ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON, March 3, 1862.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

I transmit to Congress a translation of an instruction to the minister of His Majesty the King of Italy accredited to this Government, and a copy of a note to that minister from the Secretary of State, relating to the settlement of the question arising out of the capture and detention of certain citizens of the United States, passengers on board the British steamer Trent, by order of Captain Wilkes, of the United States Navy.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON, March 3, 1862.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I transmit to the Senate a translation of a note addressed to the Secretary of State on the 1st instant by General P. A. Herran, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Granadian Confederation, with a translation of the communication accompanying that note from the special commissioner of that Republic, together with a copy of a letter from the special commissioner of the United States of the 26th ultimo, under the convention of the 10th September, 1857, setting forth the impracticability of disposing of the cases submitted to the joint commission now in session under the convention within the period prescribed therein.

I recommend, therefore, that the Senate consent to the extension of time for ——­ days from and after the expiration of the time limited by the convention.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON, March 3, 1862.

To the House of Representatives of the United States: 

I transmit herewith a communication[4] of the Secretary of War, inclosing a report of the Adjutant-General, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 22d of January, 1862.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

[Footnote 4:  Relating to assignment of officers of the Army to duty.]

WASHINGTON, March 5, 1862.

To the Senate of the United States: 

I submit to the Senate, for its consideration, a copy of a message addressed to that body by my immediate predecessor on the 12th February, 1861, relating to the award made by the joint commission under the convention between the United States and Paraguay of the 4th February, 1859, together with the original “journal of the proceedings” of the commission and a printed copy of the “statements and arguments—­and for the Republic,” and request the advice of the Senate as to the final acquiescence in or rejection of the award of the commissioner by the Government of the United States.  As the “journal” is an original document, pertaining to the archives of the Department of State, it is proper, when the Senate shall have arrived at a conclusion on the subject, that the volume be returned to the custody of the Secretary of State.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

MARCH 6, 1862.