Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-01-05


the parties to the Island of San JUAN under the Oregon
treaty of the 18th of june 1885, suddenly assumed threat
sons that remote frontier the late Secretary of State on
the 18th july 1885, addressed note to Mr. Champion then
copy of the instructions which he Mr. Marcy had given,
on the IAN july to Gov stevens OF Washington Terrific y
tween citizens and the British subjects Island of
that the officers the Territory should abstain from all
the disputed grounds which calculated pro-
ing the concession to the authorities of Great Britain of
exclusive right the premises The title ought to be
settled before either party should attempt exclude the
eign rights within the fairly disputed limits.
In acknowledging the receipt the day of Mr. Macys
the British expressed his entire Tin
the Proprey of the RECOMMENDED the of
that ofeer and stating that he had lost no time
s Rad to
Re & Rfs
the inhabitants of the neghborhood of the line question
ted by You mr. MarcyI the authorities and
Thus remained upon the faith of this arrangement
until the 9th July last when Gen. Harvey paid visit the
with their families, and also establishment OF the Hud
sons Bay Company for the purpose OF raising sheep
nnon his nremses for which however he offered to nav
twice its value; but that refused Soon after the
chief factor of the company at Victoria Mr. aes soDn
of sS to a s
(Mr Cute by force to Victoria to answer for the
and told Mr. Daes any such attempt made he would
kill him on the 1T. The affair then ended"
Under these circumstances the American settlers presen
Inspector customs, Mr. Hobbs place force upon the
island to protect them from the Indians well The OPP
pessve interference OF the authorities of the Hudson Bay
Company at Victoria with their rights American c
zens" The General datey ponded to this petition
and ordered Captain George E. Pickett 9th infantry,
establish his company Bellevue, or San Juan island,
suitable position the harbor at the southeastern
extremity" This order promptly obeyed, and mill
ary post established at the place des The force
afterwards increased that by the last return the
uhn of them no an Ihp
aggregate to 69l men.
Whist do not deem it proper on the present occasion to
further the subject discuss the weight which
ought to be attached to the statements of the British colo
MAJ authorities contrasting the accuracy of the information
which the gallant General acted due him that
should thus present his for issuing the order
to Captain Pickett From these it quite clear his object
prevent the British authorities Vancouvers island
from exercising jurisdiction American residents the
Island OF San Juan as well to protect them against the
Much excitement prevailed for some time Throughout that
The B iase in the Sioin
wisely dscreety forbore commit
hostile act but to refer the whole affair to his
This aspect of the matte my opinion, demanded seri
nations had they been precipated into hostility
the question of title to the island but merely concerning
what should lie its condition during the intervening period
whilst the governments might be employed settling
the question to which Of them belongs. For this
Lieut. Gen. Scott despatched the 18th September last
Washington Territory to take immediate the
United States forces the Pacific coast should this
The main object of his mission was tocarry out
spirit OF the precautionary between the
late Secretary of State and the British minister and thus
preserve the and prevent collision between the Brit
sh and American authorities pending the negotiations be-
tween the two governments Entertaining doabt of the
validity of title, need scarcely add that any event.
American citizens be placed footing
favorable that of British Subjects being understood that
Capt Picketts company should remain on the isnnd It is
proper observe that considering the distance the
of action and In ignorance OF what might have
PRED the spo: before the Generals arrival
sary leave much his discretion and happy state
the event has that this discretion could been
atTusted to competent hands Gen. Scott has
lY
pshed Its Objects and there no longer any good
to apprehend collision between the forces Of the
tries during the pendency of the existing negotiations.
regret to inform you that there has been improve
and again obliged to ask the attention OF Con-
gress to the unhappy condition 6, Of that republic
the 18th Of February 1851 adopted constitution and pro-
vded for popular election. This took place in the follow
ing july 1851 General Comonfort was chosen Presi
dent, almost without opposition. eiecnon
new Congress chosen whose first session commenced
on the 10th of September, [lS57 By the constitution of
1857 the presidential begin the st Deem
ber 1851 and continue for four On that day Gen
Comonfort appeared before the assembled Congress in the
city OF Mexico took the oath to support the constu
ton, and duly inaugurated President. Within a.
month Afterwards he had been driven from the capital and
military rebellion had assigned the supreme power of the
republic to General luoaga The constitution provided that
i'll the absence Of the President his Office should devove
upOu the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and, Cen
Gomonfort having left the country, this functiony, SEN
Juarez, proceeded to torm at Guanajuato constitutional
government. Before this officially known, however, at
capital the of zuoaga had been recognised
by the entire diplomatic corps including the minister the
United States the de tdcO government of Mexico The
constitutional President, nevertheless,
on with hrmnes and was soon established bis cabinet
at Vera Cruz hanwhie, the of Zloaga was
earnestly resisted in many parts of the republic and even
in the CAPITA portion OF the army having pronounced
against it, its functions were declared terminated, and
President This assembly elected General MiramoD, but
that officer repudated the plan under which he chosen
assumed it, however, only to withdraw from it, and Mira
mon, having become, by his appointment President Sub
sttute continues with that title, at the head OF the nsu
my last annual message communicated Congress the
suspended his official relations with govern
men and withdrew FROM the country It was impossible to
under whose aqhGF wrongs Were
government with extending, by the of the
ave hs ee indeed e
the country was prey to civil var and It was hoped that the
of things injurious States. This success be-
agent Mexico report
the & er re-
favorable to the prospects of the constitutional felt
the su nSE opporuny
plomatc relations with that republic For this purpose dis
mission the 8th last with discretionary
30s sas
ted his credentials to President JuaIez having hesita
only existing government Republic" He was cor
since manifested the most friendly disposition towards
the United States Unhappily however, the constitutional
the whole republic 1t is supported by large majority of
the people and the Sates but there important parts of
me- Count H. It enforce obedience General
the distant provinces there military go who pay
little respect to the DEGREES of either In the
mean time the excuses which always attend civil
especially in Mexico constantly recurring Outrages of
the worst description committed both upon and
property There is scarcely form of injury which has
not been suffered by citizens Mexico during the last
few years. We have been nominaly at peace with that
public but so far as the interests of commerce
Of our citizens who have visited the country merchants
shpmasters In other capacities concerned might
as well have been war;. Life has been insecure proper
y unprotected and trade impossible except risk of
loss which prudent cannot be expected to incur. In