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 Congress.

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 Territory, as requested by the resolution of the Senate of the 18th instant.

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 equitable, which it had made for the satisfaction of all the demands of the Cherokees.

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 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.

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.

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.

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