Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-31


hundred Of our citizens are directly Interested,
saeis,s notw outstanding both 1heir Jus
lice and their amount tSI2s-6355f} bad been re-
eegpized aad ascertaiaed by the Spanish G9serial
man< itself
Iagain recommend thai an appropriation be made I
ITO be paid to the Spanish government for the pur
pose Of distribution among the claimants IN the Am
istad case" In common with two OF my predeces-
sora. / entertain no doubt that this IS required by
our treaty with SPAIN OF the 9th of October, lI9t
She failure TO discharge this obligation has been
employed by the cabinet of Madrid as a reason
against the settlement of our claims.
ineel not repeat the arguments winch urged IN
ny last annual message in favor OF the acquisition
of Cuba by fair purchase. My opinions ON that /
measure remain unchanged. l. therefore, agalan IN
yte tie serious attention of Congress to Tins impof
tant subject Without recognition Of tins Poiicy en-
their part il win be almost impossible to instltate
negotiations with any reasonable prospect OF sue
cess.
Until recent period there has been good reason
to believe that should be able to announce 10 yoa
on the present occasion that our difficulties with
Great Brit1in arising out of the Clayton and BEl-
wer Treaty, had been finally adjusted in manner
alike honorable and satisfactory to Doth partes'
From causes, however, which tue British 0oVerh-
ment had not anticipated, they have not yet compile
ted treaty arrangements with the republics OF Hon
duras and Nicaragua in pursuance of the unoefstan-
ding between the two governments. 1t IS neserthe-
less confidently expected that this good work viii
ere long be accomplished.
" lille 1nQultslng Inc othNi
NAMED which could disturb the good understanding
between the two countries the question arising out
of the adverse claims of the parties TO The Island OF
San Juan under the Oregon treaty OF the l0th june
1876 suddenly assumed threatening prominence
In orde- to prevent unfortunate collisions on that
remote frontier the late Secretary OF state, on the
18th of July. 1855, addressed note to Mr. tramp
ton then British Minister at Washington, commun-
eating to him copy OF the Instructions when n nc nc
Mr. Marcvj had given on the l4th of July, to Gov
ernor Stevens, of Washington Territory, having
special reference to an unprecedented conflict be-
tween or citizens and the British subjects on the
Island of San Juan
To prevent this the Governor was instructed that
the officers of the Territory should abstain from all
acts on the disputed grounds which are calculated
to provoke any conflicts, so far as 1t can De done
without implying the concession to the authorizes
of Great Britain of an exclusive right over the pre-
misses The tile ought 10 he settled before either
party should attempt to exclude the other oy 1orce,
or exercise complete and exclusive sovereign rights
within fairly disputed limits.
/ In acknowledging the receipt on the next day OF
Mr. Marcys note the British Minister expressed his
entire concurrence in the propriety of course re
commended to the Governor of Washington Terri
! tory by your MR. Marcy'sl instructions to that
officer" and stating that he had lost no tine IN
transmitting copy of that document to the Cover
nor-general of British North America" and hal
earnestly recommended to his Excellency to take
such measures az to him may appear best calculat-
ed to secure the part on the British local author
ltleS ana the lnnaDllitlis VI Va
! line in question the exercise of the same spirit
of forbearance which is incucated by you INF
Marcy1 on the authorities and citizens of the United
States
Thus matters remained upon the faith of this ar
arrangement until the 9th Of July last when General
! Harvey paid visit to the Island. He found upon
il twenty-five American residents with their fcml-
lies and also an establishment of the Hudsons Ia
Company for the purpose OF raising sheep a snort
time before his arrival of these residents had
| shot an animal belonging to Tie company while
| trespassing upon his premises. for Winch, however
he offered 20 pay twice its value but that was re-
fused. Soon after the chief factor OF the COM
pany at Victoria. Mr.. Da!les, sonInIaw OF G0Yer-
nor Doplas came to the Island in the British sOOp
of-war Satellite and threatened TO take this Amer
can Mr.. Cutler)Dy force 10 Victoria ia answer for
the trespass he had committed. The American
seized his rifle and told MT. Daes If any such at
tempt was made he would Kill him On the spot Inc
affair then ended.
UnGsr these circumstances, the American settlers
presented petition to the General through the
United States INSPECTOR of customs. Mr. Hubbs, to
place 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 as American citizens
The General Immediately responded t. this petition
and ordered Captain George E. Pickett 9Th infan-
try Ito establish lis company on Bellevue, or San
Juan island on suitable position near the har-
Dor at he south eastern extremity This order
was promptly obeyed, and a military post was Is
! tabShe0 at Inc place ucSl9ndlSO lIc lOINc NdS d.
terward increased. so 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 il proper on tie present oc-
cason to 90 further into the subject AMI discuss the
weight which ought to be attached 10 the statements
of the British colonial authorities contesting the
accuracy of the information on which the gallant
General acted it was due to him that should thus
present his own reasons for issuing the order &C
Captain Pickett. From these it is quite clear his OBJ
iect was to prevent the British authorities on Van
cauvers island from exercising jurisdiction over
American residents on the island of San Juan as
well protect them against the incurslons OF thu
indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time through
ont that region. and serious danger of collision be
r tween the parties was unprecedented. The Brltlsl
had large naval force in the vicinity and IT'S Du
an act of simple Justice 10 the admlra on tlat sli
ton to state that he wisely and dscreety fOrbore
commit a hostile act but determined to refer thC
whole affair to his government and await their III
structiOns.
This aspect of the matter in my opinion, demanded
serious attention. 1t wodld have been great ca
lamity for both nations had they been preciptate'
into acts Of hostility not the question of title t
the island but merely concerning what should be III
condition during the intervening period while thu
two Governments might be employed in settling thu
question to which of them it belongs. For this ea
son Lieut. Gen. Scott despatched on the 18th O
September last to Washington Territory TO take i'm
mediate command of the United States forces on tn
Pacific coast, should he deem this necessary.
The main object of his mission was to carry on
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
4 inr the negotiations between the two governments
Entertaining no doubt Of the validity OF our title
need scarcely add that any event American cit
> zens were to he placed on footing Mt least as ia
vorable that Of British subjects 1t being under
t stood that Captain Pickett's company should remain
on the island 1t is proper to observe that consd
ering the distance from the scene of action and II
= ignorance of what might have TRANSFERRED on tn
spot before the Generals arrival, 1t was necessar.
5 to leave much to his discretion. and am happy t
l. state the event has proven that this discretion cou
a not have been intrusted to more competent hands
G General Scott has recently returned from his ms
sion having successfully accomplished its objects
/ and there is longer Eany Tgood reason to appre
/ bend a collision between the forces Of the tw
h countries during the peHdency Of the existing nc
l. gotatiOns.
Iregret to inform you that there has been no i'm
provement in the affairs of Mexico since my last an
L nual message, and ! am again obliged to ask the
earnest attention of Congress to the unhappy cond
/ ton Of that republic.
i The constituent Congress of Mexico, which ad
iourned on the 18th OF February, 1851, adopted
4 Constitution and provided for popular election
= This took place in the following July. 1851. an
+ General Commonfort was chosen President. amos
= without opposition. At the same election a nev
l. Congress- was chosen whose first session commences
, on the 10th of September, [lSj7l By the COnsttu
ton of 1857 the Presidential term vas TO begiI
= the lst of December 1851 and continue for fou
;, years. On that day General CoE:montort appear
ed before the assembled Congress in the city of Mex
leo. took the oath TO support the new Constitution
/ and was duly inaugurated President. Within
month afterwards he had been driven from the cap
. tai aid military rebellion had assigned the 81
. preme power of the republic to General Zuoaga.
b The Constitution provided that in the absence o
the President his office should dev0ve upon the Chic
. Justice of the Supreme Court, and General Com
monfOrt having left the country, this functionary
e General Juarez. proceeded to FORM at GuanajuatO,
. constitutional government. Before this was oliica
e " known, however, at the capital, the governing
Of ZulOaga had been recognized by the entire diplC
. matte cOrps, including the Minister of the Unite
= States, as the de tdctO government of Mexico. Tn
Constitutional President, nevertheless, malntaine
his position with frnness. and Was soon establlshe
[ with his cabinet at Vera Cruz. Meanwhile, the gov
= ernment of ZulOaga was earnestly resisted in man
parts of the republic. and even in the capital pOr
= ton of the army having pronounced against It, 1t
functions were declared terminated, and an assem-
4 bly, of citizens invited for the choice Of a new
a President This assembly elected General Miramon
but that officer repudiated the plan under which III
was chosen. and Zuloaga was thus restored TO III
. previous position. He assumed It, however, onl.
. TO withdraw from it. and Mirmon having become, b.
\ his appointncat. president Substitute. continues
IL