Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
The first despatches from our Envoys Extraordinary, since their arrival at Paris, were received at the Secretary of State's office at a late hour the last evening. They are all in a character which will require some days to be deciphered, except the last, which is dated the 8th of January, 1798. The contents of this letter are of so much importance to be immediately made known to Congress and to the public, especially to the mercantile part of our fellow-citizens, that I have thought it my duty to communicate them to both Houses without loss of time.
JOHN ADAMS.
United States, March 5, 1798.
The Message and paper therein referred to were read, and ordered to lie for consideration.
Monday, March 19.
The following Message was received from the President of the United States:
Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
The despatches from the Envoys Extraordinary of the United States to the French Republic, which were mentioned in my Message to both Houses of Congress, of the fifth instant, have been examined and maturely considered.
While I feel a satisfaction in informing you that their exertions, for the adjustment of the differences between the two nations, have been sincere and unremitted, it is incumbent on me to declare, that I perceive no ground of expectation that the objects of their mission can be accomplished, on terms compatible with the safety, the honor, or the essential interests of the nation.