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27th ConerEss,. [ SENATE. ] [ 1 ]
lst Session. .
MESSAGE
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS,
AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
June 1, 1841.—Read, and ordered that 3,500 copies of the message and 1,500 copies of the
message and documents be printed for the use of the Senate.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States :
Fe.iow-Crrizens: You have been assembled in your respective halls of
legislation under a proclamation bearing the signature of the illustrious citi-
zen who was so lately called by the direct suffrages of the people to the
discharge of the important functions of their chief executive office. Upon
the expiration of a single month from the day of his installation, he has
paid the great debt of nature, leaving behind him a name associated with
the recollection of numerous benefits conferred upon the country during a
long life of patriotic devotion. With this public bereavement are connect-
ed other considerations which will not escape the attention of Congress.
The preparations necessary for his removal to the seat of Government in
‘view of a residence of four years must have devolved upon the late Prest
dent heavy expenditures, which, if permitted to burden the limited resour-
ces of his’ private fortune, may tend to the serious embarrassment of his’
surviving family; and it is therefore respectfully submitted to Congress
whether the ordinary principles of justice would not dictate the propriety
of. its legislative interposition. By the provisions of the fundamental law,
the powers and duties of the high station to which he was elected-have
devolved upon me, and in the dispositions of the representatives of the
“States and of the people will be found to a great extent a solution of the
‘problem to’ which’ our institutions are for the first time subjected.
In entering upon the duties of this office, I did not feel that it would be
becoming in me to disturb what had been ordered by my lamented prede-
‘cessor. Whatever, therefore, may have been my opinion, originally, as to the
propriety of convening Congress at so early a day from that ofits late adjourn-
ment, I found a new and a controlling inducement not to interfere with the
patriotic desires of the Jate President, in the novelty of the situation in .
which I was so unexpectedly placed. My. first wish’ under such circum-
stances would necessarily have been to have called to my aid, in the ad-
ministration of public affairs, the combined wisdom of the two Houses of
Congress, in order to take their counsel and advice as to the best mode’ of
extricating the Government and the country from the embarrassmeuts
weighing heavily on both. Iam then most happy in finding myself, so
soon after my accession to the Presidency, surrounded by the immediate
representatives of the States and people.
No important changes having taken place in our foreign relations since
the last session of Congress, it is not deemed necessary © this occasion to
go into a detailed statement in regard to them. Iam happy to say that I
see nothing to.destroy the hope of being able to preserve peace.
Galcs & Seaton, print.