On the 26th. June 1860, the Senate approved of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the United States and Nic aragua signed on the 16th. March, 1859, with certain amendments.
On the next day, namely, 27th. June, 1860, the Senate adopted a resolution extending the period for the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty, for six months from that day, that is, until the 27th. December, 1860.
Altho' the amendments of the Senate were immediately transmitted to our Minister in Nicaragua for submission to the Government of that Republic, he failed, notwithstanding earnest efforts, to induce that government to call an extra session of Congress, to take into consideration the amendments of the Senate of the United States, within the supplementary time named in the Resolution of 27th. June, 1860, for the exchange of ratifications.
It was not until the 25th. March, 1861---nearly three months after the expiration of the six months extended by the Senate Resolution, that the Congress of Nicaragua acted favorably upon the amendments of the Senate of the United States.
A translation of the decree of the Nicaraguan Government approving the Treaty as amended, with an additional amendment is herewith enclosed.
It will be perceived that while the ratification of Nicaragua recites literally the second amendment of the Senate, and accepts it with an additional clause, it does not, in explicit terms, accept the first amendment of the Senate, striking out the last clause of the 16th. Article.