The friendly sentiment which was expressed on the part of the United States in the message of the 9th of May last is still entertained for Spain.

Considerable progress has also been made in the construction of ships of war, some of which have been launched in the course of the present year.

Among these none holds a more important place than the public revenue.

The contest between Spain and the colonies, according to the most authentic information, is maintained by the latter with improved success.

A few prominent facts will place this great interest in a just light before you.

Considerable progress has been made during the present season in examining the coast and its various bays and other inlets.

In execution of the law of the last session for the suppression of the slave trade some of our public ships have also been employed on the coast of Africa, where several captures have already been made of vessels engaged in that…

Happy as our situation is, it does not exempt us from solicitude and care for the future.

Our peace with the powers on the coast of Barbary has been preserved, but we owe it altogether to the presence of our squadron in the Mediterranean.

It is proper to add that there is now due to the Treasury for the sale of public lands $22,996,545.

With the Indians peace has been preserved and a progress made in carrying into effect the act of Congress making an appropriation for their civilization.

The late change in the Government of Spain, by the reestablishment of the constitution of 1812, is an event which promises to be favorable to the revolution.

On the subject of claims of citizens of the United States for Spanish spoliations upon their property and commerce.

together with the returns of causes depending in the courts of the United States

collected conformably to a resolution of the Senate of the 18th of January, 1819

I transmit herewith to the Senate a report from the Secretary of State

With these remarks I submit it to the wisdom of Congress whether it will not still be advisable to postpone any decision on this subject until the next session.

He admits that the other objections are essentially removed and will not in themselves prevent the ratification, provided the difficulty on the third point is surmounted.