UNITED STATES, _January 12, 1790_. _Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_: I lay before you a statement of the Southwestern frontiers and of the Indian Department, which have been submitted to me by the Secretary for the Department of War. I conceive that an unreserved but confidential communication of all the papers relative to the recent negotiations with some of the Southern tribes of Indians is indispensably requisite for the information of Congress. I am persuaded that they will effectually prevent either transcripts or publications of all such circumstances as might be injurious to the public interests, GEORGE WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, _January 21, 1790_. _Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_: The Secretary for the Department of War has submitted to me certain principles to serve as a plan for the general arrangement of the militia of the United States. Conceiving the subject to be of the highest importance to the welfare of our country and liable to be placed in various points of view, I have directed him to lay the plan before Congress for their information, in order that they may make such use thereof as they may judge proper. GEORGE WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, _January 25, 1790_. _Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_: I have received from His Excellency John E. Howard, governor of the State of Maryland, an act of the legislature of Maryland to ratify certain articles in addition to and amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress to the legislatures of the several States, and have directed my secretary to lay a copy of the same before you, together with the copy of a letter, accompanying the above act, from his excellency the governor of Maryland to the President of the United States. The originals will be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State. GEORGE WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, _January 28, 1790_. _Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_: I have directed my secretary to lay before you the copy of an act of the legislature of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations entitled "An act for calling a convention to take into consideration the Constitution proposed for the United States, passed on the 17th day of September, A.D. 1787, by the General Convention held at Philadelphia," together with the copy of a letter, accompanying said act, from His Excellency John Collins, governor of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, to the President of the United States. The originals of the foregoing act and letter will be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State. GEORGE WASHINGTON. UNITED STATES, _February 1, 1790_. _Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_: