The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-28

Navy Departments entitled to great credit for the
prpmptIesh. efficiency aHN economy with which
tins expedition wss fitted ous and conducted. Il
CONSISTED Q. nneteen armed vessels, great and
small carrying 200 guns and $500 men, all under
the conmbDd of the veteran and gallant Shubrick.
Ire entire expenses cf the expedition have been
defsyed out oi The ordinary appropriations for the
navai service, except the snm Of $3.50 00O applied
tome purchase VI seven of the steamers Constituting
part o ~, under ,he aahsfity vi the naval appro-
pristOn aci OF the I'd March last II is believed
that tbtee steamers are worth more than their
COST ata they are all now useiully aAd actively en-
pioytd IN the hawai- service.
The appearance of SO large force, fitted ont In
such prompt manner, in the far distant waters of
the La Plata and the admirable conduct Of the
ufhctrs ana men employed 10 1t. have had happy
eject in fhyor Of our country throughout all that
remote portion Of the world.
OUR RELATIONS WITH FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
Our relations with the great empires of France
and Russia as well as with all other governments on
NE conarent OF turope, unless We may except that
OF SPAN, happily Continue to be Of the most friend
1y character. -
OUR DifFERFNcE WITH SPAIN YET UNSETTLED
In my lasr annual message prescEted a state
ment oi ,he Unsatisfactory condition of our rels
tons WITH spain; and regret to say that this has
not materially improved. Without special reference
to other claius, even The "Cuban ciaims" the pay.
meDt of which has been ably urged by our min-
,sters' ana IN which more than hundred Of our
citizens are directly Interested, remain unsatisfed
notwithstanding both their justice and their aaloun;
(sl2S,635 54) bad been recognized and ascertained
by the Spanish government itself.
l again recommend that an appropriation be
made "tO he paid 60 the Spanish government for
the purpose Of distribution among the claimants In
the Amis'ad case" in common with two of my
predecessors, entertain no doubt that this il re
qu,red by our treaty with Spain of the 9th Octo.
Der, 1895. The failure to discharge this obligation
las been employed by the Cabinet Of Madrid as
reason seairst the settlement Of our claims
need not repeat the arguments which ] urged
III my last annual message In favor OF the acqui-i
ton Of Cuba by fair purchase NV opinions on that
measure remain unchanged. ! therefore ag ain in
vte the serious attention Of Congress TO this impor
tant subject Without recognition OF this policy
their part, it will be almost impossible to inst
iu'e negotiations with any reasonable prospect OF
success
THE CLAYTON AND BULwER TREATY.
Until recent period there WAS good reason to
believe that Should be able 20 announce to you OH
the present occasion that difficulties with Great
Britain, arising out OF the Clayton and Buwer treaty
had been finally adjusted in q manner alike hoaor
able and satisfactory to both parties From causes
however. which the British government had not
anticipated. they have not yet completed treaty
Engagements with the republics of Honduras and Nj.
caragua, IN pursuance of the understanding be
tween the two governments. 1t is, nevertheless
confidently expected that this good work will ere
long lie accomplished.
TIE NEW BOUNDARY DISPUTE WITH ENGLAND.
Whilst indulgiIg the hope that 10 other subject
remained which could disturb the good under
Eta! ding between the two countries, the question
arising ont OF The adverse claims of the parties ta
the island OF San Juan under the Oregon treaty
of the 18th of June, 1896 suddenly assumed
threatening prominence. In order TO prevent
unfortunate collisions on that remote frontier,
the late Secretary of State, on the 18th july.
1856, addressed note to Mf. Champion then British
Minister at Washington, communicating to him
copy OF the Instructions which he (Mr. Marcy) ha1
given, on tbe l4th July, to Governor Stevens, of
Washington Territory, having special refereuce
TO an "apprehend,d conflict between our citzeus
ard the British sulle cts the Island Of San Juau"
To prevent this the Governor was instructed, "that
the offctrs of the Territory should abstain from ali
acts cn The disputed grounds which are calculated
Ia provoke any conflicts so far as il can be done
without implying The concession TO the authorities
Of Great Britain OF exclusive right over the pre-
uisos. The tile vveiN 70 be settled before either
iafy should attempt 10 excinde the other by force,
or exercise complete and exclusive sovereign
rights within the fairly disputed limits.
III acknowledging the receipt on the next dav Of
hr Marcys note, the British Minister xpre his
entire concurrence jn the propriety Of the course
recommended to the Governor of Washington Ter
rtory by your (@r. Marcy's) Instructions to tina,
officer" and stating that he had "lost time in
transmitting copy of that document TO the Cover
nor General OF Britsb North America and had
earnestly recommended TO his Excellency to take
such measures as to bin may appear best caIcua
ted 10 secure, on the part OF the British local
tborites and the inhabitants Of the neighborhood
OF the line in question, the exercise Of the same
srIflU OF IOTDSafdnCe WHICH Is lDcutcAtCQ DV YOU
Cir Marcy ON the authorities and citizens Of the
United States
Thus matters remained upon the faith Of this
arrangement until the 9th Of July last, when Gen
Harney paid visit to the Island. He found
unon it twenty-five American residents with
their families, and also an establishment of the
Budsohs Bay Company for the purpose of
raising sheep short time before his arrival 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 Victoril Mr. Dalles, sonin-aw
Of Governor Douglas, came to the Island ia the
British soop-oi-war Satellite, and threatened TO
take "this American (Mr. CUTLERY by force to Vic
toria, IN for the trespass be had committed
The American seized his rifle, and told Mr.. Daes
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 Customs, Mr. Hubbs to
place force upon the island, to protect
Them from the Indians as well as the oppressive in
reference Of the authorities of the Hudson Bay
Company at Victoria with their rights as American
citizens" The General Immediately responded to
this petition and ordered Capt Geo. E. Pickett 9th
Infantry, ITO establish his company on Bellevue, or
San Juan island, on some suitable position near the
harbor at the southeastern extremity" This order
vas promptly obeyed, and military post was
established at the place designated. The force
was afterwards increased, SO that by the last
turn WnOie DufhDer troops lncn on tne 1SlanO
amounted in the aggregate to 69l men.
Whilst do not deem it proper. on the present
occasion 10 go further into the subject and discuss
the weight which ought to be attached to the state
ments OF the British colonial authorities, contestng
theaccurscy Of the information on which the gal
liant General acted, it was due to him that should
thus present his reasons for issuing the order
70 Captain Pickett From these 1t is quite clear
his object was to prevent the British authorities
Vancouver's Island from exercising jurisdiction
over American residents on the Island Of San Juan.
well as to protect them against the incursons of
tie Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
throughout that region, and serious danger Of col
iison between the parties was apprehended. The
Bit;sh had large naval force in the vicinity: aud it
is but act Of simple justice to the admiral that
station to state that he wisely and dscreetly for
bore TO commit any hostile act, but determined to
refer the whole affair to his government and await
their instructions.
THE SUCCESSFUL MISSION OF GEN. SCOTT.
This aspect Of the matter in my opinion, demand.
ed serious attention. 1t would have been a great
calamity for both nations had they been precpitat-
cd into acts Of hostility not on the question of title
to the island, but merely concerning what should
be its condition during the intervening period whilst