An Act of the Legislature of this State to prevent the bringing in and spreading of infectious Diseases in this State, authorizes the Governor to assign the Stations where vessels made subject to Quarantine shall come to Anchor and remain, until visited by the Health Officer and reported to be free from Infection.1

As difficulties and embarrassments of a delicate nature would arise in case it should be made a question whether a State Law can extend to Vessels belonging to Sovereign Powers— I submit to your Consideration the expediency of obviating them by an Order of the President directing that all such Vessels arriving in any of the United States shall take only such Stations, and refit only ^at^ such places, and on such proof of their requiring it, as shall be ordered and required by the Government of such State.—

Besides the danger of infection to which We may be exposed by those Vessels, such a Regulation would tend to prevent the Inconveniencies which often arise from the Indiscretion of their Crews, especially when Ships of War belonging to belligerent Powers happen to be placed near to each other in a neutral Port.

Whatever Orders touching such Vessels may heretofore have been sent to my Predecessor, I will thank you for Copies of. I have some of them, but am not certain that I have them all. I have the Honor to be with great Respect & Esteem Sir Your Most Obt. & h’ble Servt.