I transmit herewith certain papers from the War Department, relative to the improvement of Brunswick Harbor, Georgia.

ANDREW JACKSON.

WASHINGTON, January 30, 1837.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

I herewith transmit to the House the copy of a letter addressed to me by the governor of the State of Maine on the 30th of June last, communicating sundry resolutions of the legislature of that State and claiming the reimbursement of certain moneys paid to John and Phineas R. Harford for losses and expenses incurred by them under circumstances explained in the accompanying papers.

ANDREW JACKSON.

WASHINGTON, February 6, 1837.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 

In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 3d instant, I herewith transmit the report[26] of the Secretary of the Navy, which affords all the information required by said resolution.  The President begs leave to add that he trusts that all facilities will be given to this exploring expedition that Congress can bestow and the honor of the nation demands.

ANDREW JACKSON.

[Footnote 26:  Relating to the South Sea exploring expedition.]

WASHINGTON, February 6, 1837.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: 

At the beginning of this session Congress was informed that our claims upon Mexico had not been adjusted, but that notwithstanding the irritating effect upon her councils of the movements in Texas, I hoped, by great forbearance, to avoid the necessity of again bringing the subject of them to your notice.  That hope has been disappointed.  Having in vain urged upon that Government the justice of those claims and my indispensable obligation to insist that there should be “no further delay in the acknowledgment, if not in the redress, of the injuries complained of,” my duty requires that the whole subject should be presented, as it now is, for the action of Congress, whose exclusive right it is to decide on the further measures of redress to be employed.  The length of time since some of the injuries have been committed, the repeated and unavailing applications for redress, the wanton character of some of the outrages upon the property and persons of our citizens, upon the officers and flag of the United States, independent of recent insults to this Government and people by the late extraordinary Mexican minister, would justify in the eyes of all nations immediate war.  That remedy, however, should not be used by just and generous nations, confiding in their strength for injuries committed, if it can be honorably avoided; and it has occurred to me that, considering the present embarrassed condition of that country, we should act with both wisdom and moderation by giving to Mexico one more opportunity to atone for the past before we take redress