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…

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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…

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

Although the health laws of the States should be found to need no present revisal by Congress, yet commerce claims that their attention be ever awake to them.

A state of our progress in exploring the principal rivers of that country, and of the information respecting them hitherto obtained, will be communicated as soon as we shall receive some further relations which we have reason shortly to…

We must join in the unprofitable contest of trying which party can do the other the most harm.