The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-04

1858. Having been considered in the light
Of binding agreements subsidiary to the
principal treaty, aud 10 be carried into exc.
euIion without delay, they do not provide for
any formal ratification or exchange Of ratif.
cations by the contracting parties. This
was not deemed necessary by the Chinese,
who are already proceeding in good fsith to
satisfy the claims OF our citizens, and, 1t is
hoped, to carry out the other provisions OF
the conventions. Still | thought it was
proper to submit them 10 the Senate, by
which they were ratified on the Sd OF March,
| 1859. The ratified copies, however, did not
reach Shanghse until after the departure Of
our Minister to Peking, and these conven-
tions could not, therefore, be exchanged at
the same time with the principal treaty. No
doubt ia 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.
lished as such for the information and gui.
dance Of our INGREDIENTS trading with the
Chinese Empire.
1t effords me much satisfaction to inform
you that all our difficulties with the RepHb.
lie of Paraguay have been satisfactorily ad
justed. 1t happily did not become necessa.
ry to employ the force for this purpose which
Congress had placed at my command, under
the joint resolution OF I'd of June, 1865
! On the contrary, the President of that Re
public, in friendly spirit, Gcceded promptly
to the just and reasonable demsnds of the
Government OF the United States. Our
Commissioner arrived at Assumption, the
capital OF the Republic, on the 25th OF jan
uary, 1859, and LETT on the 18th of February,
having in three weeks ably and successfully
accomplished all the objects of his mission
The treaties which he has concluded will be
Immediately submitted to the Senate.
In the view That the employment OF other
than peaceful means might become neces.
sary TO obtain Just satisia ction" from Para.
quay, strong naval force wss concentrated
in the waters Of the La Plata to await con-
tingencies, " hie our Commissioners ascend
ed the river to Assumption. The Navy De.
par'ment is entitled to great credit for the
promptness, tficiency and economy with
which this expedition was fitted out and cons
Quoted. 1t consisted of nineteen armed
vessels, great and small, carrying 200 gun;
and $500 men, a II under The command of the
veteran and gallant Shubrick. The entire
expenses of the expedition have been de-
freyed out OF the ordinary appropriations for
the naval service, except the sum of $3.50,
Oo0, applied to the purchase of seven of the
steamers, constituting part of it, under the
authority of the naval appropriation act Of
MGrch Sd last. 1t is believed lh6t these
steamers are worth more than their cost,
end they are ell now usefu!ly and actively
employed in the naval service.
The appearance of so large force, fitted
out in such prompt manner, 10 the far dis.
tent woters of the La Plata, and the admi-
able conduct of the officers and men EN-
ployed in it, have had happy effect in favor
of our country throughout all that portion o I
the world.
Our relations with the great Empires OF
France and Russia, as we'll as with all other
Governments on the Continent of Europe,
:::!ccss 49, ss we may except that Of Spain, happily
continue to be of the most friendly character.
In my last Annual Message presented a
statement of the unsatisfactory condition Of
our relations with Spain, and regret to
scy that this has not materially improved-
Without special reference to other claims,
even the "Cuban Claims" the payment Of
which has been ably urged by our Ministers,
in whcih more than hundred Of cur Citi.
zens are directly interested. remain unsatis.
! fed, Notwithstanding both their justice and
! their amount ($l2S,035 AZ had been recog.
nized and oscertained by the Spanish Gov
ernment itself.
Iagain recommend thtt an appropriation
be made "to be paid to the Spanish Gov
| 0f disfP
among the claimants in the AmiStod case"
In common with two Of my predecessors,
entertain no doubt that this is required by
our treaty With Spain of the 9th of Octo.
Der, 1895. The failure to discharge this
obligation has been employed by the Cab.
met OF Madrid as reason against the settle.
ment of our claims.
need not repeat the argument which |
urged in my last annual message in favor OF
the acquisition Of Cuba by a fair purchase.
My opinion on that measure remains un-
charged. |, therefore, again invite the at.
tention Of Congresst this important subject.
Without recognition OF this policy on their
port, it will be most impossible to ins,i-
ute negotiations with any reasonable pros
pect OF success.
Until a recent period there was good rea.
son to believe that should be able 10 an
nounce to you on the present occasion that
our difficulties with Great Britain, arising
out of the Clay ton and BuIwer Treaty, had
been finally adjusted in a manner alike hon
orable and satisfactory to both parties,
From causes, however, which the British
Government had not anticipated, they have
not yet compelled treaty arrangements with
the Republics of Honduras and Nicaragua,
in pursuance OF the understanding between
the two Governments. Il is, nevertheless,
COZ fident!y expected that this good work
will ere long be accomplished.
While indulging the hope that no other
sutject remained which could disturb the
good understanding between the two coun.
tries, the question arising out of the adverse
eli inns of the porties to the Island OF San
juan, under the Oregon treaty of the 18th
OF June. 1916, suddenly assumed threaten
ing prominence In order to prevent unlor.
tunate collisions on that remote frontier,
the last Secretary OF State, on the 18th Ju.
ly, 1855, addressed note to DIR. Crampton,
then British Minister at Washington, com
municutng him a copy of the instructions |
which he Mr.. Marcy had given, on the
] lth July, to Gov. Stevens, OF Washington
Territory, having special reference 10 an
"Spprehendeb conflict between Our citizens
and the British subjects on the Island of
San juan" To prevent this, the Governor
was instructed "lhat the officers oil the Ter
r,ory should abstain from all acts on the
disputed grounds which are calculated to
provoke any conticte, so far as it can be
done without implying the concession to the
authorities OF Greut Britain Of an exclusive
right over the premises. The title ought 10
be settled before either party should attempt
TO exclude the other bY force. OF exercisa