It affords me great satisfaction to perform this duty.

Neither the Government nor the citizens in whose behalf the convention has been concluded have any further claims upon the island of Aves.

I therefore recommend the reconsideration of the subject.

The amendment does not seem necessary to secure any right either of the United States or of any American citizen claiming under them.

Nor is it known or believed that there are any claims against the Government of Venezuela having any connection with that island other than those provided for in this convention.

It is my duty at all times to defend and protect the public property within the seceding States so far as this may be practicable.

I am one of those who will never despair of the Republic.

However strong may be my desire to enter into such an agreement, I am convinced that I do not possess the power.

I confess I hail this movement on the part of Virginia with great satisfaction.

The increase of the sum appropriated in the present bill over that in the bill of the last session, being within a fraction of $20,000, has induced me to examine the question with some attention.

I have no other solicitude upon the subject.

I return with my objections to the House, in which it originated.

It will be for Congress to consider whether the precedent established by this bill will not in effect annul all restrictions contained in the mail contracts enabling the Postmaster-General to reduce or curtail the postal service according to the public exigencies as they may arise.

In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 19th instant, requesting a copy of correspondence between the Department of State and ministers of foreign powers at Washington in regard to foreign vessels in Charleston, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the documents by which it was accompanied.

To the House of Representatives: I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, with accompanying reports, of the persons who were sent to the Isthmus of Chiriqui to make the examinations required by the fifth section of the act making appropriations for the naval service, approved June 22, 1860.

The power to carry on the business of the Government by means of a provisional appointment when a vacancy occurs is expressly given by the act of February 13, 1795.

The lawfulness of the practice rests upon the exigencies of the public service; which require that the movements of the Government shall not be arrested by an accidental vacancy in one of the Departments; upon an act of Congress expressly and plainly giving and regulating the power, and upon long and uninterrupted usage of the Executive, which has never been challenged as illegal by Congress.

It is manifest that if the power which this law gives had been withheld the public interest would frequently suffer very serious detriment.