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


and discuss the weight which caghf "a BE- at
tAehsd 10 the statements Of the British colonial
authorities. eontesting the accuracy u the ma
formation On which the gallant general acted,
u was due TO him that 1 should thus prsrnt
ms own reasons for issuing the order a. Capt,
Pickett. PROM the-e il is quite clear his OBJ
Jecs Was TO prevent the Brush authorities on
Nancouvers island from exercising iurissiic-
ton over American residents on the lslsnd Of
San Juan. As well as to protect them against
the incursions Of the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
throughout that region. and serious danger of
collision between the parties was Appreciated.
The British had large naval force in the vi
cinity; and Il Is but an act VI simple Justice
to the admiral ON thai station 10 state that he
wisely and discrcetly forbore to commit any
hostile act. but determined 10 refer the whole
affair 10 his government and await their in
structi0ns.
lhis aspect Of the matter. in rny opinion,
demanded serious attention. IL would have
been great calamity for 10th nations had
they been precipItaied into sc,- 81 hostility.
not ON the question OF title Ia the island. hut
merely concerning that should b. il condi-
uon during the ihterycning period Whit the
two governments might be employed ia settling
the question Ia which of them IL belongs For
this reason Lieutenant General Scott was de..
patched on the 18th September last % Wash
Ton Territory TO take immediate command o,f
the United States forces on the Pacific coast
should he deem this necessary Tue main
object Oi his mission was 10 carry out the spirit
OF the precautionary arrangement between the
late Secretary q State and the British minis
tr and thus TO prcseve the peace and prevent
collision between the British and American
authorities pending the negotiation between
The two governments. Entertaing no doubt 81
she validity Of our title. need scarcely AID
, tsai, IN any event. American citizen, were
IN b. rlao.-d on footing st least rs favorable
~ that Of British subjects. il being under
stool that Captain Pickctt's company .loud
remain on the island IL is proper 10 observe
that, considering the distance from the scene
1T action. aud ia ignorance II what might
have transpircd the spot before the Gene
rars arrival. IL was necessary to leave much
u his discretion. and ! am happy Ia state the
event has proven thas this discretion could
not have been entrusted 90 more competent
hands General Sooti has recently returned
from his mission. having successfully accom-
Plishcd it, objects. and there is no longer any
r"rl reason o. artrehend 4 collision between
the forces of the two countries during the
tendency 81 the existing neg 'tiatiops
regret Ia inform you that there has been
no improvement in the affairs of Mexico since
my last annual message. and am again OBJ
lIgc'l Ia ask the earnest attention Of Congress
Ia the unhappy condition Of that republic
The constituent Congress Il Mexico. which
adjourned on the 18th of February, 1857.
dopttd a constitution and provided Cor topu-
lar election. This took place in the following
July. 1897. and General COmOuf1rt Vas
chosen President. almost without opposition
At the same election = new Congress was cbo-
sn. whose first session commenced on the
10th Of September. 1857 BY the consti-
tuition Of 1887 tho presidential term wa 70
begin on the LIST Of December. 1857. and
continue for four years. On that day General
Comonfort appeared before the assembled
Congress in the city Of Mexico, took the oath
u support the new constitution. and was duly
inAuguraie'l a. President Within . month
Afterwards he had been driven from the capt.
tai, and = military rebellion had assigned the
supreme power Of the republic to General Zu-
loaga. The constitution provided thai in the
absence Ofthe President his Office should deyolys
upon the Chief Justice Of the supreme Court,
Snd, General Cononfort having lrft the coun-
try. this functionary. General Juarcs proceed
al to form. at GuanAjuato. a constitutional
government Before this was officially known
however. at the capital. the government Of
Zuloaga had been recognised by the entire
diplomatic corps. as the dc faoto government
Of Mexico. The constitutional President,
nevertheless. maintained his position with
frmncss. and was soon established with his
cabinet at Vera Cruz Meanwhile. the gov
eminent Of Iuloaga was earnestly resisted in
many parts Of the republic. and even in the cap
tai. portion II the army having pronounced
against it. ITS functions we're declared terHina-
It'd aud an assembly Il citizens vas invited
for the choice of n new Pr, sidsnt This a.
sembly elected General Miramon. but that
officer repudiAted the plan under which he
was chosen. and Zuloaga was thus restored 70
his previous position. lie assumed il. how
ever, only TO withdraw from IT, and Mirauion.
having become. by his appointment. "Pres-
dent Substitute" continues. with that title. al
the head u the insurgent party
In my last annual message communicated
o. Congress the circumstances under which
the late Minister Of the United States su-pcn-
ded his official relations With the central gov.
eminent, aud Withdrew from the country. I,
was impossible to maintain friendly intercourse
with government. like that 1t the capital
under whose usurpcd authority wrongs wcrS
CONSTANTLY committed. but never relrcssed -
Had tins been an established government.
With it, power extending by the consent Of
the people. over the whole Il Mexico. reSrr,
o. hO-tilities against IL would have been quite
jusiihable. aud indced Necessary But the
country was prey 10 civil war and J, was
hoped that the success Of the constitutional
President might lead 20 a condition e thing.
les injurious 10 the United States This sue.
c,ss lscame ~ probable that. ia January las,.
J employed reliable agent 10 v:-it Mexico.
aud report ~ me the actual cundition and
prospects u the conieudng parties H. con.
sequence 4 bis report. AMI from information
which reached me from other -ourcss favora
bic o. thc prospects 81 tbe constitutional cause
! i"li justified in appointing new minister ~
Mexico. Whnmight embrace tic earliest suitable
opportunity e restoring our diplomatic Fcla.
ii"us With that repuhiic Fof tlis puuose de
hngui.hed citiTrn e Maryland "a slse,cd
who proceeded on his mission on The Sch q
March lat With Discretionary aulhoriiy ~
rcc"gui-s the government e President Jua-
~ u ~ hivarfival iu Mexico De- rhoulI fni
q entitled a. siiol recognition according b.