I communicate to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, under date of the 7th ultimo, accompanied by a copy of a note from the Chevalier de Argaiz, on the subject of the schooner Amistad.

To the House of Representatives:In compliance with your resolution of the 15th December, 1843, requesting 'such information as may be on file in any of the Departments relative to the formation of a junction between the Atlantic and…

It will be perceived that at the date of the resolution the final action of the Executive was not had upon the case.

That action having since taken place, it is communicated with the papers.

under existing circumstances it is deemed inexpedient, with a view to the public interest, to furnish a copy of the correspondence above mentioned.

I have to state that the information called for by the House has been already from time to time transmitted to Congress, with the exception of such correspondence as has been held within the last few months between the Department of State…

there is a prospect of opening a negotiation on the subject of the northwestern boundary of the United States immediately after the arrival at Washington of the newly appointed British minister, now daily expected;

To the House of Representatives: I transmit the accompanying letter* from the Secretary of State, and copy of a correspondence between that officer and the minister from Portugal near this Government, to which I invite the attention of…

To the Senate of the United States: I herewith transmit a report* made by the Secretary of the Navy in pursuance of the provisions of the act of the 3d March, 1843.

That Government has thus afforded a gratifying proof of its promptness and good faith in observing the stipulation of the sixth article of the convention of the 30th of January last.

I am happy to believe that this convention provides as fully as is practicable for the adjustment of all claims of our citizens on the Government of Mexico.

I transmit herewith a communication from the War Department, containing all the information and correspondence in that Department on the subject of the 'mountain howitzer' taken by Lieutenant Fremont on the expedition to the Oregon…

Such a violation of the individual rights of the claimants would impose upon the Government the obligation of making further appropriations to indemnify them, and thus Congress would be obliged to enlarge a provision, liberal and…

I have deemed it respectful and proper to lay before the House of Representatives these reasons for having withheld my approval of the above-mentioned joint resolution.

That system requires that payments under the authority of any Department shall be made upon its requisition, countersigned by the proper Auditor and Comptroller.

The authority of this Government to direct its application to particular claims is more than questionable.

If no such indemnity should be provided, then a palpable and very gross wrong would be inflicted upon the claimants who had not been so fortunate as to have their claims taken up in preference to others.

The direction in the joint resolution, therefore, to pay the awards of the commissioners to the amount of $100,000 seemed to me quite objectionable, and could not be approved.