In Congress are vested all legislative powers, and upon them devolves the responsibility as well for framing unwise and excessive laws as for neglecting to devise and adopt measures absolutely demanded by the wants of the country.  Let us earnestly hope that before the expiration of our respective terms of service, now rapidly drawing to a close, an all-wise Providence will so guide our counsels as to strengthen and preserve the Federal Union, inspire reverence for the Constitution, restore prosperity and happiness to our whole people, and promote “on earth peace, good will toward men.”

ANDREW JOHNSON.

SPECIAL MESSAGES.

WASHINGTON, December 8, 1868.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit a copy of a note of the 24th of November last addressed to the Secretary of State by the minister of Great Britain, communicating a decree of the district court of the United States for the southern district of New York ordering the payment of certain sums to the defendants in a suit against the English schooner Sibyl, libeled as a prize of war.  It is requisite for the fulfillment of the decree that an appropriation of the sums specified therein should be made by Congress.  The appropriation is recommended accordingly.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON, December 11, 1868.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th instant, relating to the correspondence with the American minister at London concerning the so-called Alabama claims, I transmit a report on the subject from the Secretary of State.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON, December 16, 1868.

To the House of Representatives: 

In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 14th December instant, I transmit the accompanying report[70] of the Secretary of State.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

[Footnote 70:  Relating to the sending of a commissioner from the United States to Spain.]

WASHINGTON, December 16, 1868.

To the House of Representatives: 

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 14th instant, requesting the correspondence which has taken place between the United States minister at Brazil and Rear-Admiral Davis touching the disposition of the American squadron at Rio Janeiro and the Paraguay difficulties, I transmit a report of the Secretary of State upon that subject.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON, December 16, 1868.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 8th instant, concerning recent transactions in the region of the La Plata affecting the political relations of the United States with Paraguay, the Argentine Republic, Uruguay, and Brazil, I transmit a report of the Secretary of State, which is accompanied by a copy of the papers called for by the resolution.