In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 17th instant, requesting the President to transmit to that body “a copy of a dispatch to the United States consul at Monterey, T.O.  Larkin, esq., forwarded in November, 1845, by Captain Gillespie, of the Marine Corps, and which was by him destroyed before entering the port of Vera Cruz, if a communication of the same be not, in his opinion, incompatible with the public interests,” I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of State, with a copy of the dispatch referred to.  The resolution of the Senate appears to have been passed in legislative session.  Entertaining the opinion that the publication of this dispatch at this time will not be “compatible with the public interests,” but unwilling to withhold from the Senate information deemed important by that body, I communicate a copy of it to the Senate in executive session.

JAMES K. POLK.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, with the accompanying documents, in compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 8th instant, calling for “any correspondence which may have recently taken place with the British Government relative to the adoption of principles of reciprocity in the trade and shipping of the two countries.”

JAMES K. POLK.

MARCH 24, 1848.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, with accompanying documents, in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 17th instant, requesting the President to communicate to that body “copies of the correspondence between the minister of the United States at London and any authorities of the British Government in relation to a postal arrangement between the two countries.”

JAMES K. POLK.

MARCH 27, 1848.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 1848.

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

I communicate to Congress, for their information, a copy of a dispatch, with the accompanying documents, received at the Department of State from the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Paris, giving official information of the overthrow of the French Monarchy, and the establishment in its stead of a “provisional government based on republican principles.”

This great event occurred suddenly, and was accomplished almost without bloodshed.  The world has seldom witnessed a more interesting or sublime spectacle than the peaceful rising of the French people, resolved to secure for themselves enlarged liberty, and to assert, in the majesty of their strength, the great truth that in this enlightened age man is capable of governing himself.

The prompt recognition of the new Government by the representative of the United States at the French Court meets my full and unqualified approbation, and he has been authorized in a suitable manner to make known this fact to the constituted authorities of the French Republic.