New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-01-03

and exports and TO regulate the transit duties and
trade Of our merchants with China. This duty was
satisfactorily performed by our late minister.
These conventions bear date at Shanghai OH the
Sth November, 1858. Having been considered in
tho light Of binding agreements subsidiary to the
principal treaty, and TO be carried into execution
without delay, they do not provide for any formal
ratification exchange Of Publications The con-
tracing parties.
This was not deemed necessary by the Chinese,
who are already proceeding in good faith to satisfy
the claims OF our citizens and, it is hoped to carry
ont the other provisions Of the conventions. Still
thought it was proper to submit them to the Sen
ate, by which they were ratified on the Sd OF
March, 1859. The ratified copies however, did not
reach Shanghai, until after the departure Of cur
minister to Pekn. and these conventions could not
therefore, be exchanged at the same time with the
principal treaty. No doubt is entertained that
they will be RATIFIED and exchanged by the Chinese
Government, should this be thought advisable;
but, under the circumstances presented shall
consider them binding engagements from their
\ date on both parties, and cause them to be pub
ished as such for the information and guidance OF
| our merchants trading with the Chinese empire.
1t affords me much satisfaction to inform you
that all our difficulties with the Republic of Para
| quay have been satisfactorily adjusted. IL happily
| did not become necessary to employ the force for
1 this purpose which Gongt ess had placed atmy COM
mand, under their joint resolution of "a June, 1855
4 On the contrary, the President of that Republic,
in friendly spirit acceded promptly to the just and
reasonable demands Of the Government OF the
United States. Our Commissioner arrived at AS
SUMPTION the capital of the Republic, on the 25th
Of january, 1859, and left it on the 18th Of Febrn
airy, having in three weeks ably and successfully
accomplished all the objects Of his mission. The
/ treaties which he has concluded will be 1mmedi-
| ately submitted to the Senate.
\ In the view that the employment Of other than
| peaceful means might become necessary to obtain
just satisfaction from Paraguay, strong naval
4 force was concentrated in the waters OF the La
4 Plata to await contingencies, whilst our Commits
/ sioner 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 $500 men, all under
/ the command of the veteran and gallant Shubrick.
The entire expenses of the expedition have been
betrayed out Of the ordinary appropriations for the
naval service, except the sum of slS9000 applied
to the purchase Of seven of the steamers constut-
ing part Of it, under the authority of the naval
appropriation act of the Sd March last. 1t is be-
| leved that these steamers are worth more than
their cost, and they all now usefully and ac-
| lively employed in the naval service.
The appearance of SO large force. fitted out in
such prompt manner, in the far distant waters of
the La Plata, and the admirable conduct Of the off
GERS and men employed in it, have had happy
| effect in favor Of our country throughout all that
remote portion of the world.
Our relations with the great empires of France
and Russia, well as with all other governments
on the continent of Europe, unless we may except
that Of Spain, happily continue to be of the most
friendly character.
In my last annual message Iprcsented a state
! ment of the unsatisfactory condition of our rela
lions with SPAIN and regret to say that this has
not materially improved. Without special refer
ence to other claims even the & Cuban claims, y
the payment of which has been ably urged by our
ministers, and in which more than hundred of our
citizens are directly interested remain unsatised
Notwithstanding both their justice and their amount
{$l28,655 $40 had been recognized and ascertained
BY the Spanish Government ITSELF
again recommend that an appropriation be
| made /" to be paid to the Spanish government for
the purpose OF distribution among the claimants in
the Amistad case" In common with two of my
predecessors entertain no doubt that this is re-
quired BY our treaty with Spain of the 9th 0eto-
Der, 1885, The failure to discharge this obligation
has been employed by the Cabinet Of Madrid as q
reason against the settlement Of our claims.
need not repeat the arguments which ! urged
in my last annual message in favor of the acquisi-
ton of Cuba by fair purchase. My opinions on
that measure remain unchanged. /, therefore,
again invite the serious attention of Congress TO
this important subject. Without a recognition of
this policy on their part it will be almost impos-
sible to institute negotiations with any reasonable
prospect of success.
Until a recent period there was good reason to
believe that should bey able to annouee 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 man
ner alike honorable and satisfactory To both parties
From causes, however, which the British govern
ment had not anticipated, they have not yet com
pleted treaty arrangements with the republics of
Honduras and Nicaragua, in pursuance of the I'M
Outstanding between the two governments. Ii ID,
nevertheless, confidently expected that this good
work will ere long be accomplished. isa
Whilst Including the hope that no other subject
remained which could disturb the good understand
ing between the two countries, the question arising
out of the adverse claims Of the parties to the
Island of San Juan, under the Oregon treaty of the
18th Of June, 1876, suddenly assumed tIireatning
prominence. In order to prevent unfortunate col
Iisions that remote frontier, the late Secretary
Of State, the 18th Of july 1856 addressed note
to Mr.. Champion, then British Minister at Washing
ton, communicating to him copy of the instruc-
tons which he (Mr. Marcy had given, on the 14th
of July, to Gov. Stevens. of Washington Territory
having special reference to an :. unprecedented con-
fct between our citizens aud the British subjects
on the Island of San JUAN
To 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
exclusive sovereign rights within the fairly dis
puted limits.
In acknowledging the receipt. on the ne KIT day,
Of Mfr. Marcy 3 note, the British Minister expressed
his entire concurrence I'm the propriety of the
course recommended to the Governor Of Washing
ton Territory by your Mr.. Marcy's1 instructions
to that officer and stating that he had " lost no
time in transmitting copy of that document to
the GoYernor-General of British North America, =
and had earnestly recommended to his Excel
cncy to take such measures as to him may appear
best calculated TO secure, the part of the British
local authorities and the inhabitants of the neigh
borhood of the line in question: the exercise Of the
same spirit OF forbeafance which is inculcated by
you (Mr. Marcy the authorities and citizens Of
the United States.f'
Thus matters remained upon the faith of this ar
rangement until the 9Th July last, when Gen. Har-
ney paid visit to the island He found upon it
twenty-five American residents with their families,
and also an establishment Of the Hudsons Bay
Company for the purpose of raising sheep. A short
time before his arrival, Of these residents had
shot an animal belonging to the company whilst
trcspassing upon his premises, for which, however,
he offered to pay twice its value, but that re-
fused.
Soon after the chief factor of the company at
Victoria, Mr.. Dalies, soon-inlaw of Governor Doug
las, came to the island in the British sloop-of-war
Satellite. and threatened to take :" this American
the trespass he had committed. The American
seized his rifle and told Mr. Dalles IL any such at
tempt was made he would kill him on the spot.
The affair then ended
Under these circumstances, the American set
tiers presented petition To the General through
the United States Inspector of customs Mr.. Hnbbs,
to place force upon the island to protect them
from the Indians, as well as the oppressive inter-
ference of the authorities OF the Hudaon's Bay
Company at Victoria with their rights as American
citzens.p The General Immediately responded to
this petition, and ordered Captain George E. Pick
EFT, 9th infantry. /" to establish his COMPANY on