Latest / State of the Union Addresses 1829-1836 / 010 - Andrew Jackson December 3 1833 part 1

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010 - Andrew Jackson December 3 1833 part 1 · State of the Union Addresses 1829-1836

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Speaker 1: Section ten of State of the Union Addresses eighteen twenty
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Speaker 1: nine to eighteen thirty six. This is a LibriVox recording.
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Speaker 1: Our LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
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Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Andrew Jackson,
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Speaker 1: December three, eighteen thirty three. Part one, Fellow citizens of
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Speaker 1: the Senate and of the House of Representatives, on your
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Speaker 1: assembling to perform the high trusts which the people of
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Speaker 1: the United States have confided to you, of legislating for
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Speaker 1: their commonwealfare. It gives me pleasure to congratulate you upon
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Speaker 1: the happy condition of our beloved country. By the favor
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Speaker 1: of divine providence, health is again restored to us. Peace
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Speaker 1: reigns within our borders. Abundance crowns the labours of our fields,
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Speaker 1: Commerce and domestic industry flourish and increase, and individual happiness
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Speaker 1: rewards the private virtue and enterprise of our citizens. Our
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Speaker 1: condition abroad is no less honorable than it is prosperous
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Speaker 1: at home, seeking nothing that is not right, and determined
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Speaker 1: to submit to nothing that is wrong, but desiring honest
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Speaker 1: friendships and liberal intercourse with all nations. The United States
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Speaker 1: have gained throughout the world the confidence and respect which
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Speaker 1: are due to a policy so just and so congenial
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Speaker 1: to the character of the American people, and to the
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Speaker 1: spirit of their institutions. In bringing to your notice the
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Speaker 1: particular state of our foreign affairs, it affords me high
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Speaker 1: gratification to inform you that they are in a condition
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Speaker 1: which promises the continuance of friendship with all nations. With
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Speaker 1: Great Britain, the interesting question of our northeast boundary remains
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Speaker 1: still undecided. Negotiation, however, upon that subject, has been renewed
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Speaker 1: since the close of the last Congress, and a proposition
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Speaker 1: has been submitted to the British Government with the view
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Speaker 1: of establishing, in conformity with the resolution of the Senate
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Speaker 1: the line designated by the Treaty of seventeen eighty three.
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Speaker 1: Though no definitive answer has been received, it may be
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Speaker 1: daily looked for, and I entertain a hope that the
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Speaker 1: overture may ultimately lead to a satisfactory adjustment of this
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Speaker 1: important matter. I have the satisfaction to inform you that
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Speaker 1: a negotiation, which by desire of the House of Representatives,
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Speaker 1: was opened some years ago with the British Government for
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Speaker 1: the erection of light houses on the Bahamas has been successful.
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Speaker 1: Those works, when completed, together with those which the United
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Speaker 1: States have constructed on the western side of the Gulf
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Speaker 1: of Florida, will contribute essentially to the safety of navigation
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Speaker 1: in that see. This joint participation in establishments interesting to
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Speaker 1: humanity and beneficial to commerce is worthy of two enlightened
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Speaker 1: nations and indicates feelings which cannot fail to have a
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Speaker 1: happy influence upon their political relations. It is gratifying to
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Speaker 1: the friends of both to perceive that the intercourse between
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Speaker 1: the two people is becoming daily more extensive, and that
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Speaker 1: sentiments of mutual good will have grown up, befitting their
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Speaker 1: common origin and justifying the hope that by wise counsels
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Speaker 1: on each side, not only unsettled questions may be satisfactorily terminated,
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Speaker 1: but new causes of misunderstanding prevented. Notwithstanding that I continue
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Speaker 1: to receive the most amicable assurances from the Government of France,
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Speaker 1: and that in all other respects the most friendly relations
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Speaker 1: exist between the United States and that government, it is
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Speaker 1: to be regretted that the stipulations of the Convention concluded
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Speaker 1: on July fourth, eighteen thirty one, remain in some important
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Speaker 1: parts unfulfilled. By the second article of that convention, it
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Speaker 1: was stipulated that the sum payable to the United States
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Speaker 1: should be paid at Paris in six annual installments into
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Speaker 1: the hands of such person or persons as should be
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Speaker 1: authorized by the Government of the United States to receive it.
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Speaker 1: And by the same article the first installment was payable
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Speaker 1: on February second, eighteen thirty three. By the Act of
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Speaker 1: Congress of July thirteenth, eighteen thirty two, it was made
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Speaker 1: the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to cause
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Speaker 1: the several installments with the interest thereon, to be received
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Speaker 1: from the French government and transferred to the United States
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Speaker 1: in such manner as he may deem best. And by
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Speaker 1: the same Act of com Hungress, the stipulations on the
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Speaker 1: part of the United States in the Convention were in
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Speaker 1: all respects fulfilled. Not doubting that a treaty thus made
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Speaker 1: and ratified by the two governments, and faithfully executed by
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Speaker 1: the United States, would be promptly complied with by the
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Speaker 1: other party, and desiring to avoid the risk and expensive
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Speaker 1: intermediate agencies, the Secretary of the Treasury deemed it advisable
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Speaker 1: to receive and transfer the first installment by means of
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Speaker 1: a draft upon the French Minister of Finance. A draft
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Speaker 1: for this purpose was accordingly drawn in favor of the
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Speaker 1: Cashier of the Bank of the United States, for the
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Speaker 1: amount accruing to the United States out of the first
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Speaker 1: installment and the interest payable with it. This bill was
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Speaker 1: not drawn at Washington until five days after the installment
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Speaker 1: was payable at Paris, and was accompanied by a special
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Speaker 1: authority from the President authorizing the Cashier or his signs
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Speaker 1: to receive the amount. The mode thus adopted of receiving
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Speaker 1: the installment was officially made known to the French government
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Speaker 1: by the American Charge d'afaire at Paris, pursuant to instructions
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Speaker 1: from the Department of State. The bill, however, though not
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Speaker 1: presented for payment until March twenty third, eighteen thirty three,
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Speaker 1: was not paid, and for the reason assigned by the
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Speaker 1: French Minister of Finance that no appropriation had been made
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Speaker 1: by the French Chambers. It is not known to me
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Speaker 1: that up to that period any appropriation had been required
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Speaker 1: of the Chambers, and although a communication was subsequently made
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Speaker 1: to the Chambers by direction of the King recommending that
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Speaker 1: the necessary provision should be made for carrying the convention
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Speaker 1: into effect. It was at an advanced period of the session,
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Speaker 1: and the subject was finally postponed until the next meeting
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Speaker 1: of the Chambers. Notwithstanding, it has been supposed by the
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Speaker 1: French ministry that the financial stipulations of the treaty cannot
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Speaker 1: be carried into effect without an appropriation by the Chambers.
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Speaker 1: It appears to me to be not only consistent with
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Speaker 1: the character of France, but due to the character of
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Speaker 1: both governments, as well as to the rights of our
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Speaker 1: citizens to treat the convention made and ratified in proper form,
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Speaker 1: as pledging the good faith of the French government for
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Speaker 1: its execution, and as imposing upon each department an obligation
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Speaker 1: to fulfill it. And I have received assurances through our
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Speaker 1: Charge d'ur fair at Paris and the French Minister Plenty
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Speaker 1: Potentiary at Washington, and more recently through the Minister of
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Speaker 1: the United States at Paris, that the delay has not
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Speaker 1: proceeded from any indisposition on the part of the King
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Speaker 1: and as ministers to fulfill their treaty, and that measures
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Speaker 1: will be presented at the next meeting of the Chambers,
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Speaker 1: and with a reasonable hope of success to obtain the
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Speaker 1: necessary appropriation. It is necessary to state, however, that the
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Speaker 1: documents accept certain lists of vessels captured, condemned, or burnt
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Speaker 1: at sea proper to facilitate the examination and liquidation of
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Speaker 1: the reclamations comprised in the stipulations of the Convention, and
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Speaker 1: which by the sixth Article France engaged to communicate to
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Speaker 1: the United States by the intermediary of the Legation, though
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Speaker 1: repeatedly applied for by the American charge d'a faire under
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Speaker 1: instructions from this government, have not yet been communicated, and
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Speaker 1: this delay, it is apprehended, will necessarily prevent the completion
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Speaker 1: of the duties assigned to the Commissioners within the time
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Speaker 1: at present prescribed by law. The reasons for delaying to
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Speaker 1: communicate these documents have not been explicitly stated, and this
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Speaker 1: is the more to be regretted, as it is not
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Speaker 1: understood that the interposition of the chambers is in any
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Speaker 1: manner required for the delivery of those papers under these circumstances,
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Speaker 1: in a case so important to the interests of our
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Speaker 1: citizens and to the character of our country, and under
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Speaker 1: disappointments so unexpected, I deemed it my duty, however, I
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Speaker 1: might respect the general assurances to which I have adverted
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Speaker 1: no longer to delay the appointment of a minister plenty
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Speaker 1: potentiary to Paris, but to dispatch him in season to
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Speaker 1: communicate the result of his application to the French government
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Speaker 1: at an early period of your session. I accordingly appointed
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Speaker 1: a distinguished citizen for this purpose, who proceeded on his
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Speaker 1: mission in August last, and was presented to the King
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Speaker 1: early in the month of October. He is particularly instructed
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Speaker 1: as to all matters connected with the present posture of affairs,
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Speaker 1: and I indulge the hope that, with the representations he
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Speaker 1: is instructed to make, and from the disposition manifested by
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Speaker 1: the King and his ministers in their recent assurances to
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Speaker 1: our minister at Paris, the subject will be early considered
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Speaker 1: and satisfactorily disposed of at the next meeting of the Chambers.
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Speaker 1: As this subject involves important interests and has attracted a
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Speaker 1: considerable share of the public attention, I have deemed it
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Speaker 1: proper to make this explicit statement of its actual condition.
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Speaker 1: And should I be disappointed in the hope now entertained,
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Speaker 1: the subject will be again brought to the notice of
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Speaker 1: Congress in such manner as the occasion may require. The
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Speaker 1: friendly relations which have always been maintained between the United
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Speaker 1: States and Russia have been further extended and strengthened by
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Speaker 1: the Treaty of Navigation and Commerce, concluded on December six,
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Speaker 1: eighteen thirty two, and sanctioned by the Senate before the
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Speaker 1: close of its last session. The ratifications having been since exchanged.
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Speaker 1: The liberal provisions of the treaty are now in full force,
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Speaker 1: and under the encouragement which they have secured, of flourishing
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Speaker 1: and increasing commerce, yielding its benefits to the enterprise of
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Speaker 1: both nations, affords to each the just recompense of wise measures,
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Speaker 1: and adds new motives for that mutual friendship which the
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Speaker 1: two countries have hitherto cherished toward each other. It affords
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Speaker 1: me peculiar satisfaction to state that the Government of Spain
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Speaker 1: has at length yielded to the justice of the claims
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Speaker 1: which have been so long urged in behalf of our citizens,
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Speaker 1: and has expressed a willingness to provide an indemnification as
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Speaker 1: soon as the proper amount can be agreed upon. Upon
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Speaker 1: this latter point, it is probable and understanding had taken
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Speaker 1: place between them Minister of the United States and the
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Speaker 1: Spanish government before the decease of the late King of Spain,
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Speaker 1: and unless that event may have delayed its completion, there
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Speaker 1: is reason to hope that it may be in my
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Speaker 1: power to announce to you early in your present session
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Speaker 1: the conclusion of a convention upon terms not less favorable
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Speaker 1: than those entered into for similar objects with other nations.
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Speaker 1: That act of justice would well accord with the character
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Speaker 1: of Spain, and is due to the United States from
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Speaker 1: their ancient friend. It could not fail to strengthen the
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Speaker 1: sentiments of amity and goodwill between the two nations, which
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Speaker 1: it is so much the wish of the United States
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Speaker 1: to cherish, and so truly the interest of both to maintain.
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Speaker 1: By the first section of an Act of Congress passed
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Speaker 1: on July thirteenth, eighteen thirty two, the tonnage duty on
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Speaker 1: Spanish ships arriving from the ports of Spain previous to
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Speaker 1: October twentieth, eighteen seventeen, being five cents per ton. That
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Speaker 1: act was intended to give effect, on our side to
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Speaker 1: an arrangement made with the Spanish government by which discriminating
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Speaker 1: duties of tonnage were to be abolished in the ports
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Speaker 1: of the United States and Spain on the vessels of
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Speaker 1: the two nations, pursuant to that arrangement, which was carried
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Speaker 1: into effect on the part of Spain on May twenty,
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Speaker 1: eighteen thirty two by a Royal Ordered dated April twenty ninth,
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Speaker 1: eighteen thirty two. American vessels in the ports of Spain
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Speaker 1: have paid five cents per ton, which rate of duty
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Speaker 1: is also paid in those ports by Spanish ships. But
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Speaker 1: as American vessels pay no tonnage duty in the ports
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Speaker 1: of the United States, the duty of five cents payable
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Speaker 1: in our ports by Spanish vessels under the Act above
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Speaker 1: mentioned is really a discriminating duty operating to the disadvantage
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Speaker 1: of Spain. Though no complaint has yet been made on
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Speaker 1: the part of Spain, we are not the less bound
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Speaker 1: by the obligations of good faith to remove the discrimination,
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Speaker 1: and I recommend that the Act be amended accordingly. As
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Speaker 1: the Royal Order above alluded to includes the ports of
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Speaker 1: the Balaric and Canary Islands as well as those of Spain,
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Speaker 1: it would seem that the provisions of the Act of
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Speaker 1: Congress should be equally extensive, and that for the repayments
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Speaker 1: of such duties as may have been improperly received. An
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Speaker 1: addition should be made to the sum appropriated at the
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Speaker 1: last session of Congress for refunding discriminating duties. As the
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Speaker 1: arrangement referred to, however, did not embrace the islands of
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Speaker 1: Cuba and Puerto Rica, discriminating duties to the prejudice of
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Speaker 1: American shipping continued to be levied there from the extent
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Speaker 1: of the commerce carried on between the United States and
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Speaker 1: those islands, particularly the former. This discrimination causes serious injury
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Speaker 1: to one of those great national interests which it has
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Speaker 1: been considered an essential part of our policy to cherish,
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Speaker 1: and has given rise to complaints on the part of
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Speaker 1: our merchants. Under instructions given to our Minister at Madrid.
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Speaker 1: Earnest representations have been made by him to the Spanish
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Speaker 1: government upon this subject, and there is reason to expect
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Speaker 1: from the friendly disposition which is entertained towards this country,
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Speaker 1: that a beneficial change will be produced. The disadvantage, however,
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Speaker 1: to which our shipping is subjected by the operation of
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Speaker 1: these discriminating duties, requires that they be met by suitable
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Speaker 1: countervailing duties. During your present session, power being at the
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Speaker 1: same time vested in the President to modify or discontinue them,
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Speaker 1: as the discriminating duties on American vessels or their cargoes
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Speaker 1: may be modified or discontinued at those islands. Intimations have
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Speaker 1: been given to the Spanish government that the United States
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Speaker 1: may be obliged to resort to such measures as are
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Speaker 1: of necessary self defense, and there's no reason to apprehend
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Speaker 1: that it would be unfavorably received. The proposed proceeding, if adopted,
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Speaker 1: would not be permitted, however, in any degree to induce
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Speaker 1: a relaxation in the efforts of our Minister to effect
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Speaker 1: a repeal of this irregularity by friendly negotiation, and it
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Speaker 1: might serve to give force to his representations by showing
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Speaker 1: the dangers to which that valuable trade is exposed by
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Speaker 1: the obstructions and burdens which a system of discriminating and
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Speaker 1: countervailing duties necessarily produces. The selection and preparation of the
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Speaker 1: Florida Archives for the purpose of being delivered over to
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Speaker 1: the United States in conformity with the Royal Order as
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Speaker 1: mentioned in my last Annual Message, though in progress, has
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Speaker 1: not yet been completed. This delay has been produced, partly
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Speaker 1: by causes which were unavoidable, particularly the prevalence of the
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Speaker 1: cholera at Havana, but measures have been taken which it
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Speaker 1: is believed will expedite the delivery of those important records.
17:09
Speaker 1: Congress were informed at the opening the last session that,
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Speaker 1: owing as was alleged to embarrassments in the finances of
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Speaker 1: Portugal consequent upon the civil war in which that nation
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Speaker 1: was engaged, payment had been made of only one installment
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Speaker 1: of the amount which the Portuguese government had stipulated to
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Speaker 1: pay for indemnifying our citizens for property illegally captured in
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Speaker 1: the blockade of Tersera. Since that time, a postponement for
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Speaker 1: two years with interest of the two remaining installments was
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Speaker 1: requested by the Portuguese government, and as a consideration it
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Speaker 1: offered to stipulate that Rice of the United States should
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Speaker 1: be admitted into Portugal at the same duties as Brazilian rice.
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Speaker 1: Being satisfied that no better arrangement could be made, my
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Speaker 1: consent was given, and a royal Order of the King
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Speaker 1: of Portugal was accordingly issued on February fourth, eighteen thirty three,
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Speaker 1: for the reduction of the duty on Rice of the
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Speaker 1: United States it would give me great pleasure if, in
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Speaker 1: speaking of that country in whose prosperity the United States
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Speaker 1: are so much interested in, with whom a long subsisting,
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Speaker 1: extensive and mutually advantageous commercial intercourse has strengthened the relation
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Speaker 1: of friendship, I could announce to you the restoration of
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Speaker 1: its internal tranquility. Subsequently to the commencement of the last
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Speaker 1: session of Congress, the final installment, payable by Denmark under
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Speaker 1: the Convention of March twenty eighth, eighteen thirty was received.
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Speaker 1: The commissioners for examining the claims have since terminated their labors,
18:48
Speaker 1: and their awards have been paid at the Treasury, as
18:51
Speaker 1: they have been called for. The justice rendered to our
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Speaker 1: citizens by that government is thus completed, and a pledge
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Speaker 1: is thereby afforded for the man maintenance of that friendly intercourse,
19:02
Speaker 1: becoming the relations that the two nations mutually bear to
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Speaker 1: each other. It is satisfactory to inform you that the
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Speaker 1: Danish government have recently issued an ordinance by which the
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Speaker 1: commerce with the island of Saint Croix is placed on
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Speaker 1: a more liberal footing than Heretofore, this change cannot fail
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Speaker 1: to prove beneficial to the trade between the United States
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Speaker 1: and that colony, and the advantages likely to flow from
19:29
Speaker 1: it may lead to greater relaxations in the colonial systems
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Speaker 1: of other nations. The ratifications of the Convention with the
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Speaker 1: King of the two Sicilies have been duly exchanged, and
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Speaker 1: the commissioners appointed for examining the claims under it have
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Speaker 1: entered upon the duties assigned to them by law. The
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Speaker 1: friendship that the interests of the two nations require of
19:52
Speaker 1: them being now established, it may be hoped that each
19:54
Speaker 1: will enjoy the benefits which a liberal commerce should yield
19:59
Speaker 1: to both. A treaty of amity and Commerce between the
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Speaker 1: United States and Belgium was concluded during the last winter
20:08
Speaker 1: and receive the sanction of the Senate, But the exchange
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Speaker 1: of the ratifications has been hitherto delayed, in consequence, in
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Speaker 1: the first instance, of some delay in the reception of
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Speaker 1: the treaty at Brussels, and subsequently of the absence of
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Speaker 1: the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs at the important conferences
20:27
Speaker 1: in which his government is engaged at London. That treaty
20:32
Speaker 1: does but embody those enlarged principles of friendly policy, which
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Speaker 1: it is sincerely hoped will always regulate the conduct of
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Speaker 1: the two nations, having such strong motives to maintain amicable
20:44
Speaker 1: relations toward each other, and so sincerely desirous to cherish them.
20:50
Speaker 1: With all the other European powers with whom the United
20:53
Speaker 1: States have formed diplomatic relations, and with the Sublime Porte,
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Speaker 1: the best understanding prevailed from all, I continue to receive
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Speaker 1: assurances of goodwill towards the United States, assurances which it
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Speaker 1: gives me no less pleasure to reciprocate than to receive.
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Speaker 1: With all. The engagements which have been entered into are
21:14
Speaker 1: fulfilled with good faith on both sides. Measures have also
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Speaker 1: been taken to enlarge our friendly relations and extend our
21:21
Speaker 1: commercial intercourse with other states. The system we have pursued,
21:26
Speaker 1: of aiming at no exclusive advantages, of dealing with all
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Speaker 1: on terms of fair and equal reciprocity, and of adhering
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Speaker 1: scrupulously to all our engagements as well, calculated to give
21:38
Speaker 1: success to efforts intended to be mutually beneficial. The wars
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Speaker 1: of which the southern part of this continent was so
21:47
Speaker 1: long the theater, and which were carried on either by
21:50
Speaker 1: the mother country against the states which had formerly been
21:54
Speaker 1: her colonies, or by the states against each other having terminated,
21:59
Speaker 1: and their civil dissensions, having so far subsided, as with
22:03
Speaker 1: few exceptions, no longer to disturb the public tranquility. It
22:07
Speaker 1: is earnestly hoped those states will be able to employ
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Speaker 1: themselves without interruption, in perfecting their institutions, cultivating the arts
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Speaker 1: of peace, and promoting, by wise counsels and able exertions,
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Speaker 1: the public and private prosperity which their patriotic struggles so
22:26
Speaker 1: well entitled them to enjoy. With those states, our relations
22:32
Speaker 1: have undergone but little change during the present year, no
22:36
Speaker 1: reunion having yet taken place between the states which compose
22:40
Speaker 1: the Republic of Colombia. Our charged our fare at Bogata
22:46
Speaker 1: has been accredited to the government of New Grenada, and
22:50
Speaker 1: we have therefore no diplomatic relations with Venezuela and Equator,
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Speaker 1: except as they may be included in those heretofore formed
22:59
Speaker 1: with the Colombian Republic. It is understood that representatives from
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Speaker 1: the three states were about to assemble at Bogata to
23:07
Speaker 1: confer on the subject of their mutual interests, particularly that
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Speaker 1: of their union, and if the result should render it,
23:14
Speaker 1: necessary measures will be taken on our part to preserve
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Speaker 1: with each that friendship and those liberal commercial connections which
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Speaker 1: it has been the constant desire of the United States
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Speaker 1: to cultivate with their sister republics of this hemisphere until
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Speaker 1: the important question of reunion shall be settled. However, the
23:34
Speaker 1: different matters which have been under discussion between the United
23:38
Speaker 1: States and the Republic of Columbia, or either of the
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Speaker 1: states which composed it, are not likely to be brought
23:44
Speaker 1: to a satisfactory issue. In consequence of the illness of
23:50
Speaker 1: the charges d'arferi appointed to Central America at the last
23:54
Speaker 1: session of Congress, he was prevented from proceeding on his
23:57
Speaker 1: mission until the month of October. It is hoped, however,
24:01
Speaker 1: that he is by this time at his post, and
24:04
Speaker 1: that the official intercourse, unfortunately so long interrupted, has been
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Speaker 1: thus renewed on the part of the two nations, so
24:12
Speaker 1: amicably and advantageously connected by engagements founded on the most
24:17
Speaker 1: enlarged principles of commercial reciprocity. It is gratifying to state
24:25
Speaker 1: that since my last annual message, some of the most
24:28
Speaker 1: important claims of our fellow citizens upon the government of
24:31
Speaker 1: Brazil have been satisfactorily adjusted, and a reliance is placed
24:36
Speaker 1: on the friendly dispositions manifested by it, that justice will
24:40
Speaker 1: also be done in others. No new causes of complaint
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Speaker 1: have arisen, and the trade between the two countries flourishes
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Speaker 1: under the encouragement secured to it by the liberal provisions
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Speaker 1: of the treaty. It is cause of regret that, owing
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Speaker 1: probably to the civil dissensions which have occupied the attention
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Speaker 1: of the Mexican government, the time fixed by the Treaty
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Speaker 1: of Limits with the United States for the meeting of
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Speaker 1: the commissioners to define the boundaries between the two nations,
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Speaker 1: has been suffered to expire without the appointment of any
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Speaker 1: commissioners on the part of that government. While the true
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Speaker 1: boundary remains in doubt by either party, it is difficult
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Speaker 1: to give effect to those measures which are necessary to
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Speaker 1: the protection and quiet of our numerous citizens residing near
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Speaker 1: that frontier. The subject is one of great solicitude to
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Speaker 1: the United States, and will not fail to receive my
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Speaker 1: earnest attention. The treaty concluded with Chile and approved by
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Speaker 1: the Senate at its last session, was also ratified by
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Speaker 1: the Chilean government, but with certain additional and explanatory articles
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Speaker 1: of a nature to have required it to be again
25:52
Speaker 1: submitted to the Senate. The time limited for the exchange
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Speaker 1: of the ratification, however, having since expired, the action of
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Speaker 1: both governments on the treaty will again become necessary. The
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Speaker 1: negotiations commenced with the Argentine Republic relative to the outrages
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Speaker 1: committed on our vessels engaged in the fisheries at the
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Speaker 1: Falkland Islands by persons acting under the color of its authority,
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Speaker 1: as well as the other matters in controversy between the
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Speaker 1: two governments, have been suspended by the departure of the
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Speaker 1: Charge d'afaire of the United States from Wuenas Iris. It
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Speaker 1: is understood, however, that a minister was subsequently appointed by
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Speaker 1: that government to renew the negotiation in the United States,
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Speaker 1: But though daily expected, he has not yet arrived in
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Speaker 1: this country. With Peru, no treaty has yet been formed,
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Speaker 1: and with Bolivia no diplomatic intercourse has yet been established.
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Speaker 1: It would be my endeavor to encourage those sentiments of
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Speaker 1: amity and that liberal commerce which belong to the relations
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Speaker 1: in which all the independent states of this ward continent
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Speaker 1: stand toward each other. I deem it proper to recommend
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Speaker 1: to your notice the revision of our consular system. This
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Speaker 1: has become an important branch of the public service, inasmuch
27:13
Speaker 1: as it is intimately connected with the preservation of our
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Speaker 1: national character abroad, with the interest of our citizens in
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Speaker 1: foreign countries, with the regulation and care of our commerce,
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Speaker 1: and with the protection of our seamen. At the close
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Speaker 1: of the last session of Congress, I communicated a report
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Speaker 1: from the Secretary of State upon the subject to which
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Speaker 1: I now refer as containing information which may be useful
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Speaker 1: in any inquiries that Congress may see fit to institute
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Speaker 1: with a view to a salutary reform of the system.
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Speaker 1: End of Section ten.