University of Virginia Library

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183

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.

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

I lay before Congress copies of certain documents which
remain in the Department of State.[48] They prove that at
a recent period, whilst the United States, notwithstanding
the wrongs sustained by them, ceased not to observe the laws
of peace and neutrality toward Great Britain, and in the
midst of amicable professions and negotiations on the part
of the British Government, through its public minister here,
a secret agent of that Government was employed in certain
States, more especially at the seat of government in Massachusetts,
in fomenting disaffection to the constituted authorities
of the nation, and in intrigues with the disaffected, for
the purpose of bringing about resistance to the laws, and eventually,
in concert with a British force, of destroying the Union
and forming the eastern part thereof into a political connection
with Great Britain.

In addition to the effect which the discovery of such a procedure
ought to have on the public councils, it will not fail
to render more dear to the hearts of all good citizens that
happy union of these States which, under Divine Providence,
is the guaranty of their liberties, their safety, their tranquillity,
and their prosperity.