James Monroe: “It is on the authority of these examples, supported by the construction which I gave to the law, that I have acted in…”

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.

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

Any mode which the Senate may adopt will be satisfactory to me.

This power can be granted only by an amendment to the Constitution and in the mode prescribed by it.