Between the United States and the island a commercial intercourse exists, and it will continue to be the object of this Government to promote it.  Our commerce there has been subjected to higher duties than have been imposed on like articles from some other nations.  It has nevertheless been extensive, proceeding from the wants of the respective parties and the enterprise of our citizens.  Of this discrimination to our injury we had a right to complain and have complained.  It is expected that our commercial intercourse with the island will be placed on the footing of the most favored nation.  No preference is sought in our favor, nor ought any to be given to others.  Regarding the high interest of our happy Union and looking to every circumstance which may by any possibility affect the tranquillity of any part, however remotely, and guarding against such injury by suitable precautions, it is the duty of this Government to promote by all the means in its power and by a fair and honorable policy the best interest of every other part, and thereby of the whole.  Feeling profoundly the force of this obligation, I shall continue to exert with unwearied zeal my best faculties to give it effect.

JAMES MONROE.

WASHINGTON, February 26, 1823.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

I transmit to the House of Representatives, in pursuance of a resolution of that House of the 30th January last, a report from the Secretary of State, containing the information required in relation to the transactions of the commissioners under the sixth and seventh articles of the treaty of Ghent, and also as to the measures which have been taken under the fourth article of the treaty with Spain of the 22d of February, 1819, for fixing the boundary line described in the third article of the last-mentioned treaty.

JAMES MONROE.

WASHINGTON, February 27, 1823.

To the House of Representatives: 

I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, made in pursuance of their resolution of the 21st of January last, requesting the President of the United States to cause to be arranged and laid before that House a digest shewing such changes in the commercial regulations of the different foreign countries with which the United States have intercourse as shall have been adopted and come to the knowledge of the Executive subsequently to the formation of the digest communicated to the Senate on the 7th December, 1819.

JAMES MONROE.

WASHINGTON, February 28, 1823.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, with copies of sundry papers which should have been included among those which accompanied my message of the 13th instant, being part of the correspondence with Great Britain relating to the negotiation of the convention of 20th of October, 1818, but which were accidentally omitted from the papers communicated to the House with that message.