Citizens of the Senate and

House of Representatives : The year 1826 has closed with an uninterrupted course of prosperity for the republic.

You have again been summoned from your several districts by the public voice to meet in congress-and though the reflection of the time past is sweet and grateful to the memory, the future, big with events, elicits all your attention. Many causes concur to make this national jubilee interesting, for now the strength and vigour of the government is seen in its institutions-the body social and the body politic being bound by the strongest ties, the people satisfied with the government and a general harmony prevailinga harmony, admirable and happy, and correspondent with the hopes indulged the past year, and which we trust a kind Providence, in the infinitude of his mercy, may continue.

Every day our foreign relations are more firm and important. A minister plenipotentiary has been despatched to the court of Saint James to conclude additional articles of the treaty with Great Britain.

From France, commercial agents have been appointed. This con

duct is in an accordance with the general disposition the European nations have manifested towards the emancipation of this country. The Governments of Prussia and Wurtemburg have in like manner, appointed commercial agents. Nothing has occurred to interrupt our friendly relations with the United States of North America-the treaties of navigation, commerce and amity, concluded with their Minister Plenipotentiary have been ratified by both houses of Congress.

The Congress view with peculiar interest this important negotiation with a nation so near to us, and whose system of government is so analogous to our own; in short, a nation who must ever be united to us by every sympathetic bond.

The American Congress, which attracted the attention of the world, assembled in the city of Panama, its discussions progressed happily-in September our members returned to lay before the house an account of it; the sessions of this body are to be continued in the village of Tacubaya. There have already arrived two of the ministers of Colombia and Guatemala, one from the United States, and others daily expected.

There has arrived at this capital

a minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary from the United States of Central America, to regulate and adjust the limits of the two countries, and to negotiate and settle various interesting points, Chili and Colombia have likwise sent their respective agents; in short, all the republics of this sphere are on terms of amity and friendship, which I trust no unforeseen accident will ever interrupt. We turn our eyes from these pleasing scenes to the miserable and abject condition of Spain, sunk as that country is in the lowest abyss of human misery, she wishes to gain advantages in a country which she has for ever lost by her tyranny.

They have reinforced considerably their marine in the island of Cuba and augmented their garrison; their threats are now well understood. The squadron of Laborde was in the middle of last year cruizing on the coast of Colombia, and a short time since two frigates were off the bar of Tampico. This squadron was dispersed by a storm in the West Indies, and it is probable much time will elapse before they are in a fit state for further operations.

The disturbances in the provinces of Guatemala call with an imperious voice on the patriotism of every lover of his country to sacrifice his private passions to the public good.

You must, gentlemen, together, at a time when all our foreign relations are in a peculiary flourishing situation, be judicious and circumspect with respect to the rights of other nations, and let sound and republican sentiments govern you in all your movements.

The state of the finance is flattering-the public revenue is double that of '23; the extraordinary expenses then incurred have been much diminished in the present year '27, the republic is provided with an effective marine, the army well clothed and fed, and our warehouses filled with every necessary of life the receipts from the customs have much augmented in the ports of Vera Cruz; Tampica de Taumilipas, and Refugio in the north have contributed handsomely, The trade from India and Guayaquil to the ports of San Blas and Masathan in the Pacific have brought considerable venue. The regulations of the custom houses and their various appurtenances have received the approbation of the houses.

re

I would recommend you taking some decided steps in regard to the tariff, that the speculations of the merchant may be founded on a fair and unchangeable basis.

A number of old outstanding debts which have been decided in favour of the nation, the legal steps are now taking to recover.

The public credit, both with respect to foreign nations and to those in the employ of the government, has been regularly and strictly observed.

The houses were informed of the state of the funds in London, on the 19th October last; the agency of this republic is now in the hands of the opulent house of Baring, Brothers & Co.

The executive have viewed with deep feeling the general commercial distresses in Europe the past year; and very sensibly those in the city of London, so much so, that houses of the greatest opu

lence and wealth, have been obliged to suspend their payments. Indeed a calamity has been presented without example. The house in which the funds of this government were deposited, was reduced to this unfortunate situation; and in consequence a number of bills of exchange drawn by the minister of Hacienda have been returned protested. For those which have been returned for non payment, provision has been made, and for those for non acceptance if not paid at maturity the like will be done. The promptness with which these claims have been met, has added new strength to this government, whose credit now stands higher in Europe than any of the southern republics.

In the department of finances, gentlemen, I do not find one branch which has not been admirably conducted. Of this flattering state of things the officer of that department will not be slow in in giving you incontestible proofs. The friends of the republic must observe with pleasure that the mines generally are making handsome remuneration for past toil and labour.

The executive are impressed with the honour which will redound to the nation, from the establishment of a museum of antiquities The attention of the naturalist and philosopher is called to this subject.

That great specific which has saved so many from the dreadful

ravages of the small pox, has been propagated through the union, and has been especially useful in the epidemic which prevailed in the province of Yucatan. The improvements made in the roads have been eminently useful to commerce and agriculture— they are still progressing.

The academy for the instruction of marine officers will in time produce effective men for that depart

ment.

Every day it appears more necessary for the purpose of good order, to fill various stations of dignity in the church which have been vacated, and it is but our duty to recompense those who by their doctrines, their blood, and their glorious example, contributed in so eminent a degree to bring about, and firmly establish the liberties of this country. effective marine are now cruizing along the coast for the protection of the trade; and the prevention of contraband. The squadron of Vera Cruz has gone to sea with particular instructions from the government.

The

In all this vast country we observe order and tranquillity. Ifin the period of elections some heat is observed, it is the same in all free countries, and is one of those rights consecrated by the law.

Citizens, God protect you! In all debates let your first object be the good of your country.

GUADALUPE VICTORIA, Pres't. of the U. States of Mexico.

The following document, under the title of Declarations, is a Treaty of Commerce between Mexico and France.

Declarations.

1. There shall be between France and the United Mexican States, friendship, good understanding, and reciprocal freedom of commerce. Their respective citizens shall be free to enter with their vessels, and their cargoes, into every port, every river, and every place, whither strangers are admitted, there to sojourn or remain at any point whatever, to hire and occupy houses and warehouses for the purposes of business, and in general the merchants of each state shall enjoy on the territory of the other, complete protection, liberty, and security. The reciprocal right which this article grants of entering into ports, rivers, or other places in the two countries, does not comprehend the privilege of internal or coasting trade, which, in each of the two, may be subjected to special regulations.

2. The citizens of Mexico shall enjoy, in the different possessions belonging to France, not in Europe, both in respect of commerce and navigation, all the advantages granted to other foreigners; and reciprocally the merchants and navigators of France, coming from the said possessions, shall enjoy in Mexico, in the same respect, all the advantages granted to merchants or navigators coming from any other country.

3. There shall not be imposed,

at the entry into the ports of France of the produce of the soil or of the industry of Mexiconeither shall there be imposed, at the entry into the ports of Mexico of the produce of the soil or of the industry of France, any higher or other duties than those that are or should be paid by analogous produce of the most favoured foreign nation. The same principle shall be observed in respect of exportation; no prohibition shall be imposed at the going out or coming in of the produce of the soil or of the industry of the two countries in their respective commerce, which does not equally extend to the analogous produce of other countries. It is understood, that the first regulation in this article shall not be applicable to the modifications of its tariff of importation which France may think suitable to make in favour of the produce of Hayti, in return for privileges specially reserved to it in Hayti by the Ordonnance of 17th of April, 1825. All produce exported from either of the two countries to the other must be accompanied by a certificate of its origin, delivered and signed by the competent officers of the Customs in the port of embarkation. The certificates of each vessel shall be numbered progressively, and joined, by the seal of the Custom-house, to the manifesto. This last document shall be viewed by the respective Consuls, and the whole must be presented to the Custom-house of the port of entry. In ports of embarkation where there are no Con

suls, certificates of the Customhouse, always numbered progressively, and joined to the manifest, will be held sufficient to prove the origin; and in such as have neither Consuls nor Custom-house, certificates of origin shall be delivered and signed, always in the same forms, by the local authorities.

4. The duties of tonnage, lights, port dues, pilotage, salvage, and other local charges, will be, in the ports of Mexico, the same exactly for French vessels as those paid, in the same port, by the vessels of the most favoured nation. They will also, in all the ports of France, for Mexican vessels, be exactly the same as those charged, in the same port, for the vessels of the most favoured nation. It is manifest that the same treatment as the most favoured nation, which is secured to Mexican vessels in France by this Article, does not signify, in any case, the treatment of citizens enjoyed by certain people, but solely in virtue of the principle of reciprocity, it being always understood, that, so soon as Mexico shall see fit to grant to the French commerce, in its ports, the same treatment as enjoyed by its own citizens, the commerce of Mexico shall immediately enjoy in France the same privilege.

5. The produce of the soil, or of the industry of France, shall pay the same duties on being imported into Mexico, whether imported in French vessels, or in Mexican vessels. The produce of the soil, or of the industry of Mexico, shall pay the same duties on importation into France, whether imported in Mexican vessels, or French vessels. The produce of the soil, or of the industry of France,

shall pay on their exportation the same duties, and enjoy the same exemptions and allowances, whether the exportation be made by French, or by Mexican vessels. The produce of the soil, or of the industry of Mexico, exported for France, shall pay the same duties, enjoy the same exemptions and allowances, whether the exportation be made by Mexican vessels, or French. It is agreed, however, that by temporary abandonment of the principle laid down in this Article, and according to which, the respective flags ought to enjoy the treatment of citizens in the two countries, in the different operations indicated, those flags shall only enjoy, provisionally in the same operations, the treatment of the most favoured nation. It is, besides, understood, as in the preceding article, that the treatment of the most favoured nation, which is granted to the Mexicans in France, by this provisional regulation, shall not be held to signify the treatment as citizens, which certain people enjoy, but solely in virtue of the principle of reciprocity.

6. To avoid all misunderstanding both with respect to the conditions which are to constitute respectively a French vessel and a Mexican vessel, it is agreed, that all vessels built in France, and all those captured from the enemies of that country, whether by the mili tary marine of the State, or by French subjects entrusted with letters of marque by the Government, and which shall be declar ed lawful prizes by the competent authorities; and finally, all such as shall be condemned by the tribunals for infraction of the laws against the slave trade, shall be