SPECIAL MESSAGE. MARCH 5, 1792. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:KNOWING the friendly interest you take in whatever may promote the happiness and prosperity of the French nation, it is with pleasure I lay before you the translation of a letter which I have received from his most Christian majesty, announcing to the United States of America his acceptance of the constitution presented to his nation. The translation of the letter above referred to. VERY DEAR, GREAT FRIENDS AND ALLIES: September 19, 1791. We make it our duty to inform you that we have accepted the constitution which has been presented to us in the name of the nation, and according to which France will be henceforth governed. We do not doubt that you take an interest in an event so important to our kingdom and to us, and it is with real pleasure we take this occasion to renew to you assurances of the sincere friendship we bear you. Whereupon we pray God to have you, very dear, great friends and allies, in his just and holy keeping. Written at Paris, the 19th of September, 1791. Your good friend and ally, LOUIS SPECIAL MESSAGE. MAY 8, 1792. To the Senate of the United States :— If the president of the United States should conclude a convention or treaty with the government of Algiers for the ransom of the thirteen Americans in captivity there, for a sum not exceeding forty thousand dollars, all expenses included, will the senate approve the same? Or is there any and what greater or lesser sum, which they would fix on as the limit beyond which they would not approve the ransom? If the president of the United States should conclude a treaty with the government of Algiers for the establishment of peace with them, at an expense not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars paid at the signature, and a like sum to be paid annually afterward during the continuance of the treaty, would the senate approve the same? Or are there any greater or lesser sums which they would fix on as the limit beyond which they would not approve of such treaty ? VOL. I.-47 SPECIAL MESSAGE. DECEMBER 16, 1793. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: THE situation of affairs in Europe, in the course of the year 1790, having rendered it possible that a moment might arrive favorable for the arrangement of our unsettled matters with Spain, it was thought proper to prepare a representative at that court to avail us of it. A confidential person was therefore despatched to be the bearer of instructions to him, and to supply, by verbal communications, any additional information of which he might find himself in need. The government of France was at the same time applied to for its aid and influence in this negotiation. Events, however, took a turn which did not present the occasion hoped for. About the close of the ensuing year, I was informed, through the representatives of Spain here, that their government would be willing to renew at Madrid the former conferences on these subjects. Though the transfer of scene was not what would have been desired, yet I did not think it important enough to regret the proposition; and therefore, with the advice and consent of the senate, I appointed commissioners plenipotentiary for negotiating and concluding a treaty with that country on the several subjects of boundary, navigation, and commerce, and gave them the instructions now communicated. Before these negotiations, however, could be got into train, the new troubles which had arisen in Europe had produced new combinations among the powers there, the effects of which are but too visible in the proceedings now laid before you. In the meantime, some other points of discussion had arisen with that country, to wit, the restitution of property escaping into the territories of each other, the mutual exchange of fugitives from justice, and, above all, the mutual interferences with the Indians lying between us. I had the best reason to believe that the hostilities threatened and exercised by the southern Indians on our border were excited by the agents of that government. Representations were thereon directed to be made by our commissioners to the Spanish government, and a proposal to cultivate with good faith the peace of each other with those people. In the meantime, corresponding suspicions were entertained, or pretended to be entertained, on their part, of like hostile excitements by our agents to disturb their peace with the same nations. These were brought forward by the representatives of Spain here in a style which could not fail to produce attention. A claim of patronage and protection of those Indians was asserted; a mediation between them and us by the sovereign assumed; their boundaries with us made a subject of interference; and at length, at the very moment when these savages were committing daily inroads upon our frontier, we were informed by them that "the continuation of the peace, good harmony, and perfect friendship of the two nations, was very problematical for the future, unless the United States should take more convenient measures and of greater energy than those adopted for a long time past." If their previous correspondence had worn the appearance of a desire to urge on a disagreement, this last declaration left no room to evade it, since it could not be conceived we would submit to the scalping-knife and tomahawk of the savage without any resistance. I thought it time, therefore, to know if these were the views of the sovereign and despatched a special messenger with instructions to our commissioners, which are among the papers now communicated. This last letter gives us reason to expect very shortly to know the result. I must add, that the Spanish representatives here, perceiving that their last communication had made no considerable impression, endeavored to abate this by some subsequent professions, which, being also among the communications to the legislature, they will be able to form their own conclusions. SPECIAL MESSAGE. DECEMBER 16, 1793. To the Senate of the United States :— I LAY before you a report of the secretary of state on the measures which have been taken on behalf of the United States for the purpose of obtaining a recognition of our treaty with Morocco, and for the ransom of our citizens and establishment of peace with Algiers. While it is proper our citizens should know that subjects, which so much concern their interests and their feelings, have duly engaged the attention of their legislature and executive, it would still be improper that some particulars of this communication should be made known. The confidential conversation stated in one of the last letters sent herewith is one of these. Both justice and policy require that the source of that information remain secret. So a knowledge of the sums meant to have been given for peace and ransom might have disadvantageous influence on future proceedings for the same objects. SPECIAL MESSAGE. JANUARY 21, 1794. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives : IT is with satisfaction I announce to you that the alterations which have been made by law in the original plan for raising a duty on spirits distilled within the United States, and on stills, co-operating with better information, have had a considerable influence in obviating the difficulties which have embarrassed that branch of the public revenue. But the obstacles which have been experienced, though lessened, are not yet entirely surmounted, and it would seem that some further legislative provisions may usefully be superadded; which leads me to recall the attention of Congress to the subject. Among the matters which may demand regulation, is the effect, in point of organization, produced by the separation of Kentucky from the state of Virginia; and the situation, with regard to the law, of the territories northwest and southwest of the Ohio. The laws respecting lighthouse establishments require, as a condition of their permanent maintenance, at the expense of the United States, a complete cession of soil and jurisdiction. The cessions of different states having been qualified with a reservation of the right of serving legal process within the ceded jurisdiction, are understood to be inconclusive, as annexing a qualification not consonant with the terms of the law, I present this circumstance to the view of Congress, that they may judge whether any alteration ought to be made. As it appears to be conformable with the intention of the "ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio," although it is not expressly directed that the laws of that ter ritory should be laid before Congress, I now transmit to you a copy of such as have been passed from July to December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, inclusive, being the last which have been received by the secretary of state. SPECIAL MESSAGE. MARCH 28, 1794. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives : In the execution of the resolution of Congress, bearing date the 26th of March, 1794, and imposing an embargo, I have requested the governors of the several states to call forth the force of their militia, if it should be necessary for the detention of vessels. This power is conceived to be incidental to an embargo. It also deserves the attention of Congress, how far the clearances from one district to another, under the law as it now stands, may give rise to evasions of the embargo. As one security, the collectors have been instructed to refuse to receive the surrender of coasting-licenses, for the purpose of taking out registers, and to require bond from registered vessels, bound from one district to another, for the delivery of the cargo within the United States. It is not understood that the resolution applies to fishing-vessels, although their occupations lie generally in parts beyond the United States. But without further restrictions, there is an opportunity of their privileges being used as a means of eluding the embargo. All armed vessels, possessing public commissions from any foreign power (letters of marque excepted), are considered as not liable to the embargo. These circumstances are transmitted to Congress for their consideration. SPECIAL MESSAGE. MAY 20, 1794. Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives :— In the communication which I have made to Congress, during the pres ent session, relative to foreign nations, I have omitted no opportunity of testifying my anxiety to preserve the United States in peace. It is pecu liarly, therefore, my duty at this time to lay before you the present state of certain hostile threats against the territories of Spain, in our neighborhood. The documents which accompany this message develop the measures which I have taken to suppress them, and the intelligence which has been lately received. It will be seen thence that the subject has not been neglected; that every power vested in the executive, on such occasions, has been exerted; and that there was reason to believe that the enterprise projected against the Spanish dominions was relinquished. But it appears to have been revived upon principles which set public order at defiance, and place the peace of the United States in the discretion of unauthorized individuals. The means already deposited in the different departments of government are shown by experience not to be adequate to these high exigencies, although such of them as are lodged in the hands of the executive shall continue to be used with promptness, energy, and decision, proportioned to the case. But I am impelled, by the position of our public affairs, to recommend that provision be made for a stronger and more vigorous opposition than can be given to such hostile movements under the laws as they now stand. SPECIAL MESSAGE. MAY 21, 1794. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I LAY before you in confidence sundry papers, by which you will perceive the state of affairs between us and the Six Nations, and the probable cause to which it is owing; and also certain information, whereby it would appear that some encroachment was about to be made on our territory by an officer and party of British troops. Proceeding on a supposition of the authenticity of this information, although of a private nature, I have caused the representation to be made to the British minister, a copy of which accompanies this message. It can not be necessary to comment upon the very serious nature of such an encroachment, nor to urge that this new state of things suggests the propriety of placing the United States in a posture of effectual preparation for an event, which, notwithstanding the endeavors making to avert it, may, by circumstances beyond our control, be forced upon us. SPECIAL MESSAGE. FEBRUARY 28, 1795. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States :— In my first communication to Congress during their present session, I gave them reason to expect that "certain circumstances of our intercourse with foreign nations" would be transmitted to them. There was at that |