Washington,
_December 8, 1828_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
2d of April last, I transmit a copy of the letter from the Cherokee
Council to Colonel Hugh Montgomery, the agent, requested by the
resolution, with a report[018] from the Secretary of War.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 8, 1828_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
23d of May last, I transmit a report from the Secretary of War, with
documents, containing the information requested, relating to the
harbors, roads, and other works of internal improvements undertaken and
projected since the 30th April, 1824.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 8, 1828_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I communicate to the Senate, for their advice with regard to its
ratification, a treaty made and concluded at the missionary
establishment upon the St. Joseph of Lake Michigan the 20th day of
September last, between Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard, commissioners of
the United States, and the Potawatamie tribe of Indians, the journal and
report of the commissioners accompanying the treaty.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 8, 1828_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of War, with
documents, prepared in compliance with their resolution of the 26th of
May last, concerning the practicability and probable cost of
constructing an artificial harbor, commonly called a "breakwater," at or
near the mouth of the Mississippi.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 9, 1828_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
The inclosed report from the Secretary of State and subjoined documents
are transmitted to the Senate in compliance with their resolution of
25th April last, requesting information concerning the number of free
taxable inhabitants _who are not freeholders_ in certain States and
Territories of the Union.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 15, 1828_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the
8th instant, referring to a negotiation of the British Government, by
virtue of a resolution of the House of the 10th of May last, relative to
the surrender of fugitive slaves, I transmit herewith a report from the
Secretary of State, with copies of instructions and correspondence,
containing the desired information.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 15, 1828_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit to the Senate, for their constitutional advice, an additional
article, signed on the 4th day of June last, to the convention of
friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and the
Hanseatic Republics of Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburg concluded at this
place on the 20th December, 1827. A copy of the article is likewise
inclosed.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 16, 1828_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit to the Senate, for their advice, articles of agreement
concluded at Green Bay, in the Territory of Michigan, on the 20th of
August last, between Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard, commissioners on the
part of the United States, and the chiefs of the Winnebago tribe and of
the united tribes of the Potawatamies, Chippewas, and Ottawas, being a
temporary arrangement concerning the occupation of a certain portion of
the mining country which has not heretofore been ceded to the United
States.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_December 22, 1828_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary
of War, with documents, reported in compliance with the resolution of
the House of the 10th instant, requesting a copy of the instructions
given for the government of the agent of the United States
superintendent of the lead mines in Missouri and Illinois.
Also a report from the Secretary of War, in compliance with the
resolution of the House of the 15th instant, setting forth the reasons
upon which it has not been deemed expedient to nominate commissioners to
hold a treaty with the Choctaw Nation of Indians for the purchase of a
certain tract of land, as authorized by the act of Congress of the 24th
of May last.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 1, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
18th ultimo, I communicate to the House a report from the Secretary of
War, containing the information required in relation to the intended
frauds upon the revenue, which has rendered expedient the stationing
additional troops on the Niagara frontier. The other evidence embraced
by the resolution, and in possession of the Government, does not, in my
judgment, at present render any further employment of a regular armed
force for the enforcement of the revenue laws necessary.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 7, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
19th May last, requesting a copy of the correspondence between the
minister of the United States at the Court of Madrid and the Government
of Spain on the subject of claims of citizens of the United States
against the said Government, I transmit herewith a report from the
Secretary of State, with the correspondence desired by the resolution.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 14, 1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit herewith to the Senate a report from the Secretary of State,
with supplemental returns of free taxable inhabitants not freeholders in
certain States and Territories of the United States, which returns have
been received since my message to the Senate of the 9th December last.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 17, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
13th instant, I transmit herewith a report[019] from the Secretary of
War, with an application from the Creek Indians, through the agent of
the United States, and an opinion of counsel in behalf of the Indians,
having relation to the subject of the resolution.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 21, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with two resolutions of the House of Representatives of
the 5th instant, requesting information received not heretofore
communicated in relation to the arrest and trial in the British Province
of New Brunswick of John Baker, a citizen of the United States, and the
correspondence between the Government of the United States and that of
Great Britain in relation to the said arrest and to the usurpation of
jurisdiction by the British government of New Brunswick within the
limits of the State of Maine, I transmit a report from the Secretary of
State, with the information and correspondence requested by the House.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 21, 1829_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit to Congress copies of two treaties with Indian tribes, which
have been ratified:
1. Articles of agreement between the United States of America and the
Winnebago tribe and the united tribes of Potawatamie, Chippeways; and
Ottawa Indians, concluded at Green Bay 25th August, 1828.
2. Treaty between the United States of America and the Potawatamie tribe
of Indians, concluded at the missionary establishment upon the St.
Joseph of Lake Michigan 20th September, 1828.
Both by Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard, commissioners on the part of the
United States, with certain chiefs and warriors of the respective
tribes.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 26, 1829_
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
17th instant, requesting copies of the instructions to the commissioners
of the United States who made the treaty at the Indian Springs in 1821,
I transmit to the House a report from the Secretary of War of the 22d
instant, with copies of those instructions.
And in compliance with a resolution of the House of the 20th instant,
requesting a communication of the journal of the above-mentioned
commissioners, I transmit a report from the Secretary of War of the 24th
instant, with copies of the papers, which it is believed will supply the
information desired by the resolution, no regular journal having been
transmitted by the commissioners to the Department.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 26, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with
voluminous documents prepared and collected in compliance with a
resolution of the House of Representatives of the 13th January, 1825,
calling for a statement of convictions, executions, and pardons for
capital offenses under the authority of the Government of the United
States since the adoption of the Constitution.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 26, 1829_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit to Congress copies of a convention of friendship, commerce,
and navigation between the United States and the free Hanseatic
Republics of Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburg, the ratifications of which
were exchanged at this place on the 2d day of June last; and also of an
additional article to the same convention, signed on the 4th day of June
last, and the ratifications of which were exchanged at this city on the
14th of the present month.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 29, 1829_
_The President of the Senate of the United States_
Sir:
I transmit herewith a letter which I have received from Mr. David,
member of the Institute of France, professor of the School of Painting
at Paris, and member of the Legion of Honor, the artist who presents to
Congress the bust of General Lafayette which has been received with it;
and I have to request the favor that after it has been communicated to
the Senate it may be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives for similar communication to that body.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 29, 1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I nominate Stephen Clin, of Georgia, to be secretary of the legation of
the United States at the Court of Great Britain.
Jesse H. Willis, of Florida, to be collector of the customs for the
recently established district of St. Marks and inspector of the revenue
for the port of Magnolia, in Florida.
And I nominate for reappointment Callender Irvine, of Pennsylvania, to
be Commissary-General of Purchases. It is proper to apprise the Senate
that this office is one of those which by the act of Congress of 15th
May, 1820, is limited to the term of four years; that it was held by Mr.
Irvine at the time of the passage of that act, but that by some
inadvertence he has not hitherto been nominated for reappointment. The
fact having but just now been ascertained by me, I deem it my duty to
make the nomination. Mr. Irvine has hitherto performed the duties of the
office under his original appointment.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_January 30, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
13th instant, requesting information of the measures taken in execution
of the act of 9th May last, making an appropriation for carrying into
effect the articles of agreement and cession of 24th April, 1802,
between the State of Georgia and the United States, and also in
execution of certain provisions of the treaty of May last with the
Cherokee Indians, I transmit to the House a report from the Secretary of
War, with documents, comprising the desired information.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 2, 1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 20th ultimo,
requesting information received since the last session of Congress from
the Mexican Government respecting the recovery of debts in that country
due to American citizens, I transmit a report from the Secretary of
State, with copies of a letter of instructions to the minister of the
United States in Mexico, and of his answer, relating to the subject of
the resolution.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 6, 1829_
_To the Senate of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 9th of December
last, requesting a detailed statement of the amount expended by the
Federal Government upon works of internal improvement within the limits
of the several States, with an estimate of the amount necessary to
complete any work begun and not yet completed, I transmit herewith
reports from the Secretaries of the Treasury and of War, with documents,
containing the information desired by the resolution.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 6, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
4th instant, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War,
with that of the commissioner appointed to locate the national road from
Zanesville, in Ohio, to the seat of government of the State of Missouri.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 11, 1829_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
By the act of Congress of the 23d of May last, "supplementary to the
several acts providing for the settlement and confirmation of private
land claims in Florida," provision was made for the final adjudication
of such claims by the judges of the superior courts of the districts
wherein the lands claimed respectively lie, and by appeal from them to
the Supreme Court of the United States; and the attorneys of the United
States in the several districts were charged with the duty, in every
case where the decision should be against the United States by the judge
of the superior court of the district, to make out and transmit to the
Attorney-General of the United States a statement containing the facts
of the case and the points of law on which the same was decided, and it
was made the duty of the Attorney-General in most of those cases to
direct an appeal to be made to the Supreme Court of the United States
and to appear for the United States and prosecute such appeals. By the
same act the President of the United States was authorized to appoint a
law agent to superintend the interests of the United States in the
premises, and to employ assistant counsel if in his opinion the public
interest should require the same.
In the process of carrying into execution this law it was the opinion of
the Attorney-General of the United States that a translated complete
collection of all the Spanish and French ordinances, etc., affecting the
land titles in Florida and the other territories heretofore belonging to
France and Spain, would be indispensable to a just decision of those
claims by the Supreme Court. At his suggestion the task of preparing
this compilation was undertaken by Joseph M. White, of Florida, who was
employed as assistant counsel in behalf of the United States. The
collection has accordingly been made and is deposited in manuscript at
the Department of State, subject to such order as Congress may see fit
to take concerning it. The letter from Mr. White to the Secretary of
State, with a descriptive list of the documents collected and thus
deposited, is herewith transmitted to Congress.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 16, 1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 5th instant,
requesting detailed statements of the expenses incurred and of those
which may be necessary for the expedition proposed for exploring the
Pacific Ocean and South Seas, and also of the several amounts
transferred from the different heads of appropriation for the support of
the Navy to this object and the authority by which such transfers have
been made, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of the Navy,
with documents, from which the Senate will perceive that no such
transfer has been made, and which contain the other information desired
by the resolution.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 20, 1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 10th instant,
requesting copies of correspondence and communications from 20th
October, 1816, to 24th November, 1817, received at the Department of
State from the American commissioner under the fourth article of the
treaty of Ghent, I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of
State, with the copies of papers mentioned in the resolution.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 20, 1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of the Treasury,
with documents, prepared in pursuance of their resolution of the 31st of
December last, and showing the amount of expenses incurred in the
survey, sale, and management of the public lands for the year 1827.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 25,1829_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
By the act of Congress of the 3d March, 1826, for the survey of a route
for a canal between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, the President
of the United States was authorized to cause to be made an accurate and
minute examination of the country south of the St. Marys River, and
including the same, with a view to ascertain the most eligible route for
a canal admitting the transit of boats to connect the Atlantic with the
Gulf of Mexico, and also with a view to ascertain the practicability of
a ship channel; that he cause particularly to be examined the route to
the Appalachicola River or Bay, with a view to both the above objects;
that he cause the necessary surveys, both by land and along the coast,
with estimates of the expense of each, accompanied with proper plans,
notes, observations, explanations, and opinions of the Board of
Engineers, and that he cause a full report of these proceedings to be
made to Congress.
In execution of this law I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary
of War, with a copy of that of the Board of Engineers, upon this great
and most desirable national work. The time not having allowed a copy to
be taken of the map, one copy only of the whole report is transmitted to
the Senate, with the request that it may be communicated to the House of
Representatives, and that the map may be ultimately returned to the
Department of War.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 26, 1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 20th instant, I
transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War, with the
inspection reports of Brevet Major-General Gaines for the years 1826 and
1827, relating to the organization of the Army and militia of the United
States, with the request that the original documents may be returned to
the Department of War at the convenience of the Senate.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 26,1829_.
_To the Senate of the United States_:
I transmit herewith to the Senate, for their constitutional advice with
regard to its ratification, a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation
between the United States and His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, signed
by the plenipotentiaries of the respective Governments at Rio de Janeiro
on the 12th day of December last. A copy of the treaty is likewise
inclosed, with copies of the instructions under which it was negotiated
and a letter from Mr. Tudor elucidating some of its provisions. It is
requested that at the convenience of the Senate the original papers may
be returned to the Department of State.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 28, 1829_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit to Congress copies of two Indian treaties, which have duly
ratified:
1. A treaty with the Chippewa, Menominie, and Winnebago Indians,
concluded on the 11th of August, 1827, at the Butte des Morts, on Fox
River, in the Territory of Michigan, between Lewis Cass and Thomas L.
McKenney, commissioners on the part of the United States, and certain
chiefs and warriors of the said tribes on their part.
2. A treaty with the Potawatamie tribe of Indians, concluded the 19th of
September, 1827, at St. Joseph, in the Territory of Michigan, between
Lewis Cass, commissioner on the part of the United States, and the
chiefs and warriors of the said tribes, on their part.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_February 28, 1829_.
_To the House of Representatives of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the
21st instant, requesting any information in my possession as to the
practical operation of the recent act of the British Parliament entitled
"The customs amendment act," purporting a discrimination of duties upon
the importation of cotton from the British North American colonies and
showing how far this discrimination may affect existing treaties, I
transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with copies of
the instructions and correspondence of the minister of the United States
at London, containing the information requested.
John Quincy Adams.
Washington,
_March 3, 1829_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_:
I transmit herewith to Congress a copy of the instructions prepared by
the Secretary of State and furnished to the ministers of the United
States appointed to attend at the assembly of American plenipotentiaries
first held at Panama and thence transferred to Tacubaya. The occasion
upon which they were given has passed away, and there is no present
probability of the renewal of the negotiations; but the purposes for
which they were intended are still of the deepest interest to our
country and to the world, and may hereafter call again for the active
efforts and beneficent energies of the Government of the United States.
The motives for withholding them from general publication having ceased,
justice to the Government from which they emanated and to the people for
whose benefit it was instituted requires that they should be made known.
With this view, and from the consideration that the subjects embraced by
these instructions must probably engage hereafter the deliberations of
our successors, I deem it proper to make this communication to both
Houses of Congress. One copy only of the instructions being prepared, I
send it to the Senate, requesting that it may be transmitted to the
House of Representatives.
John Quincy Adams.
* * * * *