I am convinced that every citizen will receive with a pleasing emotion
this flag, elsewhere the terror of the enemies of liberty, here the
certain pledge of faithful friendship, especially when they recollect
that it guides to combat men who have shared their toils and who were
prepared for liberty by aiding them to acquire their own.
P.A. ADET.
_Answer of the President of the United States_.
UNITED STATES, _January 1, 1796_.
Born, sir, in a land of liberty; having early learned its value; having
engaged in a perilous conflict to defend it; having, in a word, devoted
the best years of my life to secure its permanent establishment in my
own country, my anxious recollections, my sympathetic feelings, and my
best wishes are irresistibly excited whensoever in any country I see
an oppressed nation unfurl the banners of freedom. But above all, the
events of the French Revolution have produced the deepest solicitude
as well as the highest admiration. To call your nation brave were to
pronounce but common praise. Wonderful people! Ages to come will read
with astonishment the history of your brilliant exploits! I rejoice that
the period of your toils and of your immense sacrifices is approaching.
I rejoice that the interesting revolutionary movements of so many
years have issued in the formation of a constitution designed to give
permanency to the great object for which you have contended. I rejoice
that liberty, which you have so long embraced with enthusiasm--liberty,
of which you have been the invincible defenders--now finds an asylum in
the bosom of a regularly organized Government, a Government which, being
formed to secure the happiness of the French people, corresponds with
the ardent wishes of my heart, while it gratifies the pride of every
citizen of the United States by its resemblance to their own. On these
glorious events accept, sir, my sincere congratulations.
In delivering to you these sentiments I express not my own feelings
only, but those of my fellow-citizens, in relation to the commencement,
the progress, and the issue of the French Revolution, and they will
cordially join with me in purest wishes to the Supreme Being that the
citizens of our sister Republic, our magnanimous allies, may soon enjoy
in peace that liberty which they have purchased at so great a price,
and all the happiness which liberty can bestow.
I receive, sir, with lively sensibility the symbol of the triumphs and
of the enfranchisement of your nation, the colors of France, which you
have now presented to the United States. The transaction will be
announced to Congress, and the colors will be deposited with those
archives of the United States which are at once the evidences and the
memorials of their freedom and independence. May these be perpetual,
and may the friendship of the two Republics be commensurate with their
existence.
Go. WASHINGTON.
UNITED STATES, _January 13, 1796_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I lay before you an official statement of the expenditure to the end of
the year 1795 from the sums heretofore granted to defray the contingent
expenses of the Government.
Go. WASHINGTON.
UNITED STATES, _February 29, 1796_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
I send herewith the papers relating to the negotiation of the treaty
with Spain, to which I referred in my message of the 26th instant.[17]
Go. WASHINGTON.
[Footnote 17: See Vol. I, p. 192.]
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
I send herewith a copy of the treaty of friendship, limits, and
navigation between the United States and His Catholic Majesty, which has
been ratified by me with your advice and consent. A copy of the treaty
will be immediately communicated to the House of Representatives, it
being necessary to make provision in the present session for carrying
into execution the third and twenty-first articles, particularly the
former, seeing that execution must commence before the next meeting of
Congress.
Estimates of the moneys necessary to be provided for the purposes of
this and several other treaties with foreign nations and the Indian
tribes will be laid before you by the proper Department.
Go. WASHINGTON.
MARCH 29, 1796.
UNITED STATES, _February 15, 1707_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_:
I lay before you an official statement of the expenditure to the end of
the year 1796 from the sums heretofore granted to defray the contingent
charges of the Government.
Go. WASHINGTON.
UNITED STATES, _June 22, 1797_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
Having sent the report and documents which accompany this message to the
House of Representatives,[18] in compliance with their desire expressed
in their resolution of the 10th of this month, I think it proper to send
duplicates to the Senate for their information.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 18: See message of June 22, 1797, Vol. I, p. 247.]
UNITED STATES, _May 4, 1798_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I now transmit to Congress copies of all the communications[19] from our
envoys extraordinary received since their arrival in Paris, excepting
those before presented by me to both Houses.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 19: Relating to affairs between the United States and France.]
UNITED STATES, _May 29, 1798_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
An article explanatory of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation
between the United States and His Britannic Majesty has been signed by
the plenipotentiaries of the two powers, which I now submit to the
Senate for their consideration.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _June 5, 1798_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I now transmit to both Houses the communications[20] from our envoys
at Paris received since the last which have been presented by me to
Congress.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 20: Relating to affairs between the United States and France.]
UNITED STATES, _June 18, 1798_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I now transmit to Congress the dispatch No. 8 from our envoys
extraordinary to the French Republic,[21] which was received at the
Secretary of State's office on Thursday, the 14th day of this month.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 21: Inclosing correspondence with the French minister of
foreign relations relative to affairs between the United States and
France.]
DECEMBER 31, 1798.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
A report of the Secretary of War made to me on the 24th of this month,
relative to the military establishment,[22] I think it my duty to
transmit to Congress and recommend to their consideration.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 22: Reorganization of the Army.]
JANUARY 8, 1799.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
In obedience to the law, I now lay before you my annual account of the
application of the grant made by Congress for the contingent charges of
Government from the 1st of January to the 31st of December, 1798.
JOHN ADAMS.
JANUARY 21, 1799.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
According to an intimation in my message of Friday last,[23] I now lay
before Congress a report of the Secretary of State, containing his
observations on some of the documents which attended it.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 23: See message of January 18, 1799, Vol. I, p.281.]
JANUARY 30, 1799.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
I send you, for your consideration, a treaty with the Oneida Nation of
Indians, made on the 1st day of June, 1798, at their village.
JOHN ADAMS.
JANUARY 31, 1799.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I have received a report from the Director of the Mint on the state of
the business committed to his superintendence, and a statement of the
coinage of the Mint of the United States for the year 1798, which it is
proper to lay before Congress.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _December 13, 1799_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
In conformity with your recommendation expressed in your resolution of
March 6, 1798, I have entered into a friendly negotiation with the Bey
and Government of Tunis on the subject[24] of the fourteenth article of
the treaty of peace and friendship between the United States and that
power. The result of that negotiation I now lay before the Senate for
their consideration.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 24: Commerce.]
UNITED STATES, _January 8, 1800_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
A report made to me on the 1st day of this month by the Director of the
Mint, through the office of the Secretary of State, with the documents
attending it, I transmit to both Houses of Congress for their
consideration.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _January 20, 1800_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
In obedience to law, I transmit to Congress my annual account of the
contingent fund.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _February 7, 1800_.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
In consequence of your request to me conveyed in your resolution of the
4th of this month, I directed the Secretary of State to lay before me
copies of the papers intended.[25] These copies, together with his
report, I now transmit to the House of Representatives, for the
consideration of the members.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 25: Relating to the surrender by the United States to Great
Britain of Thomas Nash, charged with murder and piracy on the British
frigate _Hermione_.]
UNITED STATES, _February 17, 1800_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
I now lay before you the instructions given to our minister at the Court
of Berlin, with the correspondence, respecting the negotiation of the
treaty with Prussia, according to your request of the 12th of this
month.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _April 17, 1800_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
In conformity with your request, I transmit you a return from the
War Office of those officers who have been appointed under the act
entitled "An act to augment the Army of the United States, and for
other purposes," designating such officers who have accepted their
appointments and those who have declined accepting, resigned their
commissions, died, etc.
A report from the Secretary of War, which accompanied this return, as
it contains observations which may throw some light upon the subject,
I transmit with it.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _December 22, 1800_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
In conformity with your request in your resolution of the 19th of
this month, I transmit you the instructions given to our late envoys
extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary to the French Republic.
It is my request to the Senate that these instructions may be considered
in strict confidence and returned to me as soon as the Senate shall have
made all the use of them they may judge necessary.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _January 16, 1801_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I now transmit to both Houses of Congress, in conformity to law, my
annual account of the application of grants for the contingent charges
of Government for the year 1800.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _February 20, 1801_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
The inclosed report[26] to me, made by the Acting Secretary of War on the
14th of this month, appears to be so well founded in all respects that I
recommend it to the consideration of Congress.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 26: Relating to the inconveniences arising from the want of a
competent general staff of the Army.]
UNITED STATES, _February 20, 1801_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
I request of the Senate that the letter and journal of our late envoys
to France and the copy of their instructions and other documents relative
to that negotiation may be returned to me or to the Office of State.
JOHN ADAMS.
UNITED STATES, _February 27, 1801_.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I transmit you a report of the Secretary of State, with sundry documents,
relative to the subject of your resolution of the 24th instant.[27]
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 27: Relating to depredations on American commerce by British
ships of war; lists of captured American vessels, etc.]
UNITED STATES, _February 27, 1801_.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
I transmit to you, in conformity with your request of the 17th instant,
two reports, one from the Acting Secretary of War, the other from the
Secretary of the Treasury, of the 26th,[28] with details of the
expenditure of the moneys appropriated by the acts of the 20th [4th]
of May and 6th of July, 1798, and of the 10th of May, 1800.
JOHN ADAMS.
[Footnote 28: Estimates of the necessary expenditures for the purchase
and fabrication of arms and cannon and establishment of foundries and
armories, 1798-1801, and statement of appropriations for above purposes
and of warrants drawn on same to December 31, 1800.]
JANUARY 12, 1802.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
According to the request in your resolution of the 8th instant, I now
lay before you a letter from the Secretary of State, containing an
estimate of the expenses necessary for carrying into effect the
convention between the United States of America and the French Republic.
TH: JEFFERSON.
FEBRUARY 8, 1802.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
In compliance with your resolution of the 2d instant, I have to inform
you that early in the preceding summer I took measures for carrying into
effect the act passed on the 19th of February, 1799, and that of the
13th of May, 1800, mentioned in your resolution. The objects of these
acts were understood to be to purchase from the Indians south of the
Ohio some portions of land peculiarly interesting to the Union or to
particular States and the establishment of certain roads to facilitate
communication with our distant settlements. Commissioners were
accordingly appointed to treat with the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws,
and Creeks. As these nations are known to be very jealous on the subject
of their lands, the commissioners were instructed, as will be seen by
the inclosed extract, to enlarge, restrain, or even to suppress
propositions as appearances should indicate to be expedient. Their first
meeting was with the Cherokees. The extract from the speech of our
commissioners and the answers of the Cherokee chiefs will show the
caution of the former and the temper of the latter, and that though our
overtures to them were moderate and respectful of their rights, their
determination was to yield no accommodation.
The commissioners proceeded then to the Chickasaws, who discovered at
first considerable alarm and anxiety lest land should be asked of them.
A just regard for this very friendly nation, whose attachment to us has
been invariable, forbade the pressure of anything disagreeable on them,
and they yielded with alacrity the road through their country which was
asked and was essential to our communication with the Mississippi
Territory.
The conferences with the Choctaws are probably ended, but as yet we are
not informed of their result. Those with the Creeks are not expected to
be held till the ensuing spring.
TH: JEFFERSON.
FEBRUARY 17, 1802.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_:
I lay before both Houses of Congress, for their information, the report
from the Director of the Mint, now inclosed.
TH: JEFFERSON.
MARCH 25, 1802.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
The act fixing the military peace establishment of the United States
rendering it necessary that the officers retained in service should in
most cases be transferred into regiments different from those to which
their commissions attach them, new commissions are deemed necessary for
them, as well as for those entitled to promotion and for the ensigns
newly nominated. The inclosed report from the Secretary of War exhibits
the transfers, promotions, and new appointments proposed in conformity
with the law, and I accordingly nominate the several persons named in
the report for commissions according to its tenor.
TH: JEFFERSON.
APRIL 3, 1802.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
According to the request expressed in your resolution of yesterday, I
now transmit to the Senate the proceedings of the court-martial lately
held for the trial of Captain Cornelius Lyman, asking the favor of their
return at the convenience of the Senate, as they are the originals.
TH: JEFFERSON.
APRIL 17, 1802.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
I now transmit you a report of the Secretary of State, with the document
accompanying it, on the subject of your resolution of the 12th instant,
concerning the seventh article[29] of the treaty between the United
States and Great Britain.
TH: JEFFERSON.
[Footnote 29: Relating to claims of American citizens against Great
Britain and of British subjects against the United States for illegal
captures of vessels, etc.]
APRIL 20, 1802.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_:
The object of the inclosed letter from the Director of the Mint at
Philadelphia being within legislative competence only, I transmit it to
both Houses of Congress.
TH: JEFFERSON.
JANUARY 11, 1803.
_Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_:
I transmit you a report received from the Director of the Mint on the
subject of that institution.
TH: JEFFERSON.
MARCH 1, 1803.
_Gentlemen of the House of Representatives_:
According to the request stated in your resolution of December 20,
I communicated to you such returns of the militia of the different
States as had then been received.[30] Since that date returns have been
received from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, North
Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky, which are now transmitted to you.
TH: JEFFERSON.
[Footnote 30: See message of January 5, 1803, Vol. I, p. 350.]
DECEMBER 7, 1803.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
Since the last communication made to Congress of the laws of the Indiana
Territory I have received those of which a copy is now inclosed for the
information of both Houses.
TH: JEFFERSON.
JANUARY 13, 1804.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
The Director of the Mint having made to me his report of the
transactions of the Mint for the year 1803, I now lay the same before
you for your information.
TH: JEFFERSON.
MARCH 7, 1804.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I communicate to Congress an extract of a letter from Governor Claiborne
to the Secretary of State, with one which it covered, for their
information as to the present state of the subject to which they
relate.[31]
TH: JEFFERSON.
[Footnote 31: Importation of slaves into Louisiana.]
MARCH 15, 1804.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
Agreeably to the request of the Senate and House of Representatives,
delivered me by their Joint Committee of Enrolled Bills, I now return
the enrolled bill entitled "An act for the relief of the captors of the
Moorish armed ships _Meshouda_ and _Mirboha_" to the House of
Representatives, in which it originated.
TH: JEFFERSON
[The same message was sent to the Senate.]
DECEMBER 6, 1804.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I communicate, for the information of Congress, a report of the Surveyor
of the Public Buildings at Washington on the subject of those buildings
and the application of the moneys appropriated for them.
TH: JEFFERSON.
JANUARY 25, 1805.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I communicate, for the information of Congress, the report of the
Director of the Mint of the operations of that institution during the
last year.
TH: JEFFERSON.
JANUARY 31, 1805.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
According to the desire expressed in your resolution of the 28th instant,
I now communicate a report of the Secretary of State, with documents,
relative to complaints[32] against arming the merchant ships and
vessels of the United States and the conduct of the captains and crews
of such as have been armed.
TH: JEFFERSON.
[Footnote 32: By Great Britain and France.]
FEBRUARY 23, 1805.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In further compliance with the desire of the House of Representatives,
expressed in their resolution of December 31, I now transmit the
report and map of Isaac Briggs referred to in my message of the 1st
instant,[33] and received by the last post from New Orleans.
TH: JEFFERSON.
[Footnote 33: See Vol. I, pp. 376-377.]
DECEMBER 6, 1805.
The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
SIR: In order to give to Congress the details necessary for their full
information of the state of things between Spain and the United States,
I send them the communication and documents now inclosed. Although
stated to be confidential, that term is not meant to be extended to all
the documents, the greater part of which are proper for the public eye.
It is applied only to the message itself and to the letters from our
own and foreign ministers, which if disclosed might throw additional
difficulties in the way of accommodation. These alone, therefore, are
delivered to the Legislature in confidence that they will be kept
secret.
TH: JEFFERSON.
[The same message was addressed to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.]
DECEMBER 10, 1805.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
The inclosed documents,[34] relating to my message of the 6th instant,
not being ready at that date, I thought it better not to detain the
message, but to communicate these papers afterwards, as supplementary to
those then sent. They are not of a nature to be deemed confidential.
TH: JEFFERSON.
[Footnote 34: Relating to depredations on American commerce by Spanish
privateers, etc.]
DECEMBER 27, 1805.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I lay before Congress a report of the Surveyor of the Public Buildings,
stating the progress made on them during the last season and what may be
expected to be accomplished in the ensuing one.
TH: JEFFERSON.
JANUARY 15, 1806.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I communicate, for the information of Congress, the report of the
Director of the Mint of the operations of that institution during the
last year.
TH: JEFFERSON
JANUARY 24, 1806.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
According to the request of your resolution of yesterday, I again
communicate the letter of the minister plenipotentiary of the United
States at London to the secretary of that Government for foreign affairs
dated October 18, 1805, with a postscript of October 25, but still in
confidence that the matter of it shall not be made public.
TH: JEFFERSON.
FEBRUARY 4, 1806.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I now transmit the letters desired by the resolution of the Senate of
January 20 so far as they exist in the offices, to wit:
Extract of a letter from the Department of State to Mr. Eaton, May 20,
1801.
The letter from Mr. Cathcart to Mr. Eaton dated Leghorn, June 15, 1801,
is not in the offices, but the substance of it is supposed to be recited
in those of Mr. Cathcart to the Secretary of State of August 15, 1802,
and July 2, 1801, extracts of both of which are transmitted.
The letter of Mr. Eaton of September 5, 1801, supposed to be that
intended by the Senate, as it answers their description. There is no
letter of his of September 15.
Extract of a letter from William Eaton to the Secretary of State,
December 13, 1801.
Extract from Captain Murray's letter of August 18, 1802.
Extract of a letter from Mr. Cathcart to the Secretary of State, August
25, 1802.
Extract of a letter from Mr. Morris to the Secretary of the Navy, March
30, 1803.
The letter from the Swedish admiral to Hamet Bashaw designated in the
resolution of the Senate is not in possession of the Executive.
The extracts above mentioned give the whole matter contained in the
respective letters relating to Hamet B. Caramalli. The parts omitted are
on subjects entirely foreign to what concerns him.
TH: JEFFERSON.
FEBRUARY 4, 1806.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_: