commence your labours, Divine Providence has confirmed the peace of Europe. If, after the happy re-establishment of peace, the residence of the Army of Occupation in France was judged necessary to consolidate the tranquillity which had been re-established, the resolution of the Allied Powers, which puts an end to the occupation, and prescribes the departure of the army, proves that the proposed object has been attained, and presents, by the unanimous confidence of the sovereigns in this respect, the best guarantee for a durable peace. "The internal situation of the kingdom affords new motives of gratitude towards the Almighty. "The universities, the academies, and the colleges, are organized, and in the active execution of their functions; and a constant attention is given to the means of rendering these establishments still more brilliant and useful. The local, and even the private administrations second, in the most laudable manner, the government in its efforts, on the one hand, for preparing and establishing primary instruction, and on the other, for extending and perfecting it. Last year has afforded certain and valuable pledges for the revival of the fine arts in the Netherlands. Several kinds of manufactories still feel the effects of the influence of the events by which such important changes have been produced, in transactions and interests of every sort; but agriculture, may be considered as in the most favourable situation. Its rich products equally contribute, with the navigation and commercial relations which are extending themselves with the Indies, to give to trade that life and spirit, of which the evidently growing prosperity of several great towns, and other interesting parts of the kingdom, is the effect and visible proof. "The situation of the poor is ameliorated; the real benevolence of the nation has been directed, with the most laudable zeal, towards its true object; those useful institutions, banks for loans and savings, are extending more and more; the depots of mendicity are increased. In the plan of a law relative to the next year's budget, which will be submitted to your consideration, you will find, High and Mighty Lords, the necessary arrangements for the maintenance of foundlings; and as the want of uniform regulations has often created uncer tainty as to the place where the poor have the right, not of being succoured, but of participating in the existing succours, it is my wish that a law calculated to fix that place on precise and just rules should also be proposed to you. "Some ratifications of limits, which have been adjusted in concert with the Provincial States, will also be submitted to your High Mightinesses. "The liquidation of the communal debts will soon be entirely terminated. The establishment of the municipal imposts will also be completed and generalized, as soon as the law under the consideration of your High Mightinesses, relative to penalties and the mode of prosecution, shall have passed. "The execution of the militia law law now experiences few or no difficulties, owing particularly to the good will with which the militia fulfil their duty. The number necessary to be called out to fill up the contingents becomes less every year. With the view, however, of further conciliating the security of the kingdom with the interests of the treasury, some modifications of the existing law will be proposed to your High Mightinesses. The confidence with which you sanctioned the laws on finance has given general satisfaction. The opening of a considerable loan was in the course of a few days followed with offers to more than double its amount. "Sensible of this proof of good-will as well as of ability, relying on the perfect restoration of the credit of the state, tranquil with respect to the situation of the treasury, certain that all the obligations which have been contracted can be scrupulously fulfilled, I am encouraged in henceforth establishing at present every possible economy, and in preparing others which may hereafter be adopted. "The budget for the ensuing year will prove to your High Mightinesses how far the efforts of the Government have already succeeded in this respect. You will find in its formation the already announced attempt at a division into ordinary and extra ordinary expenses; and though it includes new sums, which are charged in consequence of the financial measures you recently adopted, the general total is inferior to that of the present year. "It is at the same time with much satisfaction that I am enabled to state, that according to the account which will be communicated to your High Mighti nesses, and estimating the produce of the taxes by the revenue of the current year, the amount will be sufficient to equalize the receipts and the expenditure of the ensuing year. In order, however, to ensure this desirable result, some legislative measures will be proposed to your High Mightinesses. I expect their adoption with the greater confidence, as they are of a nature to convince all those who take an interest in the situation of our finances, that the measures already adopted, and those about to be adopted in this respect, may be reckoned amongst the first objects of our common solicitude for the public welfare. These laws will besides concur in realizing any ulterior views as to what remains to be done, in order to produce in future an equal balance between the revenue and the expenditure. In a fixed and regular state of things, the greater part of the charges are indispensable; and with the view of ascertaining such as may be of a contrary nature, I have found it necessary to order all the details to be strictly examined: that examination, however, requires much time; and if it be wished that it should be accomplished with due care and attention, all precipitation must be dangerous. The investigation is conducted with activity, and I confidently hope, that by perseverance it will be rendered complete, and my desire with respect to this object perfectly fulfilled, “ Other "Other important objects will be submitted to you during this Session; and I hope in the next to be able to present to your High Mightinesses the plan of a code for the Netherlands. "Thus, High and Mighty Lords, I open the present session, and I express my ardent wish and full confidence that it will exhibit still more and more the character of that conformity of views and intentions between the King and the States-General, which is best calculated to augment the welfare of the kingdom and the prosperity of its inhabitants." His Majesty being re-conducted with the same ceremonies as on his entrance, the sitting terminated, and the Second Chamber adjourned until to-morrow. CHAPTER THE CHAPTER XVI. North and South America. HE principal public occurrences of the great country which may now be properly called North America, having in fact no other government which can stand in competition with it, relate to the state of affairs transmitted to the nation through the medium of its President. The first of these refer to the war subsisting with the Seminole Indians, who are said to inhabit almost entirely within the limits of Florida, and consequently in the Spanish territory. The President therefore affirms it as an undoubted fact, that "where the authority of Spain ceases to exist, there the United States have a right to pursue their enemy, on a principle of self-defence." The latter, transmitted on Nov. 16th to both Houses of Congress, is a message in which the Senate and the House of Representatives are informed at length of all that belongs to the public business of the nation, and is therefore highly worthy of an attentive perusal. With respect to the condition of South America, so extremely uncertain are all the accounts communicated from Spain on the one side, and from the southern states on the other. that we choose to refer the whole to our Chronicle, as the only guide on which an impartial relation can be formed. CONGRESS.-IN SENATE, Mar. 25. SEMINOLE WAR. received from the President of To the Senate and House I now lay before Congress all the information in the possession of the Executive, respecting the war with the Seminoles, and the measures which it has been thought proper to adopt, for the safety of our fellow-citizens on the frontier exposed to their ravages. The enclosed documents show that the hostilities of this tribe were unprovoked, the offspring of a spirit long cherished and often manifested towards the United States, and that, in the present instance, it was extending itself to other tribes, and daily assuming a more serious aspect. As soon as the nature and object of this combination were perceived, the Major-General commanding the southern division of the troops of the United States was ordered to the theatre of action, charged with the management of the war, and vested with the powers necessary to to give it effect. The season of the year being unfavourable to active operations, and the recesses of the country affording shelter to these savages, in case of retreat, may prevent a prompt termination of the war; but it may be fairly presumed, that it will not be long before this tribe and its associates receive the punishment which they have provoked and justly merited. As almost the whole of this tribe inhabits the country within the limits of Florida, Spain was bound, by the treaty of 1795, to restrain them from committing hostilities against the United States. We have seen, with regret, that her Government has altogether failed to fulfil this obligation, nor are we aware that it made any effort to that effect. When we consider her utter in ability to check, even in the slightest degree, the movements of this tribe, by her very small and incompetent force in Florida, we are not disposed to ascribe the failure to any other cause. The inability, however, of Spain to maintain her authority over the territory and Indians within her limits, and in consequence to fulfil the treaty, ought not to expose the United States to other and greater injuries. Where the authority of Spain ceases to exist, there the United States have a right to pursue their enemy, on a principle of self-defence. In this instance, the right is more complete and obvious, because we shall perform only what Spain was bound to have performed herself. To the high obligations and privileges of this great and sacred right of self-defence, will the movement of our troops be strictly confined. Orders have been given to the General in command not to enter Florida, unless it be in pursuit of the enemy, and in that case to respect the Spanish authority wherever it is maintained; and he will be instructed to withdraw his forces from the province, as soon as he shall have reduced that tribe to order, and secured our fellow-citizens in that quarter, by satisfactory arrangements, against its unprovoked and savage hostilities in future. JAMES MONROE. Washington, March 25. Washington, Nov. 16. This day, at 12 o'clock, the President of the United States transmitted to both Houses of Congress, by his secretary, Mr. J. J. Monroe, the following MESSAGE. Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Re- The auspicious circumstances under which you will commence the duties of the present session, will lighten the burden inseparable from the high trust committed to you. The fruits of the earth have been unusually abundant; commerce has flourished; the revenue has exceeded the most favourable anticipation; and peace and amity are preserved with foreign nations, on conditions just and honourable to our country. For these inestimable blessings, we cannot but be grateful to that Providence which watches over the destinies of nations. As the term limited for the operation of the commercial con vention |