The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-06
The GuanO Difficulty.
CLAIMS ON VENEZUELA RELATIVE TO BIRD leland
UHPARrMU1 SYArl.


DpARrxDn sIArA /
WAsHnGroN Jan. 2, 1857.
Ycoefved-ihe last on the 18th uh
You No ~ wss panied BY copy OF the oval
Aoe CONTRACT with the venezuean governmeni which
q he 2sth April last; but be regretted that the
sehsr papers, whioh were u The time mentioned
new 10 be OF service 70 the shelton Island claimants
namely report Of Captain Das, and tho protest OF the
Brksh charge afAin-have not been obtained.
oak 70 procure and That the latter although may DO
oetaned, would not PROBABLY be document Of such .
sassscser wa. me c,sman" wouiS derive my nsp
hensions entertain respocting the feasibility Of pro
surtng one Of those docu nen, and the adverse effect
upsn the interests claants which ascrbe
ShoS that have noobanod copies OF thoae papers,
vhiah would doubtless contribute largely elucida
Ten Of many important points involved N this claim Tue
say object held view by the department re- questng
ysu procure those documents 70 facilitate tue o.
- ~ ;nsm sUa tSE 10 nsS
Ny refer should invadate rather than strengthen their
slaln, me department u not responsible for sacn
y difficult 70 peroeivc Why your application for the
Dhs report should no, have proved "suooessful" The
seed conduct Of that officer OF Veaezues they nave
ade positive statements their injuries at hs hands
ihs1sn ihess charges are pointed appetite snd are
sustained by ample testimony the government OF vene
i0rAed the snshtest explanation justification Of ais
tucs and The claimants naturally 81 lees whether 70
Interpret this reserve - an admission Of their alsfa.
ms, in fact ground o, surprise that so long time
hes been permitted TO elspse without intmssoa
Rom the government Of Venezuela OF IN determination
ressra 70 this claim. Nearly two years have paused
"a 1851 mai Inc AYES sland-clamed By p g shelton
and oshers-vss "dercict That being 90, Il dis.
covered found TO be valuable AMI taken possession Of
~ American oNxcns; that their fright 70 retain
gsod against the wort and that vonexuc had forciby
driven them OF, 70 their serious injury" and you wore
distracted that u, AMOR due Investigation you should be
ssned VI the fact first assumed VIZ that venszus had
mir title TO the sovereignty OF the Island, then
government and awe notice INA, lhs govern On. eI
pectet 'shs. our citizens VIII be indennised Cor their
TSs result Of your investigation was decidedly adverse
70 The claim OF sovereignty AZ regards venezuela What
may have been the claims 70 the ISLAND inserposed
r. vsdersoa hes, without opposnioa or o6struouoo GA
~ pa u those nstons disposed Of her pretended rights
s.sossvs conrscss' granting monoooiy Of he eusno
depssted thereon. Bat, were otherwise-were The
rcgnty Of the isand sustained that condition, any
sosrs upon inc citizens Of the United aacs Ms no de
srpusos and their heavy Losses the Island belong
81 10 some other nation tnan vens zaela
-.oriy asmop.,sied 70 he department and 70 Jour
ssaf Was believed that the Gibbs and Diss 'sgrce-
ns, ,s VI, ss Gn :" point upon mich vso.
But This dincuy seems W have boon removed oy
ihs docunents farnsned By the claimsni, as IN yoar
vere thereby enabled 70 tree the subec iron serious
snbsrrassment
made concessions 70 the ust expectations Of the claim
anita or has formally annos need upon what grounds
not spo-n whether she o~ss upon The expulsion Of the
Americans by Das ~ bwfal or npon what precxt she
claims tho iand and earters sway tine privilege Of
saahs ring the suano which there the time OF dis.
covery. We are not informed what oossu ucuon Ia nov
efven 70 ,he so-caled "csptuaion az Gibbs 70 Disr
whether she insss upon - OF iull force and vandy,
o. ihsa be not asserted whether further prof 10
CURED Of the aos Of irs1d and ooeroioc In procuring
Your despatch q October oompslued or,be want you
ch Of proof OF he value Of the deposit That want,
probable has been supplied ~ tne socom pam menA
20 my No. 81, OF The 18th august last The claimants
nave however, been apprIsed OF your oomplAst upoo
his pont, and they will doubtless supply the detclsncy
possble Stli u wonld seem tc be nexpedient 70 de-
fer prorsct discussion In consequence OF the ABSENCE
vf iul Data there are iaoh, soundsniy sustained by
NE evidence, Of grave OUTRAGE upon the persons And
property o. our citizens and OF heavy s,tus losses con
sequsni thereupon The appears department
70 he am plv fortified regards the principles involved
and The Tsh. o. ne c Aim 70 hoo. 'Sr ,sa's:
osssr which the original dhooverers have sustained By
he sale " the gusno upon the stand 70 othor parties
and ~hch form the element OF legitimate densud for
repsrsron need net embsass retArd the settlement
Of tho more important prel'minsries which the case
pvesens
me protrac,ed delay which this claim has encounter
cd without apparent reason, has been tho OF
great embarrassment 10 the claimants and the further
procrasnaon Of settlement capnot be regarded with
indifference by this gotevument The views expressed
toysu from the first 10 reference b have been OF q de-
cided cbsrscer-the only material doubt having been In
reference 70 the title Of Venezuela With ample oppoytu-
nfhs OF Investigation, you have confirmed the views
xen by TINS department. upon that point There remains
no course them but to prcss the demand for redress
iron Vene zuels In formal and decisive manner sui ro
aues 10 behalf OF our government, her deerm alton
IN reference ~ his II she admits her liability for
the spoIia,iorx committed the basis OF adjustment may
% nsea without difficulty or delay. n soc refuses re-
oress sne - be expected 70 oer reasons for that
oourse a. will be Satisfactory TO this governnent espe-
oy IN view OF the supulsops contained IN the 30 SEQ
pon 81 the S4h article o. the treaty OF $780, which 800
hmpa'es certain modes OF redress IN case who're other
party Considering iusef often dod rba ers nsve nrs
seneo 70 tne o,hor statement OF such injuries or dam.
ages verined ~ oompetent proofs aud dcmsuded us
nce, snd the same shall been othey rernssd or nm
reasonably delayed" lam, air, sc,
w. l. MARCY