Shortly AFTER lhe general peace, band AZ
adventures took advantage Of ibis conflict. and
ol the facility which il afforded, TO establish a
system Of ouccsneering in the neighbcring
seas, TO the great annoyance OF the commerce
of the United States, and, as was represented,
of that Of other powers. OF this spirit. and
OF its injurious bearing on the United States,
strong proofs were afforded by the establish
ment at Amelia Island and the purposes to
which it was made instrumental, by thi. band
IN 1917, and by the occurrences which took
place in other parts of Florida, 10 1918. the
details OF which, in both instances. are too
well known 10 require 10 be now recied.
am satisfied, had a less decisive course been
adopted, that the worst consequences would
have resulted from it, We have seen that
these checks, decisive as they were. were not
sufficient to crush that piraticsl spirit. Many
culprits, brought within our limits, have been
condemned TO Suffer death, the punishment
due TO that atrocious crime. The decisions
Of upright and enlightened tribunals fall
equally on all, whose crimes subject them, by
fair Interpretation Of the law, to lis censure.
Ii belongs TO the Executive not 10 suffer The
executions. uoder these decisions, TO transcend
The great purpose for which punishment Is ne
cessary. The full benefit of example being
secured, policy, as well a. humanity, equally
forbids that thew should be carried further.


have acted on this principle, pardoning those
who appear to have been led astray by ignor-


ance OF the crimioality of the acts they had
committed. and suffering the law 10 take effect
on those only, in whose favor no extepuating
circumstances could be urged.


Great confidence is entertained, that the
late treaty with Spain, which has been raiih-
ed by both the parties, and The ratiicaiions
whereof have been exchanged, has placed the
relations of the two countries on a basis Of
permanent friendship. The provision made


by il for such of our citizens as have claims


on Spain, Of the character described, will, il


is presumed, be very satisfactory 10 them !;
and the boundary which is established be-
tween the territories Of the parties, westward
Of the Mississippi, heretofore in dispute, has,


it is thought, been settled on conditions lust
and advantageous TO both. But, TO the acqui.
sition of Florida, too much importance cannot
be attached. II secures 10 the United States
Y a


porlance is much increased by IFS bearing on
many of the highest interests of the Union.


Ii opens TO several Of the neighbouring states
a free passage to the ocean, through the prov
ince ceded, by several rivers, having their
sources high up within their limits II secures
US against all future annoyance from powerful


Indian tribes. II gives US several excellent
harbors in the Gull of Mexico for ships of war
OF The largest size. 1t covers, by its position


in The Gulf, The Mississippi and other great
waters within our extended limits. and thereby
enables The United States TO afford complete
protection 10 the vast and very valuable pro


ductions Of our whole western country, which
find market through those streams.


BY treaty with the British government,
bearing date on the twentieth Of October, one
thousand eight hundred and eighteen, the
convention regulating the commerce between
the United States and Great Britain, concluded
on the third ofJuly, one thousand eight hun
dred aud fifteen, which was about expiring,
was revived and continued for the term of Ten
years from The time of its expiration BY
that treaty, also, the differences which had
arisen under the treaty of Ghent. respecting
the right claimed by the United States for
their citizens TO take and cure fish on the
coast Of his Britannia Majesty's dominions in
America, with other differences on important
interests, were adjusted 10 the satisfaction Of
both parties. No agreement has yet been
entered into respecting the commerce between
The United States and the British dominions
m the West Indies, and on this continent.
The restraints imposed on that commerce by
Great Britain, and reciprocsted by the United
States, on principle Of defence, continue
still in force.


The negotiation with France for the regu.
lstlon OF The commercial relations between the
two countries, which, in the course of The last
summer, had been commenced al Paris, has
since been transferred 10 this city, and will
be pursued. on the part Of The United States,
in the spirit Of concilistion, and with an ear
aest desire that il may terminate in an
arrangement satisfactory to both parties.


Our relations with the Bsrbsry powers are
preserved in the same state, and by the same
means, that were employed when came
iftl this efice. As early as 1901 il was found
necessary TO send squadron into the Medit-
erranean, for the protection of our commerce,
and no period has interviewed, short term
excepted, when il was thought advisable 10
Withdraw il. The great interest which the
United States have in the Pacific, in commerce
aud in the fisheries, have also made il neces-
ssry 10 maintain naval force there. In
disPosiDg of this force, in both instances, the
most effectual measures in our power have
been taken without interfering with IFS other
duties, for the suppression of the slave trade,