Arenas.  Should another expedition of a similar character again evade the vigilance of our officers and proceed to Nicaragua, this would be fatal, at least for a season, to the peaceful settlement of these countries and to the policy of American progress.  The truth is that no Administration can successfully conduct the foreign affairs of the country in Central America or anywhere else if it is to be interfered with at every step by lawless military expeditions “set on foot” in the United States.

JAMES BUCHANAN

WASHINGTON, January 11, 1858.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: 

I have received from Samuel Medary, governor of the Territory of Minnesota, a copy of the constitution of Minnesota, “together with an abstract of the votes polled for and against said constitution” at the election held in that Territory on the second Tuesday of October last, certified by the governor in due form, which I now lay before Congress in the manner prescribed by that instrument.

Having received but a single copy of the constitution, I transmit this to the Senate.

JAMES BUCHANAN

WASHINGTON, January 11, 1858.

To the House of Representatives: 

I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives the reports of the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, of the Navy, and of the Attorney-General, with the accompanying documents, containing the information called for by the resolution of the House of the 4th instant, concerning “the late seizure of General William Walker and his followers in Nicaragua,” etc.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit to the Senate, for its consideration with a view to ratification, a convention between the United States and the Republic of Peru, signed on the 4th July last at Lima by the plenipotentiaries of the contracting parties, with regard to the interpretation to be given to article 12 of the treaty of the 26th July, 1851.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

JANUARY 12, 1858.

WASHINGTON, January 14, 1858.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit to Congress a copy of a convention between the United States and His Majesty the King of Denmark, for the discontinuance of the Sound dues, the ratifications of which were exchanged in this city on the 12th instant, and recommend that an appropriation be made to enable the Executive seasonably to carry into effect the stipulations in regard to the sums payable to His Danish Majesty’s Government.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

WASHINGTON, January 27, 1858.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 7th instant, requesting information on the subject of contracts made in Europe for inland-passage tickets for intending emigrants to the United States, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the documents by which it was accompanied.