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

| also an establishment Of the Hudson's Bay
Company 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 Victoria, Mr.. Dallas. son-in law OF Gov.
Douglas, came TO the Island, in the British
ship OF. war Satellite, and threatened TO take
the American (Mr. Cutler) by force to Vic.
toris, to answer for the trespass he had com
mitted. The American seized his rife and
told Mr.. Dallas IL any such attempt was
made he would kill him on the spot The
affair then ended"
Under these circumstances, the American
settlers presented petition to the General,
Through the United States Inspector OF
Customs, Mr.. Hubs, to place force upon
the Island to protect them from the Indians
as well as the oppressive interference OF the
authorities Of the Hudson Bay Company at
| Victoria with their rights as American citi-
zens." The General Immediately respon-
ded to this portion, and ordered Captain
George E. Pickett, Ninth Infantry, "to es.
tsblsh his Company on Bellevue, or San
Jusn Island on some suitable position near
the harbor at the south eastern extremity"
I his order was promptly obeyed, and a mill.
tary post was established at the place desig-
mated. The force was afterwards increased,
so that by the last return the whole number
of troops then on the Island amounted in
the aggregate TO 59l men.
! Whilst do not deem il proper on the
present occasion to go further into the sub.
ject, and dis scuss the weight which ought to
be attached 10 the statements Of the British
colonial 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 is
suing the order to Capt. Pickett. From
these it is quite clear his object was TO pre-.
vent the British authorities on Vancouver's
Islond from exercising jurisdiction over
American residents Oil the Island of San
Juan, as we'll as to protect them against the
incursions of the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
throughout that region, and serious danger
of collision between the parties was pppre.
hended. The British had large naval
force in the vicinity and it is but an act OF
simple justice to the admiral on that station
to state that he wisely and dscreetly for.
bore to commit any hostile act, but deter.
mined to refer the whole affair to his Gov
ernmet and await their instructions.
This aspect of the matter, in my opinion,
demanded serious attention. 1t would have
been great calamity for both nations had
they been precipitated into octs OF hostility,
not on the question OF title to the island, but
merely concerning what should be its con.
dition during the intervening period whilst
the two Governments might be employed in
settling the question to which of them it be.
longs. For this reason l.. Gen. Scott was
despatched on the l7ih of September last to
Washington Territory to take immediate
command Of the United States force on tie
PHcjfic coast, should he deem this necessary,
The main object OF his mission wss to carry
out the spirit Of the probationary arrange.
ment between the late Secretary OF State
and the British Minister, and thus to preserve
the pe6ce and prevent collision between the
British and American authorities pending the
negotiations between the two Governments.
Entertaining no doubt of the validity of our
title, naed scarcely add that, in any event,
American citizens were TO be placed on O
footing at least as favorable as hat of Brit.
ish subjects, it being understood that Cant.
Picketts company should remain on the is.
land. 1t is proper to observe that, consid.
ering the distance from the scene Of ection.
and in ignorance OF what might huve trans.
pired on The spot before the Generals arriy-
al, it Yves necessary to leave much to his dis.
cretion, and am happy to state the event
has proven that this discretion could not have
been entrusted to more competent hands-
Gen. Scott has recently returned from his
mission, having successfully accomplished
its objects and there is no longer an good
reason to opprehend collision between the
forces of the two countries during the pend.
ency of the existing negotiations.
regret to inform you thnt there has been
no improvement in the Lffairs of Mexico
since my last annual message, and | am
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 l7lh of February, 1857,
adopted constitution and provided for POD.
hIar election. This took place in the fol.
lowing July, IS57) and Gen. Comonfort
was chosen President, almost without oppo.
sition. At the same election a new Con.
gress was chosen, whose first session com.
menced on the 10Th of September (l857
by the constitution of 1857 the presidential
term was to begin on the lst of December,
(l857,) and continue on for four years. OnI
that day Gen. Comonfort appeared before the
assembled Congress in the city of Mexico
took the oath to support the new constitution,
and was duly inaugurated as President
Within month afterwards he had been driy.
en- from the capital. and military rebellion
had assigned the supreme power of the re-.
public to Gen. Zu'osgo. The constitution
provided thntin the absence Of the President.
his office should devolve upon the Chief Jus.
tlce OF the Supreme Court, snd Gen. Comon
fort, having left the country, this function. !,
cry, Gen. Juartz, proceeded to form. at Gu.
anaguato, constitutional government. Be.
fore this was officially known, however, .t
the capital, the Government of Zulosua had
been recognized by the entire diplomatic
corps, including the Minister of the United
States, as the de faclo Government of Mex.
leo. The Constitutional President, never.
theless, maintained his position with firm.
ness, and was soon ests blished with his cab
met at Vera Cruz. Meanwhile, the Gov.
eminent of Zuloaga was earnestly resisted
in many pats of the Republic, and even in
the capital, portion OF the army having pro.
nounced against it, its functions we're declsr.
ed terminated, and an assembly of citizens
was invited for the choice of new Presi.
dent. This assembly elected Gen. Miramon,
but that officer repudiated the plan under
which he was chosen, and Zuouga was thus
restored to his previous position. He assum.
I'd it, however, only to withdraw from it, and
Miramon, having become, by bis appoint.
nent, "President Substitute" continues, +
Rifh ihht title. at the hand Of Tho Insn.-a..l