The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-04

Purser-George W. Clarke.
Passed Assistant Snrgeon--P }. Horutz.
Armament, four guns.
RELEASE
Lieutenant Commanding Wliam A. Parker.
LeuteDsnts-T. Fillebrovn, j. G. Max xen.
Midshipmsn-G. s Perkins
Armament, one gun
THE PERSONNEL OF THE FLEET.
In the foregoing lists have given the Of al the
officers commanding and attached TO the different vessels
composing the squadron. II at frs, debated whether
the command OF The expedition should not be committed TO
Commander Page who has already had much TO do with
President Lopez but deemed advisable not 70 do
inasmuch might be objected that Commander Page
had personal pique to crafty And 30 the command
given TO the senior captain the list Of the navy
who is VIM. Brandford shubrck Commander Page serv-
ng on board the 1agshpthe frgate Sabine-as captain
Of the feet.
COMMODORE sHUBRICK.
OF the sixty four that stand In the American
Navy Register under the head Of Captains" tho
highest grade in our navy, that Of VIM. Randford
Shubrck stands first in the list. He is therefore
tie senior captain in our navy. Captain shu-
brick Il native and citizen Of the state of South
Carolina He has spent over half century in the
vice Of his country, having enere the navy the Goth
OF June, 1906 His present commission dates from the
st Of February 1881 Since this last date he spent
only FIVE years and one month at His total
vice up to 1857 seventeen years and months and
his service on shore other duty s down twenty
six years and one month From the time he entered the
service he was but six years and seven months unem
pa0y ed He chairman Of the Lighthouse NBoArd ami
also the chairman Of the Naval Retrng Board Of iii
teen, in which position he could M to haee learned
for himself much anpopaarty among naval oisers He
was the second eldest OF four brothers, all of whom
served with distinction In the navy; and his ather
dstnguished officer Of the Revolution and served aid
camp TO General Greene the battle of Eut,w Springs
With such connections and antecelents need he
feared tina; the tag Of the United states win suffer nom
being committed TO the charge Of Commodore shubrck
COMMANDER THOMAS JEFFERSON PAGE.
We published some weeks ago q Geographic notice OF
Commander Thomas Jefferson Page the captain o cet
He, like Commodore Shubrck, is southerner-a native
Of vrginia-and descended from Sir John Page of Mid
dlesex, IN England who obtained grant ofands ia Et-
ern Virginia, and established himself in 1856 upon the
York river, in what is Gloucester county. He has
been thirty yoars in the service having entered as
midshpman the ls of October, 1927 His commission az
commander dates from the 14h of September 1855 He
has been much OF his time engaged in surveying and other
scientific pursuits but still he has seen some fighting
He was engaged in the West Indies against tho prats
who infested those waters, and also in cutting out the
Buenos Ayrean privaeer Federal in the hafbor Of 81,
Bartholomew.
OTHER OFFICERS.
The officers OF tho expedition arc all tried men, and
though generally too young 10 have participated in tho
last war have been active and jealous In their various 20
snons Commander Pennock, II we mistake not has been
under fire China, and dlstr shed himself Ia the grst
cable expedition under Capt Hudson.
THE COMMISSIONER TO PARAGUAY.
Tho Hon. James B Bowlin, o. Missouri, wen, out in the
Sabine United States Commissioner authorized 70 treat
and, II possible settle the pending difficulties with Para
quay This ia not Mr.. Bowln's nrst diplomatic employ
ment for he appointed by President PIERCE In 1854
United States Minister New Granada and was subsc-
quenty associated with Mr. J. T. Morse OF Louisiana In
mission obtain indemnity from New Granada for tho
losses sustained by American citizens in tho famous Pana
riots In this latter Mission however, no was no
successful. Mr.. Bowiin is lawyer by profession an
had seat on the bench in Missouri. To understand tn
difficulties OF his present mission, s necessary 10 re.
the origin Of the dsagreemcas between tho Unitei
States and Paraguay.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ON PARAGUAY.
II was IN tho Presidents annual message TO Congress
In al the Of last session. thai atten
lion called to relations with Paraguay. The sub
ect was presented In the following paragraphs
regret inform you that tho President OF Paraguay
has refused 10 raty tho treaty between the United States
and that State amended by tho Senate the signature of
which mentioned in tho message OF my predecessor
10 Congress nj the opening Of It's session in December
1888 Tue reasons assigned for this refusal Will appear
in the correspondence herewith submitted.
II beng desraoieto ascertain the fitness Of tho river Ia
Plata and ts tributaries for navigation by steam, the
United States steamer Water Witch sent thither for
that purpose In 1858. This enterprise successfully
carried on until February 1885, when whilst IN the peaoe
fn prosecution OF her voyage up the Parana river the
steamer was fred upon BY Paraguayan fort Tho ire
returned, but the Water Witch o small force
not designed occnsvc operations retired from
hc Thc prct " attark
made decree Of the President of Paraguay of Octo
bcr, 1884, prohibiting foreign vessee Of war from
the hank Of tho Of that name
the other belonging Corrcntes state Of the Argentine
Confederation, the right Of ts government 20 expect
that such a decree would be opeyed cannot be-
knowledged. hut the Water Witch was not, properly
speaking, vessel OF she q small steamer
gagged in scientific enterprise intended tor tho advantage
of commercial states generally Under those eirour.
stances constrained 10 consider the attack upon her
nnjustnsoie and as calling tor satisfaction from the
Ctzens of the United states ALSO who we're established
In business Paraguay, have had their property seixed
and taken from hem and have otherwise been treated
by the Authorities IN insulting and arbitrary manner
which requires reiress
demand for these purposes viii be made in a frm out
concsiatory spirit THIS Will tho probably be grant
cd II tho executive shall have authority 70 uso other
means 10 the event Of refusal This rs accordingly ro
commended.
There was but ltlo the subject either
branch Of tho national Congress In regard 20 other
commentators OF the President tnere was much diie
of opinion and nuch angry disputa,on bu, IN
regard this Tho following tho Joint resolution under
the authority of which expedition has fitted out
a Rxsoiurcs snJUrsgSr Drr1cUrrns WIN rnr
HFrrsiIc PARAGUAY
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
Of the United States OF America Congress assembled
That for the purpose % adjusting the differences between
the Uuitod States and the republic o Paraguay
ton with the attack the United States steamer Water
witch, and wh other mattcrs referred In tho annual
message Of the President he be- and hereby authorized
70 adopt such and such force bis udg
ment may be necessary and advisable In the event Of
refusal Of just satisfaction by the government Of Paraguay
Approved June 2, 1883
THE CASE OF THE WATER WITCH.
There s but little actual discrepancy the state Of
facts which government and that OF Paraguay
respectively That the United States surveying steamer
Water witch fred on by the Paraguaysn forts
Qtapiru) is not questioned The only pout at IT,
the Paasuayan justified endorsing that
hostile acp The American government holds the negative
Of tha, proposition two grounds-nrs, that Paraguay
the owner Of bu, bank river of that name
and consequently had right 10 prohibit she did by
. decree Of October, 1864, foreign vessels Of war
from navigating 1t; and, second, that the water