The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-01

still in difference, and the undoubted dis
position of both parties to bring the mat
ter to an early conclusion, | look with en-.
tire confidence to a prompt and satisiacto,
nv termination of the negotiation. Three
commissioners were appointed shortly
after the adjournment of Congress, under
the act of the last session providing tol
the exploration and survey of the line
which separates the States of Maine and
New Hampshire from the British Pro-
vinces; they have been actively employed
until their progress was interrupted by
the inclemency of the season, and will
resume their labors as soon as practicable
in the ensuing year.
1t is understood that their respective
examinations will throw new light upon
the subject in controversy, and serve to
remove any erroneous impressions which
NAV have been made elsewhere, prejudi.
cial to the rights of the United States
Ii was, among other reasons, with view
of preventing the embarrassments which,
in our peculiar system of government,
impede and compicate negotiations in
volving the territorial rights of State,
that thought it my duty, as you have
been informed on a previous occasion, to
propose to the British Government,
through its minister at Washington, that
early steps should be taken to adjust the
points at difference on the line of bounda-
~ from the entrance of Lake Superior to
the most northwestern point of the Lake
of the Woods, by the arbitration of a
friendly Power, in conformity with the
seventh article of the treaty of Client.
No answer has vet been returned by the
British Government to his proposition.
With Austria, France, Prussia, Rus
sia, and the remaining powers of Europe,
am happy to inform you, our relations
acter. With Belgium a treaty of com
MERGE and navigation, based upon liberal
principles of reciprocity and equality, was
concluded in March last, and, having been
ratified by the Belgian government, will
be daily laid before the Senate. Ii is u
subject OF congraiulatlou that it provides
/ for the satisfactory adjustment of a long
Standing question of controversy =; thus
removing the only obstacle which could
obstruct the friendly and mutually advant.
ageous intercourse between the two ma
tons. A messenger has been despatched
with the Ilanoverian treaty TO Berlin,
where, according to stipulation, the ratili-
cations are to be exchanged. am happy
to announce to you that, after many de-
lays and difficulties, treaty of commerce
and navigation, between the United
States and Portugal, was concluded and
signed at Lisbon, on the 26th of August
last, by the plenipotentiaries of the two
governments. Its stipulatons are found
ed upon those principles of mutual liber
atty and advantage which the UniteC
States have sought to make the basis o
their intercourse with foreign Powers
and it is hoped they will tend TO fostel
and strengthen the commercial intercourse
Of the two countries.
Under the appropriation of the last ses
sion Of Congress, an agent has been sen
TO Germany for the purpose of promoting
the interest of our tobacco trade.
The commissioners appointed unde
the convention for the adjustment O
claims of citizens of the United States
upon Mexico having met and organized
at Washington, in August last, the papers
in the possession Of the Government
relating to those claims were communi
Gated to the board. The claims not EN-
braced by that convention are now thu
subject of negotiation between the tw,
Governments, through the medium Of GU
minister at Mexico.
Nothing has occurred TO disturb thu
harmony of our relations with the differ
ent Governments of South America.
regret, however, to be obliged to inform
you that the claims of our citizens upo
the late republic of Columbia have not we
been satisfied by the separate govern
ments into which it has been resolved.
The charge d'afiairs of Brazil havin
expressed the intention of his Govern
/ ment not to prolong the treaty of 1928,
f will cease to be obligatory upon eithe
party on the 18th day of December
1871, when the extensive commerce.
r intercourse between the United State
: and that vast empire will no longer be re
! gulated by any express stpulations.
: 1t affords me pleasure TO communicat
/ TO YOU that the Government of Chill ha
: entered into an agreement to ndemnli
: the claimants in the case of the Macedc
: Man, for American property seized /
2 1910. aud 10 add ihat information ha