Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-01-06
now usefully and actively employed in the

now usefully and actively employed In the
naval service.
: The appearance of so large force, fitted
out in such prompt manner, in the far dis
; tant waters of the La Plata, and the admira-
BILE conduct of the officers and men employed
; in it, have had a happy effect in favor of our
country throughout all that remote portion
of the world.
Our relations with the great empires oi
France and Russia, as well as with all othe1
governments on the continent of Europe, un-
less we may except that of Spain. happily
continue to be of the most friendly character
In my last annual message presented a
statement of the unsatisfactory condition OF
! our relations with Spain; and regret to say
that this has not materially improved. With
out special reference to other claims, even the
q Cuban claims,' the payment of which has
been ably urged by our ministers, and IN
which more than a hundred Of our citizens
are directly interested, remain unsatisfed
notwithstanding both their Justice and their
amount (Sl2S ,635 54) had been recognized
and ascertainGd by the Spanish government
itself
again recommend that an appropriation
be made to be paid to the Spanish govern
ment for the purpose of distribution among
tba claimants in he Amistad case In com
mon with two Of m predecess RS, entertain
no doubt that this il required by our treaty
with Snain of the 27 tn October, 1895 The
failure to discharge this obligation has been
emploved bv the Cabinet of Madrid as a rea-
son against the settlement of our claims.
| need not not repeat the arguments which
| urged in nv last annual message in favor
of the acquisition of Cuba by fair purchase.
NV opinions on that measure remain un-
changed. |, therefore, again invite the serl-
GUS attention of Congress to this important
subject. Without recognition OF tins pol
icy on their part, it will be almost impossible
to institute negotiations with any asonable
| prospect of success.
Until recent period there was good rea-
son to believe that should be able to an
nOunce 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 manner alike hon
| orable and satisfactory TO both parties From
! causes however, which the British Govern
ment had not anticipated, they have not
| completed treaty arrangements with the re-
pubics of Honduras and Nicaragua, in pur-
suance of the understanding between the TWO
governments tits, nevertheless, confidently
expected that this good work viii II, long be
dttbUl blioitN-
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 adverse
claims Of the parties to the island OF San Juan,
under the Oregon treaty OF the 18th Of June,
1916. suddenly assumed a threatening prom
inence In order to prevent unfortunate col
lisions on that remote frontier, the late Sec
retarv of State, on the 18th of July, 1855,
addressed a note to Mr. Champion, the Brit
ish Minister at Washington, communicating
to him a copy Of the Instructions which he
(Mr Marcy had giving, on the I4th July,
to Governor Stevens of Washington Territory,
having special reference to an apprehended
conftst between our citizens and the British
subjects on the Island Of San Juan. - 10
prevent this, the Governor was instructed,
:. that the officers of the Territory should alb
stain from all acts on the disputed grounds
which are calculated to provoke any conflicts,
50 far as it can be done without implying the
concession 10 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 and exclusive sovereign
RIGHTS With IL E-s-IJ ii-Pu 'oi Inn t9'
In acknowledging the receipt on the next
dav, of Mr. Marcy note, the British Minis
ter expressed his entire concurrence - IN the
proprietv Of the course recommended to the
Governor of Washington Territory by your
(Mr Marcy's) instructions to that othcer,
and stating that he had " lost no time IN
transmitting copy of that document to the
Governor General Of British North America,
and had - earnestly recommended to his tx
cellency to take such measures as to him may
appear best calculated TO secure, on the part
Of the British local authorities and the IN
habitants Of the neighborhoOd OF the line in
question, the exercise f the same spirit OF
forbearance which is mculcated by you (Mr
Marcy) on the authorities and citizens OF the
United States. y
Thus matters remained upon the faith of
this arrangement until the 9th of July
| last, when Gen. Harney paid a visit to
| the island. He found upon it twenty-five
American 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 belong
| ing to the ,mpany, while 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 Victoria, Mr.. Dallas, sOn-in-law of Gov
ernOr Douglas, came to the island IN the
British sloop-of-war Satellite, and threatened
to take - the American Mr. Chester by
| force to Victoria, to answer for the trespass
he had committed The American seized his
rife, and told Mr. Dallas if any such attempt
was made he would kill him on the spot.
! This 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 a force u pom
the island, to protect them from the Indians
Us 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 responded
to this position, and ordered Capt. Geo. Z.
Pickett, 9th infantry, & to establish his
company on Bellevue, II San Juan island,
on some suitable position near the harbor at
the southeastern extremity" This order
was promptly obeyed, and Il military post
was establish at the place designated. The
force was afterwards increased, SO that by
the last return the whole number or troops
then on the island amounted in the aggregate
to 69l men.
Wills ! - not deem 1t proper. on the
present occasion, to 60 further into the sub
cct and discuss the weight which ought to
| be- a tached to the statements Of the British
colonial authorities, cOntestiug the accuracy
| Of the information on which tine gallant
! General acted. il was due to him that |
should thus present his own reasons for is
suing the order to Captain Pickett. From
| these it Is quite clear his object was to pre-
vent the British authorities on Vancouver
Island from exercising jurisdiction over
American residents on the Island San
Juan, as well as to protect them again the
incursions oi the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
throughout that region, and ser ious danger
of collision between the parties was appre-
hended. The Britisa had a large naval
force in the vicinity, and it is an act of sim
pie Justice to the admiral OH that station to
st..e that he wisely and discretly forbore to
commit any hostile act. but determined to
r.E- IL. ff1 ir T.. lis .,..r.rrllnent and