Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-12-29
amount (sl2s, es5 S. had tssa recognised
and 2. asoertained BY ihe spanish eotafninanl


common with two Of my predecessors en-
tertain no doubt thar this is required by our
treaty with Spain Of the 9th October. f7D5
he iailure to discharge this obligation has
! been employed by the cabinet Of Madrid as
reason against the settlement Of our
claims.
need not repeat the arguments which I
urged in my lest annual messnRe IN favor az
the acquisition Of Cuba BY fair purchese. Z.
My opinions on that mea lure remain IN,
changed. therefore, again invite ths seri.
Gus attention Of Congress to this important
subjojt. Without recognition Of this mil,
cy on their part II will be almost impossible
10 Institute negotiations with any reasonable
prospect Of snccess
Until a recent period there was good
reason to believe that | should be able to
announce 10 you on the present occasion
that our difficulties with t}reat Britain. aris,
ing out Of tho Clayton Bulwer treaty. had
been finally adjusted in manner alike
h6cnorable and satisi otory to both pnfties -
from causes, however, which the British
government had not anticipated they have
not yet completed treaty arrangements
with the republics Of ioniuras aud NiArn,
qua, in pursuance Of the understanding BE-.
tween the two governments. II Is. meyer
theless confidently expected that this GOOD
work will ere long be accomplished
whilst lndulging the hope that no other sub
lect remained which could disturb the coed
understanding between the two countries, the
| question arising out Of the adverse claims of
the parties 10 the Island Of San Juan, under
the oregon treaty Of the 18th Of June, 1876,
suddenly assumed a threatening prominence.
In order TO prevent unfortunate collisions on
that remote frontier the late Secretary of Stale.
on the 18th July, 1855 addressed n note 10
Mr.. Champion, then British Minister at WAshA
ington, communicating TO him a COPY Of the
Instructions which he (Mr Marcy) had given,
on the lith July, 10 Gov Stevens, of WASHING.
Ton Territory, having special reference 10 an
"apprehended conflict between our citizens and
the British subje Is on the Island Of San Juan"
10 prevent this, the Governor was Instructed
"thnt the officers OF the Territory should abs
stain ffom all acts on the disputed grounds
which are calculated TO provoke any conflicts.
so iar as u can be done without implying the
concession TO the authorities Of Great Britain
OF an exclusive right over the premise. ghe
title ought 10 be settled before er6st cutv
should attempt TO exclude the other ly force
or exercise complete and sovereign rights with.
in the fairly disputed limits"
ln acknowledging the receipt ON the NEXT
day OF Mr.. Mafcy's note the British mjuister
expressed his entire concurrence "in the pros
prlety OF the course recommended TO the gov
efnor OF Washington Territory by your Mr..
Marcy'sl instructions TO that officer" and stat
ing That lfe had lost no time iD transmitting a
copy OF thst document 10 the governOr.general
oil British North America" and had earnestly
recommended TO his Exeellency TO take such
measures as to him may appearll est calculated
TO secure, on the part Of the British local au.
thorities and the Inhabitants of the neiphbor,
mood OF the line IN question: the exercise Of tie
same spirit of iOrbeurance which is inculcated
by you Mr. Marcy ON the authorities ard citi,
zens Of the United States"
Thus matters remained upon the faith ofthis
arrangement until the OH July last. when Gen.
Harney paid visit 10 the Island He found
upon II twenty ive American residents with
their families, aud also an establishment Of the
Hudson's Bay Company for the purpose of rails.
ing sheep. short time before lis arrival one
OF these residents had shot animal belonging
to the company, whilst trespassing upon his
premises, for which, however, he offered 10 nav
twice its value but that was refused Soon
after ''the chlei factor OF the company at Victo-
ria, Mr.. Dalles, sou in law OF Governor DOUG.
las, came to the Island in the British sloop-of.
war Satellite, and threatened to take s'lLis
American (Mr. Cutler } by force 10 Victoria, TO
answer for the trespass he had Committed The
American seized his rifle and told Mr.. DalIcs
II any such attempt was made he would kill
him ON the spot. The affair then ended"
Under these circumstances, the American
settlers presented petition to the General
Through the Uni'el States Inspector Of
Customs, Mr. Hubbs, to place force upon
the leland to protect them from the Indians
as well as the oppressive interference of the
authorities Of the Hudson Boy Company at
Victoria with their rights us American citi-
zens.' The General Immediately rcspon,
ded to this petition, and ordered Captain
George Il. Pickett 9th infantry, "to estah.
lish his company on BELLEVUE, or San Juan
Island, on some suitable position near the
harbOr at, the southeastern extremity
! ms order was promptly cbeyed and mil.
itary post wa was established at the place des,
ignaeo. me force was afterwards increas'
co. so that Dy the last return the whole
oil troops then on the island amoun
'eI I'm IN he gsregate 10 o9l men,
"uiist 40 not deem it proper ON the
present occasion 20 go inrther into the sub.
leo'i anu discuss the weight which ought 10
DC attaGheu 70 the statements OF the British
colonial authorities, oontesting the accuracy
0i the information on which the gallant
Tenerai aoVeui II was due to him that
Snoulu thus present ms own reasons for iss
suing the order 70 captain Pickett From
tnese IL Is quite ciear ms object was to pre-
vent tne Drl'lsh Suthorltles on Nancouyers
isiahu from exercising jurisdiction over
a american residents on the island Of San
Juan :. as wen as 70 protect them against the
ut MNa.I