Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-01-04

ministers, and IN which more than hun
: dred of our citizens are directly interested
D remain unsatis6ed, notwithstanding boil
their justice and their amount (Sl23. .S35.
| 54) had been recognised and asccrtained by
the Spanish government itself
2 l again recommend that an appropria
ton be made ''to be paid to the Spanisl
= 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 required
8 by our treaty with Spain of the 9th Ooto
Der, 1895. The failure to discharge thi;
obligation has been employed by the Cab
met of Madrid as reason against the set
, tlement of our claims.
, need not repeat the arguments which
urged in my last annual message in favor
. of the acquisition Of Cuba by fair purchase
My opinions on that measure remain un-
changed. /, therefore, again invite the
serious attention of Congress to this impor-
tant subject Without 4 recognition of the
policy on their part, it will be almost i'm
possible to institute negotiations with any
reasonable prospect of success.
Until recent period there was good
reason to believe that l should be able to
announce to You on the present occasion
that our difficulties with great Britain,
arising out of the Clayton and Bulwer trea-
ty. had been finally adjusted in a manner
alike honorable and satisfactory to both
parties. From causes, however, which the
British government had not anticipated.
they have not completed treaty arrangements
with the Republics of Honduras and Near
aqua, in pursuance Of the understanding be-
tween the two governments. 1t is, never
theless confidently expected that this good
work will ere long be accomplished.
Whilst indulging the hope that no other
subject remained which could disturb the
good understanding between the two coun-
tries, the question arising out of the adverse
claims of the parties to the Island of San
Juan, under the Oregon treaty of the 10
June, 1916. suddenly assumed threaten
ing prominence. In order to prevent un-
fortunate collisions on that remote frontier,
the late Secretary of StIte. on the 18th
July. 1863, addressed a note to Mr. Cramp-
ton the British Minister at Washington,
communicating to him a copy of the instruc-
tons which he (Nr. Marcy had given. on
the l4th July. to Governor Stevens, of
Washington Territory. having 4 special re-
ference to an "apprehended conflict between
our citizens and the British subjects on the
Island of San juan To prevent this the
Governor instructed. that the officers Of
the Territory should abstain from all acts
on the disputed grounds which are calcula-
tel to provoke any conflicts, 50 far as it can
be done without implying the concession to
the authorities of Great Britain of an ex-
elusive right over the premises. The title
ought to be settled before either party
should attempt to exclude the other by
force, or exercise complete and exclusive
sovereign rights within the fairly disputed
limits
In acknowledging the receipt on the next
day of Mr.. Marcy's note. the British Min
lister expressed his entire concurrence in
the propriety of the course recommended to
the Governor of Washington Territory by
your (Nr. Marcy's) instructions to that
officer" and stating that he had lost no
time in transmitting copy of that dOcu-
ment to the Governor General of British
North America" and had earnestly re-
commended to his Exeellency to take such
measures as to him may appear best calcu-
lated to secure, on the part of the British
local authorities and the inhabitants of the
neighbOrhOod of the line in question, the
exercise of the same spirit of tOrbearance
which is inculcated bv you Mr. 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 IS
land He found upon it twenty-five Amer
lean residents with their families, and also
an establishment of the Hudson's Bay Com
pany, for the purpose of raising sheep
\ short time before his arrival one 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 Nictorl, Mr.. Dalles. son-in-law of Gov
crnOr Douglas. cams to the island in the
British sloop-Of-w Satellite, and threaten
ell to take this American (Mr. Cutter) by
force TO Victoria, to answer for the trespass
he had committed The American seized
his rife. and told Mr.. Dalles if any such
attempt was made he would kill him on the
spot The affair then ended.
Under these circumstances the American
settlers presented a petition to the General.
through the United States Inspector of
customs, Mr.. Hubbs, to place force upon
the island. to protect them from the Indi-
ans as well as the oppressive interference of
the authorities of the Hudson Bay COmpa-
nv at Victoria with their rights as American
citizens The General Immediately re-
sponded to this petition and ordered Capt.
Geo. E Picket, 9th infantry, ito establish
his company on Bellevue, or San Juan is
land, on some suitable position near the
harbor at the southeastern extremity. =
This order was promptly Obeyed and a
military post was established at the place
designated. The force was afterwards in
creased, so that by the last return the whole
number of troops then on the island amount
ed in the aggregate to 69l men.
Whilst l do not deem it proper on the
present occasion to go further into the sub
iect, and discuss the weight which ought to
be attached to the statements of the Brit
ish colonial authorities, cOntesting the ac-
curacy of the Information on which the gal
liant General acted, it was due to him that
I should thus present his own reasons for
issuing the order to Capt. Picket. From
these it is quite clear, his object was to
prevent the British authorities on VancOu-
er's Island from exercising jurisdiction
over American residents on the Island of
San Juan, as well as to protect them against
incursiOns Of the Indians