The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-19 00:00:00

AMERICA.

By the arrival of the Asia, with dates from Boston
of the 2nd and Halifax of the 4th, we have at length
received the President's Message, which was unex•
pectedly delivered on the 31st ult., no Speaker
having been elected, and the house still unorganised.
The Message—scarcely of the ordinary length of
such documents—opens with an explanation of the
growing misunderstanding between England and the
United States as to the interpretation of the Clayton.
Bulwer Treaty. By that convention,! concluded on
the 19th April, 1850, the entire independence of the
present States of the former republic of Central
America was agreed to by both Governments. Both
parties covenanted that "neither will ever occupy, or
fortify, or colonise, or assume, or exercise any do-
minion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito
coast, or any part of Central America." This clause
the American Government interpreted into the re-
linquishment by England of all territorial claims
between Mexico and New Granada, with the exception
of the wood dyeing establishment at Balize. Hence
the right assumed by the English Government to
an extension of territory on the Mosquito coast the
President holds to be defective both in politics and
law, contrary to the spirit as well as to the letter
of the convention of April, and therefore " renders it
impossible for the United States to acquiesce in such
a construction of the respective relations of the two

Governments to Central. America." To a demand
for explanations upon this point, the British Govern-
ment has replied that the treaty is prospective only,
and does not require Great Britain to abandon or
contract any possessions held by her in Central
♦merica at the date of its conclusion. This reply
the President states cannot be admitted, as the
United States Government deny, prima facie, that
" Great Britain had any possessions there, other than
the limited and peculiar establishment at the Belize,"
and maintain that, it she had any, they were sur-
rendered by the convention :
There is, however (concludes the President), reason to
apprehend that, with Great Britain in the actual occupa-
tion of the disputed territories, and the treaty therefore
practically null so far as regards our rights, this interna-
tional difticulty cannot long remain undetermined without
involving in serious danger the friendly relations which► it
is the interest as well as the duty of both countries to
cherish and preserve. It will afford me sincere gratifica-
tion if future efforts shall result in the success anticipated
heretofore with more confidence than the aspect of the
ease permits me now to entertain.

Upon the " Recruitment Question " the Message
contains an elaborate report setting forth the good
faith and respect for law which have characterised
the citizens of the United States in not fitting out
privateers or depredatory expeditions upon the pro-
perty of either of the powers at war—the strict
nature of the municipal laws of the States with re-
spect to the enlistment of Americans for service
against States with which America was at peace—
and the infraction of these laws in 1854 by the agents
of Great Britain. The necessary steps being at once
taken to punish the parties concerned, representa-
tions were made to the English Government :

Thereupon it became known, by the admission of the
British Government itself, that the attempt to draw re-
cruits from this country originated with it, or at least had
its approval and sanction ; but it also appeared that the
public agents engaged in it had " stringent instructions "
not to violate the municipal law of the. United States.
The subject being still under discussion, the Presi-
dent promises to commun►cate Le result in due
time.

The question of the Sound dues with Denmark is
briefly treated, the Message expressing an opinion
that the due, are no longer to be submitted to, a. the
payment is a tacit recognition -f the right of Den•
mark to close the free way of the sea, yet stating a
willingness to compensate Denmark with commer-
cial advantages for the improvement and safety of
the navigation of the Sound and Belts.

Passing by a number of other topics, foreign and
domestic, the President states that the estimated
balance on the Ist July, 1856, over the expenditure
of the current year will amount to 15,623,873 dols.,
and that Mexico has called for the interposition of
the United States in settling their affairs.