The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-06


authority of the naval appropriation act Of the
81 March last It is believed that these stea-
mers are worth more than their cost, and they
are all now usefuly and actively employed IL
the naval service.
! The appearance Of SO large a force, fitted
out in such prompt manner, in the far distant
! waters OF the La Plata, and the admirable con-
duct oil the officers and men employed IN it.,
have had happy. effect in favor of our coun-
tryithroughout ali that remote portion OF the
world.
Our relations with the great empires OF
! Fraace and Russia, as well as with all other
( Governments on the continent of Europe, un-
+ less we may except that of Spain, happily con-
tinue TO BE- Of the most friendly character.
In my last annual message | presented
statement OF the unsatisfactory condition of our
relations with Spain and regret to say that
this has not materially improved. Without
special reference 10 other claims, even the
/ ''Cuban cIaims," the payment of Which has
/ been ably urged by our ministers, and in when
more than hundred of our citizens are direct
/ lv interested, remain unsatisfed, notwlthsan-
ding both their justice and their amount (Sl28
635 81 had been recognised and ascertaIned
! by the Spanish government itself.
/ again recommend that an appropriation be
! made $50 be paid TO the Spanish government
( for the purpose of distribution among the claim
ants in The AmiStad case" In common with
two of my predecessors, | entertain 10 doubt
that this is required by our treaty wlth Spain of
the eth October, 1895. The failure 10 dis
charge this obligation has been employed by
thr cabinet OF Madrid as a reason against the
/ settlement of our claims.
need not repeat the arguments which | ur
ged iu my last annual message IN favor Of the
acquisition Of Cu5l by iair purchase. Ny O.
pluIous on that measure remain unchanged. /
therefore, again invite the serious attention of
Congress TO this important subject. Without a
reception OF this policy on their part, 1t will
be almost impossible to institute negotiations
with any reasonable prospect of success.
Until d recent period there was good reason
to believe that I should be able 10 announce to |
you on the present occasion that our difficulties !
with Great Britain, arising out Of tue Clayton |
and Bulwer treaty, bad been finally adjusted IN |
a manner Ike honorable and satisfactory to both /
parties. From causes, 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. II is, nevertheless, coni |
IDENTIFY expected that tnis good work will ere |
long be accomplished.
Whilst ndagng the hope that no other SUB /
iect remained which could disturb the good un-
derstaudinE between the countries, tie question
arising out of The adverse claims of the parties
10 the Island OF San Juan, under the Oregon
treaty OF the 9th OF jane, 1916, suddenly as
sumed threatning prominence. In order TO
prevent unfortunate collisions on that remote
frontier, the late Secretary Of State, on the Izth
July, 1919, addressed a note to AIr. Champion,
then British minister at Washington, Commu-
nicaljug to him copy OF the Instructions which
be Mr.. Macy bad gwen, on the 18th July,
to Gov. Stevens, OF Washington Territory. hav-
ing q special reference to an 'apprehsnded con-
aict between our citizens and the British sub
iects on the Island 0! San Juan" 10 prevent
this, the governor was instructed that the Of
fcers OF the Territory should abstain from all
ac;s On the disputed grounds which are calcU!a-
tel to provoke any conflicts, SO far as it can be
done without implying the concession to the S
authorities of Great Britain of an exclusive (
night over the premises. The tlte ought 10 be I
settled before either party should attempt to ex-
cIude the other by force, or exercise complete !
and exclusive sovereign rights within the fairly {
disputed limits" Il
10 acknowledging the receipt on the next t
day of Mr.. Marcy'S note, the British minister {
expressed his entire concurrence Gin the pro- Z
priety of the course recommended 10 the COVER /
nor OF Washington Territory BY your Mr.. t
Marcy'sl instructions TO that officer" and sta {
ting that be had ''loSt no time in transmitting
copy OF that document to the governof-general {
of British North America" and had ''earnest-
" recommended to his Excellency to take such {
measures as TO him may appear best calculated {
to secure, on the part Of the British local au- 9
taorties and the inhabitants of The neighborho0d /
OF the line in question, the exercise of the aMe a
spirit Of iorbearance which is incuIcated So you i
Mr. Marcyl on the authorities aad citizens of S
the United States"
Thus matters remained upon the faith Of !his 1
until the 9Th July last, when Gen e
Harvey paid visit to the Island. He found i
upon 1t twenty-five AMERICAN residents with q
their families, and also an establishment OF the
Hudson's Bay Company for the purpose of raj 2
sing sheep. A short time before ms arrival one q
OF these residents had shot an animal belonging 2
to the company, whilst treSPaSslng upon his q
premises, Tor which, however, he offered to pay .
twice It's value; bat that was refused. Soon al Il
ter ''the chief factor OF the company at Victoria,
Mr.. Dalles, son-in-law of Governor DougIas {
came to the Island in the British sloop-of war Q
Satellite, aud threatened to take 'slhs American ,
Mr. Cutler) by force to Victoria, to answer fo- D
the treSpasS he had committed. The Ameri-
can seized bis rifle and told Mr. DaIes if any 70
such attempt was made he would kill him on la
he he ,4fs hen u
Under these circumstances, the American al
settlers presented a petition TO the Geaeral 81
s9hrough the United States inspector OF Customs, q
Ar u.,LL. - >i..a , to-c, 80. ~