Given under my hand this 11th day of March, 1801.
TH. JEFFERSON.
In communicating his first message to Congress, President Jefferson addressed the following letter to the presiding officer of each branch of the National Legislature:
DECEMBER 8, 1801.
The Honorable the PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
SIR: The circumstances under which we find ourselves at this place rendering inconvenient the mode heretofore practiced of making by personal address the first communications between the legislative and executive branches, I have adopted that by message, as used on all subsequent occasions through the session. In doing this I have had principal regard to the convenience of the Legislature, to the economy of their time, to their relief from the embarrassment of immediate answers on subjects not yet fully before them, and to the benefits thence resulting to the public affairs. Trusting that a procedure founded in these motives will meet their approbation, I beg leave through you, sir, to communicate the inclosed message, with the documents accompanying it, to the honorable the Senate, and pray you to accept for yourself and them the homage of my high respect and consideration.
TH. JEFFERSON.
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE.
DECEMBER 8, 1801.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: