, 1855-01-27

that since its adjournment, the ratification:
of the treaty between the United States
and Great Britain, relative to the coast
fisheries and to reciprocal trade with the
British North American provinces, have
been exchanged, although its full execution
is still to abide certain acts of legislation,
not yet fully performed. The only com
pensation required by Great Britain, after
the treaty was ratified for the free naviga-
ton Of the river st. Lawrence to our COM
merce and our fishermen, previously exclu-
ded, is the introduction, free of duty, into
the United States, of the fish caught on
the same coast by British seamen. This
reciprocity regulation extends to all her
Majcs'y's possessions on the Atlantic, and
the President recommends that the duties
collected or secured by bond on fish caught
on the coasts of the British provinces, and
brought to our market by British subjects,
after the fishing grounds had been made
fully accessible to the citizens of the Uni
ted States, be ascertained, refunded, and
cancelled.
The next subject treated of by the Pres
ident, is one in which every American citi-
zen, both Of Washington and Oregon Ter
ritories, feel deep, a national interest-a
question looking to the solution of the prob
lem as to whether the government of the
United States will permit the heartless, un-
chartered British Puget Sound Agricultu-
raj Company monopoly, to lawlessly en-
croach upon the landed rights of American
citizens, without the color of right or JUS
tication, or not
We give the entire extract, as follows /:
"Thcre is n difference of opinion between the Unit
cd States and Great Britain US to the boundary
line Of the Territory of Washington adjoining the Brit
ish possessions the Pacific which has already led
10 difficulties on the part Of the citizens and local
thorities OF the two Governments recommend that
provision be made for commission, to be joined by
the part Of her BrtInic Majesty, for the pur
pose Of running and establishing the line in contro.
versy. Certain stpulations OF the third and fourth
articles of the aty concluded by the United States
and Great Britain, in 1876 regarding possessory rights
Of the Hudsons Bay Company, and property Of the
Pugets Sound Agricultural Company, have given rise
to serious disputes aud il is important to all concern
ed that summary means Of settling them amicably
should be devised have reason 70 believe that an
arrangement he made Just terms, for the extin-
gushment OF the rights in question, embracing also,
the rights OF the Hndsons Bay Company to the navi
Cation of the River Columbia; and therefore suggest
to your consideration the expedency Of making a con-
tingent appropriation for that purpose"
Following the above suggestions, refer
ence is made to our former good understand
ing with the government Of France, and to
the fact, that that government had abrupt
ly excluded the American Minister to
Spain from'passing through France, on his
way from London to Madrid; but informs
Congress that that government had une-
quivocally disavowed any design to deny to
our Minister the right Of transit and that
after explanations to this effect, he had re-
sumed his journey, and returned through
France to Madrid. .r .,., ...-
The position of our affairs with Spain,
we are informed, remains as at the close Of
the las, session. The late Ministers having
been violently expelled from power, and
men of very different views in relation to
its internal affairs succeeding, affords area
son to believe that our Ministers will find
the present government more favorably in.
clined than the preceding, to comply with
our just demands, and to make suitable ar
rangements for restoring harmony aud pre-
serving peace between the two countries..--
Since this change, there has been no pro
pitious opportunity to resume the press of
negotiations for the adjustment Of serious
questions Of difficulty between the two gov
ernments. .ArH .1. f''l
Allusion is then made to the brilliant
achievment Of the Japan squadron, in sue
cessfully concluding treaty with, and open
ing to our commerce certain parts of that
rich and populous country and also, to
the fact that negotiations are pending with
Denmark to discontinue the practice of lev
ying tolls on our vessels and their cargoes,
passing through the Sound. --...
The late treaty with Mexico is spoken
of as settling some Of the most embarrass-
ing difficulties between the United States
and that country, but that numerous claims
upon it (still increasing, for wrongs and
Injuries to our citizens, remain unadjusted.
All fillibustering movements against that
country, in the same connection, is denoun-
ced in the strongest terms, The commits
sion to establish the new line between the
United States and Mexico, according to
the terms of the treaty of the Both Decem-
Der last has been organized and the work
already commenced. ,
Our treaties with the Argentine Confed-