ANSWER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR, WHILE our sympathy is excited by the recent sufferings of the citizens of Philadelphia, we participate in the satisfaction which you are pleased to express, that the duration of the late calamity was so limited, as to render unnecessary the expense and inconvenience that would have been incident to the convention of Congress in another place: And we shall readily attend to every useful amendment of the law which contemplates the event of contagious sickness at the seat of government. In lamenting the increase of the injuries offered to the persons and property of our citizens at sea, we gratefully acknowledge the continuance of interior tranquility, and the attendant blessings of which remind us, as alleviations of these fatal effects of injustice and violence. you Whatever may be the result of the mission to the French Republic, your early and uniform attachment to the interest of our country-your important services in the struggle for its independence-and your unceasing exertions for its welfare-afford no room to doubt of the sincerity of your efforts to conduct the negociation to a successful conclusion, on such terms as may be compatible with the safety, honor and interest of the United States. We have also a firm reliance upon the energy and unanimity of the people of these States, in the assertion of their rights, and on their determination to exert, upon all proper occasions, their ample resources in providing for the national defence. The importance of commerce, and its beneficial influence upon agriculture, arts and manufactures, have been verified in the growth and prosperity of our country. It is essentially connected with the other great interests of the community. They must flourish and decline together; and while the exten. sion of our navigation and trade, naturally excites the jealousy, and tempts the avarice of other nations, we are firmly persuaded, that the numerous and deserving class of citizens engaged in these pursuits, and dependent on them for their subsistence, has a strong and indisputable claim to our support and protection. The delay of the Spanish officers to fulfil the treaty existing with his Catholic Majesty, is a source of deep regret-We learn, however, with satisfaction, that you still indulge hopes of removing the objections which have been made to its execution, and that you have continued in readiness to receive the posts, Disposed to perform with fidelity our national engagements, nothing shall be wanting on our part to obtain the same justice from others, which we exer. cise towards them. Our abhorrence cannot be too strongly expressed of the intrigues of foreign agents, to alienate the affections of the Indian nations, and to rouse them to acts of hostility against the United States. No means in our power should be omitted, of providing for the suppression of such cruel practices, and for the adequate punishment of their atrocious authors. Upon the other interesting subjects noticed in your address, we shall bestow the requisite attention. To preserve inviolate the public faith, by providing for the due execution of our treaties; to indemnify those who may have just claims to retribution upon the United States, for expences incurred in defending the property, and relieving the necessities of our unfortunate fellow-citizens: to guard against evasions of the laws intended to secure advantage to the navigation of our own vessels; and especially, to prevent, by all possible means, an unnecessary accumulation of the public debt, are duties which we shall endeavor to keep in view, and discharge with assiduity. We regard, with great anxiety, the singular and porpentous situation of the principal powers of Europe. It was devoutly to be wished, that the United States, remote from the seat of war and discord; unambitious of conquest; respecting the rights of other nations; and, desirous merely, to avail themselves of their natural resources, might be permitted to behold the scenes which desolate that quarter of the globe, with only those sympathetic emotions which are natural to the lovers of peace, and friends of the human race. But we are led by the events to associate with these feelings a sense of the dangers which menace our security and peace. We rely upon your assurances of a zealous and hearty concurrence in such measures as may be necessary to avert these dangers-and nothing on our part shall be wanting to repel them which the honor, safety and prosperity of our country may require. THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, I RECEIVE this address from the House of Representatives of the United States with peculiar pleasure. Your approbation of the meeting of Congress in this City, and of those other measures of the Executive authority of government communicated in my address to both houses at the opening of the session, afford me great satisfaction; as the strongest desire of my heart is to give satisfaction to the People and their Representatives by a faithful discharge of my duty. The confidence you put in the sincerity of my endeavors, and in the unanimity of the people, does me much honor, and gives me great joy. I rejoice in that harmony which appears in the sentiments of all the branches of the importance of our commerce, and our obligations to defend it, as well as in all other subjects recommended to your consideration, and sincerely congratulate you and our fellow-citizens at large, on this appearance, so auspicious to the honor, interest and happiness of the nation. United States, Nov. 29, 1797. JOHN ADAMS. FIFTH CONGRESS-THIRD SESSION. THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH. Gentlemen of the Senate, and ་ Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, WHILE, with reverence and resignation, we contemplate the dispensations of Divine Providence, in the alarming and destructive pestilence with which several of our cities and towns have been visited, there is cause for gratitude and mutual congratula tions, that the malady has disappeared, and that we are again permitted to assemble in safety, at the seat of government, for the discharge of our important duties. But when we reflect that this fatal disorder has, within a few years, made repeated ravages in some of our principal sea ports, and with increased malignancy, and when we consider the magnitude of the evils arising from the interruption of public and private business, whereby the national interests are deeply affected-I think it my duty to invite the Legislature of the Union to examine the expediency of establishing suitable regulations in aid of the health laws of the respective states; for these being formed on the idea that contagious sickness may be communicated through the channels of commerce, there seems to be a necessity that Congress, who alone can regulate trade, should frame a system, which, while it may tend to preserve the general health, may be compatible with the interests of commerce, and the safety of the revenue. While we think on this calamity, and sympathise with the immediate sufferers, we have abundant reason to present to the Supreme Being our annual ob. lations of gratitude, for a liberal participation in the ordinary blessings of his Providence. To the usual |