The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

The measures of defence ordered by the General Assembly at former Sessions, have all been carried into effect, as far as was practicable, and within the limits of our scanty resources. The services of that part of our militia, which was drafted to complete the States' quota of five hundred men, were dispensed with by General Cushing in the early part of the winter, and such of the men as had been embodied were accordingly permitted to return home. I have since, on the tenth of this month, received a Communication from the War Department, with an act of Congress, authorizing the President of the United States to accept the services of state troops and volunteers, for the ensuing year, which are now submitted to your consideration, and will undoubtedly receive that attention which circumstances may require.

In consequence of the suffering condition of the State troops, under Major John Wood, for their not having received their pay from the United States, a small advance was made them in clothing and other necessaries under the authority of a resolution of the General Assembly, passed in October: and I have since, for the same reason, caused that corps to be paid to the 31st of December last, under an arrangement with General Cushing, and upon an assurance from the government of the United States, that the State shall be reimbursed with interest in ninety days.

From the pressure of war on all classes of citizens, and the peculiar embarrassments attending pecuniary transactions, by reason of the deranged situation of the money of some of the States, and the general distrust and low state of publick credit, I have not been able to obtain all the aid expected from the act authorizing loan; but having borrowed a part of the sums authorized by law, I have been enabled to satisfy the claims of the militia who were on duty the last summer, and the greater part of the demands on the Commissary and Quartermaster Generals' department, and we have now on hand the supplies purchased since October, of provisions, ammunition and military stores, which the threatening aspect of the war made it necessary to procure.

A statement of the condition of the General Treasury and of the Staff Departments will be exhibited by the proper officers, and it will rest with the General Assembly to make such disposition of the stores and munitions on hand—the publick interest may require. Our small resources have always required a most frugal administration, and the heavy taxes which the debts incurred by the war, will, for a long time subject us to, from the general government, will render rigid economy in our expenditures as necessary as at any former period.