The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-12-31

o reference - ctner Claims. even The Cuban
+ claims, the payment u which has noan adj,
urged By ministers. and n which r.oge thar
e i Euul.cl of citizens directly interested
les2-a uatisfet, notv.ths l...ing both Ihoir Jus
scv and the-r csuu;.It tSl-s,G.s-.4i i..i u.yn -.
= co-niEel IN! &scertalnei by Jha >p4usL Govern
, inent i;sclt.
again recommend that appropriation ly rna,i,
&c be paid 10 the Spanish government for the pur
pose Of distribution the claimants in the Am
!stad case In common with two Of my predrc,s
sors- entertain doubt that this i required by
treaty with Spain. the 27Jh OF October 1896
The failure 10 discharge this obligation has been
employed by the cabinet Of Madrid i reason
against tic settlement OF our claims.
Ineed not repeat the arguments which ! uTgcd in
my ast annual message in favor OF The acquisition
of Cuba by fair purchase. Ny opinions that
measure remain unchanged. l. therefore. asaian in
vte the serious attention of Congress 10 this impor-
tanr subject. Without recognition Of this policy on
their part. il viii be almost impossible TO institute
negotiations with any reasonable prospect Of sue
cess
Until 4 recent period there has been good reason
TO believe that should be able announce - you
on the present occasion that our difficulties with
Great Britain. arising out OF the Clayton and Bul-
wer Treaty. had been finally adjusted in Il manner
I alike honorable and satisfactory both parties.
From causes. however which the British Govern
mcnt had not anticipated. they have not yet compile
ted treaty arrangements wiki the republics OF Hon
duraS and Nicaragua IN pursuance oi the understan-
ding between the two governments Il IS nevertIe-
less. confidently expected that this good work will
ere long be accomplished.
While induginE the hope that no other subject re-
maincd which could disturb the good understanding
between the countries. the question arising
of the adverse claims OF the parties the Island Of
San Juan. under the Oregon treaty of the 10Th une
| lSiG. suddenly assumed threatening prominence.
In or!c- TO prevent unfortunate collisions that
remote frontier the late secretary OF state on the
/ 18th OF July. lS55 addressed a note TO Mr.. Cramp
| ton. then British Minister at Washington, cOmmuni-
| eating TO him copy of the instructions which he
(Mr. Marcy had given. the 18th OF July. TO Gov
ernor Stevens. of Washington Territory. having 4
special reference TO 'apprehended conflict be-
tween citizens and the British subjects on the
/ Island OF San Juan
To prevent this. the Governor instructed that
the officers of the Territory should abstain from all
acts on the disputed grounds which calculated
to provoke any conflicts. far il can be done
without implying the concession TO the authorities
OF Great Britain OF exclusive right the pre-
misses. The title ought 10 be settled before either
party should attempt TO exclude the other by force,
exercise complete and exclusive sovereign rights
! within fairly disputed limits.
In acknowledging the receipt on the next day of
Mr. Marcys the British Minister expressed his
entire concurrence = in the proprety of course
commended TO the Governor OF Washington Terri
| tory by your Mr. Marcy'sl instructions 10 that
officer, ana stating that he had lost no time IN
transmitting copy of that document to the COVER
! nor-general of British North America and ha
! " earnestly recommended to his EXccency to take
| such measures as 10 him may appear best caculat
ed 10 secure on the part of the British local author
ltcs and the inhabitants of the neigborhood of the
hnt IN question. the exercise OF the same spirit
OF forbearance which is inCulcated by you My.
Marcy or the authorities and citizens Of the United
States.
Thus matters remained upon the faith OF this
rangement until the 9th OF July last, when General
Harney paid visit 10 the Island. He found upon
it twenty five American residents with their fGm
lies. and also establishment of the Hudsons Ba-
Company for the purpose of raising sheep A short
time before his arrival of these resdents had
shot animal belonging TIE company while
tresTassing upon his premises. for which. however,
he offered 10 pay twice its value but that
fused. Soon after the chief factor of the COM
pany at Victoria Mr. Dalles, son-in-law of Cover
Douglas. to the Islanl in the British soOp
of-war. Satellite and threatened 10 take this Amer
(Mr Cutler, )by force Victoria. II for
the trespass he had cOmLIitted. The American
seized his rife and told MI Dalles if any such at
tempt made he would kill him the spot. he
affair then ended
Under these circumstances. the American settlers
presented petition the General. through the
United States Inspector of customs Mr.. Hubbs, to
place Il force upon the island TO protect them from
the Indians as we'll as the oppressive interference
of the authorities of the Hudson Bay Company at
Victoria with their rights American citizens.
The General Immediately responded to this petition
and ordered Captain George T. Pickett. 9Th infan-
try Ito establish his company Bellevue. or San
Juan island, some suitable position near the har-
Dor he southeastern extremity. This order
promptly obeyed, and military post was
tabshed at the place designated The force was al
terward increased that by the last return the
whole number of troops then on the island amount
ed in the aggregate TO 69l men.
While do not deem it proper on tie present oc-
cason go further into the subject and discuss the
weight which ought to be attached TO the statements
of the British colonial authorities. contesting the
accuracy of the information which the gallant
General acted it was due to him that should thus
present his own reasons for issuing the order TO
Captain Pickett From these il is quite clear his OBJ
iect was prevent the British authorities Van
couvers island from exercising jurisdiction
American residents the island of San Juan
well protect them against the incursions of the
Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for time through
that region. and serious danger of collision be-
tween the parties apprehended. The British
had large naval force in the vicinity and it is but
act of simple justice 10 the admiral on that sta
ton state that he wisely and dscreetly forbore to
commit hostile act, but determined to refer the
whole affair TO his government and await their in
structions.
This aspect of the matter in nv opinion demanded
serious attention 1t would have been great
lamity for both nations had they been precipitated
into acts of hostility not the question of title to
the island but merely concerning what should be its
condition during the intervening period while the
two governments might be employed in settling the
question to which OF them it belongs. For this Pea
son Lieut.. Gen Scott was despatched on the 18th of
September last to Washington Territory to take im
mediate command of the United States forces on the
Pacific coast should he deem this necessary.
The main object of his mission was TO carry out
the spirit OF the precautionary ARRANGEMENT between
the late Secretary OF State and the British Minister
and thus to preserve the peace and prevent collision
| between the British and American authorities pend
ing the negotiations between the two governments
Entertaining doubt of the validity of title.
need scarcely add that, any event, American cit-
zens were TO be placed on footing at least IA
vorable that of British subjects. it being under
stood that Captain Picketts company should remain
the island. 1t is proper to observe that consid
erng the distance from the of action and in
ignorance of what might have TRANSFERRED on the
| spot before the Generals arrival il necessary
TO leave much Ia his discretion and am happy to
state the event has proven that this discretion could
not have been intrusted to more competent hands.
General Scott has recently returned from his mis-
sion, having successfully accomplished its objects.
and there is no longer rany 3go0d reason to appre
| hend a collision between the forces of the
countries during the pcndency OF the existing
| gotiations.
regret TO inform you that there has been i'm
provement in the affairs OF Mexico since my last
| nual message. and | am again obliged to ask the
earnest attention of Congress to the unhappy condi
| tiOn of that republic.
| The constituent Congress of Mexico. which ad-
| journed on the l1th of February. 1857. adopted
Constitution and provided for popular election.
This took place in the following July. [ls57,1 and
! General Commontcrt was chosen President. almost
| without opposition. AT the election new
Congress chosen. whose first session commenced
the 10th OF September. [ls57.l BY the Constitu-
ton of 1857 the Presidential to begin on
the lst of December. [lS57,l and continue for four
years. On that day General Cor.:montort appear
ed before the assembled Congress in the city Mex
leo. took the oath to support the new Constitution,
| and was duly inaugurated as President Within
month afterwards he had been driven from the capi
| tai snd military rebellion had assigned the
| preme power of the republic to General Zuloaga.
| The Constitution provided that in the absence of
the fesldent his oce should ueNolNe upon the CHlef
Justice of the Supreme Court, and General Com
| montort having left the country. this functonary,
General Juarez, proceeded to form at Guiana juato.
constitutional government Before this was official
! ly known. however at the capital, the government
Of Zuloaga had been recognized by the entire diplo
| matte corns including the Minister OF the United
states, the de tJctO government OF Mexico. The
Constitutional President, nevertheless, maintained
his position with firmness. and established
with his cabinet at Vera Cruz. Meanwhile, the gov
| ernment of Zuloaga earnestly resisted in many
| ID he raDubic N
hon of the army h,yng nronnuncad aga;nst II its
| functions declared terminated, and assem-
| bly, of citizens was invited tor the choice of a new
President This assembly elected General Miramon
but that officer repudiated the plan under which he
! was chosen, and Zuloaga was thus restored to his
previous position. He assumed il. however, only
withdraw from it, and Mirmon having become, by
his appointment president Substitute. continues.
with that title the head of the Insurgent party
In my last annual message l communicated to