On these several treaties I have to request that the Senate will advise whether I shall ratify them or not.

I now lay before the Senate the several treaties and conventions following, which have been entered into on the part of the United States since their last session.

If from this sum we deduct the reasonable value of the road ceded through the whole length of their country from Ocmulgee toward New Orleans, a road of indispensable necessity to us, the present convention will be found to give little more than the half of the sum which was formerly proposed to be given.

Before this convention was returned to Spain with our ratification the transfer of Louisiana by France to the United States took place, an event as unexpected as disagreeable to Spain.

From that moment she seemed to change her conduct and dispositions toward us.

It was first manifested by her protest against the right of France to alienate Louisiana to us, which, however, was soon retracted and the right confirmed.

These made it a duty to require from that Government indemnifications for our injured citizens.

To them I communicate every fact material for their information and the documents necessary to enable them to judge for themselves.

The present crisis in Europe is favorable for pressing such a settlement, and not a moment should be lost in availing ourselves of it.

I have thought it my duty to await their authority for using force in any degree which could be avoided.

She was prompt and decided in her declarations that our demands on Spain for French spoliations carried into Spanish ports were included in the settlement between the United States and France.

To their wisdom, then, I look for the course I am to pursue, and will pursue with sincere zeal that which they shall approve.

Then high offense was manifested at the act of Congress establishing a collection district on the Mobile, although by an authentic declaration immediately made it was expressly confined to our acknowledged limits.

Providence in His goodness gave it an early termination on this occasion and lessened the number of victims which have usually fallen before it.

Other details necessary for your full information of the state of things between this country and that shall be the subject of another communication.

In the course of your session you shall receive all the aid which I can give for the dispatch of public business, and all the information necessary for your deliberations, of which the interests of our own country and the confidence reposed in us by others will admit a communication.

In taking a view of the state of our country we in the first place notice the late affliction of two of our cities under the fatal fever which in latter times has occasionally visited our shores.

Reason revolts at such inconsistency, and the neutral having equal right with the belligerent to decide the question.