After the Capitol was destroyed during the War of 1812, Congress was forced to reconvene in the U.S. Patent Office—the only government building not burned by the British in 1814. On September 23, the House of Representatives passed this resolution to appoint a committee to report on the causes and results of Britain’s successful attack on the capital. Resolution that a Committee be Appointed to inquire into the causes of the success of the enemy, 9/23/1814, HR 13A-D15.3, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives
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After the Capitol was destroyed during the War of 1812, Congress was forced to reconvene in the U.S. Patent Office—the only government building not burned by the British in 1814. On September 23, the House of Representatives passed this resolution to appoint a committee to report on the causes and results of Britain’s successful attack on the capital.

Resolution that a Committee be Appointed to inquire into the causes of the success of the enemy, 9/23/1814, HR 13A-D15.3, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives

British troops invaded a nearly empty Capital city on August 24, 1814 during the War of 1812. Prior to the invasion clerks in the House of Representatives were frantically trying to find carts and oxen to evacuate the records of Congress safely out of the city. This letter, sent to the Clerk of the House on September 15, chronicles the actions of the two men left in the Clerk’s office who were in charge of removing as many records as possible. The clerks were only able to get one cart of manuscripts and papers out of the office before the Capitol went up in flames. Among the items lost were committee manuscripts from the 13th Congress, the secret journal of Congress, petitions submitted to Congress before 1799, and the private accounts and vouchers of the Clerk of the House. The Clerk forwarded this letter to the Speaker of the House on September 20 asking for a committee to be created to handle the investigation of the burning of the Capitol.

Letter to Patrick Magruder, Clerk of the House, 9/15/1814, HR 13A-D15.2, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives

President George Washington sent the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Jay, to London in order to negotiate a treaty to settle open disputes with Great Britain in 1794. On June 8, 1795 the President sent the above transmittal letter enclosing the Jay Treaty to the U.S. Senate for their advice and consent. Although it was highly contested, the Senate approved the Jay Treaty on June 24, 1795. Transmittal letter from George Washington, 6/8/1795, Records of the U.S. Senate
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President George Washington sent the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Jay, to London in order to negotiate a treaty to settle open disputes with Great Britain in 1794. On June 8, 1795 the President sent the above transmittal letter enclosing the Jay Treaty to the U.S. Senate for their advice and consent. Although it was highly contested, the Senate approved the Jay Treaty on June 24, 1795.

Transmittal letter from George Washington, 6/8/1795, Records of the U.S. Senate

On June 1, 1812, President James Madison sent Congress a message asking for a declaration of war with Great Britain. The House adopted the war resolution on June 4 by a vote of 79-49, and it was then sent to the Senate for approval. The Senate made amendments to the House war resolution, and voted in favor of the changes on June 17, 19-13. On June 18 the House approved the amendments. President Madison signed the declaration of war on June 18. 

Senate Amendments to the House Declaration of War, HR 12A-B3, 6/17/1812, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives

House Approval of the Senate Amendments to the House Declaration of War, HR 12A-B3, 6/18/1812, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives