Happy as our situation is, it does not exempt us from solicitude and care for the future.

I see much cause to rejoice in the felicity of our situation.

In execution of the law of the last session for the suppression of the slave trade some of our public ships have also been employed on the coast of Africa, where several captures have already been made of vessels engaged in that…

Considerable progress has also been made in the construction of ships of war, some of which have been launched in the course of the present year.

Our military positions have been maintained at Belle Point, on the Arkansas, at Council Bluffs, on the Missouri, at St. Peters, on the Mississippi, and at Green Bay, on the upper Lakes.

Our peace with the powers on the coast of Barbary has been preserved, but we owe it altogether to the presence of our squadron in the Mediterranean.

The contest between Spain and the colonies, according to the most authentic information, is maintained by the latter with improved success.

The friendly sentiment which was expressed on the part of the United States in the message of the 9th of May last is still entertained for Spain.

A few prominent facts will place this great interest in a just light before you.

Considerable progress has been made during the present season in examining the coast and its various bays and other inlets.

On the subject of claims of citizens of the United States for Spanish spoliations upon their property and commerce.

I transmit herewith to the Senate a report from the Secretary of State

collected conformably to a resolution of the Senate of the 18th of January, 1819

together with the returns of causes depending in the courts of the United States

Had the minister of Spain offered an unqualified pledge that the treaty should be ratified by his Sovereign on being made acquainted with the explanations which had been given by this Government, there would have been a strong motive for…

He admits that the other objections are essentially removed and will not in themselves prevent the ratification, provided the difficulty on the third point is surmounted.

Unexpected as such complaints and such a demand were under existing circumstances, it was thought proper, without compromitting the Government as to the course to be pursued, to meet them promptly and to give the explanations that were…

With these remarks I submit it to the wisdom of Congress whether it will not still be advisable to postpone any decision on this subject until the next session.