A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents
by
James D. Richardson
Part 9 out of 9
The PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE:
It appearing by certain provisions contained in a late act of the
general assembly of Virginia, entitled "An act incorporating the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company," that the assent of Congress will
be necessary to carry the said act into effect, I herewith transmit
a copy thereof, that it may be considered with a view to the object
contemplated.
JAMES MONROE.
[The same message was sent to the House of Representatives.]
WASHINGTON, _February 7, 1825_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit herewith to the House a report from the Secretary of State,
with copies of the correspondence relating to the claims of the citizens
of the United States upon the Government of the Netherlands, requested
by a resolution of the House of the 18th of January last.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 11, 1825_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of
January 5, I herewith transmit a report from the Secretary of the Navy,
with copies of the proceedings of the courts-martial in the cases of
Lieutenants Weaver and Conner.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 14, 1825_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I herewith transmit a report from the Secretary of War, with a report
to him by the Chief Engineer, of the examination which has been made by
the Board of Engineers for Internal Improvement, in obedience to their
instructions, of the country between the Potomac and Ohio rivers,
between the latter and Lake Erie, between the Allegheny and Schuylkill
rivers, the Delaware and the Raritan, between Buzzards and Barnstable
bays, and the Narraganset roads and Boston Harbor, with explanatory
observations on each route. From the view which I have taken of these
reports I contemplate results of incalculable advantage to our Union,
because I see in them the most satisfactory proof that certain
impediments which had a tendency to embarrass the intercourse between
some of its most important sections may be removed without serious
difficulty, and that facilities may be afforded in other quarters which
will have the happiest effect. Of the right in Congress to promote these
great results by the appropriation of the public money, in harmony
with the States to be affected by them, having already communicated
my sentiments fully and on mature consideration, I deem it unnecessary
to enlarge at this time.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 16, 1825_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
of State, containing the information called for by their resolution of
the 1st of this month, touching the capture and detention of American
fishermen during the last season.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 17, 1825_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
I herewith transmit to the House a report from the Secretary of State,
with copies of the correspondence with the Government of France,
requested by the resolution of the House of the 25th of January last.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 17, 1825_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I invite the attention of Congress to the peculiar situation of this
District in regard to the exposure of its inhabitants to contagious
diseases from abroad, against which it is thought that adequate
provision should now be made. The exposure being common to the whole
District, the regulation should apply to the whole, to make which
Congress alone possesses the adequate power. That the regulation should
be made by Congress is the more necessary from the consideration that
this being the seat of the Government, its protection against such
diseases must form one of its principal objects.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 21, 1825_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War, with a report
to him from the Third Auditor, of the settlement in the amount stated
of the claims of the State of Massachusetts for services rendered by
the militia of that State in the late war, the payment of which has
hitherto been prevented by causes which are well known to Congress.
Having communicated my sentiments on this subject fully in a message
bearing date on the 23d of February, 1824, it is unnecessary to repeat
in detail here what I there advanced. By recurring to that message and
to the documents referred to in it it will be seen that the conduct of
the executive of that State in refusing to place the militia thereof at
that difficult conjuncture under the direction of the Executive of the
United States, as it was bound to do by a fair construction of the
Constitution, and as the other States did, is the great cause to which
the difficulty adverted to is to be ascribed. It will also be seen on a
view of those documents that the executive of the State was warned at
the time if it persevered in the refusal that the consequences which
have followed would be inevitable; that the attitude assumed by the
State formed a case which was not contemplated by the existing laws
of the United States relating to militia services; that the payment
of the claims of the State for such services could be provided for by
Congress only and by a special law for the purpose. Having made this
communication while acting in the Department of War to the governor
of Massachusetts, with the sanction and under the direction of my
enlightened and virtuous predecessor, it would be improper in any view
which may be taken of the subject for me to change the ground then
assumed, to withdraw this great question from the consideration of
Congress, and to act on it myself. Had the Executive been in error,
it is entitled to censure, making a just allowance for the motive which
guided it. If its conduct was correct, the ground then assumed ought
to be maintained by it. It belongs to Congress alone to terminate this
distressing incident on just principles, with a view to the highest
interests of our Union.
From the view which I have taken of the subject I am confirmed in the
opinion that Congress should now decide on the claim and allow to the
State such portions thereof as are founded on the principles laid down
in the former message. If those principles are correct, as on great
consideration I am satisfied they are, it appears to me to be just
in itself and of high importance that the sums which may be due in
conformity therewith should no longer be withheld from the State.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 21, 1825_.
The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE PRO TEMPORE:
I transmit to the Senate a convention, signed by the plenipotentiaries
of the United States and of the Republic of Colombia at Bogota on the
10th of December, 1824, together with the documents appertaining to the
negotiation of the same, for the constitutional consideration of the
Senate with regard to its ratification,
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 21, 1825_.
The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE PRO TEMPORE:
I transmit to the Senate a convention of general peace, amity,
navigation, and commerce, signed by the plenipotentiaries of the United
States and of the Republic of Colombia at Bogota on the 3d of October,
1824, together with the documents appertaining to the negotiation of the
same, for the constitutional consideration of the Senate with regard to
its ratification.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 23, 1825_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I transmit to the House of Representatives a further report from the
Secretary of State, in pursuance of their resolution of the 1st instant,
with the papers to which it refers, upon the subject of the capture and
detention of American fishermen the past season in the Bay of Fundy.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 25, 1825_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I communicate herewith to both Houses of Congress copies of the treaties
between the United States and the Quapaw Nation of Indians, concluded at
Harringtons, in the Territory of Arkansas, on the 15th day of November
last, and between the United States and the Choctaw Nation of Indians,
concluded at the city of Washington on the 20th day of January last,
which have been duly ratified.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 26, 1825_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
Just before the termination of the last session an act entitled "An
act concerning wrecks on the coast of Florida," which then passed,
was presented to me with many others and approved, and, as I thought,
signed. A report to that effect was then made to Congress. It appeared,
however, after the adjournment that the evidence of such approbation
had not been attached to it. Whether the act may be considered in
force under such circumstances is a point on which it belongs not
to me to decide. To remove all doubt on the subject, I submit to the
consideration of Congress the propriety of passing a declaratory act
to that effect.
JAMES MONROE.
WASHINGTON, _February 28, 1825_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit to the Senate, for the exercise of its constitutional power,
a treaty lately concluded at the Indian Springs, by commissioners of
the United States duly authorized, with the chiefs of the Creek Nation,
assembled there in council, with the documents connected therewith.
JAMES MONROE.
PROCLAMATION.
[From Senate Journal, Eighteenth Congress, second session, p. 269.]
WASHINGTON, _January 19, 1825_.
_The President of the United States to ------, Senator for the State
of ------_:
Certain matters touching the public good requiring that the Senate of
the United States should be convened on Friday, the 4th day of March
next, you are desired to attend at the Senate Chamber, in the city of
Washington, on that day, then and there to receive and deliberate on
such communications as shall be made to you.
JAMES MONROE.
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