1871, in
accordance with the act of January 22, 1867.]

SPECIAL MESSAGES.

WASHINGTON, _March 17, 1871_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

I transmit to the Senate, in compliance with its resolution of the
14th instant, a report from the Secretary of State, making known that
official notice has been received at the Department of State of the
ratification by the legislature of one, and only one, additional
State--to wit, that of New Jersey--of the fifteenth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States since the 30th of March, 1870, the
date of his certificate that three-fourths of the whole number of States
in the United States had ratified that amendment and that it had become
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution of the
United States.

U.S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, D.C., _March 23, 1871_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

A condition of affairs now exists in some of the States of the Union
rendering life and property insecure and the carrying of the mails and
the collection of the revenue dangerous. The proof that such a condition
of affairs exists in some localities is now before the Senate. That
the power to correct these evils is beyond the control of the State
authorities I do not doubt; that the power of the Executive of the
United States, acting within the limits of existing laws, is sufficient
for present emergencies is not clear.

Therefore I urgently recommend such legislation as in the judgment of
Congress shall effectually secure life, liberty, and property and the
enforcement of law in all parts of the United States.

It may be expedient to provide that such law as shall be passed in
pursuance of this recommendation shall expire at the end of the next
session of Congress.

There is no other subject upon which I would recommend legislation
during the present session.

U.S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, _March 28, 1871_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 16th instant, I
transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the papers[44] which
accompanied it.

U.S. GRANT.

[Footnote 44: Reports, communications, etc., relative to the
International Statistical Congress held at The Hague in 1869.]

WASHINGTON, _March 30, 1871_.

_To the Senate of the United States:_

I transmit, for consideration with a view to its ratification, a treaty
of commerce and navigation between the Uni