Indeed, whatever may be the issue of the negotiation with France, and whether the war in Europe is or is not to continue, I hold it most certain that permanent tranquillity and order will not soon be obtained.  The state of society has so long been disturbed, the sense of moral and religious obligations so much weakened, public faith and national honor have been so impaired, respect to treaties has been so diminished, and the law of nations has lost so much of its force, while pride, ambition, avarice, and violence have been so long unrestrained, there remains no reasonable ground on which to raise an expectation that a commerce without protection or defense will not be plundered.

The commerce of the United States is essential, if not to their existence, at least to their comfort, their growth, prosperity, and happiness.  The genius, character, and habits of the people are highly commercial.  Their cities have been formed and exist upon commerce.  Our agriculture, fisheries, arts, and manufactures are connected with and depend upon it.  In short, commerce has made this country what it is, and it can not be destroyed or neglected without involving the people in poverty and distress.  Great numbers are directly and solely supported by navigation.  The faith of society is pledged for the preservation of the rights of commercial and seafaring no less than of the other citizens.  Under this view of our affairs, I should hold myself guilty of a neglect of duty if I forbore to recommend that we should make every exertion to protect our commerce and to place our country in a suitable posture of defense as the only sure means of preserving both.

I have entertained an expectation that it would have been in my power at the opening of this session to have communicated to you the agreeable information of the due execution of our treaty with His Catholic Majesty respecting the withdrawing of his troops from our territory and the demarcation of the line of limits, but by the latest authentic intelligence Spanish garrisons were still continued within our country, and the running of the boundary line had not been commenced.  These circumstances are the more to be regretted as they can not fail to affect the Indians in a manner injurious to the United States.  Still, however, indulging the hope that the answers which have been given will remove the objections offered by the Spanish officers to the immediate execution of the treaty, I have judged it proper that we should continue in readiness to receive the posts and to run the line of limits.  Further information on this subject will be communicated in the course of the session.