_March 6, 1829_.
_Gentlemen of the Senate_:
The treaty of commerce and navigation concluded at Washington on the 1st
of May, 1828, between the United States and the King of Prussia, was
laid before the Senate, who, by their resolution of the 14th of that
month, advised and consented to its ratification by the President.
By the sixteenth article of that treaty it was agreed that the exchange
of ratifications should be made within nine months from its date.
On the 15th day of February last, being fifteen days after the time
stipulated for the exchange by the terms of the treaty, the chargé
d'affaires of the King of Prussia informed the Secretary of State that
he had received the Prussian ratification and was ready to exchange it
for that of the United States. In reply he was informed of the intention
of the President, my late predecessor, not to proceed to the exchange in
consequence of the expiration of the time within which it was to be
made.
Under these circumstances I have thought it my duty, in order to avoid
all future questions, to ask the advice and consent of the Senate to
make the proposed exchange.
I send you the original of the treaty, together with a printed copy of
it.