ents and purposes as
part of the Constitution of the United States.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the Department of State to be affixed.

[SEAL.]

Done at the city of Washington this 30th day of March, A.D. 1870, and
of the Independence of the United States the ninety-fourth.

HAMILTON FISH.

WASHINGTON, _March 31, 1870_.

_To the Senate of the United States_:

I transmit, for consideration with a view to its ratification, a treaty
between the United States and the United States of Colombia for the
construction of an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama or
Darien, signed at Bogota on the 26th of January last.

A copy of a dispatch of the 1st ultimo to the Secretary of State from
General Hurlbut, the United States minister at Bogota, relative to the
treaty, is also transmitted for the information of the Senate.

U.S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, _March 31, 1870_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

I transmit to Congress a further communication from the Secretary of
State, with the accompanying documents, relative to the claims of
citizens of the United States on the Government of Venezuela which were
adjusted by the commission provided for by the convention with that
Republic of April 25, 1866.

U.S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, _March 31, 1870_.

_To the House of Representatives:_

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th
instant, relating to fisheries in British waters, I transmit a report
from the Secretary of State and the papers which accompanied it, and I
have to state that the commanding officer of the naval steamer ordered
to the fishing grounds will be instructed to give his attention, should
circumstances require it, to cases which may arise under any change
which may be made in the British laws affecting fisheries within British
jurisdiction, with a view to preventing, so far as it may be in his
power, infractions by citizens of the United States of the first article
of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain of 1818, the
laws in force relating to fisheries within British jurisdiction, or any
illegal interference with the pursuits of the fishermen of the United
States.

U.S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, _April 5, 1870_.

_To the House of Representatives:_

In answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 28th
ultimo, I transmit a report[18] from the Secretary of Sta