21From 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...
22From 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...
23From 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,...
24From 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...
25From 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...
26From 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,...
27From 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...
28From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 20 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. In the communications, which I have made to Congress during the present session, relative to foreign nations, I have omitted no opportunity of testifying my anxiety to preserve the United States in peace. It is peculiarly therefore my duty at this time, to lay before you the present state of certain hostile threats against the...
29From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 25 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
The two letters, which I now forward to Congress, were written by a Consul of the United States; and contain information, which will probably be thought to require some pecuniary provision. 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 Legislative Proceedings, Messages; LB...
30From 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...
31From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 25 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives I send herewith, for your information, the translation of a letter from the Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Secretary of State, announcing the peace made by the Republic with the Kings of Prussia and Spain, the Grand Duke of Tuscany and the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel; and that the Republican Constitution decreed...
32From 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...
33From 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...
34From 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,...
35From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 12 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of representatives. As the letter, which I forwarded to Congress on the 15th day of April last, from the Minister plenipotentiary of his britannic majesty to the Secretary of State, in answer to a memorial of our minister in London, related to a very interesting subject, I thought it proper not to delay its communication. But since that time the...
36From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 21 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. I lay before you, in confidence, sundry papers, by which you will perceive the state of affairs between us and the Six Nations, and the probable cause to which it is owing. And also certain information, whereby it would appear that some encroachment was about to be made on our territory by an officer and party of british troops....
37From 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...
38From 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...
39From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 25 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I communicate to Congress copies of a Letter from the Governor of the State of Georgia, and of an act of the Legislature thereof, “to ratify the resolution of Congress explanatory of the judicial power of the United States.” LS , DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–95, second session, entry 33; copy, DNA : RG 233, Records of the House of Representatives, Journals; LB , DLC:GW . See George...
40From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 15 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives. By the ninth section of the act entitled “an Act to provide a naval armament” it is enacted, “that if a peace shall take place between the United States and the Regency of Algiers that no further proceedings be had under this act.” The peace which is here contemplated having taken place, it is incumbent upon the Executive to suspend all...
41From 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...
42From 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...
43From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 11 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I transmit to you, for consideration, a Representation made to me by The Secretary of the Treasury, on the subject of constituting an Officer to be specially charged with the business of procuring certain public supplies. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 33; copy, DNA : RG 233, Records of the House of Representatives, entry 19; copy, DLC:GW . See Alexander Hamilton’s third letter to GW of 2 December.
44From 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...
45From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 28 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The extraordinary expenses, to be incurred in the present year in supporting our foreign intercourse, I find will require a provision beyond the ordinary appropriation, and the additional twenty thousand dollars lately granted. I have directed an estimate to be made, which is sent herewith, and will exhibit the deficiency, for which an appropriation appears to be necessary. LS , DNA : RG 46,...
46From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 29 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. In pursuance of the authority vested in the President of the united States by an act of Congress passed the third of March last, to reduce the weight of the copper coin of the united States, whenever he should think it for the benefit of the united States, provided that the reduction should not exceed two pennyweights in each cent,...
47From 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,...
48From 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...
49From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 17 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have received Copies of two Acts of the Legislature of Georgia, one passed on the twenty eighth day of December, and the other on the Seventh day of January last, for appropriating and selling the Indian lands within the territorial limits claimed by that state. These copies, tho’ not officially certified, have been transmitted to me in such a manner as to leave no room to doubt their...
50From 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...
51From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 7 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
The business which has hitherto been under the consideration of Congress has been of so much importance, that I was unwilling to draw their attention from it to any other subject. But the disputes which exist between some of the United States and several powerful Tribes of Indians within the limits of the Union, and the hostilities which have in several instances been committed on the...
52From 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...
53From 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...
54From 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...
55From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 8 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
In meeting you again I feel much satisfaction in being able to repeat my congratulations on the favorable prospects which continue to distinguish our public affairs. The abundant fruits of another year have blessed our Country with plenty, and with the means of a flourishing commerce. The progress of public credit is witnessed by a considerable rise of American Stock abroad as well as at home....
56From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 12 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
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, excepting as to the brave men who have fallen on the occasion, and who are a subject of public...
57From 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,...
58From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 28 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
In my first communication to Congress during their present Session, I gave them reason to expect, that “certain circumstances of our intercourse with foreign nations” would be transmitted to them. There was at that time every assurance for believing, that some of the most important of our foreign affairs would have been concluded, and others considerably matured, before they should rise. But,...
59From 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...
60From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 5 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
As the present situation of the several Nations of Europe, and especially of those with which the U.S. have important relations, cannot but render the state of things between them and us matter of interesting inquiry to the legislature, & may indeed give rise to deliberations to which they alone are competent, I have thought it my duty to communicate to them certain correspondences which have...
61From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 25 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
I meet you, upon the present occasion, with the feelings which are naturally inspired by a strong impression of the prosperous situation of our common Country, and by a persuasion equally strong, that the labours of the Session, which has just commenced, will, under the guidance of a spirit no less prudent than patriotic, issue in measures, conducive to the stability and increase of national...
62Address to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 6 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate, and House of Representatives. It is some abatement of the satisfaction, with which I meet you on the present occasion, that in felicitating you on a continuance of the National prosperity generally, I am not able to add to it information that the Indian hostilities, which have, for some time past, distressed our North Western frontier, have terminated. You will,...
63From 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...
64From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 14 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I was called to the administration of the Government, I found it important to come to an understanding with the Court of London, on several points interesting to the United States, and particularly to know whether they were disposed to enter into arrangements, by mutual consent, which might fix the commerce between the two Nations on principles of reciprocal advantage. For this...
65From 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...
66From 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...
67From 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,...
68From 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 ,...
69From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 7 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives In recurring to the internal situation of our country since I had last the pleasure to address you, I find ample reason for a renewed expression of that gratitude to the Ruler of the Universe, which a continued series of prosperity has so often and so justly called forth. The acts of the last session, which required special...
70From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 8 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
I lay before Congress copies of Acts passed by the Legislatures of the States of Vermont, Massachusetts and New York, ratifying the amendment proposed by the Senate and House of Representatives at their last session, to the Constitution of the United States, respecting the judicial power thereof. The Minister of the French Republic having communicated to the Secretary of State, certain...