The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-01-06

L nder these circumstances, the A merl-
can settlers presented a petition to the
General Through the United States In
spector Of Customs, Mr.. Hubbs, to place
force upon the island to protect them from
the Indians as well as the oppressive ID
reference of the authorities of the hudson
Bay Company at Victoria with their rights
q. American citizens" The General i'm
mediateIy responded to this petition, and
ordered Capt Geo. Z. Pickett, Ninth In
fantry, ito establish his company on Bel
leyue or San Juan Island, on some suitable
position near the harbor at the south
eastern extremity. This order was prompt
Il obeved, and military post was estab
lished at the place desi gnated. The force
was afterwards increased, SO that by the
last return he whole number Of troops
then on the island amounted IN the ag-
cregate to 691 men.
Whilst do not deem it proper on the
present occasion to 90 further into the
subject, and discuss tie weight which
ought to be attached to 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 issuing the order to Captain
Pickett. From these it is quite clear
that his object was to prevent the British
authorities on Vancouyer's Island of San
Juan, as well as to protect them against
the instruction of the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some
time throughout that region, and serious
danger of collision between the parties
was a2prehended. The British had a
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
liscree1y forebore to commit any hostile
act, but determined to refer the whole af-
| fair to his Government and await their in
stGuctions.
The aspect Of the matter, in my opin-
ion, demanded serious attention. 1t wo'd
have been great calamity for both ma
tons had they been precipitated into acts
Of hostility, not on the question of title
to TIE island, buC merely concerning what
should be its condition during the intel
venng period whilst TIE two Governments
might be employed in settling the question
as to whom Of them it belongs. For this
reason 1t. General Scott was dispatched
on the 18th September last to Washing
ton Territory to take immediate command
of the L. S. forces on the Pacific coast
should he deem this Deccs arv. The main
object Of his mission was to carry out the
spirit ofthe probationary arrangement be
tween the late Secretary of State and .he
British Minister, and thus to preserve the
peace and prevent collisions between the
British and American authorities pendino
the negotiations betw cen the two Govern
| ments.
Enter tanning no doubt of the validity
Of our title, | need scarcely add that, in
any event, American citizens were to be
placed on footing at least as favorable
as that of British subjects, it being under
stood that Capt. Pickett's company should
remain on the island. 1t is proper to
observe that, considering the distance
| from the scene of action, and in ignorance
of what might have transpired on the spo,
before the Generals arrival, it was reces
sary to leave much to his discretion, 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 u4is-
sion, having successfully accomplished its
objects, and there is no longer any good
reason to apprehcnd a collision between
! the forces oithe two governments during
the pcnlency Of the existing negotiations
| regret to inform you that there has
/ been no improvement in the affairs Of
! Mexico since my last annual message. and
am again obliged to ask the earnest at,
tention of Congress to tie unhappy condi
ton Of that Republic.
! The constituent Congress of Mexico.
which adjourned or the 18th of February,
1857, adopted constitution and provided
for popular election. This took place
10 the following July, 1857, and Gen. Co.
monlort was chosen President, almost
without opposition. At the ssme election.
a new Congress was chosen, whose fist
session commenced on Sept. IS, 1857
| By the constitution the Presidential term
was to begin on the 1st of Dec, 1857 and
continue for four years. On that day
! General Comonfort appeared before the
ttHsctiiOitu Congress III the lily OF NGNIcO,
took the oath to support the new constitu
lion, and was duly inaugurated as presi-
deut. Within month afterwards he had
been driven from the capital, and militia
ry rebellion had assigned the Supreme pow
er of the Republic to Gen Zuloaga. The
constitution provided that in the absence
of the President his Office should deyolye
upon the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, and, Gen. CoHoufort having left
the country, this functionary, Gen. Jua-
rez, proceeded to form, at Guanaguato, q
constitutional government.
Before this was officially known, how
ever, at the capital, the Government of
ZuIoaga had been recognized by the entire
diplomatic corps, including the Minister
of the United States, as the de facto gov
eminent of Mexico. The Constitutional
President, nevertheless. maintained his
position with firmness, and was soon estab-
lished with his cabinet at Vera Cruz
Meanwhile the government Of ZuIoaga
was earnestly resisted in many parts of the
Republic, and even in the capital, a por-