The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-29

The Presidents Message-The Sam Jua1
ID Ascuity-A Direct Issue with Eng
lapo.
As the day for the assembling of Congress
draws near, the probable recommendations of
the President in his annual message to the two
houses, touching our foreign and domestic
| affairs are becoming prominent feature If
the reports and conjectures Of the Washington
newsmongers. We dare say that upon our
domestic and concerning our foreign relations,
MIR. Buchanan's views Of December, 1859, will
be substantially the same as those Of 1858,
making all proper allowances for the mo-
dificatons suggested by intervening events.
Calm and deliberate. prudent, sagacious,
and eminently conservative, as Mr.. Buchanan
has proved himself amidst all the diplomatic
entanglements and wrangling domestic factions
Of the day, we know that his drmness and de-
cision of character may be equally relied
upon in every emergency.
We are not, therefore, surprised at the infor-
nation which we have received in relation to
the views which he will present to the new
Congress upon orr San Juan Island or north
western boundary difficulty with England. We
have been prepared, on the other hand, for a
direct issue with the British government upon
this subject which will bring the Palmerston
Cabinet to retreat from their untenable posi-
ton, or to the possible alternative of b rupture
between the two countries. The controversy
involves nice distinction between tempo
rary concession on our part, and the right Of
dominion over the island in dispute.
According to the treaty Of 1916, the boundary
between our territories on the Pacific coast and
those Of England passes through "the main
cbannep of the straits which divide the main
land from Vancouver's Island This is unques-
tionably the Hsro channel. Mr.. Buchanan,
| Secretary Of State when the Oregon boundary
treaty was negotiated, is, we have no doubt
sustained in this view not only by the geogra
phical facts brought into notice at the time,
but by subsequent admissions of British states
men AT all events, when, during the admins
tration Of Mr.. Pierce (Mr. Buchanan being our
Minister at London), the question of the title
to the disputed island was brought to the at
tention OF our government, the temporary
agreement Of joint occupation Of the island
| Wuo ChCSsSuy Rowing sAC Ilte butIbLo SUBJECT
to future negotiations. But this arrangement
involved no admission of the validity of the
pretensions Of England, for the ground was
still maintained that, by the treaty of 1916, the
island would belong only to the United States.
| This is doubtless the ground which Mr. Blu
chanan will occupy in his message. In the
meantime, he has admitted the business Of Lord
John Russell's complaint against the military
occupation Of the island by Gen. Harvey; and
ere this, we presume, that mistake has been rec
tilted by Gen. Scott. Whether General Harvey
misinterprcted his instructions, or whether they
were not sufficiently precise to forbid the eyer
else of bis discretion in this military occupa
| ton, Is matter of very little moment. He
| doubtless assumed the responsibility under the
conviction that the island is ours, and that.
| being ours, he had the right to enforce our alb
eolute possession. he overlooked the tempo
| rary agreement Of joint occupancy; but with
the rectifcation Of that mistake the two go
vernments have nothing more o do upon the
subject than to settle this question: TO which
does the island belongw
Believing that Mr.. Buchanan will, in his NEE.
sage, carefully and conclnsively vindicate our
title to the island, and that his views upon the
subject will be opposed to any recognition Of