These papers were prepared at the close of the last session of Congress, at too late a period to be then acted upon.

The delay in the transmission of this communication is attributable to the earnest desire which I have entertained of acceding to the opinions and complying with the wishes of the Senate.

It leaves me doubtful whether it was intended by the Senate as their decision upon the nomination or not.

I can not concur in these opinions.

I transmit to the House a report from the Secretary of State, with the documents desired by the resolution.

I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of War, with documents, containing the information desired by the resolution.

I communicate a report from the Secretary of the Navy, with documents, containing the information desired by the resolution.

Some additional documents having relation to the objects of the mission to the congress at Panama, and received since the communication of those heretofore sent, are now transmitted to the Senate.

It may be that in the lapse of many centuries no other opportunity so favorable will be presented to the Government of the United States to subserve the benevolent purposes of Divine Providence; to dispense the promised blessings of the…

I shall, indeed, in the first instance, consider the assembly as merely consultative.

Nothing was ever lost by kind treatment.

ThatAmericahas a set of primary interests which have none or a remote relation to Europe.

I would have sent ministers to the meeting had it been merely to give them such advice as they might have desired, even with reference to their own interests, not involving ours.

I now transmit to the House a report from the Secretary of State, with the correspondence and information requested by the resolution.

The faith of the United States to foreign powers can not otherwise be pledged.

The purpose of the meeting itself is to deliberate upon the great and common interests of several new and neighboring nations.

My first and greatest inducement was to meet in the spirit of kindness and friendship an overture made in that spirit by three sister Republics of this hemisphere.

It was not considered a conclusive reason for declining this invitation that the proposal for assembling such a Congress had not first been made by ourselves.