The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-29

ton was fitted out and conducted. 1t consist.
ed OF nineteen armed vessels, great and small.
carrying 200 guns and $500 men, ali under
the command of the veteran and gallant Shu.
brick. The entire expenses of the expedition
have been betrayed out of the ordinary appro-
priations for the naval service, except the sum
of S289, 900, applied to the purchase Of seven of
the steamers constituting part of it, under
the authority of the naval appropriation act
of the Sd March last 1t is believed that these
steamers are worth more than their cost, and
they are all now usefully and actively employed
| In the naval service.
The appearance of so large a force fitted
out IN such prompt manner, in the far-distant
waters of the La Plata, and the admirable
conduct of the officers and men employed in
1t, have had happy effect in favor of our coun-
try throughout all that remote portion of the
|! world.
Our relations with the great empires of France
and Russia, as well as with all other Govern.
| ments on the continent of Europe, unless we
may except that of Spain, happily continue to
be of the most friendly character.
In my last annual message, / presented a
statement of the unsatisfactory condition of our
relations with Spain, and l regret to say that
tins has not materially improved. Without spe-
cial reference to other claims, even the " Cuban
claims" the payment of which has been ably
! urged by our minister's and in which more than
hundred of our citizens are directly interest
ed, remain unsatisfed, Notwithstanding both
theirj Justice and their amount 1928, 635 81 had
been recognised and ascertained by the Span
| lsh Government itself.
l again recommend that an appropriation be
made, "to be paid to the Spanish Government,
| for the purpose of distribution among the claim
ants in 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, 1895. The failure to dis
charge this obligation has been employed by
the Cabinet of Madrid as reason against the
settlement of our claims.
L need not repeat the arguments which l
urged in my last annual message in favor of the
acquisition of Cuba by fair purchase. Ny opin-
| ions on that measure remain unchanged
therefore again invite the serious attention of
Congress to this important subject. Without
recognition of this policy on their part, it will
be almost impossible to institute negotiations
with any reasonable prospect of success.
Until recent period, there was good reason
to believe that / should be able to announce 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
manner alike honorable 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 Nicara-
qua, in pursuance ofthe understanding between
the two Governments. 1t IS, nevertheless, con
hdently expected that this good work will ere
long be accomplished
Whilst indulging the hope that no other sub
| Ject remained which could disturb the good un-
| derstanding between the two countries, the
question arising out of the adverse claims ofthe
parties to the island of San Juan, under the
Oregon treaty of the 18th of June, 1916, sud
denly assumed a threatening prominence. In
order to prevent unfortunate collisions on that
remote frontier, the late Secretary of State, on
the 18th July, 1855, addressed note to Mr..
Champion, then British Minister at Washing.
ton, communicating to him a copy of the iu-
structions which he Mr.. Marcy had given, on
the l4th July, to Gov. Stevens, of Washington
Territory, having special reference to an I" ap-
pretended conflict between our citizens and the
British subjects on the island of San Juan"
10 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 it
can be done without implying the concession to
the authorities of Great Britain Of an exclusive
right over the premises. The title ought to be
settled before either party should attempt to ex-
clude the other by force, or exercise complete
and sovereign rights within the fairly-disputed
limits"
In acknowledging the receipt on the next
day of Mr. Marcys note, the British minister
expressed his entire concurrence q in the pro-
priety of the course recommended to the Gov
ernOr of Washington Territory by your Mr..
Marcy's instructions to that officer" and sta
ting that he had lost no time in transmitting
a copy of that document to the Governor Gen
e.
nestly recommended to his Excellency to take
such measures as to him may appear best cal
culated to secure, on the part of the British
local authorities and the inhabitants of the
neighborhood of the line in question, the exer-
else OF the same spirit of forbearance which is
inculcated by you Mr.. Marcy on the authori-
ties and citizens of the United States"
Thus matters remained, upon the faith of
this arrangement, until the 9th July last, when
Gen. Harvey paid visit to the island. He
found upon it twenty-five American residents,
with their families, and also an establishment
of the Hudson's Bay Company for the purpose
of raising sheep. A short time before his arri-
val, one of these residents had shot an animal
belonging to the Company, whilst trespassing
upon his premises, for which, however, he offered
to pay twice its value; but that was refused.
Soon after, the chief factor of the Company
at Victoria, Mr.. Dalles, son-in-law of Governor
Douglas, came to the island in the British
sloop of war; Satellite, and threatened to take
this American Mr.. Cutler) by force to Victo-
ria, to answer for the trespass he had commit
ted. The American seized his rifle and told
Mr.. Dalles if 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 United States inspector of Gus
toms, Mr.. Hubs, to place a force upon the
island to protect them from the Indians as well
as the oppressive interference of the authorities
of the Hudson's Bay Company at Victoria, with
their rights as American citizens" The Gen
eral Immediately responded to this petition.
and ordered Captain George f. Pickett, 9th
infantry Ito establish his company on Belle
vue, or San Juan Island, on some suitable DO
sition near the harbor at the southeastern ex-
tremity." This order was promptly obeyed.
and military post was established at the place
designated. The force was afterwards increased
so that by the last return the whole number OF
troops then on the island amounted, in the ag-
gregate, to 69l men.
Whilst do not deem it proper on the pres
ent occasion to 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 in
formation on which the gallant general acted
it was due to him that / should thus present
his own reasons for issuing the order to Cap
tain Pickett From these, it is quite clear, his
object was to prevent the British authorities on
Vancouver's island from exercising jurisdiction
over American residents on the island of Sar
Juan, as well as to protect them against the
incursions of the Indians.
,