[27]

MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

IN COMPLIANCE

WITH A RESOLUTION OF THE SIXTEENTH INSTANT,

RELATIVE TO

THE RESTITUTION OF SLAVES

UNDER

THE FIRST ARTICLE OF THE TREATY OF GHENT.

December 29, 1817.

Printed by order of the Senate of the United States.

WASHINGTON:

PRINTED BY E. DE KRAFFT.

1817

--3--

To the Senate of the United States:

In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 16th of this month, requesting information touching the execution of so much of the first article of the treaty of Ghent, as relates to the restitution of slaves, which has not heretofore been communicated, I now transmit a report of the Secretary of State on that subject.

JAMES MONROE,

December 29, 1817.

--5--

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

December 24th, 1817.

The Secretary of State to whom has been referred the resolution of the Senate, of the 16th instant, requesting information touching the execution of so much of the first article of the treaty of Ghent, as relates to the restitution of slaves, which has not heretofore been communicated, has the honor to report to the President,

That no answer has yet been received from the British government to the proposal made by order of the late President, on the 17th of September, 1816. that the question upon the different construction given by the respective governments to that article, should be referred to the decision of some friendly sovereign. That the late Minister of the United States in England, before his departure from London, renewed the request for an answer, and that the present Minister at the same court has been instructed to invite again the attention of the British government to the subject.

All which is respectfully submitted.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.