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President[ George Washington

         Date[ December 8, 1795

Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

I trust I do not deceive myself when I indulge the persuasion that I have

never met you at any period when more than at the present the situation of

our public affairs has afforded just cause for mutual congratulation, and

for inviting you to join with me in profound gratitude to the Author of all

Good for the numerous and extraordinary blessings we enjoy.

The termination of the long, expensive, and distressing war in which we

have been engaged with certain Indians northwest of the Ohio is placed in

the option of the United States by a treaty which the commander of our army

has concluded provisionally with the hostile tribes in that region.

In the adjustment of the terms the satisfaction of the Indians was deemed

worthy no less of the policy than of the liberality of the United States as

the necessary basis of durable tranquillity. The object, it is believed,

has been fully attained. The articles agreed upon will immediately be laid

before the Senate for their consideration.

The Creek and Cherokee Indians, who alone of the Southern tribes had

annoyed our frontiers, have lately confirmed their preexisting treaties

with us, and were giving evidence of a sincere disposition to carry them

into effect by the surrender of the prisoners and property they had taken.

But we have to lament that the fair prospect in this quarter has been once

more clouded by wanton murders, which some citizens of Georgia are

represented to have recently perpetrated on hunting parties of the Creeks,

which have again subjected that frontier to disquietude and danger, which

will be productive of further expense, and may occasion more effusion of

blood. Measures are pursuing to prevent or mitigate the usual consequences

of such outrages, and with the hope of their succeeding at least to avert

general hostility.

A letter from the Emperor of Morocco announces to me his recognition of our

treaty made with his father, the late Emperor, and consequently the

continuance of peace with that power. With peculiar satisfaction I add that

information has been received from an agent deputed on our part to Algiers

importing that the terms of the treaty with the Dey and Regency of that

country had been adjusted in such a manner as to authorize the expectation

of a speedy peace and the restoration of our unfortunate fellow citizens

from a grievous captivity.

The latest advices from our envoy at the Court of Madrid give, moreover,

the pleasing information that he had assurances of a speedy and

satisfactory conclusion of his negotiation. While the event depending upon

unadjusted particulars can not be regarded as ascertained, it is agreeable

to cherish the expectation of an issue which, securing amicably very

essential interests of the United States, will at the same time lay the

foundation of lasting harmony with a power whose friendship we have

uniformly and sincerely desired to cultivate.

Though not before officially disclosed to the House of Representatives,

you, gentlemen, are all apprised that a treaty of amity, commerce, and

navigation has been negotiated with Great Britain, and that the Senate have

advised and consented to its ratification upon a condition which excepts

part of one article. Agreeably thereto, and to the best judgment I was able

to form of the public interest after full and mature deliberation, I have

added my sanction. The result on the part of His Britannic Majesty is

unknown. When received, the subject will without delay be placed before

Congress.

This interesting summary of our affairs with regard to the foreign powers

between whom and the United States controversies have subsisted, and with

regard also to those of our Indian neighbors with whom we have been in a

state of enmity or misunderstanding, opens a wide field for consoling and

gratifying reflections. If by prudence and moderation on every side the

extinguishment of all the causes of external discord which have heretofore

menaced our tranquillity, on terms compatible with our national rights and

honor, shall be the happy result, how firm and how precious a foundation

will have been laid for accelerating, maturing, and establishing the

prosperity of our country.

Contemplating the internal situation as well as the external relations of

the United States, we discover equal cause for contentment and

satisfaction. While many of the nations of Europe, with their American

dependencies, have been involved in a contest unusually bloody, exhausting,

and calamitous, in which the evils of foreign war have been aggravated by

domestic convulsion and insurrection; in which many of the arts most useful

to society have been exposed to discouragement and decay; in which scarcity

of subsistence has imbittered other sufferings; while even the

anticipations of a return of the blessings of peace and repose are alloyed

by the sense of heavy and accumulating burthens, which press upon all the

departments of industry and threaten to clog the future springs of

government, our favored country, happy in a striking contrast, has enjoyed

tranquillity--a tranquillity the more satisfactory because maintained at

the expense of no duty. Faithful to ourselves, we have violated no

obligation to others.

Our agriculture, commerce, and manufactures prosper beyond former example,

the molestations of our trade (to prevent a continuance of which, however,

very pointed remonstrances have been made) being overbalanced by the

aggregate benefits which it derives from a neutral position. Our population

advances with a celerity which, exceeding the most sanguine calculations,

proportionally augments our strength and resources, and guarantees our

future security.

Every part of the Union displays indications of rapid and various

improvement; and with burthens so light as scarcely to be perceived, with

resources fully adequate to our present exigencies, with governments

founded on the genuine principles of rational liberty, and with mild and

wholesome laws, is it too much to say that our country exhibits a spectacle

of national happiness never surpassed, if ever before equaled?

Placed in a situation every way so auspicious, motives of commanding force

impel us, with sincere acknowledgment to Heaven and pure love to our

country, to unite our efforts to preserve, prolong, and improve our immense

advantages. To cooperate with you in this desirable work is a fervent and

favorite wish of my heart.

It is a valuable ingredient in the general estimate of our welfare that the

part of our country which was lately the scene of disorder and insurrection

now enjoys the blessings of quiet and order. The misled have abandoned

their errors, and pay the respect to our Constitution and laws which is due

from good citizens to the public authorities of the society. These

circumstances have induced me to pardon generally the offenders here

referred to, and to extend forgiveness to those who had been adjudged to

capital punishment. For though I shall always think it a sacred duty to

exercise with firmness and energy the constitutional powers with which I am

vested, yet it appears to me no less consistent with the public good than

it is with my personal feelings to mingle in the operations of Government

every degree of moderation and tenderness which the national justice,

dignity, and safety may permit.

Gentlemen: Among the objects which will claim your attention in the course

of the session, a review of our military establishment is not the least

important. It is called for by the events which have changed, and may be

expected still further to change, the relative situation of our frontiers.

In this review you will doubtless allow due weight to the considerations

that the questions between us and certain foreign powers are not yet

finally adjusted, that the war in Europe is not yet terminated, and that

our Western posts, when recovered, will demand provision for garrisoning

and securing them. A statement of our present military force will be laid

before you by the Department of War.

With the review of our Army establishment is naturally connected that of

the militia. It will merit inquiry what imperfections in the existing plan

further experience may have unfolded. The subject is of so much moment in

my estimation as to excite a constant solicitude that the consideration of

it may be renewed until the greatest attainable perfection shall be

accomplished. Time is wearing away some advantages for forwarding the

object, while none better deserves the persevering attention of the public

councils.

While we indulge the satisfaction which the actual condition of our Western

borders so well authorizes, it is necessary that we should not lose sight

of an important truth which continually receives new confirmations, namely,

that the provisions heretofore made with a view to the protection of the

Indians from the violences of the lawless part of our frontier inhabitants

are insufficient. It is demonstrated that these violences can now be

perpetrated with impunity, and it can need no argument to prove that unless

the murdering of Indians can be restrained by bringing the murderers to

condign punishment, all the exertions of the Government to prevent

destructive retaliations by the Indians will prove fruitless and all our

present agreeable prospects illusory. The frequent destruction of innocent

women and children, who are chiefly the victims of retaliation, must

continue to shock humanity, and an enormous expense to drain the Treasury

of the Union.

To enforce upon the Indians the observance of justice it is indispensable

that there shall be competent means of rendering justice to them. If these

means can be devised by the wisdom of Congress, and especially if there can

be added an adequate provision for supplying the necessities of the Indians

on reasonable terms (a measure the mention of which I the more readily

repeat, as in all the conferences with them they urge it with solicitude),

I should not hesitate to entertain a strong hope of rendering our

tranquillity permanent. I add with pleasure that the probability even of

their civilization is not diminished by the experiments which have been

thus far made under the auspices of Government. The accomplishment of this

work, if practicable, will reflect undecaying luster on our national

character and administer the most grateful consolations that virtuous minds

can know.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

The state of our revenue, with the sums which have been borrowed and

reimbursed pursuant to different acts of Congress, will be submitted from

the proper Department, together with an estimate of the appropriations

necessary to be made for the service of the ensuing year.

Whether measures may not be advisable to reinforce the provision of the

redemption of the public debt will naturally engage your examination.

Congress have demonstrated their sense to be, and it were superfluous to

repeat mine, that whatsoever will tend to accelerate the honorable

extinction of our public debt accords as much with the true interest of our

country as with the general sense of our constituents.

Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:

The statements which will be laid before you relative to the Mint will shew

the situation of that institution and the necessity of some further

legislative provisions for carrying the business of it more completely into

effect, and for checking abuses which appear to be arising in particular

quarters.

The progress in providing materials for the frigates and in building them,

the state of the fortifications of our harbors, the measures which have

been pursued for obtaining proper sites for arsenals and for replenishing

our magazines with military stores, and the steps which have been taken

toward the execution of the law for opening a trade with the Indians will

likewise be presented for the information of Congress.

Temperate discussion of the important subjects which may arise in the

course of the session and mutual forbearance where there is a difference of

opinion are too obvious and necessary for the peace, happiness, and welfare

of our country to need any recommendation of mine.

GO. WASHINGTON

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