Year: 1859




sezing slaves to supply the American market Ali hopes
of African civilization would thus be ended


On the other hand, when market for African slaves
shall no longer be furnished in Cuba and thus all the
world be closed against this trade may then indugt


reasonable hope for the gradual improvement of Africa
The chief motive of among the tribes will when
there is longer any demand for slaves The
sources of that fertile but miserable country might then
be developed by the hand of industry and afford subjects
for legitimate foreign and domestic In this
manner Christianity and civilization may gradually pen
citrate the existing gloom.


The wisdom of the pursued by this Government
towards China has been vindcaed by the event Whilst
sustained neutral position in the waged by Great
Britain and France against the Chinese empire late
minister in obedience to his instructions judicously
operated with the ministers Of these in all peaceful
measures to by treaty the just concessions demand
ed by the interests OF foreign commerce The result
that satisfactory treaties have been concluded with China
by the respective ministers of the United States Great
Britain France AMI Russia Our treaty, general
convention of peace amity, and commerce., with that
empire concluded Tientsn the 18th June, 1858
and was ratified by the President, by and with the ad
vice and consent of the Senate, on the 2lst December
following.


On the 18th December 1858, John f. Ward a distn-
guished citizen of Georgia, duly commissioned
yoy extraordinary and minister penpotentiary to China
He left the United States for the place his destination
on the 5tb Of FEBRUARY 1850 hearing with him the ra
fed copy of this treaty and arrived at Shanghai the
2Sh May. From thence he proceeded to Pekng on the
18th june but did not arrive in that city until the 9th
July According to the of the treaty the raca
tons to be exchanged before the 18th June,
1853. This was rendered impossible by reasons and
beyond his CONTROL necessary detail but
still it is due to the Chinese authorities at Shanghai to





be taken OF the delay and this pledge has been faithfully
| redeemed.


on the arrival cf Mr. Ward at Peking he requested an
audience of the Emperor present his letter of credence
This he did not obtain in consequence of his very
refusal to submit 10 the humatng ceremonies required
Dy the etiquette OF this strange people in approaching
their sovereign. Nevertheless the interviews this
question were conducted in the most friendly spirit and
with all due regard his personal feelings and the honor
OF his country. When presentation to his Majesty
found to be impossible the letter of credence from the
President received with peculiar honors by Kwe-
ang he EmperOr's prime minister and the second
in the empire to the Emperor himsel The rafcations
of the treaty afterwards the 18th of August
changed in proper form at Peitsang As the exchange
did not take place until after the day prescribed by the
treaty, it is deemed proper before its publication, again
| to submit it to the Senate.


1t is but simple justice to the Chinese authorities OBJ
serve that throughout the whole transaction they ap
pear have acted in good faith and in friendly spirit
towards the United States 1t is true this has been done
their own peculiar fashion, but we ought to regard
with lenient eye the ancient customs of empire da
ting back for thousands of years, far this may be
consistent with national honor. The conduct of
ministers the occasion has received my entire ap
probation.


In order carry the spirit of this treaty, and
give it full effect it became necessary to conclude two
supplemental conventons-the for the adjustment
and satisfaction of the claims of citizens and the
other to fix the tariff on imports and exports and to regu
late the transit duties and trade of our merchants with
China. This duty satisfactorily performed by
late minister These conventions bear date Shanghai
the Sth November, 1858. Having been considered in
the light of binding agreements subsidiary to the princi
pal treaty and to be carried into execution without delay
they do not provide for any formal ratification
change of ratification by the contracting parties This
not deemed necessary by the Chinese who already
proceeding good faith satisfy the claims of citi
zens, and it is hoped carry out the other provisions
of the conventions Still thought it proper to sub
NIT them to the Senate, by which they were ratified
the Sd March, 1859 The ratified copies however did not
reach Shanghai until after the departure minister
to Pekng and these conventions could therefore, be
exchanged at the time with the principal treaty
No doubt s entertained that they will be ratified and
changed by the Chinese government, should this be
thought advisable but under the circumstances present
ed shall consider them binding engagements from their
date on both parties, and them to be published
such for the information and guidance of
trading with the Chinese empire.


1t affords me much satisfaction to inform you that all
our difficulties with the republic of Paraguay have been
satisfactorily adjusted 1t happily did not become
sary employ the force for this purpose which Congress
had placed at command, under their Joint resolution
of End june 1883 On the contrary President that
republic, in friendly spirit, acceded promptly the
just and reasonable demands of the Government of the
United States Our commissioner arrived at ASSUMPTION
the capital o the republic the 25h of January 1889
and left on the 18th Of February having in three weeks
ably and successfully accomplished all the objects of his
mission The treaties which he has concluded will be i'm
mediately submitted TO the Senate


In the view that the employment of other than peaceful
means might become necessary to obtain Just sasfac
uon from Iarag uay, strong naval force was concen
rated in the waters of the La Plata to ait cOntingen
cies whilst commissioner ascended the rivers As
sumption The Navy Department is entitled 10 great
credit for the promptness, efficiency, and economy with
which this expedition was fitted out and conducted 1t
consisted of nineteen armed vessels great and small
ryng 200 guns and $500 all under the command Of
the veteran and gallant Shubrck The entire expenses
Of the expedition have been betrayed out Of the ordinary
appropriation for the naval service except the of
ss9 600 applied to the purchase If of the steamers
constituting part of it, under the authority of the naval
appropriation act of the 3rd March last 1t is believed
that these steamers worth more than their COST and
they all now usefully and actively employed in
naval service.


The appearance of so large force fitted in such
prompt manner, in the far distant waters of the La
Plata and the admirable conduct of the officers and
employed in it, have had happy effect in favor of
country throughout all that remote portion of the
world.


Our relations with the great empires of France and
Russia, well as with IL other Governments the





Spain happily continue to be of the most friendly
character.


In my last annual message presented a statement of
the unsatisfactory condition of relations with SPAIN
and regret to that this has not materially
Without special reference to other claims the ecu
ban claims the payment Of which has been ably urged
by ministers, and in which than hundred of
citizens directly interested, remain unsatisfed
notwithstanding both their justice and their amount
Sl26355 had been recognized and ascertained by the
Spanish Government itself


again recommend that appropriation be made 'to
he paid to the Spanish government for the purpose of
distribution among the claimants in the Amistad case"
In common with two OF my predecessors entertain no
doubt that this is required by treaty with Spain OF
the 9th October l79j The failure to discharge this ob
cation has been employed by the cabinet of Madrid
against the settlement of our claims.


need not repeat the arguments which ] urged in
last annual message favor Of the ACQUISITION of Cuba
by fair purchase. Ny opinions that remain
unchanged J. therefore, again invite the serious
tion of Congress to this important subject. Without
recognition Of this policy their part it will be almost
impossible to institute negotiations with any reasonable
prospect of success.





that should be able to you the present
occasion that difficulties with Great Britain arising
out of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty. had been finally
adjusted IN manner alike honorable and satisfactory to
both parties From causes however which the British
government had not anticipated they have not yet
peted treaty arrangements with the republics HOndu
ras and Nicaragua, in pursuance of the understanding
between the two governments. 1t is nevertheless
fdeny expected that this good work will ere long be
complished.


Whilst indulgng the hope that other subject re-
mained could disturb the good understanding be
OF
adverse claims Of the parties to the Island of San Juan
under the Oregon treaty of the 18th of June 1876 sud
denly assumed threatening prominence. In order to
prevent unfortunate collisions that frontier
the late Secretary of State on the l7h uv 1S55 adj
dressed Mr. Champion, then British minister at
Washington, communicating 10 him copy of the nstruc
tions which he Mr. Marcy had given, the l4th July
to Gov Stevens of Washington Territory, having a spe
cal reference 10 apprehended conflict between
citizens and the British subjects the Island Of San
Juan. To prevent this, the governor instructed
that the officers Of the Territory should abstain from all
acts the disputed grounds which calculated pro-
woke any conflicts SO far it be done without i'm
plying the concession TO the authorities o! Great Britain
of an exclusive right over the premises The title ought
t. be settled before either party should attempt exclude
the other by force, complete and exclusive
sovereign rights within the fairly disputed limits"


In acknowledging the receipt the next day of Mr..
Marcys note the British minister expressed his entire
lin the propriety of the recommended
to the governor of Washington Territory by your MIR
Macys instructions to that officer stating that he
had lost time in transmitting copy that document
TO the Governor General of British North America
had earnestly recommended to his Excelency To take
such him may appear best calculated to
secure the part of the British local authorities and
the inhabitants of the neighborhOod of the line in cues
ton the exercise Of the spirit forbearauce which
is incuIcated by lMr Mmcyl the authorities and
citizens Of the United States


Thus remained upon the faith of this arrange
ment until the 9th July last when Gen Harvey paid
visit to the Island lie found upon twenty-five Ameri
residents with their families also an establish
mGnt of the Hudsons Bay Company for the purpose of
raising sheep short time before his arrival one of
these residents had shot animal belonging to the COM
pany. whist trespsssiEg upon his premises, for which,
however, he offered to pay twice its value but that
refused Soon after the chief factor Of the company at
Victoria, hr DGes, sOn-n-law of Governor Douglas
the Island in the British soop-ofwar Satellite
and threatened to take this American Mr. CUTTER by
force to Victoria TO for the trespass he had com
mted The American seized his rife and told Mr. Dalles
if any such attempt made he would kill him on the
! spot The affair then ended -


Under these circums the American settlers pre-
scnted petition to the General, Through the United
States inspector Of customs Mr.. Hubbs place force
upsn the Island TO protect them from the Indians as we'll
the oppressive interference Of the authorities
Hudson Bay Company at Victoria with their rights
American citizens" The General Immediately responded
to this petition,and ordered Captain George Pickett
infantry Ito establish his company Bellevue San
Juan island, suitable position the harbor
he southeastern extremity. This order promptly
oheyed and military post established at place
designated The force afterwards increased
by the last return the whole number of troops
| island amounted in the aggregate to 69l men,


Whilst do not deem it proper the present occasion
to go further the subject and discuss the weight
which ought to be attached to the statements of the Brit
sh colonial authorities, contestng the of the
information which the gallant General acted it was
due to him that should thus present his
issuing the order to Captain Pickett From these it
quite clear his object to prevent the British author
ties Vancouvers Island from exercising jurisdiction
American residents the Island of San Juan as
well as TO protect them against the ncusons of the In