A letter from the Secretary of the Interior, dated the 12th instant, accompanies the treaty. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _December 15, 1863_. _To the Senate of the United States_: In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 11th of March last, requesting certain information touching persons in the service of this Government, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, to whom the resolution was referred. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _December 17, 1863_. _To the Senate of the United States_: I transmit to the Senate, for consideration with a view to its ratification, a convention between the United States and Her Britannic Majesty for the final adjustment of the claims of the Hudsons Bay and Pugets Sound Agricultural Companies, signed in this city on the 1st day of July last (1863). ABRAHAM LINCOLN. DECEMBER 17, 1863. _To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_: Herewith I lay before you a letter addressed to myself by a committee of gentlemen representing the freedmen's aid societies in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati. The subject of the letter, as indicated above, is one of great magnitude and importance, and one which these gentlemen, of known ability and high character, seem to have considered with great attention and care. Not having the time to form a mature judgment of my own as to whether the plan they suggest is the best, I submit the whole subject to Congress, deeming that their attention thereto is almost imperatively demanded. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _December 22, 1863_. _To the Senate of the United States_: I transmit to the Senate, for its consideration with a view to ratification, two conventions between the United States and His Belgian Majesty, signed at Brussels on the 20th May and the 20th of July last, respectively, and both relating to the extinguishment of the Scheldt dues, etc. A copy of so much of the correspondence between the Secretary of State and Mr. Sanford, the minister resident of the United States at Brussels, on the subject of the conventions as is necessary to a full understanding of it is also herewith transmitted. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, _December 23, 1863_ _To the Senate and House of Representatives_: I transmit to Congress a copy of the report to the Secretary of State of the commissioners on the part of the United States under the convention with Peru of the 12th of January last, on the subject of claims. It will be noticed that two claims of Peruvian citizens on this Government have been allowed. An appropriation for the discharge of the obligations of the United States in these cases is requested. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. JANUARY 5, 1864. _Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives_: