The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-01-12

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ject, and discuss the weight which ought
to be attached to the statements of tbs
British colnniai 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 to Capt. Pickett
From these it is quite clear his object was
to prevent the British authorities on Nan--
icouver' s Island from exercising jurisdiction
over American residents Oh the Island of
San Juan, as well to protect them against
the incursions Of the Indians. a.F..B b. ,
Much excitement prevailed for some
time throughout that region, and serious
danger of collision between the parties was
unprecedented. The British had large ma.
val force in the vicinity; and it is All act Of
simple justice to the admiral on that stu.
ton to state that he wisely and discrectly
forbore to commit any hostile act, but de.
termined to refer the whole affair to his
! government and await their instructions.
/ GEN. sCoTTs MISSION TO OREGON
This aspect Of the matter, in my opinion,
/ demanded serious attention. 1t would
have been great calamity for both nations
had they been prccipitated into acts of
hostility not on the question Of title togthe
Island, but ncrely concerning what should
be its condition during the intervening pc
ried whilst the two governments might be
employed in settling the question to which
of them it belongs. For this reason Lieu
tenant General Scott was despatched on
tho l7th September last to Washington
Territory 70 take immediate command Of
the United States forces on the Pacific
coast should he deem it necessary. The
main object of his mission was to carry out
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 pending
the negotiations between the two govern
ments. Entertaining no doubt of the va
lidity Of our title, need scarcely add that,
in any event, American citizens were to be
placed on a footing at least as favorable
as that Of British subjects, it being UNDER
stood that Captain Pickett's company
should remain on the Island. 1t is proper
to observe that considering the distance
from the scene of action, aud in ignorance
OF what may have transpired on the spot
before the Generals arrival it was nccessa.
ry to leave much to his discretion, and
am happy to state the event has proven
that this discretion could not have been en-
trusted to more competent hands. Gene.
raj Scott has recently returned from his
mission, having successfully accomplished
its objects, and there is no longer any good
reason to apprehend coli;',on bet~es"
the forces of the two countries daring the
pendency of the existing negotiations.
; AFFAIRS IN MEXICO.
pcn nhsrs' t2 'eSem N Y9% tha 'hat there has
leo since my last annual message, and | f'ahi An
again obliged to ask the earnest attention
of Congress to the unhappy condition of
that republic.
The constituent Congress Of Mexico,
which adjourned on the 18th of February,
1857, adopted constitution and provided
for popular election. This took place in
the following July assn, and General
Comontort was chosen President, almost
without opposition. At the same election
a new Congress was chosen, whose first ses-
sion commenced on the 10th of September,
1857. BY the constitution of 1857 the
Presidential term was to begin on the lst
of December, 1857, and continue for four
years. On that day General Comonfort ap-
pcared before the assembled Congress in
the City of Mexico, took the oath to sup
port the new constitution, and was duly in
augurated as President Within month
afterwards he had been driven from the
capital, and a military rebellion had assign
ed the supreme power of the republic to
Gen. Zuloaga. The constitution provided
that in the absence of the President his Of
flee should devolve upon the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court and Gen. Comontort
having left the country, his functionary,
Gen. Juarez, proceeded to form, at Guam
ajuato, constitutional government. Be-
fore this was officially known, however, at
the capital, the government ofZuloaga had
been recognized by the entire diplomatic
corps, including the Minister of the United
States, as the de Jocto government of Mex.
leo. The constitutional President never
theless, maintained his position with firm
ness, aud was soon established with his
cabinet at Vera Cruz. Meanwhile, the
government of Zouloago was earnestly re-
sisted in many parts of the republic, and
even in the capital, portion of the army
having pronounced against, its functions
were declared terminated, and an assem-
blv Of citizens was invited for the choice
of new President. This assembly select
cd General Miriam On, but that officer repu-
dated the plan under which he was chosen,
and Zuloaga was thus restored to his pre-
vious position. He assumed it, however,
only to withdraw from it, and Miramon
having become by his appointment, Pres
ident Substitute" continues, with that IT,
tie, at the head oi'he insurgent party.
In my last annual message commun-
icated to Congress the circumstances un-
der which the late Minister of the United
States suspended his official relations
with the central government, and with
drew from the country. 1t was impossi-
bic to maintain friendly intercourse with
a government, like that at the capital,
under whose usurped authority wrongs
were constantly committed, but never re-
dressed Had this been a. established
government, with its power extending,
by the consent of the people, over the
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