The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-12-30

notifications by the contracting PARTIES
This was not deemed necessary by the
Chinese, who are already proceeding in good
faith O satisfy the Claims of our citizens, and,
/ il is hoped, to carry out the other provisions
of the conventions. Still, | thought it was
proper to submit them to the Ser ate, by
which they were ratified on the Bird of
( March, 1859. The ratified copies, however,
did not reach Shanghai until after the de-
plrture of our Minister to Picking, and these
conventions could not, therefore, be ex-
changed at the same time with the princi-
pal treaty. No doubt is entertained that
they viii be ratified and exchanged by the
Chinese government, should this be thought
advisable; but, under the circumstances
presented, shall consider them binding en-
| gagements from their date on both parties,
and cause them to be published as such for
the information and guidance of our merch-
ants trading with the Chinese empire.
1t affords me much satisfaction to inform
| you that all our difficulties with the repub
| lie of Paraguay have been satisfactorily adj
| justed 1t happily did not become neces-
sary to employ the force for this purpose
which Congress had placed at my command
under their Joint resolution of June I'd,
| 1858. On the contrary, the President of
that Republic in friendly spirit, acceded
| promptly to the just and reasonable demands
of the United States. Our Commissioner
arrived at Assumption, the capital of the
/ Republic, on the 18th of January, $50, and
| left on the 7th of February, having in three
weeks ably and successfully accomplished
| all the objects of his mission. The treaties
/ which he has concluded will be Immediately
submitted to the Senate.
| In the view that the employment of other
| than peaceful means might have become
| necessary to obtain just satisfaction from
| Paraguay, a strong naval force was con-
| centrated in the waters of the La Plata, To
await contingencies, whilst our commission
| er assembled the rivers to Assumption. The
| Navy Department is entitled to great credit
for the promptness, efficiency, and economy
| with which this expedition was fitted out
! and conducted. 1t consisted of nineteen
armed vessels, great and small, carrying 200
guns and 800 men, all under the COM
mand Of the veteran and gallant Shubrick
The entire expenses of the expedition have
been betrayed ont of the ordinary appropri-
ations for the naval service, except the sum
Of S269,000 applied to the purchase of
seven of the steamers constituting Il part of
it, under the authority of the naval appro-
| priation act of the Sd OF March last. IL is
| believed that these steamers are worth more
than their cost and they are all now use
fully and actively employed in the naval
| service.
The appearance of so large a force fitted
| out in such prompt manner, in the far dis
| tant waters OF the La Plata, and the admira-
BILE conduct of the officers aud men employ
ell in it, have had IA happy effect in favor of
our countrymen throug hOut all that remote
portion of the world.
Our relations with the great empires OF
| II apI France VOL a wit IA sal oil pr
governments on the continent of Europe
unless we may except Spain, happily con-
| Times to he OF the most friendly character.
! In my last annual message, | presented a
| statement of the unsatisfactory condition of
| our relations with Spain; and | regret to
say that this has not materially improved.
! Without special reference to other claims
even the "Cuban claims the payment of
which has been ably urged by our ministers,
and in which more than hundred of our citi-
zens are directly interested, remain unsatis-
! fed, notwithstanding both their Justice and
their amount SI2S, $50 81 had been rec
| ogniZed and ascertained by the Spanish gov
ernment itself
again recommend that an appropriation
be made 4" to be paid to the Spanish gov
eminent for the purpose of distribution
| among the claimants i'll the Amistad case"
| In common with two of my predecessors,
| | entertain no doubt that this is required by
our treaty with Spain, of the 9th October
! 1875. The failure TO discharge this obliga-
| lion has been employed by the cabinet of
| Madrid as a reason against the settlement
Of our claims.
| | need not repeat the arguments which |
| urged in my last annual message in favor
| of the acquisition of Cuba by fair purchase
| My opinions on that measure remain un-
changed. |, therefore, again invite the Sc
rious attention of Congress to this mpor-
tant subject. Without recognition of this
| policy on their part it will be almost impos-
sible to institute negotiations with any rea-
| sonabie prospects of success.
Until recent period there was good
reason to believe that should be able to an
| nOunce to you on the present occasion that
our difficulties with Great Britain, arising
out of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty had
| been finally adjusted in a manner alike hon
| CRADLE and satisfactory To both parties
| From causes, however, which the British
government had not anticipated, they have
not yet completed treaty arrangements with
the republics OF Honduras and Nicaragua
in pursuance of the understanding between
the two governments. 1t is, nevertheless
confidently expected that this good work
will ere long be accomplished.
w blISL iuuuIglIlg Tue nope thaI no Otner
subject remained which could disturb the
good understanding between the two coun-
tries, the question arising out of the adverse
claims of the parties to the Island of San
Juan, under the Oregon treaty of the 9th
of June, 1916 suddenly assumed a threat
ening prominence. In order to prevent I'M
fortunate collisions on that remote frontier,
the late Secretary of State, on the 18th
July, 1885, addressed q note to Mr. Cramp-
ton, then British Minister HI Washington,
communicating to him copy of the instruc-
ton which he Mr.. Marcy had given, on the
18th of July, to Gov Stevens, of Washing
ton Territory, having special reference to
an apprehended conflict between our citi-
Gems and the British subjects on the Island
Of san Juan. To prevent this the COVER
nor was instructed :. that the officers of the
Territory should abstain from all acts on the
disputed grounds, which are calculated to
prov oke any conflicts, SO far as it can be
done without implying the concession to the
authorities of Great Britain of an exclusive