will be most sensibly felt by the parts 
 most distant from each other — forming thereby a do- 
 mestic market, and an active intercourse between the 
 extremes, and throughout every portion of our Union. 
 Thus, by a iiappy distribution of power betw^een the 
 National and State Governments; governments which 
 rest exclusively on the sovereignty of the people and 
 are fully adequate to the great purposes for which 
 they were respectively instituted; causes which might 
 otherwise lead to disineinberment, operate powerful- 
 ly to draw us closer together. In every other cir- 
 cumstance, a correct view of the actual state of our 
 Union, must be equally gratifying to our constituents. 
 Our relations with foreign powers, are of a friendly 
 character, although certain interesting differences re- 
 main unsettled with some. Our revenue under the mild 
 system of impost and tonnage, continues to be ade- 
 quate to all the purposes of the government. Our 
 agriculture, commerce, manufactures and navigation, 
 flourish. Our fortifications are advancing, in the de- 
 gree authorized by existing appropriations, to maturi- 
 ty; and due progress is ma le in the augmentation of 
 the Navy, to tiie limit prescribed for it by law. For 
 these blessings we owe to Almighty God, from whom 
 we derive them, and with profound reverence, our 
 most grateful and unceasing acknowledgments. 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 17S 
 
 In adverting to our relations with Foreign powers, 
 whicli are alv^ays an object of high importance, I 
 have to remark, that of the subjects which have been 
 brought into discussion with them, during the present 
 administration, some have been satisfactorily termi- 
 nated; others have been suspended, to be resumed 
 hereafter, under circumstances more favourable to 
 success; and others are still in negotiation, with the 
 hope that they may be adjusted, with mutual accom- 
 modation, to the interests and to the satisfaction of 
 the respective parties. It has been the invariable ob- 
 ject of this government, to cherish the most friendly 
 relations with every power, and on principles and 
 conditions which might make tliem permanent. A 
 systematic effort has been made to place our com- 
 merce, with each power, on a footing of perfect reci- 
 procity; to settle with each, in a spirit of candour 
 and liberahly, all existing differences; and to antici- 
 pate and remove, so far as it might be practicable, all 
 causes of future variance. 
 
 It having been stipulated, by the seventh article of 
 the Convention of Navigation and Commerce, which 
 was concluded on the 24th of June, 1822, between 
 the United Slates and France, that the said Conven- 
 tion should continue in force for two years from the 
 first of October of that year, and for an indefinite 
 term afterwards, unless one of the parties should de- 
 clare its intention to renounce it, in which event it 
 should cease to operate at the end of six months from 
 such declaration ; and no such intention having been an- 
 
174. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 nounced, the Convention having been founfl advan- 
 tag<^ous to both parties, it has since remained, and still 
 remains in full force. At the tin)e when that Conven- 
 tion wa«; concluded, many interesting subjects wore 
 unsettled, and particularly our claims to indemnity 
 for spoliations which were committed on our com- 
 merce in the late wars. For these interests and claims, 
 it was in the contemplation of the parties, to make 
 provision at a subsequent day, by a more comprehen- 
 sive and definitive treaty. The object has been duly 
 attended to since, by the Executive, but as yet it has 
 not been accomplished It is hoped that a favourable 
 opportunity will present itself for opening a negotia- 
 tion which may en^brace and arrange ail existing dif- 
 ferences, and every other concern in wiiich they 
 have a common interest, upon the accession of the 
 present Kit)g of France, an event which has occur- 
 red since the close of the last session of Congress. 
 
 With Great Britain, our commercial intercourse 
 rests on the same foo'ing that it did last session. By 
 the convention of 1815. the commerce between the 
 United States and tlje British dominions, in Europe, 
 and the East Indies- was arranged on a principle of 
 reciprocity. That convention was continued and 
 continued in force, with sliglit exceptions, by a sub- 
 sequent treaty, for the term of ten years, from the 
 20th of October, 1818, the date of the latter. The 
 trade with the British col«)nies in the West Indies, 
 has not, as yet, been arranged by treaty, or other- 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 175 
 
 wise to our satisfaction. An approach to that result 
 has been made by legislative acts, whereby many se- 
 rious impediments which had been raised by the par- 
 ties, in defence of their respective claims, were re- 
 moved- An earnest desire exists, ani has been mani- 
 fested, on the part of this government, to plac<3 the 
 commerce with the colonies, likewise, on a footing 
 of reciprocal advantage, and it is hoped thai the 
 British government, seeing the jnstice of the pro- 
 posal, and its importance to the colonies, will, ere 
 long, accede to it 
 
 The Commissioners who were appointed for the 
 adjustment of the boundary, between the territories 
 of the United Slates and those of Great Britam, spe- 
 cified in the fifth article of the Treaty of Ghent, hav- 
 ing disagreed in their decision; and both governments 
 having agreed to establish that boundary, by amicable 
 negotiation between them, it is hoped that it may be 
 satisfactorily adjusted in that mode. The boundary 
 specified by the sixth article, has been establisiied, by 
 the decision of the commissioners. From the pro- 
 gress made in that provided for by the seventh, accord" 
 ing to a report recently received, there is good cause 
 to presume that will be settled in the course of the 
 ensuing year. 
 
 It is a cause of serious regret, that no arrangoment 
 has yet been finally concluded between the two gov- 
 ernments, to secure, by joint co-operation, the sup- 
 pression of the slave trade. It was the object of the 
 
176 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, 
 
 British government, in the early stages of the nego^ 
 tiation, to adopt a plan for the suppression, which 
 should inchide the concession of the mutual right of 
 search, by the ships of war of each parly, of the ves- 
 sels of the other, for suspected offenders. This was 
 objected to by this government, on the principle that 
 as the right of search was a right of war, of a belli- 
 gerent towards a neutral power, it might have an 
 ill effect to extend it^ by treaty, to an offence which 
 had been made comparatively mild, to a time of peace. 
 Anxious, however, for the suppression of this trade, 
 it was thought advisable, in compliance with a reso- 
 lution of the House of Representatives, founded on 
 an act of Congress, to propose to the British govern- 
 ment, an expedient, which should be free from that 
 objection, and more effectual for the object, by mak- 
 ing it piratical. 
 
 In that mode, the enormity of the crime would 
 place the offenders out of th^ protection of their gov- 
 ernment, and involve no question of search, or other 
 question, between the parties, touching their respec- 
 tive rights. It was believed, also, that it would com- 
 pletely suppress the trade, in the vessels of both par- 
 ties, and by their respective citizens and subjects in 
 those of other powers, with whom, it was hoped that 
 the odium which would thereby be attached to it, 
 would produce a corresponding arrangement, and by 
 means thereof, its entire extirpation forever. — A con- 
 vention to this effect was concluded and signed in 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. I77 
 
 London, on the 13th day of March, 1824, by pleni- 
 potentiaries duly authorized by both governments, to 
 the ratification of which certain obstacles have arisen 
 which are not yet entirely removed. The difference 
 between the parties still remaining, has been reduc- 
 ed to a point, not of sufficient magnitude, as is pre- 
 sumed, to be permitted to defeat an object so near 
 lo the heart of both nations, and so desirable to the 
 friends of humanity througliout the world. — As ob- 
 jections, however, to the principle recommended by 
 the House of Representatives, or at least to the con- 
 sequences inseparable from it, and which are under- 
 stood to apply to the law, have been raised, which 
 may deserve a reconsideration of the whole subject, 
 I have thought it proper to suspend the conclusion 
 of a new convention until the definitive sentiments 
 of Congress may be ascertained. The documents 
 relating to the negotiation, are, with that intent, sub- 
 mitted to your consideration. 
 
 Our commerce with Sweden has been placed on 
 a footing of perfect reciprocity, by treaty; and with 
 Russia, the Netherlands, Prussia, the free Hanseatic 
 cities, the Dukedoms of Oldenburgh and Sardinia, 
 by internal regulations on each side, founded on mu- 
 tual agreement, between the respective governments. 
 
 The principles upon w^hich the commercial policy 
 of the United States is founded, are to be traced to 
 an early period. They are essentially connected with 
 
178 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 those upon which their independence was declared, 
 and owe iheir origin to the enhghtened men who 
 took the lead in our affairs at that important epoch. 
 They are developed in their first treaty of commerce 
 with France, of the 6th of February, 1778, and by a 
 formal commission, which was instituted immediately 
 after the conclusion of their revolutionary struggle, 
 foi' the purpose of negotiating treaties of commerce 
 w ith every European power. The first treaty of the 
 United States with Prussia, which was negotiated by 
 that commission, affords a signal illustration of those 
 principles. The act of Congress of the 3rd of March, 
 1815, adopted immediately after the return of a ge- 
 neral peace, was a new overture to foreign nations 
 to establish our commercial relations with them, on 
 the basis of free and equal reciprocity. That prin- 
 ciple has pervaded all the acts of Congress, and all 
 the negotiations of the Executive on the subject 
 since. 
 
 A Convention for the settlement of important ques- 
 tions, in relation to the North West Coast of this 
 continent, and its adjoining seas, was concluded and 
 
 signed at St. Petersburg, on the of last, by 
 
 the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States, 
 and plenipotentiaries of the imperial governn)ent of 
 Russia. It will immediately be laid before the Se- 
 nate, for the exercise of the constitutional author- 
 ity of that body, with reference to its ratification. It 
 is proper to add, that the manner in which this ne- 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 179 
 
 gotiation was invited and conducted, on the part of the 
 Emperor, has been very satisfactory. 
 
 The great and extraordinary changes which have 
 happened in the governments of Spain and Portugal, 
 within the last two years, without seriously affecting 
 the friendly relations which, under all of them, have 
 been maintained with those powers, by the United 
 States, have been obstacles to the adjustment of ihe 
 particular subjects of discussion which have arisen 
 with each. A resolution of the Senate, adopted at 
 their last session, called for information, as to the ef- 
 fect produced upon our relations with Spain, by the 
 recognition, on the part of the United States, of 
 the independent South American governments. The 
 papers containing that information are now commu- 
 nicated to Congress. 
 
 A Charge d'Aifaires has been received from the 
 independent government ofBiazil That country, 
 heretofore a colonial possession of Portugal, had some 
 years since been proclaimrd, by the sovereign of Por- 
 tugal himself, an independent kingdom. Since his 
 return to Lisbon, a revolution in Brazil has establish- 
 '^j^jL ed a new government there, with an imperial title, at 
 . the head of which is placed the Prince in whom the 
 regency had been vested, by the King, at the time of 
 his departure. There is reason to expect, that by 
 amicable negotiation, the independence of Brazil 
 will, ere long, be recognised by Portugal herself. 
 
180 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 Willi the remaining powers of Europe, with those 
 on the coast of Barbary, and with all the new South 
 American States, our relations are of a friendly cha- 
 racter. We have ministers plenipotentiary residing 
 with the republics of Colombia and Chili, and have 
 received ministers of the same rank, from Colombia, 
 Guatimala, Buenos Ay res, and Mexico. Our com- 
 mercial relations, with all those states, are mutually 
 beneficial and iiicreasing. With the republic of 
 Colombia, a treaty of commerce has been formed, of 
 which a copy is received, and the original daily ex- 
 pected. A negotiation for a like treaty, would have 
 been commenced with Buenos Ayres, had it not been 
 prevented by tlie indisposition and lamented decease 
 of Mr. Rodney, our minister there, and to whose 
 memory the most respectful attention has been shewn 
 by the government of that republic. An advantage- 
 ous alteration in our treaty with Tunis, has been ob- 
 tamed, by our consular agent residing there, the of- 
 ficial document of which, when received, will be laid 
 before the Senate. 
 
 The attention of the government has been drawn 
 with great solicitude to other subjects, and particu- 
 larly to that relating to a state of maritime war, in- 
 volving the relative rights of neutral belligerents in 
 such wars. Most of the ditTiculties which we have 
 experienced, and of the losses which we have sus- 
 tamed, since the establishment of our independence, 
 have proceeded from the (msettled state of those 
 rights, and the extent to which the belligerent claim 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 181 
 
 has been carried against the neutral party. It is im- 
 possible to look back on the occurrences of the late 
 wars in Europe, and to behold tlie disregard which 
 was paid to our rights as a neutral power, and the 
 waste which was made of our commerce by the par- 
 ties to those wars, by various acts of theii' respective 
 governments, and under the pretext by each that the 
 other had set the example, without great mortifica- 
 tion, and a fixed purpose never to subfnit to ihe like 
 in future. An attempt to remove those causes of 
 possible variance, by friendly negotiation, and on just 
 principles, which should be applicable to all parties, 
 could, it is presumed, be viewed by none, other than as 
 a proof of an earnest desire to preserve those relations 
 with every power. In the late war between France 
 and Spain, a crisis occurred, in which it seemed pro- 
 bable that all the controvertible principles, involved 
 in such wars, might be brought into discussion, and 
 settled to the satisfaction of all parties. Proposi- 
 tions having this object in view, have been ntade to 
 the governments of Great Britain, France. Russia, and 
 of other powers, which have been received in a friend- 
 ly manner by all, but as yet no treaty has been form- 
 ed with either for its accomplishment. The policy 
 will, it is presumed, be persevered in, and in the hope 
 that it may be successful. 
 
 It will always be recollected, that with one of the 
 parties to those wars, and from whom we received 
 those injuries, we sought redress by war. From the 
 
IS2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 other, with whose then reigning government our ves- 
 sels were seized in port, as well as at sea, and their 
 cargoes confiscated, indemnity has been expected, but 
 has not yet been rendered. It was under the influ- 
 ence of the latter, tliat our vessels were likewise 
 seized by the governments of Spain, Holland, Den- 
 mark, Sweden and Naples, and from whom indem- 
 nity has been claimed, and is still expected, with the 
 exception of Spain, by whom it has been rendered. 
 With both parties we had abundant cause of war, 
 but we had no alternative but to resist that which 
 was most powerful at sea, and pressed us nearest at 
 home With this, all differences were settled, by a 
 treaty founded on conditions fair and honourable to 
 both, and which has been so far executed with per- 
 fect good faith. It has been earnestly hoped, that 
 the other would, of its own accord, and from a sen- 
 timent of justice and conciliation, make to our citi- 
 zens the indemnity to which they are entitled; and 
 thereby remove, from our relations, any just cause 
 of discontent on our side. 
 
 It is estimated that the receipts into the Treasury 
 during the current year, exclusive of loans, will ex- 
 ceed 18,500,000 dollars, which, with the sum re- 
 maining in the Treasury at the end of the last year, 
 amounting to 9,463,922 dollars and 81 cents, will, 
 after discharging the current disbursements of the 
 year, the interest on the public debt, and upwards of 
 11,633,01 1 dollars and 52 cents of the principal, leave 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 183 
 
 a balance of more than 3,000,000 dollars in the Trea- 
 sury on the first day of January next. 
 
 A larger amount of the debt contracted during the 
 late war, bearing an interest of six per cent, becom- 
 ing redeemable in the course of the ensuing year, 
 than would be discharged by the ordinary revenue, 
 the act of 26th May, authorised a loan of 5,000,000 
 dollars, at 4| per cent, to meet the same. By this 
 arrangement an annual saving will accrue to the 
 public, of 75,000 dollars. 
 
 Under the act of the 24th May last, a loan of 
 5,000,000 dollars, was authorised, in order to meet 
 the awards under the Florida treaty, which was ne- 
 gotiated at par with the Bank of the United States, 
 at 4| per cent, the limit of interest fixed by the act. 
 By this provision, the claims of our citizens, who had 
 sustained so great a loss by spoliations, and from whom 
 indemnity had been so long withheld, were promptly 
 paid. For these advances, the public will be amply 
 repaid, at no distant day, by the sale of the lands in 
 Florida. Of the great advantages resulting from the 
 acquisition of the territory, in other respects, too 
 high an estimate cannot be formed. 
 
 It is estimated that the receipts into the Treasury, 
 during the year 1825, will be sufficient to meet the 
 disbursements of the year, including the sum of 
 10,000,000 dollars which is annually appropriated 
 
184 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 by the act constituting; the Sinking Fund, for the pay- 
 ment of the principal and interest of the public debt. 
 
 The whole amount of the public debt, on the first 
 day of January next, may be estimated at 86,000.000 
 dollars inclusive of 2.500,000 dollars of the loan au- 
 thorized by the act of 26th May last. In this esti- 
 mate is included a stock of 7,000,000 dollars, issued 
 for the purchase of that amount of the capital stock 
 of the Bank of the United States, and which, as the 
 stock of the Bank still held by the government, will 
 at least be fully equal to its reimbursement, ought 
 not to be considered as constituting a part of the 
 public debt. Estimating, then, the whole amount 
 of the public debt at 79,000,000 dollars and regard- 
 ing the annual receipts and expenditures of the 
 government, a well-founded hope may be entertained, 
 that, should no unexpected event occur, the whole of 
 the public debt n»ay be discharged in the course of 
 ten years, and the government be left at Uberty after- 
 wards to apply such portion of the revenue as may 
 not be necessary for current expense, to such other 
 objects as may be conducive to the public security 
 and welfare. — That the sums applicable to these ob- 
 jects will be very considerable, may be fairly conclud- 
 ed, when it is recollected, that a la)ge amount of the 
 pubhc revenue has been applied, since the late war, 
 to the construction of the public buildings in this 
 city, to the erection of fortifications along the coast, 
 and of arsenals in diflerent parts of the Union; to the 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 185 
 
 augmentation of the Navy; to the extingnishment of 
 the Indian title to large tracts of fertile territory; to 
 the acquisition of Florida; to pensions of revolution- 
 ary oflicers and soldiers; and to invalids of the late 
 war. On many of these objects, the expense will 
 annually be diminished, and at no distant period, 
 cease on i))Ost of all. On the first day of January, 
 1817, the public debt amounted to 123,491,965 dol- 
 lars and 16 cents; notwithstanding the large sums 
 which have been applied to these objects, it has been 
 reduced, since then, 37,446,961 dollars and 78 cents. 
 7'he last of the public debt will be redeemable on the 
 first of January, 1835, while there is the best reason 
 to believe that the resources of the government will 
 be continually adequate to such portion of it as may 
 beconie due; in the interval, it is recommended to 
 Congress to seize every opportunity which may pre- 
 sent itself, to reduce the rate of interest upon every 
 part thereof The high state of the public credit, 
 and the great abundance of money, are at this time 
 very favourable to such a result. It must be very 
 gratifying to our fellow-citizens, to witness this flou- 
 rishing state of the public finances, when it is recol- 
 lected that no burden whatsoever has been imposed 
 upon them. 
 
 The Military Establishment, in all its branches, in 
 the performance of the various duties assigned to 
 each, justifies the favourable view which was present- 
 ed of the efficiency of its organization, at the lasl 
 24. 
 
J86 I'RESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 session. All the appropriations have been regularly 
 applied to the objects intended by Congress; and, so 
 far as the disbursennents have been made, the ac- 
 counts have been rendered and settled, without loss 
 to the public. — The condition of the army itself, as 
 relates to the officers and men, in science and disci- 
 pline, is highly respectable. The Military Academy, 
 on wliich the army essentially rests, and to which it 
 is much indebted for this state of improvement, has 
 attained, in comparison with any other institution of 
 a like kind, a high degree of perfection. Experi- 
 ence, however, has shown, that the dispersed condi- 
 tion of the Corps of Artillery is unfavourable to the 
 discipline of that important branch of the Military 
 Establishment. To remedy this inconvenience, eleven 
 companies have been assembled at the fortifications 
 erected at Old Point Comfort, as a school for artillery 
 instruction ; with intention, as they shall be perfected 
 in the various duties of that service, to order them to 
 other posts, and to supply their places with other com- 
 panies for instruction in like/ manner. In this mode, 
 a complete knowledge of the science and duties of 
 this arm will be extended throughout the whole 
 Corps of Artillery. But, to carry this object fully 
 into effect, will require the aid of Congress; to ob- 
 tain which, the subject is now submitted to your con- 
 sideration. 
 
 Of the progress which has been made in the con- 
 struction of Fortifications for the permanent defence 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 187 
 
 of our maritime frontier, according to the plan de- 
 cided on, and to the extent of the existing appropria- 
 tions, the report of the Secretary of War, which is 
 herewith communicated, will give a detailed account. 
 Their final completion cannot fail to give great addi- 
 tional security to that frontier, and to diminish pro- 
 portionably the expense of defending it in the event of 
 war. 
 
 The provisions in the several acts of Congress of 
 the last session, for the improvement of the navigation 
 of the Mississippi and Ohio, of the harbour of Pres- 
 qn'isle on Lake Erie, and the repair of the Plymouth 
 Beach, are in a course of regular execution ; and there 
 is reason to believe that the appropriation in each in- 
 stance will be adequate to the object. To carry these 
 improvements fully into effect, the superintendence of 
 thenj has been assigned to officers of the Corps of 
 Engineers. 
 
 Under the act of the 30th of April last, authoris- 
 ing the President to cause a survey to be made, with 
 the necessary plans and estimates of such roads and 
 canals, as he might deem of national importance, in a 
 commercial or military point of view, or for the trans- 
 portation of the mail, a board has been instituted, 
 consisting of two distinguished officers of the Corps 
 of Engineers and a distinguished Civil Engineer, with 
 assistants, who have been actively employed in carry- 
 ing into effect the objects of the act. They have 
 
188 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 carefully exan>ined between the Potomac and the 
 Oii:o I'jvers; between the latter and Lake Erie; be- 
 tween the Alleji,hany and the Susquehanna; and the 
 routes between the Delaware and the Rariton^ Barn- 
 stable and Buzzard's bay; and between Boston har- 
 bour and Narraganset bay. Such portion of the 
 Corps of Topographical Engineers as could be 
 spared from the survey of the coast, have been em- 
 ployed in surveying the very important route between 
 the Potonjac and the Ohio. Considerable progress 
 has been made in it, but the survey cannot be com- 
 pleted until the next season. It is gratifying to add, 
 fromlhe viewqlrcadj taken, that there is good cause 
 to believe that this great national object nmy be fully 
 accomplished. 
 
 It is contemplated to commence early in the next 
 season the execution of the other branch of the act, 
 that which relates to roads, and with the survey of a 
 route from this city, through the southern states, to 
 >jevv Orleans, tiie importance of which cannot be too 
 highly estimated. All the officers of both the Corps 
 iii Engineers, who could be spared from other ser- 
 vices, have been eniployed in exploring and surveying 
 the routes for canals To digest a plan for both ob- 
 jects for the great purposes specified, will require a 
 thorough knowledge of everyfpart of our Union, and 
 of tlie relation of each part to the others, and of all 
 to the seat of the General Government. For such 
 a digest, it will be necessary that the information be 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 189 
 
 full, minute, and precise. With a view to these im- 
 portant objects. I subnjit to the consideration ot Con- 
 gress, the propriety ol enlarging both the Corps of 
 Engineers, the Military and Topographical. If need 
 scarcely be remarked, that tiie more extensively these 
 Corps are engaged in the improvement of their coun- 
 try, in the execution of the powers of Congress, and 
 in aid of the States, in such impr.»vements as he be- 
 yond that limit, when such aid is desired, the happier 
 the effect will be in many views of which the subject 
 is susceptible By profiting of their science, the 
 works will always be well executed; and by giving to 
 the officers such employment, our union will derive 
 all the advantage, in peace as well as war, from their 
 talents and services, which they can afford. In this 
 mode also, the Military will be incorporated with the 
 Civil, and unfounded and injurious distinctions and 
 prejudices of every kind be done away. To the Corps 
 themselves, this service cannot fail to be equally use- 
 ful — since, by the knowledge they will thus acquire, 
 they will be eminently better qualified, in the event 
 of war, for the great purposes for which they were in- 
 stituted. 
 
 Our relations with the Indian tribes, within our 
 limits, have not been materially changed durmg the 
 year. The hostile disposition evinced by certain 
 tribes, on the Missouri, during the last year, still con- 
 tinues, and has extended, in some degree, to those on 
 the upper Mississippi, and the upper Lakes. Seve- 
 
190 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 ral parties of our citizens have been plundered and 
 murdered, by those tribes. In order to establish re- 
 lations of friendship with them, Congress at the last 
 session, made an appropriation for treaties with them, 
 and for the employment of a suitable military escort 
 to accompany and attend the Commissioners, at the 
 places appointed for the negotiations. This object 
 has not been effected. The season was too far advanc- 
 ed when the appropriation was made, and the distance 
 too great to permit; but measures have been taken, 
 and all the preparations will be completed, to accom- 
 plish it at an early period in the next season. 
 
 Believing that the hostility of the tribes, particular- 
 ly on the upper Mississippi and the lakes, is, in no 
 small degree, owing to the wars which is carried on 
 between the tribes residing in that quarter, measures 
 have been taken to bring about a general peace among 
 them, which, if successful, will not only tend to the 
 security of our citizens, but be of great advantage to 
 the Indians themselves. With the exception of the 
 tribes referred to, our relations w ith all the others are 
 on the most friendly fooling; and it affords me great 
 satisfaction to add, that they are making steady 
 advances in civilization, and the improvement of their 
 condition. Many of the tribes have already made great 
 progress in the arts of civilized life. The desirable re- 
 sult has been brought about by the humane and perse- 
 vering policy of the government^ and particularly 
 by means of the appropriation for the civilization of 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 191 
 
 the Indians There have been established, under the 
 provisions of this act, thirty-two schools, containing 
 nine hundred and sixteea scholars, who are well in- 
 structed in several branches of literature, and like- 
 wise in agriculture and the ordinary arts of life. 
 
 Under the appropriation to authorise treaties with 
 the Creek and Q,uapaw Indians, commissioners have 
 been appointed and negotiations are now pending, but 
 the result is not yet known. 
 
 For more full information, respecting the princi- 
 ple which has been adopted for carrying into effect 
 the act of Congress authorising surveys, with plans 
 and estimates for canals and roads, and on every other 
 branch of duty, incident to the Department of War, 
 I refer you to the report of the Secretary. 
 
 The squadron in the Mediterranean has been 
 maintained to the extent which was proposed in the 
 report of the Secretary of the Navy of the last year, 
 and has afforded to our commerce the necessary pro- 
 tection in that sea. Apprehending, however, that the 
 unfriendly relations which have existed between Al- 
 giers and some of the powers of Europe, might be ex- 
 tended to us, it has been thought expedient to aug- 
 ment the force there, and, inconsequence, the " North 
 Carohna." a ship of the line, has been prepared, and 
 will sail in a few days to join it. 
 
192 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 The force emplryed in the Gulf of Mexico and 
 in the neighbouring seas, for the suppression of j.ira- 
 cy, has likewisp been preserved essentially in the 
 stale in which it was during the last year. A perse- 
 vering effort has been made for the Jiccoinplishment 
 of that object, and n.uch protection has thereby been 
 afforded to our connnerce; but still the practice is far 
 from being suppressed. From every view which has 
 been taken of the subject, it is thought that it vvdl be 
 necessary rather to augment than to duninisij our 
 force in that quarter There is reason to believe that 
 the piracies now complained of, are committed by 
 bands of robbers who inhabit the land, and w ho, by 
 preserving good intelligence vvitli the towns, and seiz- 
 ing favourable opportunities, rush forth and fall on 
 unprotected merchant vessels, of which they make 
 an easy prey. Tiie pilluge tiius taken, they carry to 
 their lurking places, and dispone of atterwards at 
 prices tending to seduce the neighbouring population. 
 The combination is understood to be of great extent, 
 and is the more to be deprecated, because the crime 
 of piracy is often attended with the murder of the 
 crews, these robbers knowing, if anv survived, their 
 lurking places would be exposed, ^nd they be caught 
 and punished. That this atrocious practice should 
 be carried to such extent, is cause of equal surprise 
 and regret. It is presumed that it must be attribut:^d 
 to the relaxed and feeble state of the local govern- 
 ments, since it is doubted, from the high character of 
 the Governor of Cuba, who is well known and much 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 193 
 
 respected liere, that if he hau the power, he would 
 pruiiiplly suppress it. V\'helher those robbers should 
 be pursued on the land the local authorities be made 
 responsible fur these atrocities, or any other measure 
 be resorted io, to suppress them, is submitted to the 
 consideration of Congress. 
 
 In execution of the laws for the suppression of the 
 Slave Trade, a vessel has been occasionally sent from 
 tliat squadron to the coast of Africa, with orders to 
 return thence by the usual track of the slave ships, 
 and to seize any of our vessels which might be engag- 
 ed in that trade. None have been found, it is believ- 
 ed, that none are thus employed, it is well known, 
 however, that the trade still exist^under other flags. 
 
 The health of our squadron, while at Thompson's 
 Island, has been much better during the present, than 
 it was the last season. Some iniprovemcnts have 
 been njadc, and others are contemplated there, which 
 it is believed, will have a very salutary effect. 
 
 On the Pacific, our commerce has much increased; 
 and on that coast, as well as on that sea, the United 
 States have many important interests, which require 
 attention and protection. It is thought that all the 
 considerations which suggested the expediency of plac- 
 ing a squadron on that sea, operate with augmented 
 force, for maintaining it there, at least on equal extent. 
 25 
 
194 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 For detailed information respecting the state of our 
 maritime force on eacli sea, the improvement neces- 
 sary to be made in either, in the organization of the 
 Naval establishment generally, and of the laws for its 
 better government. I refer you to the Report of ihe 
 Secretary of the Navy, which is herewith communi- 
 cated 
 
 The revenue of the Post Office department has re- 
 ceived a considerable augmentation in the present 
 year. The current receipts will exceed the expen- 
 ditures, although the transportation of the mail with- 
 in ihe year has been much increased. A Report of the 
 Postmaster General, which is transmitted, will furnish, 
 in detail, the necessary information, respecting the ad- 
 ministration and present state of this Department. 
 
 In conformity with a resolution of Congress, of the 
 last session, an invitation was given to General La 
 Fayette to revisit the United States, with an assurance 
 that a ship of war should attend at any port of France, 
 which he might designate, to receive and convey 
 him across the Atlantic, whenever it might be con- 
 venient for him to sail. He declined the ofTer of the 
 public ship, from motives of delicacy, but assured me 
 that he had long intended, and would certainly visit 
 our Union in the course of the present year. In Au- 
 gust last he arrived at New York, where he was re- 
 ceived with the warmth of affection ;>nu gratitude to 
 which his very important and disinterested services 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 195 
 
 and sacrifices, in our revolutionary struggle, so emi- 
 nently entitled him, A corresponding sentiment has 
 since been manifested in his favour throughout every 
 portion of our Union, and affectionate invitations have 
 been given him to extend his visits to them. To these, 
 he has yielded all the accommodation in his power. 
 At every designated point of rendezvous, the whole 
 population of the neighbouring country has been as- 
 seuibled to greet him; among whom it has excited in 
 a peculiar manner the sensibility of all, to behold the 
 surviving members of our revolutionary contest, civil 
 and military, who had shared with him in the toils and 
 dangers of the war, many of them in a decrepid state. 
 A more interesting spectacle, it is believed, was never 
 witnessed, because none could be founded on purer 
 principles, none proceed from higher or more disin- 
 terested motives. That the feelings of those who had 
 fought and bled with him, in a common cause, should 
 have been much excited, was natural. There are, 
 however, circumstances attending these interviews, 
 which pervaded the whole community, and touched 
 the breasts of every age, even the youngest among 
 us. 
 
 There was not an individual present, who had not 
 some relative who had partaken in those scenes, nor 
 an infant who had not heard the relation of them. 
 But the circumstance which was most sensibly felt, 
 and which his presence brought forcibly to the recol- 
 lection of all, was the great cause in which we were 
 
196 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 engaged, and the blessings we have derived from our 
 success in it. The struggle was ("or independence and 
 liberty, public and peisonul,and in this we succecxied. 
 The meeting with one who had borne so distinguish- 
 ed a part in that great struggle, and Irom such lofty 
 and disinterested motives, could not fad to affect pro- 
 foundly every individual, and of every age. It is na- 
 tural that we should all fake a deep interest in his fu- 
 ture welfare, as we do. His higli claims on our Union 
 are felt, and the sentiment universal that they should 
 be met in a generous spirit. Under these impressions, 
 I mvite your mtention to the subject, with a view, that, 
 regarding his very important services, losses, and sa- 
 crifices, a provision may be made and tendered to him, 
 which shall correspond with the sentiments, and be 
 worlhy the character, of the Auierican people. 
 
 In turning our attention to the condition of the 
 civilized world, in which tiie United States have al- 
 ways taken a deep interest, if is gratifying to see how 
 large a portion of it is blessed with peace The only 
 wars which now exist within that limit, are those 
 between Turkey and Greece, in Europe, and be- 
 tween Spain and the new governments, our neigh- 
 bours, in this hemisphere. In both these wars, the 
 cause of Independence, of Liberty, and Humanity, 
 continues to prevail. The success of Greece, when 
 the relative population of the contending parties is 
 considered, commands our admiration and applause, 
 and that it has had a similar clleci with the neigh- 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 197 
 
 bonring powers, is obvious. — The feeling of the 
 whole civilized world is excited iii a high degree, in 
 their favour. May we not hope that these sentiments, 
 winning on the hearts of their respective govern- 
 ments, may lead to a more decisive result, that they 
 may produce an accord among them, to replace 
 Greece on the ground which she formerly held, and 
 to which her heroic exertions, at this day, so emi- 
 nently entitle her? 
 
 With respect to the contest, to which our neigh- 
 bours are a party, it is evident that Spain, as a 
 power, is scarcely felt in it. The new Stales had 
 completely achieved their independence, before it 
 was acknowledged by the United States, and they 
 have since maintained it. with little foreign pressure. — 
 The disturbances which have appeared in certain 
 portions of that vast territory, have proceeded from 
 internal causes, which had their origin in their form- 
 er governments, and have not yet been thoroughly 
 removed. It is manifest that these causes are daily 
 losing their effect, and that these new States are set- 
 tling down, under governments elective and represen- 
 tative in every branch, similar to our own In this 
 course we ardently wish them to persevere, under a 
 firm conviction that it will promote their happiness. 
 
 la this, their career, however, we have not inter- 
 fered, believing that every people have a right to in- 
 stitute for themselves the government wtiich, in their 
 
198 PRESIDExXT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 judgment, may suit them best Our example is be- 
 fore them, of the good effect of which, bemg our 
 neighbours, they are competent judges, and to their 
 judgment we leave it, in the expectation that other 
 powers will pursue the same policy. The deep in- 
 terest which we take in their independence, which 
 we have acknowledged, and in their enjoyment of all 
 the rights incident thereto, especially in the very im- 
 portant one of instituting their own governments, 
 has been declared, and is kno;vn to the world. Se- 
 parated, as we are, from Europe, by the great At- 
 lantic Ocean, we can have no concern in the wars of 
 the European governments, nor in the causes which 
 produce thein. The balance oi" power between them, 
 into which ever scale it may turn, in its various vi- 
 brations, cannot affect us. It is the interest of the 
 United States to preserve the most friendly relations 
 with eveiy power, and on conditions fair, equal, 
 and applicable to all. But, in regard to our neigh- 
 bours, our situation is different. — It is impossible for 
 the European governments ^o interfere in their con- 
 cerns, especially in those alluded to which are vital, 
 without affecting us; indeed, the motive which might 
 induce such interference in the present state of the 
 war between the parties, if a war it may be called, 
 would appear to be equally applicable to us. It is 
 gratifying to know, that some of the powers with 
 whom we enjoy a very friendly intercourse, and to 
 whom these views have been communicated, have 
 appeared to acquiesce in them. 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 199 
 
 The augmentation of our population, with the ex- 
 pansion of our Union, and increased number of 
 States, have produced effects in certain branches of 
 our system, which merit the attention of Congress. 
 Some of our arrangements, and particularly the 
 judiciary establishment, were made with a view to 
 the original thirteen States only. Since then, the 
 United Slates have acquired a vast extent of terri- 
 tory; eleven new States have been admitted into the 
 Union, and territories have been laid off for three 
 others, which will likewise be admitted at no distant 
 day. An organization of the Supreme Court, which 
 assigns to i]\e judges any portion of the duties which 
 belong to the inferior, requiring their passage over 
 so vast a space, under any distribution of the States 
 that may now be made, if not impracticable in the 
 execution, must render it impossible for them to dis- 
 charge the duties of either branch, with advantage 
 to the Union. 
 
 The duties of the Supreme Court would be of 
 great importance, if its decisions were confined to the 
 ordinary hmits of other tribunals; but when it is con- 
 sidered that this Court decides, and in the last resort, 
 on all the great questions which arise under our con- 
 stitution, involving those between the United States 
 individually, between the States and the United States, 
 and between the latter and foreign powers, too high 
 an estimate of their importance cannot be formed. 
 The great interests of the nation seem to require that 
 
^00 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 the Judges of the Supreme Court should be exempt- 
 ed from every oilier duty than those which are in- 
 cident to lliat higli trust. The organization of tiie 
 inferior Courts would, of course, be adapted to cir- 
 cumstances. It is presumed, that such a one might 
 be formed as wotdd s'^cure an able and faithful dls- 
 ciiarge of their duties, and without any material aug- 
 mentation of expense. 
 
 The condition of the Aborigines witliin our liniits, 
 and especially those who are within the limits of any 
 of the States, merits likewise particular attention. 
 Experience has shewn, that unless the tribes be civil- 
 ized, they can never be incorporated into our system, 
 in any form whatever. 
 
 It has likewise shewn, that in the regular augment- 
 ation of our population, with the extension of our 
 settlements, their situation will become deplorable, if 
 their extinction is not menaced. Some well digested 
 plan, which will rescue thes)! from such calanuties, 
 is due to their rights, to the rights of humanity, and 
 to the honour of the nation. — Their civilization is 
 indispensable to their safety, and this can be accom- 
 plished only by degrees — The process must com- 
 mence with the infant state, through whom some ef- 
 fect may be wrouglit on tiie parental Difficulties 
 of the most serious chanicter present themselves to 
 the attainment of this very desirable result, on the 
 territory on which they now resiiue. 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 201 
 
 To remove them from it by force, even even with 
 a view to their own security und hap{)iness. would be 
 revolting to humanity, and utterly unjustifiable. — Be- 
 tween the li nits of our present States and Territories, 
 and the Rocky Mountains and Mexico, tliere is a 
 vast territory to which they nii<;ht be invited, with 
 inducements whicli mia;ijt be successful. It is thou4;lit, 
 if liiat territory siiould be divided into districts, by 
 previous agreement with the tribes now residing there, 
 and civil governments be established in each, with 
 schools for every branch nf instruction, in literature 
 and in the arts of civilized life, tl^at all the tribes now 
 within our iJHiits might gradually be drawn thither. 
 The execution of this plan would necessarily be 
 attended with expense, and that not inconsiderable; 
 but it is doubted whctlier any other can be devised, 
 which would be less liable to that objection, or more 
 likely to succeed. 
 
 In looking to the interest which the United States 
 have on the Pacific Ocean, and on the Western 
 coast of this continent, the propriety of establishing 
 a military post at the mouth of Columbia river, or 
 at some other point in that quarter, within our ac- 
 knowledged limits, is submitted to the consideration 
 of Congress Our commerce and fisheries on that 
 sea and along the coast have much increased, and 
 are increasing. It is thought that a nulitary post, to 
 which our ships of war might resort, would afford 
 protection to every interest, and have a tendency to 
 
202 UNITED STATES. 
 
 conciliate the tribes to the North West, with whom 
 our trade is extensive. It is thought also, that by 
 the establishment of such a post, the intercourse be- 
 tween our western States and Territories and the 
 Pacific, and our trade with the tribes residing in the 
 interior, on each side of the Rocky Mountain, would 
 be essentially promoted. To carry this object into 
 effect, the appropriation of an adequate sum to au- 
 thorise the employment of a frigate, with an officer 
 of the Corps of Engineers, to explore the mouth of 
 the Columbia river, and the coast contiguous thereto, 
 to enable the executive to make such establishment, 
 at the most suitable point, is recommended to Con- 
 gress. 
 
 It is thought, that attention is also due to the im- 
 provement of this city. The communication between 
 the public buildings and in various other parts, and 
 the grounds around those buildings, require it. It 
 is presumed, also, that the completion of the Canal 
 from the Tiber to the Eastern Branch, would have a 
 very salutary effect. Great exertions have been 
 made, and expenses incurred, by the citizens, in im- 
 provements of various kinds; but those which are sug- 
 gested, belong exclusively to the government, or are 
 of a nature to require expenditures beyond their re- 
 sources. The public lots which are still for sale, 
 would, it is not doubted, be more than adequate to 
 these purposes. 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, 209 
 
 From the view above presented, it is manifest that 
 the situation of the United States, is in the highest 
 degree prosperous and happy. There is no object 
 which as a people, we can desire, which we do not pos- 
 sess or which is not within our reach. Blessed with 
 government, the happiest which the world ever knew, 
 with no distinct orders in society, or divided interest 
 in any portion of the vast territory over which their 
 dominion extends, we have every motive to cling to- 
 gether which can animate a virtuous and enlightened 
 people. The great object is to preserve those bless- 
 ings, and to hand them down to our latest posterity. 
 Our experience ought to satisfy us that our progress, 
 under the most correct and provident policy, will not 
 be exempt from danger. 
 
 Our institutions form an important epoch in the 
 history of the civilized world. On their preservation 
 and in their utmost purity, every thing will depend. 
 Extending, as our intei^ests do, to every part of the in- 
 habited globe, and to every sea, to which our citizens 
 are carried by their industry and enterprise, to which 
 they are invited by the wants of others, and have a 
 right to go, we must either protect them, in the en- 
 joyment of their rights, or abandon them, in certain 
 events, to waste and desolation. 
 
 Our attitude is highly interesting, as relates to other 
 powers, and particularly to our Southern neighbours. 
 We have duties to perform with respect to all, to 
 
204, PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 which we must be faithful. To every kind of dan- 
 ger, we should pay the most vigilent and unceasmg 
 ailention; reujove the cause where it may be piacli- 
 cable, and be prepared to meet it when mevilable. 
 
 Against foreign danger, the policy of tlie govern- 
 ment seems to be already settled. The events of 
 the late war admonished us to make our maritime 
 frontier impregnable, by a well digested chain of for- 
 tifications, and to give efficient protection to our 
 conjmcrce by augmenting our Navy to a certain ex- 
 tent, which has been steadily pursued, and which it 
 is incumbent upon us to complete as soon as circum- 
 stances will permit. In the event of war, it is on the 
 maritime frontier that we shall be assaded. It is in 
 that quarter, therefore, that we should be prepared 
 to meet tiie attack. It is there, that our whole force 
 will be called into action to prevent the destruction 
 o<'our towns, and the desolation and pillage of the 
 interior Togiveftdl effect to this policy, great im- 
 provements will be indispensable. Access to those 
 works, by every practicable communication, should 
 be made easy, and in every direction The inter- 
 course also between every part of our Union, should 
 be promoted and facilitated, by the exercise of those 
 powers which may comport with a faithful regard to 
 the great principles of our Constitution. With re- 
 spect to Internal causes, those great principles point 
 o'll, with equal certainty, the policy to be pursued. 
 Routing on the people, as our governments do, State 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 205 
 
 and National, witli well-defined powers, it is of tiie 
 highest importance that they severally keep within 
 the liniils prescribed to them. Fulfilling that sacred 
 duty, it is of equal importance that the movement be- 
 .tween them be harmonious, and in case of any disa- 
 greement, should such ever occur, a calm appeal be 
 made to the people, and that their voice be heard 
 and promptly obeyed. But governments being insti- 
 tuted for the common good, we cannot fail to pros- 
 per, while those who nmde them are attentive to the 
 conduct of their representatives, and control their 
 measures. In the pursuit of these great objects, let 
 a generous spirit, and national views and feelings be 
 indulged, and let every part recollect that, by cher- 
 ishing that spirit, and improving the condition of the 
 others, in what relates to their welfare, the general 
 interest will not only be promoted, but the local ad- 
 vantages be reciprocated by all. 
 
 I cannot conclude this communication, the last of 
 the kind which I shall have to make, without recol- 
 lecting with great sensibility and heart felt gratitude, 
 the many instances of the public confidence, and the 
 generous support, which I have received from my fel- 
 low citizens, in the various trusts with which I have 
 been honoured Having commenced my service in 
 early youth, and continued it since, with few and 
 short intervals, I have witnessed the great difficulties 
 to which our Union has been exposed, and admired 
 the virtue and courage with which they were sur- 
 
206 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 mounted. From the present prosperous arid hap^ 
 py state, I derive a gratification which I cannot ex- 
 press. That these blessings may be preserved and 
 perpetuated, will be the object of my unceasing pray- 
 ers to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. 
 
 JAMES MONROE. 
 Washin^mi, Dec, 7, 1824:. 
 
201 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 According to official report, the United States- 
 export, for the year ending on the 30th September, 
 1824, amounted to 74,933,488 dollars. Which ex- 
 ceeds that of the year preceding by ;2345458 dollars. 
 
 It is composed as follows: — 
 
 Of Domestic commodities, Doll. 49,684,709 
 Foreign Do, re-shipped, 25,248,779 
 
 Total, .... Doll. 74,033,488 
 In consequence whereof, for the three 
 years ending on the same day, the ave- 
 rage amount of export, proves to have 
 been, viz. 
 
 Of Domestic commodities, Doll. 48,904,732 
 Foreign Do. re-shipped, 25,026,201 
 
 Average-total per annum, for 
 
 1822, 1823, 1824, . Doll. 73,930,933 
 
 And with respect to Ratio between the two divisions 
 of export, it is seen to be a very near approach to the 
 proportion of Two to One, in favour oi' Domestic. 
 
208 
 
 PUBLIC DEBT. 
 
 It apponrs that, of the principal of the United 
 Slates-debt, stated in page 127, as due on lite tirst of 
 January, KS23, say . . . Doll. 88,777.431 
 Tliere has b<.'en n deemed, tlie sum of, 7,2^2,^28 
 Cut, by a new loan of five niilhons of 
 Dollars, authorised ui.der an act of 
 Congress, 2 Mh May, 1824, to Inlfil 
 the Florida tieaty vvnh Spain, an 
 augmentation, to tijat amount, was 
 made, say 5.000.000 
 
 So that, 
 On the 1st January, 1825, the aggregate 
 
 amount of principal stands thus, Doll. 81,545,003 
 
 And the particulars are as follows: — 
 
 6 ptr cents, redeemable in 18J^ Doll. 7,654.570 
 
 6 [icr cents, 
 
 Do. 
 
 in 1826 . . 
 
 t9,002,357 
 
 6 per cents, 
 
 Do. 
 
 in 18V7 . . 
 
 13,001,438 
 
 6 per cents, 
 
 Do. 
 
 in 1828 . . 
 
 9,49;j U99 
 
 6 per cents. 
 
 Do. 
 
 in 18ol . . 
 
 18,902 
 
 5 [ler cents, 
 
 Do. 
 
 ill 1832 . . 
 
 1,018,901 
 
 4 1-2 per cents. 
 
 , Do. 
 
 in 1832 , . 
 
 5,UO0,0OO 
 
 5 per cents, 
 
 Do. 
 
 in 1833 . . 
 
 . 18,901 
 
 4 1 2 per cents. 
 
 , Do. 
 
 in 1833 . . 
 
 6,654,154 
 
 4 1-2 per cents, 
 
 , Do. 
 
 in 1834 . . 
 
 1,654,154 
 
 5 per cents, 
 
 Do. 
 
 in 1835 . , 
 
 4,735,296 
 
 .^ per cenis, 
 
 Do. 
 
 at ilie pie. .sure of 
 
 
 
 (iovernnieiit, . 
 
 . 13.296,231 
 
«09 
 
 The which, is without including seven millions of 5 
 per rent stock, issued in payment for 70.000 Bank 
 of United States shares, which are holden by Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Of the thirty-two million of dollars redeemable as 
 above, in 1826 and 1827, it is proposed to postpone 
 to a later period, the payment of about eighteen mil- 
 lions, and upon this, to reduce the rate of interest, 
 for the additional term: which may be effected, it is 
 supposed, either by an exchange of stock or by a new 
 loan, at 4f to 5 per cent, and possibly at less. 
 
 «7 
 
INDEX. 
 
INDEX. 218 
 
 A. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 AMERICA COMPARED WITH 
 
 AMERICA, . - . . 26, 31 to 48, 130 
 
 ARTS, SCIENTIFIC AND ME- 
 CHANICAL. Rapid progress 
 
 therein, 49, 50 
 
 AGRICULTURE. Its natural course, 
 the state of the country consi- 
 dered, 53, 54 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES, . 93 
 
 ASSOCIATIONS. Various, in towns 
 and districts, for acquiring and 
 promoting Knowledge, . .93 
 
 AFRICAN LITERARY SO€>IETY, 95 
 
 ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS IN 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, . .114 
 
 B. 
 
 BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, AND 
 NEWSPAPERS. Their ex- 
 tensive circulation, . . . 90 to 93 
 
 BALANCE OF TRADE. Remarks 
 
 thereon, . . . .118 
 
 BOSTON MILL-DAM WORKS, - . 79, 80 
 
 BRIDGES. Some of them, excellent 
 specimens of architecture and 
 mechanical ability, . . . 49 
 
914 INDEX. 
 
 C. 
 
 CANALS. Between the^great Lakes 
 and the Hudson, 
 Lake Champlain and the Hud- 
 son, .... 
 Boston Harbour and R. Island, 
 Delaware and Chesapeake, . 
 Delaware and Rariton, . 
 Elizabeth river and Pasquo- 
 tank, or Dismal Swamp 
 Canal, .... 
 Susquehanna and Ohio, 
 Susquehanna and Schuylkill, 
 
 or Union Canal, 
 Susquehanna and Genessee, . 
 Lake Erie and Ohio, 
 Tennessee and Savannah, 
 Tennessee and Alabama, 
 Boston Harbour and Merri- 
 mack, or Middlesex canal, 
 Mississippi and the Great 
 Lakes, by various routes. 
 Along the Schuylkill, from Phila- 
 delphia to Mount Carbon, 
 Along the Potomac from Wash- 
 ington city to Cumberland, 
 and to the Ohio river, . 76,78,146 
 Surveys directed by the State of 
 
 Maryland, . . . 79, 151 
 
 Along the Atlantic coast, for sea- 
 vessels, . . , . 74, 76 
 Alongthe Hudson, below Albany, 142 
 Along the Ohio rapids at Louis- 
 ville, . . . . 76. 144 
 
 
 Pagea. 
 
 24, 
 
 142 
 
 
 24, 
 
 142 
 
 
 74, 
 
 140 
 
 
 69, 
 
 ,74,139 
 
 69, 
 
 74, 
 
 140 
 
 69, 
 
 71, 
 
 74, 139 
 
 150 
 
 
 69, 
 
 150 
 
 
 76, 
 
 150 
 
 
 72, 
 
 76, 
 
 144 
 
 76, 
 
 152 
 
 
 76, 
 
 153 
 
 
 79, 
 
 154 
 
 
 72, 
 
 76, 
 
 142 
 
 68, 
 
 150 
 
 
INDEX. 215 
 
 C. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 Mississippi. To clear of Snags 
 
 and Sawyers, . . .155 
 In South Carolina, . . .79, 154 
 in Virginia, • . • .154 
 In Pennsylvania, . . .154 
 
 In North Carolina, . . .154 
 
 CONGRESS-REPORT ON CA- 
 NALS, . . . . .76 
 
 CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION 
 
 ON CANALS, . . .75, 134 
 
 CHURCHES AND PLACES OF 
 WORSHIP. Their increase and 
 present number, . . . 11 4 to 117 
 
 COLONIZATION SOCIETY. Their 
 
 establishment in Africa, . 86 
 
 CHILDREN'S ASYLUM IN PHI- 
 LADELPHIA, . . .88 
 
 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. 
 
 Their endowment from public 
 fundsj and private support, . 88 
 
 The number of under-graduates, 
 and Students in Law, Medicine, 
 and Theology, . . .89 
 
 COMMERCE. Between Missouri 
 State, and remote Indian posses- 
 sions, Mexico, China, and the 
 East Indies, . . . . 100 to \0:i 
 
 CAPITAL. Its accumulation, and 
 the change wrought iu its direc- 
 tion, 12, 15, 32 
 
216 INDEX. 
 
 c. 
 
 Pages. 
 CUSTOMS. Their net amount, . 32 
 
 Increase thereof since the peace, 
 beyond all example of years 
 previous, . . . .131 
 
 COMMERCIAL TONNAGE OF 
 THE UNITED STATES. Its 
 
 classification and amount, . 36 
 
 CAPITAL PERMANENT, OR 
 WEALTH OF THE COUN- 
 TRY. The great accumulation 
 thereof, whence arising, and its 
 effects, 51, 81, 129 
 
 COMMERCE. The check given to it, 
 at its first great stage of prosperi- 
 ty, . . - . . .11,12 
 
 COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS, 
 BY BOUNTIES, PROHIBI- 
 TIONS, OR EXCESSIVE DU- 
 TIES. Their injurious tendency, 54 to 56 
 
 CLERGY OF THE UNITED 
 
 STATES, . . . . 115 to 117 
 
INDEX. 211 
 
 D. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 DISTRESS OF THE COUNTRY, 
 BY i'HE TRANSITION FROM 
 WAR TO PEACE-PRICES OF 
 THINGS, . Not great . . 13,129,130 
 
 DISTANCES. A few of them, by in- 
 land navigation, enumerated, . 73, 104, 111, 158 
 Of Post-roads, .... 38, 135 to 137 
 
 DOMESTIC COMMERCE OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES, . . .25, 59 to 66 
 
 E. 
 
 EPOCH. For researches into internal 
 
 resources, . . . .12 
 
 EXPORTS OF THE UNITED 
 STATES. Their classification 
 
 and amount, . . . . 34, 117, 167,207 
 
 Not subject to duty; and those 
 of domestic origin, hitherto 
 undervalued, . . . .118 
 
 EDUCATION. Public institutions, 
 
 and private patroni^ge, . . 87 to 90, 94 
 Elementary and useful parts, at- 
 tempted to be made universal, . 95, 165 
 
 28 
 
^18 INDEX. 
 
 F 
 
 FOREIGN COMMERCE OF THE 
 UNITED STATES. Its cha- 
 racter and prospects, 
 
 FAIRS HELD PERIODICALLY, 
 
 FAIR MOUNT WATER WORKS, 
 Description thereof, 
 An engraved view, . 
 
 Pages. 
 
 58 
 93 
 
 114, 119 to 121 
 132 
 
 G. 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF 
 THE UiNITED STATES. The 
 
 advantages thereof, . . 27 
 
 GALLATIN'S REPORT ON CA- 
 NALS, 74 
 
 GUARDIANS OF THE PENNSYL- 
 VANIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 Their zeal, . . . . 94, 96 
 
 H. 
 
 HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS, . 102, 10: 
 
INDEX. 
 
 219 
 
 I. 
 
 INDUSTRY. The state of and en 
 couragement thereto. 
 Exempt from the evils of Monop 
 dies, .... 
 
 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS 
 Effected to a greater degree 
 since the peace of 1815; than 
 at any former period, 
 A spirit to advance them per 
 vades the public mind, . 
 
 INLAND NAVIGATION. 
 
 A thorqugh navigable commu- 
 nication between Northern, the 
 Southern, the Western and 
 the Atlantic waters, 
 Some local distances enumerated, 
 
 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS BY 
 CANALS AND ROADS. If to 
 be undertaken by the Federal- 
 government, a constitutional 
 question, .... 
 
 Pages, 
 
 13 to 21, 25 
 
 21 
 
 21, 24, 71 
 
 104, 111, 15S 
 
 75. 1.34 
 
220 INDEX. 
 
 K. 
 
 Pages. 
 « KNOWLEDGE IS POWER," . 94 
 
 L. 
 
 LITERATURE. Periodical and other 
 works, are reprinted, and abound 
 in the United States, . . 90 to 93 
 
INDEX. 221 
 
 M. 
 
 Paget. 
 
 MENTAL INTELLIGENCE. It per- 
 vades the Country, . . .19, 29, 83, 165 
 
 MANUFACTURES. Present state 
 of, and natural period for their 
 advance, . . . . 54 to 57 
 
 Abundant resources in the Coun- 
 try, applicable to them, . . 54 to 57 
 
 MONOPOLIES. To be guarded 
 
 against, 54 to 56 
 
 MIND. Its cultivation sedulously at- 
 tended to, . . . .87 to 94 
 
 MEDICAL SCHOOLS, ... 89 
 
 MISSOURI RIVER NAVIGATION, 104 to 106 
 
 MUSEUM OF PHILADELPHIA, . 114 
 
 MILITARY SURVEY OF THE 
 WHOLE LINE OF SEA COASTj 
 AND AN OFFICIAL REPORT 
 THEREON, EXPECTED, . 134 
 
 MAPS. OftheU. S. . . .133 
 
 Of Philadelphia and environs, 
 including the site of Fair 
 Mount Water-works, . .122 
 
222 INDEX. 
 
 N. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 NAVAL FORCE OF THE UNITED 
 
 STATES, 39 
 
 NORTH WEST COAST. The Rus- 
 sian claims, .... 102, 169 
 
 NEWS PAPERS, AND PERIODI- 
 CAL PRODUCTIONS OF 
 THE PRESS. Their great num- 
 ber and general circulation, . 91, 92 
 
 NATURAL DIVISIONS OF THE 
 COUNTRY AS TO COM- 
 MERCE, 60 to 66 
 
 NATIONAL-ROAD FROM CITY 
 OF WASHINGTON TO NEW 
 ORLEANS, . . . .76, 135 
 
 NAVIGABLE LAKE AND RIVER- 
 COAST COMPUTED, . . 158 to 161 
 
 NAVIGABLE INTERSECTIONS 
 OF THE COUNTRY. Delinea- 
 ted on the map, and descyibed, 133, 163, 164 
 
 NATIONAL INTERESTS OF 
 
 MAGNITUDE. In negotiation, 168,169 
 
INDEX. 22S 
 
 p. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 PEOPLE OF THE UNITED 
 STATES. Their general locomo- 
 tive and inquisitive propensi- 
 ties, and intellectual shrewd- 
 ness, . . - . . 19, 29, 83, 165 
 
 PRINCIPLE OF POPULATION, 
 AND ULTIMATE MEANS OF 
 SUBSISTENCE, ... 20 
 
 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF 
 THE UNITED STATES. The 
 
 peculiar advantages thereof, . 27, 28, 
 PUBLIC L A.NDS OF THE UNITED 
 STATES. Amount of annual 
 sales, 33 
 
 POST-ROADS OF THE UNITED 
 STATES. Their progress and 
 
 present extent, . . .38, 137 
 
 The main lines through the coun- 
 try particularized, , . . 135 to 137 
 
 POPULATION OF THE UNITED 
 STATES. By Census taken in 
 1790, and in 1820, . . .40 
 
 Its ratio of increase, compared 
 with the increase of settled 
 territory, . . . . 44, 53 
 
 PROBLEM FOR SOLUTION, . 47 
 
 PATENT OFFICE AT WASHING- 
 TON. Amuseumof the arts, . 50 
 
224^ INDEX. 
 
 P. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 PUBLICATION AND CIRCULA- 
 TION OF BOOKS, PAMPH- 
 LETS, AND NEWSPAPERS, 90 to 93 
 
 POPULAR LECTURES, ON THE 
 
 SCIEIN'CES, AND THE ARTS, 93, 1 14 
 
 POLITICAL ECONOMY. The so- 
 lution of its intricate problems 
 has not yet a bearing upon the 
 United States, . ... 96 
 The Study of it, nevertheless, of 
 
 the highest importance, . 97 
 
 PUBLIC DEPT OF THE UNITED 
 STATES. Its course and pre- 
 sent state, 126 to 129, 208 
 
 PUBLIC REVENUE ARISING 
 FROM THE CUSTOMS. The 
 great increase thereof since the 
 peace of 18 1 5, compared with 
 any former period, . . .131 
 
 PRESIDENT'SMESSAGETOCON- 
 
 GRESS; December, 1824, . 171 
 
INDEX. 225 
 
 R. 
 
 Pages. 
 RELIGIOUS AND MORAL CON- 
 DITION OF THE COUNTRY, 84 to 87, 1 14 to 1 17 
 
 RUSSIAN CLAIMS ALONG THE 
 NORTH WEST COAST. To 
 
 be negotiated away . . . 102, 169 
 
 ROUTE. From New York to St. 
 
 Louis, designated in miles, . 73 
 From St. Louis, by water to the 
 
 Pacific, 104 to 106 
 
 RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, . 115 to 117 
 
 29 
 
2^^ INDEX. 
 
 s 
 
 Pages. 
 
 STATISTICAL COMPARISON. 
 
 Between 1792 and 1822, . . 32 to 45 
 
 STABILITY OF THE U. STATES' 
 
 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, 27 to 29, 83 to 8^ 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION AT 
 
 NEW YORK, .... 87 
 
 SCHUYLKILL RIVER IMPROVE- 
 MENTS. Between Philadelphia 
 and Mount Carbon, . . . 68, 114, 15G 
 
 ST. LAWRENCE RIVER. Compe- 
 tition between this commercial 
 egress and the Atlantic ports of 
 the United States, . . .60,61 
 
 SUPERFICIES OF COUNTRY. 
 
 Drained by the St. Lawrence, . 64 
 Drained by the Mississippi, 63 
 
 SLAVERY. An important topic, . 84 to 87 
 
 STEAM BOATS. Vast benefits con- 
 ferred by the introduction of . 
 them. Their numbers multiply: 
 being eminently adapted to the 
 waters of the United States, . 108 
 
 SURPLUS REVENUE IN THE 
 TREASURY. On the 1st Janu- 
 ary, 1824, nine millions, . . 167 
 
 SLAVE-TRADE. Convention with 
 
 England, 16« 
 
INPEX. 
 
 227 
 
 T. 
 
 THEORY OF A LONDON WRI- 
 TER 
 
 TERRITORY. Increase thereof; Area 
 
 of the several States, and of the 
 
 United States, in Sq. Miles, . 
 
 Cessions from France and Spain, 
 
 and consequent advantages, 
 
 TURNPIKE ROADS. Commenced 
 
 in the year 1792, 
 TABLES, viz. Comparing America 
 of 1792 with America of 1822, 
 Of Distances, .... 
 Of Post-roads, .... 
 Of the Valleys of the St. Law- 
 rence, the Mississippi, the Mis- 
 souri, the Arkansa, the Ohio, 
 the Red, the White, and the 
 St. Francis rivers, . 
 Of the Public-debt, . 
 Of Canals, .... 
 
 TURNPIKE ROADS OF THE 
 STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, 
 TOUR FROM PHILADELPHIA TO 
 
 QUEBEC, AND BACK, 
 TOPOGRAPHICAL AND MILI- 
 TARY SURVEY OF THE 
 WHOLE LINE OF FRON- 
 TIER, AND STATE OF FOR- 
 TIFICATIONS. Report there- 
 on expected, .... 
 TONNAGE OF MERCHANT VES- 
 SELS, ... 
 
 Pages, 
 
 5 to 22 
 
 42 
 
 32 to 45 
 73, 104, 111. 
 135 to 137 
 
 63 to 65 
 126, 127 
 139 to 153 
 
 67, 68, 77 
 
 108 to 112 
 
 15« 
 
 1S4 
 
 36 
 
INDEX. 
 
 u. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 THE UNITED STATES. Her ad- 
 vance from infancy to a stage 
 of vigorous youth, . . .15 
 
 Not liable to feel distress from 
 vicissitudes of foreign com- 
 merce, in an equal degree with 
 older countries, . . . 15 to 22 
 
 Analogy of circumstance with 
 
 Other nations, wanting, . 27 to 31 
 
 Advantages of her Geographical 
 position, and Political institu- 
 tions, .... .27 
 
 Her revenue in time of peace, as 
 now, requires not the aid of 
 excise, or other internal taxa- 
 tion, 21, 33, 130 
 
 Her revenues are at liberty, and 
 not diverted from the purf)Oses 
 of aggrandizement, . . 28 
 
 Diversity in the country's climate 
 and productions, favouring a 
 great Domestic commerce, . 25, 59 
 
 Has, by nature, three grand divi- 
 sions, in relation to her com- 
 merce, 60 to 66 
 
 Stability of her Political institu- 
 tions, 29, 30, 83 to 87 
 
 Her actual and proposed Inland 
 navigation improvements; also 
 the Main lines of Post road, 
 delineated on a sheet map, . 135 
 
INDEX. 
 
 u. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 Negotiations of the highest in- 
 terest, pending with Great Bri- 
 tain, 168, 169 
 
 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, 
 
 1824, December, . . .171 
 
 VALLEYS. Of the St. Lawrence, 
 the Mississippi, the Missouri, 
 the Ohio, the Red, the Arkansa, 
 the White, and the St. Francis 
 rivers, 63 to 65 
 
 VOYAGES THROUGH THE IN- 
 TERIOR OF THE UNITED 
 STATES, . . . . 156 to 164 
 
 W. 
 
 WEALTH. Its first extraordinary in- 
 flux into the country, during four- 
 teen or fifteen of her early years, 129 
 
UNITED STATES. 231 
 
 ERRATA AND CONCLUSION. 
 
 In the Note, page 60, the word 
 
 Commissioners^ should be, Surveyors. 
 Page 100, hne 5, production^ should he . productions. 
 14, Missouri^ should be, State of Mis- 
 soiin. 
 Do. 105, line 17, Madan^ should be, Mandan. 
 Do. 135, line 8, maps., sliould be, map. 
 Do: 161, line 5, or, should be, For. 
 
 It is proper moreover to mention, that with regard 
 to the proposed Canal No. 7 in the Table of Canals, 
 a regular survey of the ground has been made, under 
 a commission from the State of Ilhnois, and a report 
 been rendered to that Legislature, but nothing further 
 as toi^e work has yet taken place. And, tinaliy up- 
 on this topic, I would not for a great deal, omit to men- 
 tion that in the State of New York, various new Ca- 
 nals, and a multitude of other Public works, are re- 
 commended to the attention of the Legislature, by the 
 Governor of New York, in his address of last week; 
 — a State-paper which will hardly be read without in- 
 terest, or consulted without profit. 
 29 
 
2^2 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Although it is with regret, tliat the writer per- 
 ceives tiui above six iteais of EArata to have crept into 
 the present work, yet in performing the duty of notic- 
 ing the same, he acknowledi^es tiiat he finds himself 
 more than compensated for the misforlune, by ihe op- 
 portunity, which this notice affords him, of mentioning 
 to those of his respected readers who may not already 
 be acquainted witli the fact, tliat the portion of coun- 
 try which he has denominated *"• North West Terri- 
 tory ,'"* is incUided within the jurisdiction of ''Michi- 
 gan Territory," the whole being provisionally under 
 one Governor appointed by the United States. After 
 that Michigan-proper, or tlie Peninsula, shall have 
 been received into the Union in the capacity of a 
 " Staie^'' the residue ot territory will receive from 
 us some other name, and one that shall be more ap- 
 propriate than that which it has been known by, of 
 " North West," 
 
 The high range of Western mountains also, which 
 have been denominated"" Stony," " Rocky," or" Chip- 
 pewan," are heffceforward to resume their more an- 
 cient appellation of" Oregon Mountains," and the 
 
 # 
 
UNITED STATES. gSS 
 
 " Columbia river" that of " Oregon river:" at, or 
 near tlie mouth of whicli, it is now decided vve shall 
 soon have a military establishment; Government be- 
 ing, at this very moment, busied m considering upon 
 proper arrangemejits for it. 
 
 I am peculiarly gratified likewise, in referring my 
 readers to a certain route traced upon the sheet-map 
 belonging to this work. It is froui the Western ex- 
 tremity of the State of Misbomi. to the c.ty of Santa Fe 
 in New Mexico. It comn-.ences near Fort Osage, 
 striking lipon the Arkansa, and along the ascending 
 direcfion of that and the Semerone rivers for several 
 hundred miles, thence leads to, and across the chain 
 of mountains at a practicable pass, and thence direct 
 into the territory of New Mexico; striking, m the first 
 instance, upon the settlement of Taos, and continuing 
 on thence to the city of Santa Fe. This^ being the 
 track actually pursued by the very remarkable Cara- 
 vans, or Wagon-expeditions, fitted out, in the course 
 of last year, by our enterprising Missouri citizens. 
 They consisted of four distinct caravans or companies, 
 fitted out in February, May, August and November; 
 with views of trading, in part with the Indians for 
 peltry, but in greater part with the Spanish Americans 
 for gold and silver. The November party, and some 
 portion of the others are still on their travels, or per- 
 haps, now in winter quarters, on the banks ofArkan- 
 sa, and may return home in the spring, or summer. 
 
2S4< UNITED STATES. 
 
 In relation to what has been accomplished, and 
 what has been brought to light through these expe- 
 ditions, there has been, within the last week, a regu- 
 lar and circuinstatUial communication ma<le to Con- 
 gress, now in session On the reading whereof, we 
 are toKl, the members of the House were little short 
 of being elcctrijicd tciih astonishment, at the wondrous 
 things brought into view, by the ilelails of the narra- 
 tion as it proceeded. The shock, indeed, it appears, 
 on this occasion, was of a complex nature: for it was 
 made up, in part of that kind of romantic surprize 
 wliich some of the'* Tales of the East" have the fas- 
 cinating power to excite, whilst the audiiory ever per- 
 ceived something present, to remind tiiem they were 
 receiving impressions, not ol Fairies and Fairy-land, 
 huioS real eim^oices actually abiduig in these regions 
 of the "'• West:" — in part also, made up of that impres- 
 sivene>^s^ which, the many so very unexpected re- 
 alities^ preseijted for consuieration, created in the 
 mind, proportionate to the vast^importance which the 
 knowledge of tlicm was understood as being pretjnant 
 with. They were presented under such a point of 
 view, as to raise up ideas of available resources 
 throughout tlic countries spoken of, in waitmg only to 
 be called forth, i'or the extension of our individual and 
 naiional career oi enterprize to a degree, and with a 
 novehy in the mode, far beyond what has, until the 
 present time, been dreamed of^evea by imagmalions 
 the most exalted amongst us. 
 
 • 
 
UNITED STATES. 2^5 
 
 But, the writer of these pages, not wishing either 
 to be enthusiastic in expression, or to be thought so 
 in his feelings, will endeavour to do. even upon this 
 topic of excitement, hke as he has done upon other 
 occasions, that is to say, in stating; to his roaders, facts 
 as he finds thenis he wiH endeavour not only to be 
 plain, but also not to exceed the probable reality, and 
 therefore, he has no more than simply to add; that, 
 Conjiress having at this moment the suhject regularly 
 before tiiem. it will be legislated upon in such man- 
 ner and degree as may appear most conducive to the 
 public weal; or, in other words, there will probably be 
 made, such provision and such proper arrangements 
 as the occurrence shall appear to require, for duly 
 protecting and facilitating the United States' com- 
 merce with the Interior possessions of Mexico, or 
 other Spanish American provincesor possessions, and 
 for establishing the sauic on a safe and permanent 
 basis. The arrangements to comprehend, as a mat- 
 ter of course, all needful measures for fixing and 
 maintaining a friendly and commercial intercourse 
 with the Indian tribes generally, both West and East 
 of the mountains. 
 
 Such is the matter, claiming just now to be acted 
 upon; which the writer would not willini^ly have fore- 
 gone the opportunity of tlius taking notice of, al- 
 though he cannot, as yet, present it as more than an 
 embryo occurrence of the day. Possibly, at some lit- 
 tle distance of time from the present, in the event that 
 
2$e UNITED STATES. 
 
 *' thrsp few lines" be not received with an iinfavoura- 
 b!*' acaieiL and that he should *' hve and do well," he 
 way havethf grntificatiou of" presenting a few suppie- 
 nientary ones. Along with which, in that case, he 
 will, if he be enabled so to do, exhibit, by a Statistical 
 Coiiparij^on between things at that supposed time, 
 and the time now or lately present, the progress 
 which this particular branch, or circle of the United 
 States' commerce; — takmg within its circumference, 
 the Cheat slope of continent West of the Oregon 
 Mmmtains. in which are situate tlie Vatleys of the 
 Multiwmaii and Bonaventnra rivers down to the 
 Pacific ocean^ together with tlie Spanish American 
 provinces or possessions more to the South and South 
 East; — shall then have made. 
 
 It might have been stated above, that the caravan 
 of last summer, on arriving at Santa Fe, separated; 
 and such parts of the company as were not willing 
 to conclude their outward adv ntures there, pro- 
 ceeded farther; some South toward the Passo del 
 Norte, and into New Biscay ; some South Westwardly 
 toward the Gulf of Calitornia, and some takmg the 
 descent, Westward, of the Continental slope to the 
 Pacific. The Jiold and silver mines situate in New 
 Biscay, Senora, and Sinaloa, which our adventurers 
 purposed visiliug in their excursion, are nunjerous, 
 and said to be the richest of all the mines in those 
 metals. 
 
UNITED STATES. 2^"! 
 
 With regard to a few particular distances from 
 Santa Fe, it might also have been stated, tiiatto the 
 nearest point of the Ai kansa river, is about two hun- 
 dred and fifty uiiles, to the nearest branch of the 
 Kansas about three hundred and ten oilles, and to 
 the Red river, about seventy miles. The surface of 
 what has been termed'' Internal provinces" of Mexi- 
 co, is stated, upon authorities in the country, as 
 measuring very near one million of square miles. 
 
 And now, as the writer finds himself compelled in 
 good earnest to take leave of his readers, he begs to 
 devote this very last moment to the purpose of re- 
 spectfully observing to them, that if it so should hap- 
 pen, there is little or nothing discovered in all that 
 his labours, throughout this volume, have produced, 
 which is of a charact^ that can claim to be classed 
 with either the " useful," or the " agreeable," he 
 would in that case, or indeed, whether he be so un- 
 fortunate or not, presume to refer them, for an at- 
 tentive perusal, to Governor Clinton's address on the 
 4th instant, to the legislature of the State of New 
 York; because, there they may be certain of not 
 meeting with disappointment in either respect. If 
 there is matter to mvite the salutary and necessary 
 cravings of the practical statesman and experimen- 
 talist, there is likewise an attractive and varied re- 
 
238 UNITED STATES. 
 
 gale spread out, where the loftiest of our anticipators 
 may feast and welcome, upon the stupendous in con- 
 ceptions, and splendid imagery. Perhaps, some con- 
 densation of matter^ and souie curtailment oi' varwty 
 in the composition, mi<^ht not have been unfavoura- 
 ble to the great object of a general dissemination 
 thn/ugh the press, and universal approbatory pe- 
 rusal: but, THIS, with submission. 
 Philadelphia, January 11,1825. 
 
1 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 ..-■!; 
 
 ^ 011 560 159 3