With France our relations continue on the most friendly footing.  The extensive commerce between the United States and that country might, it is conceived, be released from some unnecessary restrictions to the mutual advantage of both parties.  With a view to this object, some progress has been made in negotiating a treaty of commerce and navigation.

Independently of our valuable trade with Spain, we have important political relations with her growing out of our neighborhood to the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico.  I am happy to announce that since the last Congress no attempts have been made by unauthorized expeditions within the United States against either of those colonies.  Should any movement be manifested within our limits, all the means at my command will be vigorously exerted to repress it.  Several annoying occurrences have taken place at Havana, or in the vicinity of the island of Cuba, between our citizens and the Spanish authorities.  Considering the proximity of that island to our shores, lying, as it does, in the track of trade between some of our principal cities, and the suspicious vigilance with which foreign intercourse, particularly that with the United States, is there guarded, a repetition of such occurrences may well be apprehended.

As no diplomatic intercourse is allowed between our consul at Havana and the Captain-General of Cuba, ready explanations can not be made or prompt redress afforded where injury has resulted.  All complaint on the part of our citizens under the present arrangement must be, in the first place, presented to this Government and then referred to Spain.  Spain again refers it to her local authorities in Cuba for investigation, and postpones an answer till she has heard from those authorities.  To avoid these irritating and vexatious delays, a proposition has been made to provide for a direct appeal for redress to the Captain-General by our consul in behalf of our injured fellow-citizens.  Hitherto the Government of Spain has declined to enter into any such arrangement.  This course on her part is deeply regretted, for without some arrangement of this kind the good understanding between the two countries may be exposed to occasional interruption.  Our minister at Madrid is instructed to renew the proposition and to press it again upon the consideration of Her Catholic Majesty’s Government.

For several years Spain has been calling the attention of this Government to a claim for losses by some of her subjects in the case of the schooner Amistad.  This claim is believed to rest on the obligations imposed by our existing treaty with that country.  Its justice was admitted in our diplomatic correspondence with the Spanish Government as early as March, 1847, and one of my predecessors, in his annual message of that year, recommended that provision should be made for its payment.  In January last it was again submitted to Congress by the Executive.  It has received a favorable consideration by committees of both branches, but as yet there has been no final action upon it.  I conceive that good faith requires its prompt adjustment, and I present it to your early and favorable consideration.