SIR: In order to give to Congress the details necessary for their full information of the state of things between Spain and the United States, I send them the communication and documents now inclosed. Although stated to be confidential, that term is not meant to be extended to all the documents, the greater part of which are proper for the public eye. It is applied only to the message itself and to the letters from our own and foreign ministers, which if disclosed might throw additional difficulties in the way of accommodation. These alone, therefore, are delivered to the Legislature in confidence that they will be kept secret.
TH: JEFFERSON.
[The same message was addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.]
DECEMBER 10, 1805.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
The inclosed documents,[34] relating to my message of the 6th instant, not being ready at that date, I thought it better not to detain the message, but to communicate these papers afterwards, as supplementary to those then sent. They are not of a nature to be deemed confidential.
TH: JEFFERSON.
DECEMBER 27, 1805.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
I lay before Congress a report of the Surveyor of the Public Buildings, stating the progress made on them during the last season and what may be expected to be accomplished in the ensuing one.