The President of the United States has received your memorial respecting the spanish Brigantine Los Amigos.1

If damages were justly due in the case, the spanish claimant might have pursued his redress judicially beyond the first sentence of the District Court.

At present it does not seem requisite, that the Executive should pass an opinion upon its merits, as they are incompetent to grant indemnity for the injury complained of. This defect of power not applying to the Legislature, the memorial might have been, with more propriety, addressed to them: but considering that a treaty for adjusting mutually the wrongs committed during the late war and which are complained of by the citizens and subjects of the United States and Spain is now depending for ratification, the Legislature may not be inclined at present to take up the case of Los Amigos. I am, Sir, very respectfully &ca