Wabash express., 1860-01-04

| er governments on the continent of Europe
unless we may except that Of Spain. hap
PLY continue TO be of the most friendl,
character.
In my last annual message | presented
statement Of the unsatisfactory condition
of our relations with Spain; and l regre
to say that this has not materially improv
ed Without special reference to othe
claims, even the "Cuban claims" the pay
ment of which has been ably urged by ou
ministers, aud in which more than hun
dred Of our citizens are directly interested
remain unsatisfed, Notwithstanding both
their justice aud their amount (S120 .635 "a
had been recognized and ascertained by
the Spanish government itself
again recommend that an appropriation
be made "to be paid to the Spanish Gov.
eminent for the purpose of distribution
among the claimants 10 the Amisted case .
In common with two of my predecessors
entertain no doubt that this is required by
our treaty with Spain Of the 9th of 0cto'
Der. 1875. The failure to discharge this
obligation has been employed by the cabi-
net of Madrid as reason against the set
Element 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 Sc
rious attention of Congress to this import
ant subject. Without a recognition OF this
policy on their part it will be almost i'm
possible to institute negotiations with any
reasonable prospect Of success
Until a recent period there was good
Iii 4 h. 81
announce to you on the present occasion
that our difficulties With Great Britain,
arising out Of the Clayton and Bulwer
ner alike honorable and satisfactory to
both parties. From causes. however. which
the British Government had not anticipa.
ted, they have not yet completed treaty ar
rangemeuts with the republics OF Honduras
and Nicaragua. in pursuance of the under
standing between the two governments -
1t is, nevertheless, confidently expected
that this good work will ere long be ac-
complished.
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 ad
verse claims Of the parties to the Island OF
San Juan, under the Oregon treaty of the
of the 18th of June, 1876. suddenly assum-
ed a threatening prominence. 10 order 20
prevent unfortunate collisions on that re-
mote frontier, the late Secretary of State,
on the l7;h of July, 1855, addressed note
to Mr.. Champion, then British minister at
Washington, communicating TO him a copy
of the instructions which he Mr.. Marcy
had given, on fhe l4th of July, to Governor
Stephens, of Washington Territory having
a special reference to an "spprehended con
fiict between our citizens and the British
subjects on the Island Of San Juan. To
prevent this, the government was instruct
ed "that the officers of the Territory should
abstain from all acts on the disputed
grounds which are calculated to provoke
any conflicts, so far as it can be done with
out implying the concession 10 the author
tiles of Great Britain of an exclusive right
over the premises. The title ought to be
settled before either party should attemp,
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 note, the British minis
ter erexpressed his entire concurrence Gin the
propriety of the course recommended to the
governor of Washington Territory by your
FMr. Marcy'sl instructions to that officer,
and stating that he had "lost no time in
transmitting a copy of that document to
the governor-gensral of British North
America" and had earnestly recommend
ed to his Excellency to take such measures
as to him may appear best calculated to
secure, on the part Of the British local au
thorities and the Inhabitants of the neigh
borhood of the line in question, the exer
else of the same spirit Of forbearance which
is inculcated by you Mr.. Marcy on the
authorities and citizens Of the United
States"
Thus matters remained upon the faith ol
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
Company for the purpose OF raising sheep
A short time before his arrival one OF these
residents had shot an animal belonging te
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 compa
ny at Victoria, Mr.. Dalles, son-ln- law o.
Governor Douglas. came to the Island ~
the British sloop of war Satellite, and
threatened TO take" this American (Mr
Cutler) by force TO Victoria. to answer fo
the trespass he had commit. ed. The
American seized his rifle and told MIR. Dal
les If ony such attempt was made ne would
kill him on the spot. The affair ther
ended.
Under these circumstances, the Ameri
can settlers presented a petition to tn,
General, "through the United States in
spector Of customs, Mr.. Hubbs, to place |
force upon the island to protect them iron
the Indians as we'll as the oppressive inter
ference of the authorities of the Hudso.
Bay Company at Victoria with their right
as American citizens" The General i'm
mediately responded to this petition, an,
ordered Captain George E. Picket, 9th iu
fantry, "to establish his company on Bel
levue, or San Juan island. on some suits
BILE position near the barbor at the south
east extremity" This order was prompt
ly obeyed, aud a military post was estab
lished at the place designated. The fore
was afterw ards increased, so that by tn
last return the whole number of troops the
on the island amounted in the aggregat
TO 69l men.
Whilst do not deem it proper on th
present occasion to go further into the sui
iect, and discuss the weight which ougt
to be attached 10 the statements of th
| British colonial authorities; contesting th
accuracy of the information on which th
gallant General acted. 1t was due to hil
that should thus present his own re,
sons for issuing the order to Captain Picl
ct. From these it is quite clear his oble'
was to prevent the British authorities o
Vancouver's Island from exercising juri
diction over American residents on the /
land of San Juan, as well as TO prote
them against the incursions of the Ind
ans.
Much excitement prevailed for some tin
throughout that region, and serious da1
ger of collision between the parties WI
apprehended: The British had large n
val force in the vicinity; and it is but &
act of simple justice to the admiral on tn
station to state that he wisely and discree
ly forbore 10 commit any hostile act. bt
determined to refer the whole affair to b
Government aud await its instructions.
This aspect of the matter. in my OPT
ion. demanded serious attention. 1t wou
have been a great calamity for both natl,
had they been precipitaied into acts oil nc
tility not on the question of title to the
land, but merely concerning what shou
be its condition during the interveni