Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: I lay before you a copy of an exemplified copy of an act of the legislature of Vermont, ratifying on behalf of that State the articles of amendment proposed by Congress to the Constitution of the United States together with a copy of a letter which accompanied said ratification.

That the sum to be paid annually by the United States to the Cherokee Nation of Indians in consideration of the relinquishment of lands shall be $1,500 instead of $1,000 mentioned in the said treaty.

Let us therefore cherish the spirit of peace and harmony, and encourage industry, economy, and sobriety.

Excepting as to the brave men who have fallen on the occasion, and who are a subject of public as well as private regret.

It is with great concern that I communicate to you the information received from Major-General St. Clair of the misfortune which has befallen the troops under his command.

Although the national loss is considerable according to the scale of the event, yet it may be repaired without great difficulty.

I received yesterday from the judge of the district of South Carolina a letter,...

The powers specially vested in me by the act laying certain duties on distilled spirits, which respect the subdivisions of the districts into surveys, the appointment of officers, and the assignment of compensations, have likewise carried into effect.

In vain may we expect peace with the Indians on our frontiers so long as a lawless set of unprincipled wretches can violate the rights of hospitality, or infringe the most solemn treaties, without receiving the punishment they so justly merit.

Measures have been taken pursuant to that resolution for procuring some of the most necessary artists, together with the requisite apparatus.

The safety of the United States under divine protection ought to rest on the basis of systematic and solid arrangements, exposed as little as possible to the hazards of fortuitous circumstances.

I therefore required your attendance to receive nominations of the several officers necessary to put the Federal Government into motion in that State.

Gentlemen of the Senate: The act for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union having fixed on this as the day of its admission, it was thought that this would also be the first day on which any officer of the Union might legally perform any act of authority relating to that State.

For this purpose I nominate Nathaniel Chipman to be judge of the district of Vermont; Stephen Jacobs to be attorney for the United States in the district of Vermont; Lewis R. Morris to be marshal of the district of Vermont, and Stephen Keyes to be collector of the port of Allburgh, in the State of Vermont.

I have therefore thought it expedient to nominate Thomas Auldjo to be vice-consul for the United States at the port of Poole, in Great Britain.

I also nominate James Yard, of Pennsylvania, to be consul for the United States in the island of Santa Cruz.

The importance of this last to the liberty and property of our citizens induces me to urge it on your earliest attention.

I will proceed to take measures for the ransom of our citizens in captivity at Algiers.