Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04
FREMONT, OHIO, JANUARY 4, 1860.


cJurse recommended 10 the Governor OF Wash
ington Territory by your Mr. Marcy 50 Instructions
70 that officer" and stating that he had "lost no
time IN Transmitting cory Of that document TO
the Goyernal General OF British North America,
aad bad earnestly recommended TO h Exceen-
cy TO take such measures rs 70 him may appear best
calculated 10 gcure, on the part Of the British 10
cal authorities aud the Inhabitants OF the neigh
bOrbood Of the line in question, the exercise Of the
same spirit Of foI bearaDcs which IS inculcated by
you (Mr. Marcy on the authorities and ctizsns Of
the Unit States"
Thus matters remained upou the faith
Of this arrangement until the 9th Of July last,
when Gen. Hatney paid visit to the Island He
found upon II twenty-five American residents with
their families and also an establishment Of the
Hudson's Bay Company for the purpose OF raisng
sheep. short time before his arrival one Of these
residents had shot an animal belonging to the
Company, whilst trespassing upon his premises
for which. however, he offered to pay twice its
value; but that was refused Soon after "the chief
factor Of the company at Victoria, Mr.. Dalles
n-aw Of Governor Douglas, came TO the island in
the British sloop-of war Satellite and threatened
to take "tbis American (Ar Cutier) by force to
Victoria, 10 answer for the tTespass be bad c m
mtted The American seized his rife, and told
Nr. Dalles il any such attempt was made he would
kill m on the spCt. The affair then ended"
Under these circumstances the American
settlers presented a petition 70 the General,
through the United States Inspector Of Gus
toms, Mr. Hubbs to place force upon the
island, 20 protect them from the Indians as well
as the oppressive Interference Of the authorities
ofthe Hudson Bay Company at Victoria with
their rights as American citizens The Gen
eral Immediately responded TO this petition and
ordered Capt Geo. 4. Picket 9th infantry, "to
establish his company on Bellevue, OF San Juan
island, on some suitable position near the harbor
at the southeastern extremity" This order was
promptly obeyed and military post was
established at the place designated. The force
was afterwards Increased, so that by the last re-
turn the whole number Of troops then on the
island amounted ia the aggregate to 69I men
Whilst 20 not deem it proper on the present
occasion TO 90 further into the subject, and dis
cuSs the weight which ought TO be attached to
the statements Of the British colonial authorities
contesting the accuracy of the information on
which the gallant General acted, it was due to
him that should thus present his own reasons
for issuing the order to Capt. Picket From these
il is quite clear his object was to prevent the
British authorities on V9ncouver's Island from
exercising jurisdiction over American residents
on the Island of San juan, as well as to protect
them against incursions OF the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time,
throughout that region, and serious danger of
collision between the parties was apprehended,
The British had large naval free in the vicin-
ity; aud it is act Of simple justice to the
admiral on that station TO state that he wisely
aud discreetly forbore TO commit any hostile act,
but determined 10 refer the whole affair to his
government and await their instructions.
This aspect ofthe latter,in my opinion, demanded
serious attention. 1t would have been a great
calamity Tor both nations had they been precipi-
tated into acts Of hostility not the question Of
| title to the island bat merely concerning what
should be its condition during the intervening pc
riod whilst the two governments mightbe employ
Id
longs. For this reason Lieutenant General Scott
was despatched on the nth OF September last to
Washington Territory TO take immediate command
| OF the United States forces on the Pacific coast
should he deem this necessary. The ma object
OF bis mission was to carry out the spirit OF the pre-
cautionary arrangement between the late Secretary
OF State and the British Minister, and thus to pre-
serve the peace and prevent collision between the
British and American authorities pending the ne
| gotlations between the two governments, Enter
tanning no doubt of the validity of our title, need
scarcely add that in any event American citizens
were TO be placed on footing at least as favora
BILE that of British subjects, IL being understood
that Captain Picketss company should remain on
the island. 1t IL proper 10 o, serve that consd
erng tue distance from the scene o action, and in
| ignorance of what might have transpired on the
spot before the Generals arrival. it was necessary
10 leave much to bis discretion, and am happy to
state the event has proven that this discretion
| could not have been entrusted TO more competent
hands General Scott has recently returned from
his MISSION having successfully accomplished its
objects, aud there is no longer any good reason TO
| apprehenda q collision be ween the fOlce Of the two
countries during the pendency OF the existing ne
gOtiatlons
regret to inform you that there has been no
Improvement in the affairs of Mexico since my last
annual message, and am again obliged to ask the
earnest attention OF Congress to the unhappy con-
dition Of that republic.
The constituent Congress of Mexico, which ad
journed on the l7th of February, 1857, adopted q
constitution aud provided for popular election.-
This took place in the following July, 1857, and
General Comonfort was chosen President, almost
without opposition At the same election new
Congress was chosen, whose first session commen. /.
ced on the 10th OF September, 1857. By the con-
aiitution OF 1857, the Presidential term was to
begin on the lst Of December, 1851, aud continue
for our Years. On that day General ComOnfort
appeared before the assembled Congress in tue city
Ut Mexico, took oath to support the new constitu
tioD, aud was duly inaugurated as President
Within month afterwards he had been driven
from the capital, and military rebellion had as
signed the supreme power OF the republic TO Gen
Zuoaga. he constitution provided that in the
absence Of the President his office should deVOVe
upon the Chief Justice OF the Supreme Court, and
General Comonfort hav ng left the country, his
functonary General Juarez, proceeded to form at
GuanajuatO, a constitutional government
Before this was officially known, however, al
the capital the government of Zuloaga had been
recognised by the entire diplomatic corps, in
cudng the Minister of the United States, as
the de facio government of Mexico. The con.
stitutional President. nevertheless, maintained
bis position with frmpess, and was soon estab
lished with bis cabinet at Vera Cruz. Mean
while, the government of Zuloaga was earnest.
! " resisted in many parts of the republic, and
even in the capital, portion of the army hav-
ing pronounced against 1t, its functions were
declared terminated, and an assembly of citi-
Eens was invited for the choice of new Pres,
ident This assembly elected General Mramon
but that officer repudiated the plan under which
he was chosen, and Zaloaga was thus restored
10 his previous position. lie assumed it
however, only to Withdraw from it, and Mira
/ mon having become by his appointment "Pres
{ ident Substitute" continues, with that title
: at the head of the insurgent party.
J. In my last annual message / communicated
i TO Congress the circumstances under which thu
a late Minister Of the United States suspended
U his official relations with the central govern
s ment, and Withdrew from the country. 1t wa
impossible to maintsin friendly intercourse will
) government, like that at the capital, unde
y whose usorpcd authority wrongs we're constant
4 " committed but never redFsssed. Had this bseI
: an established government, with its power ex
r tending, by ths consent of the people, over tn
b whole Of Mexico, a resort to hostilities agains
n i would have been qdite justifaI aud indee
d necessary. But the country was prey of civ
il war and it was hoped that the success c
4 the constitutional President might lead to
: condition of things less injurious to the Unite
u States. This success became 90 probable thai
4 in January last, ! employed a reliable agent t
! visit Mexico, and report to me the actual con
le dtion and prospects Of the contendiDg parties
?, In consequences Of his report and ffOm inlol
nation which reached me from other sources
=. aha IN the t,roaueeta Of the conatitufions