title by the Nicaraguan treaty, but left the question, after submitting that treaty to the Senate, with an avowal of his willingness to ratify it, to be decided as the Senate should think proper. I left the department of state before the Senate acted on the subject, and, of course, I have no knowledge of their decision. But I have seen within a few days past a statement purporting to embrace an official letter from Mr. Chatfield, the British chargé d'affaires, to the minister of foreign relations of Nicaragua, in which it is declared that the treaty negotiated between this government and that of Great Britain expressly recognizes the Musquito kingdom, as aside the rights which you (the Nicaraguan minister) pretend Nicaragua has on the coast.' If Mr. Chatfield ever wrote such a letter, which I confess I greatly doubt, he has been guilty of a perversion of the treaty which no honorable government could defend for a moment, and which the British authorities, I am well satisfied, would disdain to adopt.

"The objects aimed at by the President in that treaty were to obtain for our country a speedy passage to the Pacific, not only by a great ship canal, but by any and every other canal or railway across the Isthmus which divides North from South America -to secure the perfect neutrality of the vast region embraced in that Isthmus-to save the expense of maintaining any naval or military power to protect these routes to guard them against blockade in time of war-to bring into closer relations with us our possessions on the Pacific-and to dedicate the highways to the uses of all nations which might agree to extend to them the same protection which the United States and Great Britain had guarantied."

It is highly probable that the course of Mr. Chatfield, apparently so inconsistent with that frank and manly policy by which Lord Palmerston has always professed to be guided, was dictated by a desire to secure from the republics of Central America indemnity for certain British citizens, whose claims, though often recognized, the authorities of Central America, either from the poverty of their governments, or from other causes, have failed to liquidate. However that may be, the American people will without doubt expect a fair and honorable compliance by Great Britain with the terms of the convention. Any indication on the part of the British government to evade or violate the provisions of that instrument, or embarrass the construction of the proposed Nicaragua canal would be sure to cause a serious interruption of those amicable relations which now so happily subsist between the two countries. The great interest which Great Britain possesses and fully appreciates in the con

struction of the canal, is, we apprehend, a sufficient guarantee for the faithful compliance on her part with the treaty of April 19, 1850.*

The following extract from an English paper will show how lively is the interest of the British public in the proposed canal. It is headed "The Gateway of the Oceans."

"The forcing of the barrier which for hundreds of years has defied and imperiled the commerce of the world, seems now an event at hand. One-half of the contract for the junction of the Atlantic and the Pacific, obtained from the State of Nicaragua last year by the promptitude of the Americans, is to be held at the option of English capitalists; and an understanding is at length announced that, if the contemplated ship canal can be constructed on conditions that shall leave no uncertainty as to the profitableness of the enterprise, it is to be carried forward with the influence of our highest mercantile firms.

"The immediate steps now in course of adoption may be explained in a few words. At present the transit across the Isthmus of Panama occupies four days, and its inconveniencies and dangers are notorious. At Nicaragua it is represented the transit may possibly be effected in one day, and this by a continuous steam route, with the exception of fifteen miles by mule or omnibus. The passage would be up the San Juan across Lake Nicaragua to the town of that name, and thence to the port of San Juan del Sur, on the Pacific. On arriving at this terminus (which is considerably south of the one contemplated for the permanent canal, namely, Realejo) the passenger would find himself some six or seven hundred miles nearer to California than if he had crossed at the Isthmus of Panama; and as the rate of speed of the American steamers on this service is upwards of three hundred miles a day, his saving of three days in crossing, coupled with the saving in sea distance, would be equivalent to a total of fifteen hundred miles, measured in relation to what is accomplished by those vessels. A lower charge of the transit, and a comparatively healthy climate, are also additional inducements; and under these circumstances anticipations are entertained that the great tide of traffic will be turned in the new direction. This tide, according to the last accounts from Panama, was kept up at the rate of seventy thousand persons a year, and it was expected to increase.

"The navigability of the San Juan, however, in its present state, remains yet to be tested. The American company who have obtained the privilege of the route have sent down two vessels of light draught, the Director and Nicaragua, for the purpose of forthwith placing the matter beyond doubt. At the last date the Director had safely crossed the bar at its mouth, and was preparing to ascend; the Nicaragua had prevíously gone up the Colorado, a branch river, where, it is said, through the carelessness of her engineer, she had run aground upon a sand bank, though without sustaining any damage. The next accounts will possess great interest. Whatever may be the real capabilities of the river, accidents and delays must be anticipated in the first trial of a new method of navigating it. Even in the Thames, the first steamer could scarcely have been expected to make a trip from London bridge to Richmond without some mishap. Should therefore, the present experiment show any clear indications of success there will be reasonable ground for congratulation; and it forms so important a chapter in the history of enterprise that all must regard it with good wishes.

"If this temporary transit should realize the expectations it seems to warrant, there can be little doubt the completion of the canal will soon be commenced with ardor. Supposing the surveys show a cost not exceeding the sum estimated in 1837 by Lieut. Baily, the prospect of the return would, there is reason to believe, be much larger than the public have at any time been accustomed to suppose. There is also the fact that the increase of these returns can know no limit so long as the commerce of the world shall increase; and, indeed, already the idea of the gains to accrue appears to have struck some minds with such force as to lead them to question if the privileges which have been granted are not of a kind so extraordinarily favorable that they will sooner or later be repudiated by the State of Nicaragua. No such danger, however, exists; as the company are guarantied in the safe possession of all their rights by the treaty of protection which has been ratified between Great Britain and the United States."

The difficulty with Portugal, which at one period it was apprehended would terminate in a rupture of a serious nature, was adjusted soon after the formation of Mr. Fillmore's cabinet. Mr. Clay, the American chargé to Portugal, had been instructed by Mr. Clayton to demand payment of certain claims of our citizens on the government of that country, and in case they were not satisfied on demand, to ask for his passports and leave the kingdom. The claim not being acceded to, the latter alternative was adopted, and the settlement of the difficulty devolved upon Mr. Webster, the successor in office of Mr. Clayton.

The Portuguese Government seemed anxious to avoid a war, and the public sentiment in the United States appeared to be equally hostile to any such final resort. The claims were of no very great magnitude, and were all admitted by the Portuguese government to be valid excepting that for the capture at Fayal, within Portuguese jurisdiction, of the American privateer the General Armstrong by the British naval force in 1814.* This claim Portugal had refused to pay, on the ground that she was not responsible for the acts of Great Britain. The offer was made to Mr. Clay to refer the question of liability to arbitration. Mr. Clay's instructions did not permit him to accede to this offer, but when the question was presented to the present administration it was at once disposed of. Mr. Webster, the Secretary of State, and the Portuguese resident minister entered into an arrangement by which it was stipulated that Portugal would pay all the other claims excepting that growing out of the capture of the Armstrong, and that this case should be referred to the arbitration of some friendly sovereign.

In the autumn of 1850, an event occurred which was deemed by our government of considerable importance, the arrival of Amin Bey, a captain in the Turkish navy, on a visit made by order of the Sultan for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the public works, navy, railroads, manufactories, &c., in this country. Although the United States had maintained for a number of years a chargé at Constantinople and manifested, by every proper means, a desire to promote a more intimate intercourse between the two countries, this was the first occasion on which the Sublime Porte had exhibited any disposition to reciprocate the mission which the United States had maintained at the court of the Sultan.

The following extract from a despatch of Mr. Marsh, the American Minister, resident at Constantinople, dated May 20, 1850, shows the origin and purpose of the mission of Amin Bey:

*See vol. iv. page 122.

"Believing that a better acquaintance on the part of the Turkish government with the power and resources of the American Union, and with the mechanical skill of her citizens, would be one of the most effectual means of extending the commercial intercourse between the two nations, of creating a demand in the Levant for the products of American industry, and of establishing political relations with Turkey, which might be of the most essential service to us, I have exerted myself to induce the Porte to send one or more public agents to the United States, with a view of informing itself through reliable sources, upon the points to which I have alluded.

"Amin Bey, an officer attached to the naval service, with the assimilated rank of colonel, has been commissioned to proceed to the United States, for the purpose I have indicated.

"Amin Bey, although specially delegated by the Capuden Pacha, is treated in the note by which his appointment is communicated to the legation as a public agent of the Sublime Porte, and may immediately or hereafter, be invested with diplomatic rank; but the principal duty with which he is at present charged is the examination of our navy yards, docks, ships of war, and other establishments connected with our military marine. I suppose, however, that he is also instructed to report on our national resources, our public works, and the condition of our productive industry; and I trust that every facility in the power of the government may be afforded him for thoroughly informing himself upon these important branches of inquiry."

This personage was accompanied by Mr. Brown, dragoman of the American legation at Constantinople. On the 21st of September, he was presented to the President, at Washington, by the Secretary of State, and in an address, expressed his thanks for the kind reception he had met with, and the Sultan's desire to cultivate more intimate relations with the United States.

The President in reply, declared that the friendly feeling manifested by the Sublime Porte was reciprocated by this government. He He promised him that every facility should be afforded to Amin Bey for accomplishing the objects of his visit that "competent officers will be instructed to conduct you to the dock-yards and public arsenals; the hospitals for invalids and the various institutions for the relief of the poor, the insane, the blind and the impotent, will invite your attention."

The President said further-"While you remain in the country, Mr. Commissioner, every proper degree of respect will be paid to you, and, so far as depends on us, the wishes of your Sovereign respecting the success of your mission, shall not be disappointed; and I trust, with you, that its effect may be a greater

extension of friendly and commercial relations between the Ottoman empire and the republic of the New World."

Congress appropriated $10,000 to defray the expenses of Amin Bey during his stay in the United States, and the government received and treated him as the guest of the nation. He prosecuted with diligence his tour of inspection, and was received everywhere with the utmost respect by the municipal authorities.

The second session of the 31st Congress commenced on the 2d of December, (the first Monday,) and a quorum being present, both Houses organized, and the President's message was delivered and read. The message, as will be seen by reference to it in this volume, was of moderate length, dignified and decided in tone, and presented a very favorable view both of our foreign and domestic relations. The President promised an inflexible performance of his duty in the execution of the laws, and inculcates implicit obedience to them as the highest duty of the citizen. The following clause in his message gave great satisfaction to the friends of the compromise measures :—

"The series of measures to which I have alluded are regarded by me as a settlement, in principle and substance, a final settlement, of the dangerous and exciting subjects which they embraced. Most of these subjects, indeed, are beyond your reach, as the legislation which disposed of them was, in its character, final and irrevocable. It may be presumed, from the opposition which they all encountered, that none of these measures was free from imperfections, but in their mutual dependence and connection they formed a system of compromise the most conciliatory, and best for the entire country, that could be obtained from conflicting sectional interests and opinions.

"For this reason I recommend your adherence to the adjustment established by those measures, until time and experience shall demonstrate the necessity of further legislation to guard against evasion or abuse."

The reports from the navy, war, interior and post-office departments, which were transmitted with the message, and the treasury report afterwards sent in, will all be found at length amongst the documents in this volume. A careful perusal of them is necessary to a proper understanding of the policy and acts of the government, and the resources and condition of the country.

The excitement which prevailed during the autumn in different parts of the Union, consequent on and accompanying the resistance to the fugitive slave law, it was feared would operate on the deliberations of Congress, and many entertained apprehensions that this session of Congress would be consumed in