, 1841-06-19
MESSAGE,
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
of the United States.

o. Me CnlLeQ StQteS.
FELLow-CrrIzENs:-You have been as.
sembled in your respective halls of legislation
under q proclamation bearing the signature
Of the illustrlous citizen, who was so lately
called by the direct sufirages OF the people.
10 the discharge of the important functions
OF their Chief Executive Office. Upon the
expiration Of a single month from the day
Of his installation he has paid the great debt
Of nature. leaving behind him name ~associl-
ted with the recollection OF numerous bene-
fits conferred upon the country during a long
life of patriotic devotion. With this public
bereavement are connected other considera-
tons which VII not escape the attention OF
Congress. The preparations necessary for
his removal to the seat of Government, in
view of a residence of four years, must have
devolved upon the late President heavy ex
pendItures, which if permitted TO burihen
the limited resources of his private fortune,
NAV tend TO the serious embarrassment OF
his surviving family; and it is therefore res
pectiully submitted to Congress whether the
ordinary principles of justice would not die
tate the proprlety OF its legislative %Interposl-
ton. By the provisions OF the fundamental
law, the powers and duties of the high sta
ton to which he was elected, have devolved
upon me: and in the dispositions Of the rep
resentativcs Of the States of the people. will
be found, to a great extent. Il solution, of the
problem TO which our Institutions are, for the
first time, subjected.
In entering upon the duties of this Office,
] did not feel that it would he becoming in
me 10 disturb what had been ordered bv NV
lamented predecessor. Whatever, there
foIe, may have been my opinion originally
as 10 The prnprIetv Of convcnIng Congress at
So early IL day from that OF lis late adjourn
ment, ! found a new and controlling induce
meut not to interfere with The patriotic dCsI-
res OF the late President. in the novelty OF
the situation in which | was So Unexpectedly
placed. :tiv frs. wish. under such circum-
stances, would necessarily have been TO have
called To INV aid. in the administration of
public affairs. the combined wisdom of the
two Houses of Congress. in order 10 take
their counsel and advice as 10 the hest mode
of extricating the Government and the coun-
try from The embarrassment weighing heavr-
" on both. | am then most happy in find
i'm myself 81 soon, after my Accession 10
the Presidency. surrounded by the immedi-
ale representatives OF the States and peo-
pie.
No important changes having taken place
in our foreign relations since the last session
of Congress. it is not deemed necessary, on
this occasion. To 90 into a detailed statement
in regard to them. | am happy TO say that
l see nothing TO destroy the hope Of being
able to preserve peace.
The ratification of the treaty with Portu-
gal has been duly exchanged between the
two Governments. This Government has
not been ina,tenlive TO the interests of those
of our citizens who have claims on the Gov
eminent ofSpain, founded on express treaty
stipulations; and a hope is INDUCED that the
representations which have been made to
that Government on this subject, may lead,
ere long, to beneficial results.
A correspondence has taken place be-
tweer. the Secretary of State and the Minis
Ter of Her Britannia Majesty accredited TO
this Government on the subjectof Alexander
McLeod's indictment and imprisonment, CO.
pies of which are herewith communicated to
Congress.
In addition TO what appears from these pa
pers, it may be proper to state, that Alexan-
der Mcleod has been heard by the Supreme
Court of the State of N. York. on his motion
TO be discharged from imprisonment, and that
the decision Of that court has not as yet been
pronounced.
The Secretary OF State has addressed to
me a paper upon two subjects, interesting TO
the commerce of the country, which will re-
ceive nv consideration, and which | have the
honor to communicate to Congress.
So far as it depends on the course Of this
Government our relations of good will and
friendship will be seduously cultivated with
all nations. The true American policy will
be found to consist in the exercise of a spirit
OF justice 10 be manifested in the discharge