A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents | Page 8

Administration, as
well as of its agents, and where yourselves also will be guided by your
own view in the legislative provisions respecting them which may from
time to time be necessary. They are preserved in such condition, as well
the vessels as whatever belongs to them, as to be at all times ready for
sea on a short warning. Two others are yet to be laid up so soon as they
shall have received the repairs requisite to put them also into sound
condition. As a superintending officer will be necessary at each yard,
his duties and emoluments, hitherto fixed by the Executive, will be a
more proper subject for legislation. A communication will also be
made of our progress in the execution of the law respecting the vessels
directed to be sold.
The fortifications of our harbors, more or less advanced, present
considerations of great difficulty. While some of them are on a scale
sufficiently proportioned to the advantages of their position, to the
efficacy of their protection, and the importance of the points within it,
others are so extensive, will cost so much in their first erection, so
much in their maintenance, and require such a force to garrison them as
to make it questionable what is best now to be done. A statement of
those commenced or projected, of the expenses already incurred, and
estimates of their future cost, as far as can be foreseen, shall be laid
before you, that you may be enabled to judge whether any alteration is

necessary in the laws respecting this subject.
Agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and navigation, the four pillars
of our prosperity, are then most thriving when left most free to
individual enterprise. Protection from casual embarrassments, however,
may sometimes be seasonably interposed. If in the course of your
observations or inquiries they should appear to need any aid within the
limits of our constitutional powers, your sense of their importance is a
sufficient assurance they will occupy your attention. We can not,
indeed, but all feel an anxious solicitude for the difficulties under
which our carrying trade will soon be placed. How far it can be relieved,
otherwise than by time, is a subject of important consideration.
The judiciary system of the United States, and especially that portion of
it recently erected, will of course present itself to the contemplation of
Congress, and, that they may be able to judge of the proportion which
the institution bears to the business it has to perform, I have caused to
be procured from the several States and now lay before Congress an
exact statement of all the causes decided since the first establishment of
the courts, and of those which were depending when additional courts
and judges were brought in to their aid.
And while on the judiciary organization it will be worthy your
consideration whether the protection of the inestimable institution of
juries has been extended to all the cases involving the security of our
persons and property. Their impartial selection also being essential to
their value, we ought further to consider whether that is sufficiently
secured in those States where they are named by a marshal depending
on Executive will or designated by the court or by officers dependent
on them.
I can not omit recommending a revisal of the laws on the subject of
naturalization. Considering the ordinary chances of human life, a denial
of citizenship under a residence of fourteen years is a denial to a great
proportion of those who ask it, and controls a policy pursued from their
first settlement by many of these States, and still believed of
consequence to their prosperity; and shall we refuse to the unhappy
fugitives from distress that hospitality which the savages of the

wilderness extended to our fathers arriving in this land? Shall
oppressed humanity find no asylum on this globe? The Constitution
indeed has wisely provided that for admission to certain offices of
important trust a residence shall be required sufficient to develop
character and design. But might not the general character and
capabilities of a citizen be safely communicated to everyone
manifesting a bona fide purpose of embarking his life and fortunes
permanently with us, with restrictions, perhaps, to guard against the
fraudulent usurpation of our flag, an abuse which brings so much
embarrassment and loss on the genuine citizen and so much danger to
the nation of being involved in war that no endeavor should be spared
to detect and suppress it?
These, fellow-citizens, are the matters respecting the state of the nation
which I have thought of importance to be submitted to your
consideration at this time. Some others of less moment or not yet ready
for communication will be the subject of separate messages. I am
happy in this opportunity of committing the arduous