The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-01-05


France and Russia. as well IS with all other
| governments on the continent of Europe, un-
less we NAV except that Of Spain happily con-
Time 10 be of the most friendly character.
| IT, my last animal 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
I"Cuban CLAIMS" The payment Of which has
been ably urged by our ministers. and in which
more than q hundred Of our citizens are direct
ly interested remain unsatisfed, notwit hsfand-
ing both their Justice ard their amount (s12s,-
635. SOY had been recognized and ascertained
by the Spanish government itself.
again recommend that an appropriation be
made ''to be paid to the Spanish Government
for the purpose Of distribution among the claim
ants in the Amisiad case" In common with
two of my predecessors. Ientertain no doubt
that this is required bv our treaty with Spain
of the 9Th October. 1795 The failure to dis
charge this obligation has been employed by
the Cabinet of Madrid as reason against the
settlement Of our claims. -sa..
Il ACQUISITION OF CUBA.
I Ineed not repeat the arguments which
urged in nv last annual message in favor Of
the acquisition of Cuba by their purchase.-
i My opinions on that mea sure remain unchang-
ed. /. therefore, again invite the serious att
tention of Congress to this important subject.
Without recognition of this policy on their
part il will be almost impossible to institute
negotiations with any reasonable prospect Of
success.
OUR DIFFICULTIES WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
/ Until recent period there wa S good reason
to believe that l should be able TO announce
70 Won on the present occasion that our diff
4 entities with Grea. Britain, arising out of the
CLAYTON AID Bulwer treaty, had been finally
adjusted in a manner alike honorable and sat-
isfactory to both .,arties. From causes, how
ever, which the British Government had not
anticipated. thew have not ccmpleted treaty
! arrangements with the republics of Honduras
and Nicaragua. in pursuance Of the understand.
ing between the two Governments. It is, ne
vertheless confidently expected tha. this good
work will ere long be accomplished.
:; Whilst indulging the hope that nc other sub.
iect remained which could disturb the good
understanding between the two countries, the
question arisi out of the adverse claims Of
the parties to the Island Of San Juan, under
the Oregon treatv Of the 18th of June, 1916,
suddenly assumed threatening prominence.
In order TO prevent unfortunate collisions on
that remote frontier the late Secretary Of State
on the t7th July. 1855, addressed note to Mr..
| Champion, the British Minister at Washing
Ton. communicating TO him COPY of the in
j
. on the 14th July, to Governor Stevens, Of
Washington Territory, having spec ial refer
ence to an "apprehended conflict between our
citizens and the British subjects on the Island
Of San Juan" To prevent this, the Governor
was instructed ''that the officers of the Terri
tory shonld abstain (. ON all acts on the dispu-
ted grounds which are calculated to produce
any conflicts, 20 far rs il an be done without
E implying the concession to the authorities of
Great Britain of an exclusive right over The
: premises. The title ought to be settled before
either ar:y should attempt to exclude the
other bv force, or exercise complete or exclu-
sive sovereign rights within the fairly-dsputed
limits. ." "'rT
In acknowledging the receipt on the next
} day of Mr.. Marcy's note, the British Minister
expressed his entire concurrence s'in the pro-
prlety OF the course recommended to the Gov
ernot OF Washington Territory by your { Mr..
Marcy's) instructions 10 that oficern and sta
ting that he had ''lost no time in Transmitting
a copy of that document to the Governor Gen-
ernor OF British North American and had
Il Il sseaIneStx recommended 10 his Excellency 10
, calculated 10 secure. on that part of the Brit
lsh local authorities and the inhabitants of the
| neishborhood of the line in question, the exer-
else of the same spirit OF fo-bearance which is
incucated by you (Mr. Marcy) on the author-
, ities and citizens Of the United States.o
Thus matters renamed upon the faith this
arrangement until the 9th of July last when
Gen. Harvey paid 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 ar
, rival, one of these residents had shot an ani-
NAL belonging TO the Company, whilst tres-
. pressing upon his premises, for which, how
ever, he offered 10 pay twice IFS value but that
was refused Soon after, "the chief factor Of
the Company at Victoria, Mr. Dalles, son-In-
: law of Governor Douglas, came to the Island
on the British sloop-of-war Satellite, and
: threatened to take ",his American Mr.. Cut
' teri by force to Victoria to answer to the tres
pass he had committed. The American seized
: h,s rifle. and told Mr.. Dalles if any such az
tempt was made, he would kill him on the
spot. The affair then eIde3," u..
= Under these circumstances the American
settlers presented petition to the General,
.'throngh the United States Inspector Of Gus
tens, Mr.. Hubbs, to place a force upon the
Islands to protect them from the Indians as
: well as the oppressive Interference of the au.
{ thorities OF the Hudson Bay Company at Vic
: toria with their rights as American citizens.
5 The General Immediately responded TO this
petition, and ordered Capt. Geo. E. Pickett,
, 9sh Infantry, 'to establish his Company on
Bellevue, or San Juan island, or some suitable
j, position near the harbor at the southeast ex-
tremiy." This order was promptly obeyed,
and military post was established at the place q
designated. The force was afterwards increas-
!, ed, so that by the last return the whole number
' of troops then on the island amounted in the
aggregate 70 d9l men.
. Whilst did not deem il proper on the pres
. eIt occasion to go further into the subject,
: and discuss the weight which ought TO be at
+ tached to the statements OF the British colonial
authorities, contestins the accuracy of the in
. formation on which the gallant General acted,
4 il was due to him that should thus pre- sent
, ), his own reasons for issning the order 10 Can't.
: Pickett. From these it is quite clear his OBJ
r iect was 10 prevent the British authorities on
!, Vancouver's Island from exercising iurisdic
t,on over American residents on The Island of
!, San juan, as well as TO protsctthem against the
p incnrsions of the IlaiaRs.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
, throughout that region, and serious danger of
. collision between the arties YVES apprehend-
ed. The BRITISH had large naval force i'm the
vicinitys and II IS an act Of simple Justice to
E the admiral on that station to state that he
: wisely and dlscreetlv foshore to commit any
e hostile act. bni determined to refer the whole
.. .. affair 70 his government and await their in
. struetiops.
GEN. scorr's MISSION TO OREGON
= This aspect of the matter, in my opinion,
n demanded serious attention. 1t would have