Ordered, That the further reading thereof be postponed.
Friday, December 19.
The Senate proceeded to consider the motion, made yesterday, that the President of the United States be requested to lay before the Senate the instructions given to our late Commissioners to the French Republic; which, being amended, was adopted, as follows:
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to lay before the Senate the instructions given to our late Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary to the French Republic.
Ordered, That the Secretary lay this resolution before the President of the United States.
Monday, December 22.
The following Message was received from the President of the United States.
Gentlemen of the Senate:
In conformity with your request, in your resolution of the 19th of this month, I transmit you the instructions given to our late Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary to the French Republic.
It is my request to the Senate that these instructions may be considered in strict confidence, and returned to me as soon as the Senate shall have made all the use of them they may judge necessary.