I perceive no objection to Congress deciding in advance that they shall be free.

For the reasons stated, I return the bill to the House, in which it originated.

Herewith is a draft of a bill to compensate any State which may abolish slavery within its limits, the passage of which substantially as presented I respectfully and earnestly recommend.

Herewith is the draft of the bill to compensate any State which may abolish slavery within its limits, the passage of which, substantially as presented, I respectfully and earnestly recommend.

My reason for so doing is that I have approved an act of the same title passed by Congress after the passage of the one first mentioned for the express purpose of correcting errors in and superseding the same, as I am informed.

The currency of the District, should this act become a law will certainly and greatly deteriorate, to the serious injury of honest trade and honest labor.

Entertaining these objections to the bill, I feel myself constrained to withhold from it my approval and return it for the further consideration and action of Congress.

The resolution of the House of Representatives of the 9th instant, asking whether any legislation is necessary in order to give effect to the provisions of the act of April 16, 1862, providing for the reorganization of the Medical Department of the Army, was referred to the Secretary of War, whose report thereon is herewith communicated.

It is desirable that such legislation as may be necessary to carry the treaty into effect should be enacted as soon as may comport with the convenience of Congress.

I commend to the particular attention of Congress those parts of it which show that further legislation is desirable for the public welfare in that quarter.

The urgency of the case not only justifies but demands that, if necessary, this shall be done by a separate bill.

This bill, should it become a law, will operate greatly to the injury of the new States.

Surely the present is the most unpropitious moment which could have been selected for the passage of this bill.

I transmit a copy of a letter of the 8th of April last from the minister of the United States in China, and of the decree and regulation which accompanied it, for such revision thereof as Congress may deem expedient, pursuant to the sixth section of the act approved 11th August, 1848.

For my own part, I have deliberately determined that I shall approve no bills which I have not examined, and it will be a case of extreme and most urgent necessity which shall ever induce me to depart from this rule.

For all these reasons I recommend to Congress to postpone the day of adjournment for a brief period.

The importance of the measure seemed to require an exposition somewhat in detail of the grounds on which it is recommended.

I respectfully invite the attention of the two Houses to the suggestion in the latter part of the report