1From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 3 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you a copy of an exemplified Copy of an Act passed by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, for vesting in the United States of America the jurisdiction of a Lot of Land at Sandy Hook in the County of Monmouth; and a Copy of the letter which accompanied said Act, from the Governor of the State of New Jersey to the President of the United States. LB , DLC:GW . The beacon on...
2From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 7 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of the law, I now lay before you a statement of the administration of the funds appropriated to certain foreign purposes, together with a letter from the Secretary of State, explaining the same. I also lay before you A Copy of a letter and representation from the Chief Justice and Associate Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, stating the difficulties and...
3From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 8 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received from his Excellency Joshua Clayton President of the State of Delaware the articles proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; which articles were transmitted to him for the consideration of the Legislature of Delaware, and are now returned with the following Resolutions annexed to them—viz. The General...
4From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 26 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you copies of the following Acts, which have been transmitted to me during the recess of Congress viz. An Act passed by the Legislature of New Hampshire, for ceding to the United States, the Fort and Light House belonging to said State. An Act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, ratifying on behalf of said State, the first article of Amendment to the Constitution of the United...
5From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 10 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have directed a statement of the troops in the service of the United States to be laid before you for your information. These troops were raised by virtue of the Resolves of Congress of the 20th of October 1786, and the 3d of October 1787, in order to protect the frontiers from the depredations of the hostile Indians; to prevent all intrusions on the public Lands; and to facilitate the...
6From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 30 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Communications have been made to Congress, during the present Session, with the intention of affording a full view of the posture of affairs on the south western frontiers. By the information, which has lately been laid before Congress, it appeared, that the difficulties with the Creeks had been amicably and happily terminated. But it will be perceived, with regret, by the papers herewith...
7From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 11 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you a copy of the ratification of the Amendments to the Constitution of the United States by the State of North Carolina; together with an extract from a letter, accompanying said ratification, from the Governor of the State of North Carolina to the President of the United States. LS , DNA : RG 46, First Congress, 1789–91, Records of Legislative...
8From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 4 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you three letters from our Minister in London; advices concerning the Algierine Mission, from our Minister at Lisbon and others; and a letter from the Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Secretary of State, with his answer. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate Records of Legislative Proceedings, President’s Messages; LB , DNA : RG 233, Third...
9From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 25 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received from His Excellency John E. Howard, Governor of the State of Maryland, an Act of the Legislature of Maryland to ratify certain Articles in addition to, and amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States; and have directed my Secretary to lay a copy of the same before you, together with the copy of a...
10From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 27 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have directed the secretary of War to lay before you for your information the reports of Brigadier General Scott, and Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Wilkinson, the officers who commanded the two expeditions against the Wabash indians, in the months of June and August last; together with the instructions by virtue of which the said expeditions were undertaken. When the operations now depending...
11From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 9 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I now lay before you a General Account rendered by the Bankers of the United States at Amsterdam of the payments they had made between the 1st of July 1790 and 1791 from the fund deposited in their hands for the purposes of the Act providing the means of intercourse between the United States, and foreign Nations, and of the balance remaining in their hands; together with a letter from the...
12From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 12 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you a statement of the south western frontiers, and of the Indian Department which have been submitted to me by the Secretary for the Department of War. I conceive that an unreserved, but confidential communication of all the papers relative to the recent negociations with some of the southern tribes of Indians is indispensibly requisite for the information of Congress—I am...
13From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 20 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
The several Acts which have been passed relatively to the military establishment of the United States, and the protection of the Frontiers, do not appear to have made provision for more than one Brigadier General. It is incumbent upon me to observe, that with a view merely to the organization of the troops designated by those Acts, a greater number of Officers of that grade would in my opinion...
14From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 26 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
United States, Gentlemen of the Senate, September 26th 1789. Having yesterday received a letter written in this month by the Governor of Rhode Island, at the request in behalf of the General Assembly of that State, addressed to the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the eleven united States of America in Congress assembled, I take the earliest opportunity of laying a...
15From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 14 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
Having informed Congress of the expedition which had been directed against certain Indians North West of the Ohio, I embrace the earliest opportunity of laying before you, the official communications which have been received upon that subject. LS , DNA : RG 46, First Congress, 1789–1791, Records of Legislature Proceedings, President’s Messages; copy, DNA : RG 233, First Congress, 1789–1791,...
16From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 15 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you, as being connected with the correspondence, already in your possession, between the Secretary of State and the Minister plenipotentiary of the French Republic, the copy of a Letter from that Minister of the 25th of December 1793; and a copy of the proceedings of the Legislature of the State of South Carolina. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate Records of...
17From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 3 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you a copy of the return of the number of Inhabitants in the District of South Carolina, as made to me by the Marshal thereof; and the copy of a letter which accompanied said return. DS , DNA : RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Records of Legislative Proceedings, President’s Messages; LB , DLC:GW . For GW’s personal interest in the results of the U.S. census of 1790, see GW to...
18From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 22 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
I send you herewith the abstract of a supplementary arrangement which has been made by me pursuant to the Acts of the third day of March 1791 and the eighth day of May 1792 for raising a Revenue upon foreign and domestic distilled Spirits, in respect to the subdivisions and officers which have appeared to me necessary, and to the allowances for their respective services to the Supervisors,...
19From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 23 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Having received from the Governor of Virginia a letter, enclosing a Resolution of the General Assembly of that State, and a Report of a Committee of the House of Delegates, respecting certain lands located by the Officers and Soldiers, of the Virginia line under the laws of that State, and since ceded to the Chickasaw Indians, I lay copies of the same before you; together with a Report of the...
20From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 30 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you for your consideration a letter from the Secretary of State, informing me of certain impediments, which have arisen to the coinage of the precious metals at the mint. As also a letter from the same Officer relative to certain advances of money, which have been made on public account. Should you think proper to sanction what has been done, or be of opinion that any thing more...
21From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 20 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you the copy of a letter which I have received from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and of sundry documents which accompanied it, relative to a contract for the purchase of a certain tract of land bounding on Lake Erie; together with a copy of a report of the Secretary of State on the same subject. DS , DNA : RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Records of...
22From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 3 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
I transmit to you, an extract from a letter of mister Short, relative to our affairs with Spain; and copies of two letters from our Minister at Lisbon, with their enclosures, containing intelligence from Algiers. The whole of these communications are made in confidence, except the passage in Mr Short’s letter, which respects the Spanish Convoy. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate...
23From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 31 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
I send you herewith the arrangement which has been made by me, pursuant to the Act, entitled “An Act repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon distilled Spirits imported from abroad, & laying others in their stead, and also upon spirits, distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same,” in respect to the subdivision of the several districts,...
24From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 6 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
The several measures which have been pursued to induce the hostile Indian Tribes, North of the Ohio, to enter into a conference or treaty with the United States, at which all causes of difference might be fully understood, and justly and amicably arranged, have already been submitted to both Houses of Congress. The Papers herewith sent will inform you of the result. DS , DNA : RG 46, Second...
25From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 4 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. I lay before Congress the copy of a Letter, with it’s enclosure, from the Secretary of State to the minister plenipotentiary of his britannic majesty; it being an answer to a letter from the minister to him, bearing date the 22d ultimo, and already communicated. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793-95, Senate Records of...
26From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 1 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my private Secretary to lay before you a copy of the adoption, by the Legislature of South Carolina, of the articles proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; together with the copy of a Letter from the Governor of the State of South Carolina to the President of the United States, which have lately...
27From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 12 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
I transmit to you the translations of two letters from the Commissioners of his Catholic Majesty to the Secretary of State, and of their enclosures. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate Records of Legislative Proceedings, Presidential Messages; LB , DNA : RG 233, Third Congress, 1793–95, House Records of Legislative Proceedings, Journals; LB , DLC:GW . All the enclosures were...
28From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 28 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
In the execution of the resolution of Congress, bearing date the 26. of March 1794, and imposing an embargo, I have requested the Governors of the several States to call forth the force of their militia, if it should be necessary for the detention of vessels. This power is conceived to be incidental to an embargo. It also deserves the attention of Congress, how far the clearances from one...
29From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 5 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State having reported to me upon the several complaints, which have been lodged in his office, against the vexations and spoliations on our commerce, since the commencement of the European war; I transmit to you a copy of his statement, together with the documents upon which it is founded. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate Records of Legislative Proceedings,...
30From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 7 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you an Official statement of the expenditure to the end of the year 1793, from the sum of Ten thousand dollars, granted to defray the contingent expences of Government, by an Act passed on the 26th of March 1790. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate Records of Legislative Proceedings, President’s Messages; LB , DNA : RG 233, Third Congress, 1793–95, House Records of...
31From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 17 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you an official statement of the appropriation of ten thousand dollars, granted to defray the contingent expences of government by an act of the 26th of March 1790. a copy of two resolutions of the Legislature of Virginia, and of a petition of sundry Officers and assignees of Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia line on continental establishment, on the subject of bounty-lands...
32From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 23 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
Since the communications which were made to you on the affairs of the United States with Spain and on the Truce between Portugal and Algiers, some other papers have been received which making a part of the same subjects are now communicated for your information. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate Records of Legislative Proceedings, President’s Messages; Copy, DNA : RG 233, Third...
33From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 29 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
United States, Gentlemen of the Senate. September 29th 1789. His Most Christian Majesty, by a letter dated the 7th of June last, addressed to the President and Members of the General Congress of the United States of North America, announces the much lamented death of his Son the Dauphin. The generous conduct of the French Monarch and Nation towards this Country renders every event that may...
34From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 25 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you an official statement of the expenditure, to the end of the year 1792, from the sum of ten thousand dollars, granted to defray the contingent expenses of government, by an Act passed, on the twenty sixth of March 1790. Also an abstract of a supplementary arrangement made in the district of North Carolina, in regard to certain surveys, to facilitate the execution of the law...
35From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 16 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you a copy of a letter from the Judges of the Circuit Court of the United States held for the New York District; and of their opinion and agreement respecting the “Act to provide for the settlement of the claims of Widows and Orphans barred by the limitations heretofore established, and to regulate the claims to Invalid Pensions.” D[S] , DNA : RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793,...
36From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 5 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my private Secretary to lay before you Copies of three Acts of the Legislature of the State of New York, which have been transmitted to me by the Governor thereof. viz. “An Act declaring it to be the duty of the Sheriffs of the several Counties within this State to receive, and safe keep such prisoners as shall be committed under the authority of the United States.” “An Act for...
37From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 7 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you copies of certain papers relative to the Spanish interference, in the execution of the Treaty entered into, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, between the United States and the Creek nation of Indians together with a letter from the Secretary of State to the President of the United States, on the same subject. Copy, DNA : RG 233, Second Congress, 1791–93, House...
38From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I place before you the plan of a City that has been laid out within the District of ten miles square, which was fixed upon for the permanent seat of the Government of the United States. DS , sold by Sotheby’s, Catalog 5759, item 205, 26 Oct. 1988; LB , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA : RG 233, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Journals. For the background to this letter, see...
39From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 16 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you a Report of the Secretary of State on the measures which have been taken on behalf of the United States for the purpose of obtaining a recognition of our Treaty with Morocco, and for the ransom of our Citizens and establishment of peace with Algiers. While it is proper our Citizens should know that Subjects which so much concern their interests and their feelings have duly...
40From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 10 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Resolution passed at the last session of Congress, requesting the President of the United States to cause an estimate to be laid before Congress at their next session, of the quantity and situation of the lands not claimed by the Indians, nor granted to, nor claimed by any of the Citizens of the United States, within the territory ceded to the United States by the State of North Carolina,...
41From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 18 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
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. DS , DNA : RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Records of Legislative Proceedings, President’s Messages; LB ,...
42From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 1 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Having received official information of the accession of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations to the Constitution of the United States, I take the earliest opportunity of communicating the same to you, with my Congratulations on this happy event, which unites under the general Government all the States which were originally confederated; and have directed my Secretary to lay...
43From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 11 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received from the Governor of Virginia a Resolution of the General Assembly of that Commonwealth, ratifying the first Article of the amendments proposed by Congress to the Constitution of the United States. A Copy of which, and of the letter accompanying it, I now lay before you. Sundry papers relating to the purchase by Judge Symmes of the lands on the Great Miami, having been...
44From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 23 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
It appearing by the Report of the Secretary of the Government North West of the Ohio, that there are certain cases respecting Grants of Land within that territory, which require the interference of the Legislature of the United States; I have directed a copy of said Report and the papers therein referred to, to be laid before you; together with a Copy of the Report of the Secretary of State...
45From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 22 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I forward to you extracts from the last advices from our Minister in London; as being connected with communications already made. LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, Senate Records of Legislative Proceedings, President’s Messages; LB , DLC:GW . On 21 Jan., Edmund Randolph sent GW two letters from Thomas Pinckney addressed to the Secretary of State. The first, which Pinckney erroneously...
46From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 6 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you a Copy of an exemplified Copy of a Law, to ratify, on the part of the State of New Jersey, certain Amendments to the Constitution of the United States; together with the Copy of a letter which accompanied said ratification, from The Honorable Elisha Lawrence Esquire Vice President of the State of New Jersey to the President of the United States....
47From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 9 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
I now lay before you, a letter from the Secretary of State, covering the copy of one from the Governor of Virginia, with the several papers therein referred to, on the subject of the boundary between that State, and the territory of the United States, south of the river Ohio. It will remain with the Legislature to take such measures, as it shall think best, for settling the said boundary with...
48From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 2 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives. I send you certain communications, recently received from Georgia, which materially change the prospect of affairs in that quarter, and seem to render a war with the Creek Nations more probable than it has been at any antecedent period. While the attention of Congress will be directed to the consideration of measures suited to the...
49From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 28 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you the copy of an Act of the Legislature of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, entitled “An Act for calling a Convention to take into consideration the Constitution proposed for the United States, passed on the 17th day of September A.D. 1787, by the General Convention held at Philadelphia,”—together with the copy of a letter accompanying said...
50From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 11 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you, in confidence, two Reports made to me by the Secretary for the department of War, relatively to the present state of affairs on the western frontiers of the United States. In these Reports the causes of the present war with the Indians; the measures taken by the Executive to terminate it amicably; and the military preparations for the late Campaign are stated and explained;...