WASHINGTON, April 15, 1840. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I transmit a copy of a convention for the adjustment of claims of citizens of the United States upon the Government of the Mexican Republic, for such legislative action on the part of Congress as may be necessary to carry the engagements of the United States under the convention into full effect. M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON CITY, Abril 18, 1840. To the House of Representatives of the United States: I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of War, accompanied by a letter from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, indicating the importance of an extension of the authority given by the sixteenth clause of the first section of the act entitled "An act providing for the salaries of certain officers therein named, and for other purposes," approved 9th May, 1836. M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON CITY, April 24, 1840. To the Senate of the United States: I transmit herewith a report and accompanying documents from the Secretary of War, which furnish the information in relation to that portion of the defenses* of the country intrusted to the charge and direction of the Department of War, called for by the resolution of the Senate of the 2d of March, 1839. To the Senate of the United States: M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, April 27, 1840. I lay before the Senate a report † of the Postmaster-General, in further compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 30th December, 1839. M. VAN BUREN. To the Senate of the United States: WASHINGTON, May 2, 1840. I transmit to the Senate a report from the Secretary of State, which, with the papers accompanying it, contains in part the information requested by a resolution of the Senate of the 30th December last. *Military and naval. M. VAN BUREN. + Relating to the sale or exchange of Government drafts, etc. ↑ Relating to bonds of the Territory of Florida. WASHINGTON, May 9, 1840. To the House of Representatives of the United States: I communicate to the House of Representatives a report* from the Secretary of State, which, with the documents accompanying it, furnishes the information requested by their resolution of the 23d of March last. M. VAN BUREN. To the Senate of the United States: MAY 11, 1840. In part compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 29th of December last, I herewith submit a report† from the Secretary of the Treasury, with the documents therein referred to. To the Senate of the United States: M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, May 12, 1840. I communicate to the Senate a copy of a letter ‡ from the secretary of the Territory of Florida, with documents accompanying it, received at the Department of State since my message of the 2d instant and containing additional information on the subject of the resolution of the Senate of the 30th of December last. M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, May 16, 1840. To the House of Representatives of the United States: I transmit the report of the Secretary of War furnishing a statement of the amounts paid to persons concerned in negotiating Indian treaties since 1829, etc., which completes the information called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives dated the 28th January, 1839, upon that subject and the disbursing officers in the War Department. M. VAN BUREN. To the Senate of the United States: WASHINGTON, May 18, 1840. I communicate to the Senate a copy of a letter from the governor of Florida to the Secretary of State, containing, with the documents accompanying it, further information on the subject of the resolution of the Senate of the 30th of December last. M. VAN BUREN. .*Transmitting correspondence with France, Sweden, Denmark, and Prussia relating to the surrender to the United States of persons charged with piracy and murder on board the United States schooner Plattsburg in 1817; correspondence relating to the demand by the chargé d'affaires of Great Britain for the surrender of a mutineer in the British armed ship Lee in 1819; opinion of the Attorney-General with regard to the right of the President of the United States or the governor of a State to deliver up, on the demand of any foreign government, persons charged with crimes committed without the jurisdiction of the United States. Relating to the sale or exchange of Government drafts, etc. WASHINGTON, May 21, 1840. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: I communicate to Congress sundry papers, from which it will be perceived that the Imaum of Muscat has transmitted to this country and, through the agency of the commander of one of his vessels, offered for my acceptance a present, consisting of horses, pearls, and other articles of value. The answer of the Secretary of State to a letter from the agents of the vessel communicating the offer of the present, and my own letter to the Imaum in reply to one which he addressed to me, were intended to make known in the proper quarter the reasons which had precluded my acceptance of the proffered gift. Inasmuch, however, as the commander of the vessel, with the view, as he alleges, of carrying out the wishes of his Sovereign, now offers the presents to the Government of the United States, I deem it my duty to lay the proposition before Congress for such disposition as they may think fit to make of it; and I take the opportunity to suggest for their consideration the adoption of legislative provisions pointing out the course which they may deem proper for the Executive to pursue in any future instances where offers of presents by foreign states, either to the Government, its legislative or executive branches, or its agents abroad, may be made under circumstances precluding a refusal without the risk of giving offense. The correspondence between the Department of State and our consul at Tangier will acquaint Congress with such an instance, in which every proper exertion on the part of the consul to refrain from taking charge of an intended present proved unavailing. The animals constituting it may consequently, under the instructions from the Secretary of State, be expected soon to arrive in the United States, when the authority of Congress as to the disposition to be made of them will be necessary. M. VAN BUREN. To the Senate of the United States: WASHINGTON, May 23, 1840. I transmit a communication from the Secretary of War, together with the papers therein referred to, relative to the proceedings instituted under a resolution of Congress to try the title to the Pea Patch Island, in the Delaware River, and recommend that Congress pass a special act giving to the circuit court of the district of Maryland jurisdiction to try the M. VAN BUREN. cause. To the House of Representatives: JUNE 4, 1840. I herewith submit a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the progress made in complying with the requirements of a resolution passed February 6, 1839, concerning mineral lands of the United States The documents he communicates contain much important information on the subject of those lands, and a plan for the sale of them is in a course of preparation and will be presented as soon as completed. To the Senate of the United States: M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, June 5, 1840. In compliance with the resolution of the Senate dated the 30th December, 1839, I transmit herewith the report* of the Secretary of War, furnishing so much of the information called for by said resolution as relates to the Executive Department under his charge. To the Senate of the United States: M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, June 5, 1840. In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 30th December, 1839. I communicate the report† of the Secretary of War, containing the information called for by that resolution as far as it relates to the Department under his charge. To the House of Representatives: M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, June 6, 1840. I herewith submit a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, in relation to certain lands falling within the Chickasaw cession which have been sold at Chocchuma and Columbus, in Mississippi, and invite the attention of Congress to the subject of further legislation in relation to them. M. VAN BUREN. To the House of Representatives: WASHINGTON, June 13, 1840. I communicate to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, with documents, containing the information requested by their resolution of the 26th of May last. M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, June 19, 1840. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. SIR: I transmit a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, suggesting that an appropriation of $50,000 be made by Congress to *Relating to the refusal of banks to pay the Government demands in specie since the general resumption in 1838, and the payment of Government creditors in depreciated currency. Relating to the manner in which the public funds have been paid out by disbursing officers and agents during 1838 and 1839. Relating to charges preferred by Dr. John Baldwin, of Louisiana, against Marmaduke Bør. roughs, consul at Vera Cruz. meet claims of navy pensioners, payable on the 1st of July next, reimbursable by a transfer of stocks belonging to the fund at their nominal value to the amount so appropriated, and respectfully recommend the measure to the consideration and action of Congress. M. VAN BUREN. To the Senate of the United States: WASHINGTON, June 22, 1840. I lay before you, for your consideration, a treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Hanover, signed by their ministers on the 20th day of May last. M. VAN BUREN. To the Senate: WASHINGTON, June 27, 1840. The importance of the subject to the tranquillity of our country makes it proper that I should communicate to the Senate, in addition to the information heretofore transmitted in reply to their resolution of the 17th of January last, the copy of a letter just received from Mr. Fox, announcing the determination of the British Government to consent to the principles of our last proposition for the settlement of the question of the northeastern boundary, with a copy of the answer made to it by the Secretary of State. I can not doubt that, with the sincere disposition which actuates both Governments to prevent any other than an amicable termination of the controversy, it will be found practicable so to arrange the details of a conventional agreement on the principles alluded to as to effect that object. The British commissioners, in their report communicated by Mr. Fox, express an opinion that the true line of the treaty of 1783 is materially different from that so long contended for by Great Britain. The report is altogether ex parte in its character, and has not yet, as far as we are informed, been adopted by the British Government. It has, however, assumed a form sufficiently authentic and important to justify the belief that it is to be used hereafter by the British Government in the discussion of the question of boundary; and as it differs essentially from the line claimed by the United States, an immediate preparatory exploration and survey on our part, by commissioners appointed for that purpose, of the portions of the territory therein more particularly brought into view would, in my opinion, be proper. If Congress concur with me in this view of the subject, a provision by them to enable the Executive to carry it into effect will be necessary, M. VAN BUREN. |