The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1860-01-06
say that this has not materially improved.

Say tudt ILLS mas nOC materIalIy Improved.
Without special reference to other claims,
even the "Cuban claims" the payment of
which has been ably urged by our ministers,
and in which more than hundred of our
citizens are directly interested, remain un-
satisfied, Notwithstanding both their Justice
and their amount ($l28,635 54) had been
recognised and ascertained by the Spanish
| government itself.
l again recommend that an appropriation
be made " to be paid to. the Spanish gov
ernmcnt 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 by
our treaty with Spain of the 9th October,
| l795. The failure to discharge this obli-
cation has been employed by the cabinet of
Madrid as reason against the settlement of
our claims.
| 1 need not repeat the arguments which l
urged in my last annual message in favor of
the acquisition of Cuba by fair purchase
| My opinions on that measure remain un.
changed. I, therefore, again invite the Sc
rious attention of Congress to this impor.
tant subject. Without recognition of
this policy on their part, it will be almost
impossible to institute negotiations with
any reasonable prospect of success.
GREAT BRITAIN.
Until very recent period there was good
reason to believe that should be able to
announce to you on the present occasion
that our difficulties with Great Britain,
arising out of the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty, had been finally adjusted in a man.
ner alike honorable and satisfactory to both
parties. From causes, however, which the
British government had not anticipated,
they have not yet completed treaty arrange
ments with the republics of Honduras and
Nicaragua, in pursuance of the understand.
ing between the two governments. 1t is,
nevertheless, confidently expected that this
good work will ere long be accomplished.
While induIging 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 18th
of June, 1916, suddenly assumed threat
ening prominence. In order to prevent un-
fortunate collisions on that remote frontier,
the late Secretary of State on the 18th of
July, 1855, addressed note to Mr.. Cramp
ton, then British minister at Washington,
communicating to him copy of the in
structions which he Mr.. Marcy had given
on the 18th July, to Gov. Stevens, of
Washington Territory, having a special
reference to an apprehended conflict be-
tween our citizens and the British subjects
on the Island of San JUAN" To prevent
this, the governor was instructed I" 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 without implying the con-
cession to the authorities of Great Britain
of an exclusive right over the premises.
The title ought to be settled before either
party should attempt to exclude the other
by force, or exercise complete ard exclusive
sovereign rights within the fairly disputed
limits"
In acknowledging the receipt on the next
day of Mr.. Marcy's note, the British minis
ter expressed his entire concurrence " in the
prOpriety of the course recommended to the
Governor of Washington Territory by your
| Mr.. Marcysl instructions to that officer"
and stating that he had " lost no time in
transmitting copy of that document to the
GOvernor-general of British North Ameri-
CO., and had e earnestly recommended to his
Excellency to take such measures as to him
may appear best CALI ulated 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 forbearance which is inculcated by you
MIR. Marcy on the authority and citizens
of the United States"
Thus matters remained upon the faith of
this arrangement until the 9th of July last,
when Gen. Harvey paid visit to the island.
He found upon it twenty five American res
idents with their families, and also an estab.
lishment 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 to the company,
whilst trespassing upon his premises, for
which, however, he offered to pay twice it's
value; but that was refused. Soon after
"the chief factor OF the company at Victo-
ria," Mr.. Dalles, son-in-law of Governor
Douglas, came to the island in the British
sloop of war Satellite, and threatened to
take &C this American (Mr. Cutler) by force
| W v ICIOTlA, W dbSWtf lOr Inc IToSpdSS ne
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 petition to the General,
through the United States Inspector of
Customs, Mr.. Hubbs, to place force upon
the island to protect them from the Indians
as we'll as the oppressive interference of the
authorities of the Hudson Bay Company at
Victoria with their rights as American citi-
zens." The General Immediately responded
to this petition, and ordered Captain
George E. Pickett, 9th infantry, to
establish his company on Bellevue, or San
Juan Island, on some suitable position near
the harbor of the southern extremity" This
order was promptly obeyed, and a military
post was establish at the place designated.
The force was afterwards increased, so that
by the last returns, the whole number of
troops then on the island amounted in the
aggregate to 69I men.
Whilst 1 do not deem it proper on the
| 10 So