Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-01-06

er asoended the river OF Assumption. Til
Navy Department is entitled to great cred
FOR the promptness, efficiency and econom
with which this expedition was. fitted or
aud conducted 1t consisted OF ninetee
armed vessels, great and small, carrying 20
guns and Q 800 men, all under the co,nman
"f the veteran aud gallant Shubrick. Th
entire expenses of the expedition have bss
betrayed out Of the ordinary appropriation
fer the naval service, except the sum d
$3.50 900, applied to tn, purchase OF seve
of the steamers" Constituting part OF il
under the authority of the naval appr opria
tion act OF the 81 of March last. 1t
believed that these steamers are worth NOR
than their cost, and they are now useful
and actively employed in the naval service
The appearances of 50 large force, flte
out in such prompt manner, in the ia
distant waters Of the La Plata, and tn
admirable conduct OF the officers and me
employed in it, lave had happy effect i
favor Of our country, throughout all tina
remote portion Of the world. 81.
OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.
Our relations with the great empires o
France and Russia, as we'll as with all othe
governments on the continent of Europe, un
less we may except that of Spain, happily
continue to be Of the most friendly charac
ter 1t
In my last annual message presented
statement of the unsatisfactory condition o
our relations with Spain and regret tt
say that this has not materially improved
Without special reference to other claims
even the s'Cuban claims" the payment o
which has been ably urged by our ministers
and in which more than hundred of oul
citizens are directly interested, remain un
satisfied, uotw thstandirg both their n.tcc
and their amount ($l2S,635 54) had bee
recognized AMI ascertained by the Spanish
government itself.
again recommend that an appropriation,
be made ''to be Paid to the 5 ,anisl govern,
ment tor the purpose OF distribution among
the claimants in the Amistead case" Ia
common with two of my predecessors, en-.
tertain no doubt that this Is required by our
treaty with Spain Of the 9th Of October,
1895 The failure to discharge this obliga.
zion has been employ ed by the Cabinet of
Madrid as reason against the settlement
Ot our claims. H7-
PURCHASE or CUBA.
need not repeat the arguments which |
urged in my last annusl message in favor OF
the acquisition Of Cuba hy fair purchase -
My opinions on that measure remain un-
changed. |, therefore, again invite the se.
rious attention Of Congress to this important
subject. Without a recognition of this poll
cy ou their part, it will be almost impossi
ble to institute negotiations with any
prospect Of success.
CONTROVERSY WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Until'a recent PERIOD there was good
reason to suppose that should be able to
announce to you on the present occasion
tn It our difficulties with Great Britain
arising out of the Clayton ard Bul wer treaty,
had been finally adjusted in manner alike
and satisfactory to both partle .
From causes, however, which the Brtis,
government had not Anticipated, they have
not yet completed tresty arrangements with
the republics of Honduras and Nicaragua, in
pursuance with the understanding between
the two governments. 1t is, nevertheless,
expected that this good work
will ere long be accom- oiish.d. ...
Whilst indulgng the hope that no other
subject remained which could disturb the
good understanding between the two coun-
tries, the question arisin ont IF the adverse
claims Of the parties to the 1, and Of Sln
juan, under the Oregon treaty of the 10Th
Of June, 1916, suddenly as utned threat.
euing prominence. l. nr,ler to prevent
unf 'rtuna;e collisions On that remote frontier,
THE lac Secretary Of State, on the l7th Of
July, 1855, add 'essed note to Mr.. Cramp.
ton, the British Minister at WashiI gtol
communicating tn him Il cppv of The in,truc
tions which he (Mr. NJ rc} had given on
the l4th of July, to Governor Stevens OF
Washington Ter itory, saving special
refere ce to an "apprelie deil conh.cl be-
tween oar citiz.ns AMI the British subjects
on the Island of San j :in." t. prevent
tuis the Govern, " WIS Instructed "tt,at the
officers OF The Territory should abstain from
all acts Oh the disputed grounds which are
to pr woke any conflicts, SO far as
it can be d 'ne Without inipl! ing the conces
sion to the authorities Of Gseat Britain OF an
exclusive right over the premises. The title
ought to be sottled d Def nc either purity should
attempt to exclu e the other by force, or
exercise complete and exclusive sovereign
rights within the fairly disputed limits.''
In acknowledging the receipt on the next
day ct Mr.. Marcy's note, the lSr tish Minis
ter expressed his entire concurrence Sin the
propriety Of the course recommended TO
the Govern of Washington Terri ory, by
your ir. Marcy Instructions to that off :
cer," and stating that he had ''lost no time
in transmitting u copy of that document 10
the Governor General Of British North
America" and ,,a,! earnestly recommend
ed to his Excellency to take snch measures
as to him may appear best calculated to SO.
cure, on the part Of the British, local author.
tiles and the inha bitants Of the neigborhood
of the line in question, the exercise of the
same spirit Of torbearance which is incu!-
Gated by YOU (Mr Marcy ON the authorities
and ci izens OF the United States"
Thus matters remained upon the faith of
this arrangement until tie 9th Of July last
when Gen. Harney paid visit to the
Island. Hefoun upon it twenty sc Amer
icln residents with their families, and also
an establishment of the IIuds on Bay Com.
parry for the purpose Of raising sheep. A
short time before HIS arrival one of these
residents had shot an animal belonging to
the company, whilst tres passing upon Ills
premises, for which, however, he offered
to pay twice its value; but that was
refused Soon after the chief actor Of the
company at Victoria. Mr.. Dalles, son-;in
law OF Gov. Douglas, came to the Island III
the British sloop>of-wa Satellite, and threat
susd to take this American (Mr. Cutier) by
tofcs to Victoria. to answer for the tresfass
lie had COMMITTED. Tie American seizel
his rifle, and told Mr.. Dalles that if any
such attempt was made he would kill him
on the spot. The affair then ended. ii1'
Under these circumstances the American
settlers presented a petition to the General
s'through ths Uirteu STILES Inspector OF Gus
toms, Mr. Hubbs, to place a force upon the
Island, to1proteet .hein from the Ihdia i,
as well as the oppressive in'erierence Of tiie
authorities of'ths Hud'o Bay Company d
Victoria, with their rights as American
ciiizens. ."i1 Tie General Immediately re
spnnded to this petition, and ordered Capt.
Geo. b Picket, 9th Infantry, to s'estabil,f
his company on some suit ,ble position ne,I,
the Harh0r at the south e istc:n extremity
This order was promptly obeyed, aud mil
its.y post was established atltlle place des.