James Monroe: “They present a full view of the operations of our troops employed in the Seminole war who entered Florida.”

It belongs to Congress alone to terminate this distressing incident on just principles, with a view to the highest interests of our Union.

I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, containing the information called for by their resolution of the 1st of this month, touching the capture and detention of American fishermen during the last…

To remove all doubt on the subject, I submit to the consideration of Congress the propriety of passing a declaratory act to that effect.

That the regulation should be made by Congress is the more necessary from the consideration that this being the seat of the Government, its protection against such diseases must form one of its principal objects.