Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-01-11
IT. affords mo nnuch satisfaction to inform


 purpose which Congress had placed at my command, under the joint resolution of 2d June, 1858. On the contrary, the Presi- dent of that republic, in friendly spirit, acceded promptly to the just and reasona ble demands of the government of the United States. Our commissioner arrived at Assumption, the capital of the republic, on the 25th of January, 1859, and left it on the 17th of February, having in three weeks ably and successfully accomplished the objects" of his mission The treaties which he has concluded will be immediate ly submitted to the Senate
 In the view that the employment of other than peaceful means might become neces- sary to obtain "iust satisfaction from Para quay, strong naval force was concentrat- ed Tn the waters of the La Plata to await contingencies, while our commissioner as- cended the river to Asuncion. The navy department is entitled to great credit for the promptness, efficiency and economy with which this expedition was fitted out and conducted. It consisted of nineteen armed vessels, great and small, carrying 200 guns and 2,500 men, all under command of the veteran and gallant Shubrick. The en- tire expenses of the expedition have been de- frayed out ofthe ordinary appropriations for the naval service, except the sum of 2S9,- O0O, applied to the purchase of seven of the steamers, constituting part of it, under the authority of the naval appropriation of the Sd of March last. It is believed that these steamers are worth more than their cost, and they are all now usefully and ac- lively employed in the naval service.
 The appearance of so large force, fitted out in such prompt manner, in the far distant water of the La Plata, and the ad- mirable conduct of the officers and men em- ployed 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 of France and Russia, as well as with all other governments on the continent of Europe, unless we may except that of Spain, hap oily continue to be of the most friendly char acter.
 In my last annual message Ipresented statement of the unsatisfactory condition of our relations with Spain; and l regret to say that this has not materially 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 (S12S,635 54) had been recognized and ascertained by the Spanish government itself.
 l again recommend that an appropriation be made to be paid to the Spanish gov ernment for the purpose of distribution among the claimants in the Amistad case" In common with two of my predecessors, l entertained no doubt that this is required by our treaty with Spain of the 27th Octo- Der, 1795. The failure to discharge this obligation has been employed by the cabinet of Madrid as reason against the settlement of our claims
 l need not repeat the arguments which I urged in my last annual message in favor of the acquisition of Cuba by fair purchase- My opinions on that measure remain un- changed. l, therefore, again invite the seri- ous attention of Congress to this important subject. Without a recognition of this policy on their part, 1t will be almost i'm. possible to negotiate with any reasona- ble prospect of success.
 Until a recent period there was good req son to believe that 1 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 honorable and satisfactory to both parties. From causus, however, which the British government had not anticipated, they have not yet completed treaty arrangements with the republics of Honduras and Nicaragua, in pursuance of the understanding between the two governments. It is, nevertheless, confidently expected that this good work will ere long be accomplished.
 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 June, 1S46, suddenly assumed threatening prominence.
 In order to prevent unfortunate collisions on that remote frontier, the late secretary of state, on the 17th of July, 1855, address ed a note to Mir. Champion, then British minister at Washington, communicating to him a copy of the instructions which he
 Mir. Marcy had given, on the 14th of July, to Coy. Stevens, of Washington territory, having special reference to an "appre- hended conflict between our citizens and the British subjects on the island of San Juan" Toprevent this, the Governor was instructed " 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 to the authori- ties 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, to exercise complete and exclusive sovereign rights within the fairly disputed limits.'
 In acknowledging the receipt on the next day of Mir. 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 Mir. Marcy's) instructions to that of ficer," and stating that he had "lost no time in transmitting copy of that docu- ment to the governor. general of British North America" and had "earnestly re- commended to his excellency to take such measures as to him may appear best calcu- lated 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 Mr. Marcy) on the authorities and citizens of the United States"
 Thus matters remained upon the faith of this arrangement until the 9th July last, whom Con Barney paid visit to the is- land He found upon 1t twenty-five Ame- rican residents with their families, and also an establishment of the Hudson's Bay com pany for the purpose of raising sheep. A short time before his arrival one ofthe resi- dents had shot an animal belonging to the company, while trespassing upon his pre- mises, for which, however, he offered to pay Its value; but that was refused. Soon after " the chief factor of the company of Victo- rla, Alr. Dallas, son-in-law of Gov. Doug as came to tha island In tba Pr;t;cb Sloo,,