December 12, 1856
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I transmit a copy of a letter of the 20th of May last from the commissioner of the United States in China, and of the decree and regulations+ which accompanied it, for such revision thereof as Congress may deem expedient, pursuant to the sixth section of the act approved 11th August, 1848.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
+ For judicial jurisdiction by acting consuls or vice-consuls of the United States in China.
Franklin Pierce, Special Message Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/203183