James Monroe’s Seventh Annual Message to Congress addresses members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It emphasizes the need for public servants to devote themselves “to their respective duties, or for virtue, patriotism, and union in our constituents” (13). Monroe explains that he plans to present his views in greater detail than usual because the current congress has just been inaugurated and that, in doing so, he complies with “the sound principles” of the American government (13). Because a democratic government answers to the people, “the more full their information the better they can judge of the wisdom of the policy pursued and of the conduct of each in regard to it” (13).

US relations with foreign powers remain of utmost importance. For this reason, it is necessary to estimate the “resources, revenue, and progress in every kind of improvement connected with the national prosperity and public defense” (13). First, following the US-British War of 1812, the commissioners tasked with establishing the border between the US and Britain (present-day Canada) through the Treaty of Ghent, Article 5, did not arrive at an agreement. Thus, the US and Britain decided to negotiate this border issue directly.