Part 93

I herewith communicate to the Senate, for its consideration, a convention concluded by the minister of the United States at Berlin with the Kingdom of Bavaria, dated on the 21st day of January, 1845, for the mutual abolition of the droit d'aubaine and taxes on emigration between that Government and the United States, and also a copy of a dispatch from the minister explanatory of the sixth article of the same.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, February 26, 1845.

To the Senate of the United States:

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, inclosing reports from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, dated the 25th instant, and accompanying papers, in compliance with your resolution of the 17th instant, asking for information relative to reservations of mineral lands in the State of Illinois south of the base line and west of the third principal meridian.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, February 26, 1845.

To the Senate of the United States:

I herewith communicate a dispatch recently received, and an extract from one of a prior date, from our minister at Mexico, which I deem it important to lay confidentially before the Senate.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, February 26, 1845.

To the Senate of the United States:

In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 3d instant, I herewith transmit the information called for.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, February 26, 1845.

To the Senate of the United States:

I herewith transmit to the Senate, for its approval, an additional article to the treaty of extradition between the United States and France of the 9th of November, 1843. It will be found to contain the amendments suggested by the resolution of the Senate of the 15th of June last.

JOHN TYLER.

WASHINGTON, February 28, 1845.

To the Senate of the United States:

I transmit herewith to the Senate, in answer to its resolution of the 17th instant, a report from the Secretary of State, together with the copies of papers therein referred to.

JOHN TYLER.

VETO MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON, February 20, 1845.

To the Senate of the United States:

I herewith return the bill entitled "An act relating to revenue cutters and steamers," with the following objections to its becoming a law:

The Executive has found it necessary and esteemed it important to the public interests to direct the building of two revenue boats, to be propelled by wind or steam, as occasion may require--the one for the coast of Georgia and the other for Mobile Bay, to be used as dispatch vessels if necessary. The models have been furnished by the Navy Department and side wheels have been ordered, as being best tested and least liable to failure. The one boat is directed to be built at Richmond, Va., the other at Pittsburg, Pa., and contracts have been regularly entered into for their construction. The contractors have made and are making all necessary arrangements in procuring materials and sites for building, etc., and have doubtless been at considerable expense in the necessary preparations for completing their engagements. It was no part of the intention of the Senate in originating the bill, I am well convinced, to violate the sanctity of contracts regularly entered into by the Government. The language of the act, nevertheless, is of a character to produce in all probability that effect. Its language is "that no revenue cutter or revenue steamer shall hereafter be built (excepting such as are now in the course of building or equipment) nor purchased unless an appropriation be first made by law therefor." The building of the two cutters under contract can not be said properly to have commenced, although preparations have been made for building; but even if the construction be ambiguous, it is better that all ambiguity should be removed and thus the hazard of violating the pledged faith of the country be removed along with it.

I am free to confess that, existing contracts being guarded and protected, the law to operate in futuro would be regarded as both proper and wise.