Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-03-02
TUESDAY, FEB. 90.

TUESDAY. Feb ZLs
The President communicated the memorial
otthe Legislature of Ohio, requesting a grant
OF land to aid the operations of that State, in
the Lake Erie with the Ohio river,
by means of Canal Navigation.
MASSACHUSETTS CLAIM.
The following message was received from
the President of the U. States:
To the Senate aud House of Representatives
ofthe United States:
transmit, herewith, report from the Sec
rotary of War, with a report to him from the
Third Auditor, of the settlement, in the a.
mount stated, of the claims Of the State of
Massachusetts,, for services rendered by the
Militia of that State, in the late war, the pay
ment OF which has hitherto been prevented by
causes which are well known to Congress-
Having communicated my sentiments on this
subject fully, in message bearing date on
the 23d of February, 1924, it is unnecessary
to repeat in detail here what there advanc-
ed.
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 con Junctufe, under the direc-
ton of the Executive of the United States, as
1t was bound to do, by fair construction of
the Constitution, and as the other States did,
is the great cause to which tie difficulty ad-
verted to, is to be ascribed. 1t will also be
seen, on view of those documents, that the
Executive of the State was warned at the
time, if it preserved III the refusal, that the
consequences which have followed would be
inevitable; that the attitude assumed by the
state formed a case which was not coutem-
plated 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 SPECIAL law for the purpose
Having made this communication, while act
ing in the Department of War, to the Cover
nor of Massachusetts, with the sanction and
under the direction of my enlightened and sir-
tuous 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 consid-
Grafton of Congress, and to act on it myself.
Had the Executive been in error, it is emit
tied to censure, making Just allowance for
the motive which guided it. If its conduct
was correct, the ground then assumed ought
to be maintained by it. 1t belongs to Com
gress alone, to terminate this distressing Incl
dent, on just principles, with view TO the
highest interests of OR Union.
From the view which have talten of the
subject, 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 for
mer message. Ifthose principles are correct,
as on great consideration am satisfied they
are, appears to me to be just in itself, and of
high Importance that the sums which may be
due, in conformity Herewith, should no longer
be withheld from the State.
JAMES MONROE.
The bill authorizing the purchase of the F.
que'trian Portrait of Washington, by Rem
brandt Peale, was ordered TO be enerossed.