Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-01-05

and rcs-onablc demands of she Government
d the United States. Our commissioner ar
rived al Assumption. the capital Of the ~
public. on the 18th Of January. 1859. and
lcftn On the 18th u February. having in
three weeks ably and successfully scomplish-
ed al the objects of his mission. The trea-
ties which he has concluded will b. inaiscdi-
a.ely 80 omitted tn the Senate.
In The ,icw that the enploy,pstt u other
than peaceful means might bcccui} necessary
b obtain Just satisfaction" frout araguay.
. strong naval torce was couccnt4ed IN the
usrtets Of the La Plata 70 swaiycontingen-
cies, whilst our commissioner 5rnded the
rivers TO Assumption. The Ny Depart
ment Is entitled Ia great credit fothc prompt
pe~. eihciency. and economy " which this
expedition Was fitted out and cSiucted. IL
consisted Il ni0eteen armed ves&t great aud
small. carrying 200 guns and 40 men, all
under the command of the " an snd gal
LIANT Sbubriek. The entire buses Of the
expedition have b~rn dcfrsyot hi Of the or
binary appropriations for tbef service.
eIcsp, the sum - $3.50 900 lPpi'ed 10 the
pErvhasc q seven u the stean& constituting
. part u il. under the authof II the naval
sppropnsiion act &C the ID Y ia last. Ii is
believed that these st.amer% r worth more
than their coat. and they ar now u-cfully
and actively employed in thx oval service.
The appearance of 10 u. force. lifted
out in such pronspt . mao In the far dis
tani alters % the La fial the slmir
alle c,rndsc, e the eibcer, u'en employed
in IL. hsrr had = happy q IN favor u our
country Throughout all II snote portion Of
the world.
Our relations with tHrezi ,cupiros of
France aud Ru-sis. as es tkh all other
governments on the cut,8 ~ Earopr. an-
less We may e1ccp, Spain, hsppily
coptinse 70 be Of the 4 Friendly character
In my Las, annual age ! BrrsSh,ed q
statement Of the unssxSrory condition u
our relations with Sp aud I regret 10
say that this hss.rmaterialIy improved. -
Wi;hout-ecisl reference 20 other claims.
~-'he Cuban claiias. they payment Of
which has been ably urged 10y our ministers.
mi in which more than hundred II our
'itilcns arc directly interested. remain unsat-
sized. notwithstanding bath their justice aid
heir amount (Sl2s .635 80 hal been recog-
'iscd and asccrtaiued by the Spanish govern
i,ent itself
again recommend tina, an appropriation
'e made Ito be paid To the Spanish govern
ncnt for the purpose If distribution among
he claimants in the Amistsd case" In com
non with two Of my predecessors. I entertain
10 doebt that this IL required by our treaty
nth Spain q the 9th October. l795. The
allure TO discharge this obligation has been
Employed by the cabinet Of Madrid as a rca-
on against the settlement Of our claims
l need not repeat the arguments which
Urged in my last annual message in favor of
he acquisition Of Cuba by fair purchase. Nv
opinions on that measure remain unchanged
!. therefore, again invite the serious attention
Il Congress to this importan, subject. With
'ut recognition of this policy on their psrt.
viii be almost impossible 20 institute nego-
iaticns with any reasonable prospect u sue
es-.
Until recent period there was good rea-
'on TO believe that | should 10 able to an-
bounce TO you ON the present occasion that
'ur difficulties with Great Britain. arising out
Il the Clayton aud Bulwer treaty, had been
inally adjusted in 4 manner alike ouorable
lnI satisfactory to Lo,h parties. From causes.
iowever. which the British government had
rot anticipated, they have rot vet completed
realty arrangements with the republics Of
honduras and Nicaragua. in pursuance IL the
between the two governments.
q ~, nevertheless. confidently expected that
his good work will ere long Se ACCOMPLISHED.
Whilst indulginG the hope that ho other
ubject remained which could disturb the good
between the two countries the
question arising ou, Of the adverse claim. Of
he parties to the Island Of San Juan. under
he Oregon treaty II the 18th Of June, 1876.
uddenly assumed threatening prominence.
"a order Ia prevent unfortunate collisions on
hat remote frontier, the latc Secretary IL
state, on the 18th July. 1854. addressed
iote Ia Mr. Champion. then Bri,irh pinisicr
4 Washington. communicating n hin, COPY
4 the instructions which b. Mr.. Marcy had
,iyen, on the 18th july tn Gov Stevens ~
Washington Territory. having o sI~cill refer
nee TO an "apprebendcd confi,t between our
iiizcns and the British subjects on tho Island
Il san Juan. prevent this. the governor
vas instructed "that the officers of the Terri
DRY should abstain fioin all acts on the dispu.
I'd grounds which arr calculated 10 provoke
my conflicts, 80 far a. il can be done without
implying the concession Ia the authorities Il
treat Britain Of an exclusive right over the
'remiscs. The title ought IN b. scttlcd be-
ore either party should attempt to exclude the
fher by force. OF exercise cnniplcte and *
iusiyc sovereign rights within the fairly dis
'utcd limits.
In acknowledging the receipt on the next
lay Of Mr. Marcy's note. the British minister
oppressed his entire concurrence ''in the pro-
'rlety Of the course recommended 10 the GOV
rnor q Washington Territory by your Mr.
isrcy's instructions to that ofhccr." and sta
ing that h. had lost no time in transmitting
copy u tina, document Ia the governor gen
raj q British North America. . and bal ear
'cstly recommended 10 his Excellency 10 take
uch measures As 10 him may sppcar le.i cal
ulated 10 secure. on the part ~ the British
ocal authorities and the inhabitants II the
'cighborhood ~ the line 10 question. thr or-
rrise ~ she same spirit II forbearanot shirh
: inculcaicd by you Nr Marcy on toe au-
horiiias aud citizens Of the United State"
Thus matters remained upon the faith q
has arrangement until the 0th July lat. when
zen Harvey paid visit a. the i.lanl IT,
pund urnn Il twenty Eve American rc-ii.ni.
nth their families. and ala an establishment
{ the Hdison Bay Company Tor the purpa-e
Z raising sheep. A short time b,fOrv b. lr
wal one q thesc rcsidsnts hal shui 90 ani.
ial belonginz 10 the company. shil., tr,pa,s-
NJ upon bis premises for which hovt,,r.
p "H'f-'l - pay twice iis valuc bat ihi. va
rfu-'sl son after the chef factor % thc