The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

The following Message and Documents
have been sent to the legislature of
New York:

Message from his Excellency the Governor.

Gentlemen,

I herewith transmit to you, a report
of a committee of the house of repre-
entatives of the congress of the United
States, at their last session, "upon so
much of the President's message of the
15th of December last, as relates to the
militia institution of the United States;"
together with a copy of a letter from
the President, urging the necessity of
vigorous exertions on the part of the
state governments, to carry into effect
the militia system adopted by the na-
tional legislature.

The importance of these documents
will be readily perceived. And permit
me to call your attention to measures
for arming the militia for prescribing
the duties of the officers, for ascertaining
relative rank, for exacting the neces-
sary returns with promptness, for more
readily discovering delinquencies and
misconduct, and for authorizing such al-
terations in the existing organization of
the militia, as to render it more confor-
mable to the militia system estab lished
by congress.

GEO: CLINTON.

Albany, March 25, 1803.

[Here follows the report.]

Washington city, February 1803.

SIR,

In compliance with a request of the
house of representatives of the United
States, as well as with a sense of what
is necessary, I take the liberty of urging
on you the importance and indispensable
necessity of vigorous exertions, on the
part of the state governments, to carry
into effect the militia system adopted by
the national legislature, agreeably to the
powers reserved to the states respective-
ly, by the constitution of the United
States. and in a manner the best calcu-
lated to insure such a degree of military
discipline and knowledge of tactics, as
will, under the auspices of a benign Pro-
vidence, render the militia a sure and
permanent bulwark of national defence.

None but an armed nation can dis-
pense with a standing army, To keep
ours armed and disciplined is, therefore,
at all times, important—but especially
so at a moment when rights the most
essential to our welfare have been vio-
lated, and an infraction of treaty com-
mitted without colour or pretext : and
although we are willing to believe that
this has been the act of a subordinate a-
gent only, yet, as it is wise to prepare
for the possibility, that it may have been
the leading measure of a system : while,
therefore, we are endeavouring, and
with a considerable degree of confidence,
to obtain by friendly negociation, a
peaceable redress of the injury, and ef-
fectual provision against its repetition,
let us array the strength of the nation,
and be ready to do with promptitude and
effect, whatever a regard to justice and
our future security, may require.

Accept assurances of my high conli-
deration and respect.

(Signed) TH: JEFFERSON.

To his Excellency the Governor
of the state of New York.