I am, with very great respect, sir, yours,
JOHN RANDOLPH.
The Secretary of State.
On Saturday night the 25th instant, the Committee of Ways and Means received an answer to this letter, which I will deliver to the Clerk, in order that it may go to the new committee, to which this business has been referred. It is unnecessary for me to add any thing more. The House must be sensible that while the Committee of Ways and Means were in the dark they could not proceed in the discharge of the duties assigned them, and that after receiving information from the Secretary of State so late in the day, it was impossible for them to have made a report by this day; and if I am not mistaken, the motion to discharge the Committee of Ways and Means was made before the answer of the Secretary of State was received.
The Clerk accordingly read the letter of the Secretary of State, as follows:
Department of State, Jan. 25, 1806.
The Secretary of State presents his respects to Mr. Randolph, and has the honor to transmit him a copy of a report this day made to the President of the United States, respecting interpolations by foreign powers, of new and injurious principles in the law of nations. This report, which the communications made by the President to Congress, particularly that of the 17th instant, will, it is hoped, afford the information requested, for the Committee of Ways and Means, by Mr. Randolph’s letter of the 11th ultimo.
When, on motion of Mr. J. Randolph, the papers laid by him on the table were referred to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.