Mil iwSrv'' : ' :WwSMn ill m' $ $
d - ' ' i " ' ' :' ' - - ' ' ' 1 . ' '
" : VOLi 9: NO 47:
SALEM, OREGON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 31. 18G0.
! : i
WHOLE NO. 463.
Z-i
TBflt I.ITTLB )R1TEI.
" frt ontr a firth ipwre thev Wd, ' - -
injrju' child that's dead f
Ami mo tfcey carelessly tmned away
from the moaud the stablo bud made thai day..
AV they did not know hoar deep a shade
' - Toat little grave in onr home had made. ' '
I know the coffin was narrow and small.
Oae yard would bare nerved for an ample pall ;
i And one mail In hi arms rank) hare born away
- - I'M nmlmd aad freiifbt of clay.- -,
, -, Its 1 knew Umx darling hopes were hid
Beneath thai coffin-lid.
.. I know that a mother stood that day ,
. , With folded hands by that frm of clay ; .
. I know tmit bnraiug tears -were hid,
" Xestb the dmojiinif lash ai.HachinM;- '
. And 1 knew her up, and cheek, and brew, .
. . Were almost as white as ber baby's, now... , .
I knew that some thins were hid away.
The crimson frock, and wrappings my ;
TV Tfu) little sock aad the half worn shoe. . !
The rap with its pinnies and tassel bine ;
And an empty crib with its cored spread, '
- As white as the face of the sinless dead. - -
- 1 Ts a 1?t?!e grare, but, oik ! beware ? ' ' : " '" '
Vox world-wide hopes are buried there, -
And ye, perhaps, in conunK rears, .s i - .. '
May 'see, like her through blinding tears,
rrrr How wrack of tiithr. bow ranch of joy, -
Is buried op with aa only boy !
There is hearty in the forest,
Where the trees are green nod lair
There is beaaty in the meadow,
, Wlieru the wiM-flowersMrent the sir i
i Tuers im beanty in the stsu-liirht, . "
Aad a euft h!ne beam above.
Oh ! tiie world i full of beamy,
Wien the heart is fntl of love.
Tiiere is beanty in the fountain,
" nuiiia jrajlv ai irs phty.
While the rainbow fetus nre ifHtterin
On itn silver shining sprsy ;
Tnere i b-amy in the streamlet.
Wnrniirrin stfrlv throng the erove.
Oh ! the world i full of beantv.
When the heart is fuU of love,
a. -.-f,w,w, bmiwy tw the wiwnH-tr,-
When if ndis npoa the era.
Whra the blue fnatn cleared biliows
- Dance and fniic joyously ;
TT'rre is beanty in t jk lightnina; trlesm
T.iat o'er the dark waves rove.
Oh ! the world is n!l of beanty.
When the heart is full of love. .
Tiiere is beaaty in the brijrUinesa
lii-aiuing from a lovinjf eye, r
in the warm blitxh of srt'ociion,
I:i the tear of symrorhv ;
In the sweet low voice wnose aeventa
The iirtt's jrtattneMa pmves :
Oh ! the world is foil of beantv. ...
When the heart is full of live.
GLD 1'1BTZ. -
Xearlr rrcry d.tjr we hear f fresh duvovr
tiea nf pIJ tjoartz mitile within tb-eonrrtt". all
pnraUrr or leva jromi. Tin? whole region
K n'in pnwpeetMl, and if hj- Spring tin-re
hall In a quartz Wad within an area nf ten
miles in any ilirecthm fmtn Jackamrrille, nndis
cuvrtvJ. it will be one of the recugnized won
der if war little wnrld. A Tet, none of the
veins fiiond vie with Hick h-ad, bnt they tuny
fall far Brt of I his oHnmrisn. and still lie
very valnalile, for as we have befiwe reniarked.
th.it claim rarpasaes any thnt we ever hennl if.
Lait week, the two brother took from the rn?k.
emalied Hi an onlinarr tnortar, alxmt 30 ounces
of giil.l, and thu week ther hare lieen etinally
saccearlnl. The vein has been pt-uHrated only
to the depth of from two to three feet, all the
way yielding extravagantly as at the otrtn-t.
Claims in tite vicinity, and apparently in the
ante lead, do not pay approximati-Iy. allhonli
cinsiderahlr richer than claims in other locali
ties. The lead taken by Messrs. Mnnry and
Tavlor is ennk to a h-ttU of l feet, the rem
wnfeniug as it descend, and is now 22 inches
across. The rock merely pounded in a mortar
pays front 4 to 6 cents, per pound. The pro
prietor intend to pat np an arartra as soon as
a competent persoa cau be found to construct it.
On Tuesday, It. A. H.' Davis brought to
town some exceedingly promising specimens ob-
tamed M Bbtekwell digging, and toW nh of
diivovries made by biniself near Big Bar, on
Evans farm. Rogue river. Several persons
visited the latter place on Thnrs tay. for the
ptrrpose of prof.pectmg the lead and taking up
claims. We were shown several piece of the
qnartz rock brought in by these parties. It is
of the species generally know n as "rose qnartz.
harder and flintier than any we have seen. The
gnJd is not visible in any of the pieces shown
us, bnt one or two of the partit-s wlio have taken
ap claims assure us that npoa crashing and
pulverizing it, fair prospects have been obtained
tliroagljoac. Sonw dozen or more claims are
already staked otT. and iu the coarse of a week
or two, probably enough will be ascertained of
the real character of the rock to either warrant
the putting np of a mill, as is projected, or to
eanse abandonment of the lead altogether."
Other discoveries have been made by Tlioe.
Swinden, near Willow Springs ; by a German,
on Rich Gulch ; and on Apphrgate we are ai;
told of a very extensive and promising lead.
Fair prospects have nut lieen obtaiiietl from any
of these, but the specimens exlii'iited from the
first two are certainly equal to "fancy piece"
taken from the famnu Grass Valley veins.
Tiie search if daily continued, by nearly all
ektsse of our citizens, and still there i aa en
tire absence of what is generally distii-guished
a a "gold excitement,' which we hope never
to see in this valley nor elsew here. If gold
quartz proves, as we believe it will, wtatdetlully
abundant herealmata, it can lie found, olrtaincd
and enjoyed witboat producing gold fever, ami
therefore more rationally and beneficially by all
to whom it comes, either directly, or through
the channel of traJe. Jacksonville Sentinel.
Savage Game. On Thursday afternoon a
Messrs. O. D. Hoxie and C. F. Jones were
dock hunting along Bear Creek, their dog sur
prised a large tigress (or panther) which lay
ctHieeak-d lit the boshes. Instantly the doe
attacked the ferouioo brute, lmt sue qaivkly
route.l them, and delilierately approached tiie
hauler. Mr. Jones h:ipeued to be foremost.
He wat arneJ with a U. 8.. musket, lu-avily
htaded with duck shot. When the brute ad
vanced to within about ten pace, be fired full
in her face, completely blinding her. She was
then disp itched witboat trouble. The animal
measured over six feet in length, and from ber
very flV.diy cm Jitiu had evidently feasted upon
tha" tiler live stock about the country. In
fact au examination of her stomach showed
tbu pork was a favorite food with the "var
mint," and she carried andigested proof of. this
to an astonishing extent. Mr. Hoxie i certain
that the bntte has left a batch of mischievous
nr(ihns behind, fro.n howling and cries heard
daring the night. Jacksonville Sentinel.
ExTitemext. The news of the discovery
by Mr. George Ish. of the very rich qnartz vein
near Big Btr, produeed intense excitement in
town last night. Sqnire Hoffman was kept
basily employed in recording claim until near
ly midnight. Crowd of people were prepar
ing to start for the locality this morning. We
have at last an "excitement." Jacksonville
Senliml.
advertisemkxt.
, .IIolloway'8 Pills. When the stomach is
in an irritable condition the whole system sym
pathizes. Hence aick headache, nervousness,
and incapacity for mental or physical exertion.
There are lew who have not experienced these
unpleasant effects of indigestion, more trying
sometimes than serious illness, Now we take
it a pun ourselves to say, not from report, but
fro.u actual experience, that Hollow-ay's Pills
are a positive and immediate remedy for all
such depressing and annoying disorder. They
aet the stomach right at once, and the controll
ing organ of the system being regulated and
put iu order, the return of bodily and mental
,&eajtb ie Deoeasarj cuftaeqaeuoe.
We copy tli folio witax front the Portland AVa-s, of
Tuesday. - ' - - ' .
ACABw.
There is in the last numlier of the Timet a
correspondence between tint editor of that pa
per and myself, with editorial conmietitx. That
correspondence grow oat of an article in the
Statesman of the 3d inst., in which it is alleg
ed upon rumor thtt "the editor of the Time
had made direct overture to Judge William j
to get nnu nito tue I'iae otnee, in retarti lor
which the 2Yms was to upiort Judge W. for
the Scnntc." , On the 4th iiiat. I received
throngh Dr. Loryca a note from the Times etl
itor couched in an imperious and defiant style,
aakiug for an " explicit denial " of said allega
tton. I respeeU'ully declined, on the ground
that said editor hnd no right to demand of mo
the denial of it rumor reported in the Stares
man about him. When an editor makes a
charge upon rumor, it is to be presumed that
he desires to be responsible for that charge.
Rumor c.tnnot respond, and therefore the
editor, repeating it timer. What right had
I to thrust myself into the controversy bclw ten
the two editors, and take the quarrel nil' the
hand of the Statesman f livery man of sense
must know that it was the duty of the Times
editor, ir he felt aggrieved by the said article,
to call urn the ed"orof the paper in which
it appeared to retract the charge, or give their
authoritr Tor it, and if tlu v had givf n me a
the authorirv. then I w onltl'have been restion-
sible to the Times editor. For. addressing me
sin me
in the first place, he make the paltry excuse
that heeoahi not communicate with the editor
of the Statesman, but I assert and can prove
tltat after the arrival iu this city nl the Slates-
m .... . - . I
man ot tliu JJ mst.. tue two editors met ami
shook hands, and that while Mr. Bush In-M this '
Mr. Knsseil whh one hand, lie held the Statu- j
man containing the offensive article in tiie oth- '
er. and not one word wu said to Bush about it !
ilu he remained here. much lor this nart
. . .
of the Mibicvt.
to me
Tiie 1 tmet editor in bis second note
nv rand 1 call attention to the lai.-nn-.-t: -it
. - . . o o -
r .. .v I :.. .... ....w I. . . .
..... u,ru,IC , ,.u
interest in tu. Times icith the object and ort the
. 1 ' .... .
condition that the said paper should lie devotetl
to the advancement ol your betiatortal asinra-
tion. as is alk-ged on rumor by the Statesman.'"
In my answer to this. 1 expressly ret use lo nl
firm or tleiiv as to the Statesman's ank le, but
assent' to the above ; whereupon tlio Times
man says in his ntit issue " that I denied ttie
truth ot th- Statesman's allegation." Now, 1
invite attention to the fact that into the States
man's allegation Mr. Russel i.iterjM.lates the '
words pecuniary aid in the purchose, "tcith
the object and on the condition," "devided to i
the advancement, antl other words, cluinging '
the entire idinMubnry, force and etfect ot the
Statesman's nhVcatnm. and t lieu savs that such
allegation so changed by hint. Hot true, and j
it was on acemtnt of these interpolations that I ,
assented to the correctness of the statement. .
Nobtnly has said that Mr. Rusci' object
was a he states, or thnt there was anv cu- '
dition-tothe ..romped armreueut.'. that
,i rn- ; i' i . , Ti. i
the Times wa IoIm "devoted ' to lile. but the
r... . .i.. i. i....ii . . ...
". . .49 4IHV ..44. 1444letl nII44-J l4C W lie. II
him into the Times, holding out a an induce
ment that the Times, with him as editor. Would
snpport me fir the Senate.
av ihiit: mniru rnmwi wir.nr i j
hi general term in the presence of other, but
have never repeated the coliversatioii between
ns. and I will not rfMuwe, Wnuiomare a wnn-
ton assailant, repeat wnat wa saw; nut .Mr. ;
uiisseii auows mat in me presence oi aiiinu
party ue so spoKe oi my camu.iucy lor tue ccn-
ate in connection with hw going lit the Times,
as to folly warrant me tu eoiiclutling that if I
helped hiut into the Time the '1 'xmes would j
help tue to the .Senate. .1
:Solouy lias charged .Mr. KUfscll witlt " sor- !
did and mercenary motive" or " tnornl tuq.i- j
tilde," as he assumes with such tragic air m the I
fcu-t Times, These are the gentleman's own !
inferences, prompted, it may be. by a con- j
scioosness guilt, for it is truly said that 'the ;
w liked Wee when no man pursuetb. . .. j
1 his Mr. Kusscil protcsscB to bate been uiy
"sincere and earnest friend il tins le true. :
why did he nut come to me in a friendly way, j
- f . a.aa a. aa . . i . n .t '
it ne inoUfM i na.i wnmgeu nun, aim tins tue
uiatter over, instead of assuming, without know
ing what I had said or done, a belligerent atti
tude towards me and sending "hi friend " with
"all the pomp and circumst nice of war."
Does he expect to deceive anvbody by such
sMif? .
1 dismiss this Mr. Russell once for all. I
have noticed him, not because he was entitled
to it, but for another purpose. His anxiety to
assume guilt w here Hone has been imputed
his misrepresentation hi mutilations in more
than a dozen instances, by suppressing a part
changing word italicising and omitting italics
entirely dillerent lrom the manuscript in the
publication of a corresjxiudeiiee brought out by
his pretended seusitivciiess alMiot hi honor his
vitupenithm of me, upon a supposition that I
have said or done something on'eiisive to hiai.
he know not hat ; sntisly me that he has mis
taken effrontery and a swaggering air for the
true spirit and dignity of a gentleman, lie is
welcome to all the notoriety he has sought and
attained bv oltfruiliug huuselt upon my atten
tion, and apologize to my friends and tiie pub
lie for consenting to play any part in this low
farce of " much ado about mailing.
: i
GEO. II. WILLIAMS.
MessrS. Editors I saw in the last ijic
of the Oregon Democrat, an article head.-.l
"Offering to Ret." He (the editor) says a deln
oe rat in Marion county, writing to us, say :
"E.. a professed dei.tocrat, and V.. a black
republican, offer to bet 1 100 that Raker and
Nesmith will be the next IT- S- ienators."
Now, Mr. Democrat, I suppose the black re
publican W. means Dr. Warren; if so, I pro
noanee it a lie. and your informant a falsifier ;
and be can swallow it without chewing, or let
it choke hint. I will thank you in future, when
you personate me, to give uiy name, aad no
firing pop-cutis behind lies. ,
. W. WARREN.
' That "democrat
repnblicaa ticket.
1 is one of the kind that voles the
Putrid Soke Throat. This disease ha
consigned a large number of the children of
this community to, a 1 consider, a premature
grave. la the first place, it is nothing more or
less than what was called, twenty -live mt thirty
year ago. Canker liash. and the old bwiiea of
those days, in most eases, would cure w ith their
herbs, w itltout the use f caustics, or mercury ;
and I ask parent to investigate the treatment
their children have received in this disease, and
ee if it is iu. accordance with reason, pbikwo-
phy. or common sense. I speak aa unto tnere
men and women; judge me what I sav.
Salem, Jan., ISrJO. W. W.
C7"A correspondent at -Albany writes as
follows: '
The stockholders of the Democrat say that
Delusion must and shall dry vp his vulgarity,
or they will draw out. That they gave him
three montlis to clear up his character, and that
the time is up. His 'character" is in a worse
coiiditiou than it was when bc commenced
"clearing it op." His character is one of the
articles that won't clear, and the more it i
stirred the worse it appears. ( ; , , .
&T " I always pick my company, said a
suspicious character, turning from a company
of gentlemen to whom he saw be wa disagree
able. " And their pockets, too, when you get
ntibAsoe," replied una of titeu). .
Oakland, Jan. 18. 1800.
Eottors Statrsw.s: I wish too to in
form those of yonr conresnoitdetit who are di
posed to charge the 1'ostmnster or the deputy
rotftinnstc r at Oakland with willfullr detaiuimr.
or through carelessiiesM, delaying the package
tit tue statesman, at tins omoe, that tliose
charges are wholly without foundation, unJ are
uncHlled for ; hnd your Rom-burg frieiiJ taken
a mucb interest in asccrbtming the cause of
delay of the Statesman, a he did in finding out
mui i ne pacango oi me statesman, lor tiie lAt
ciist Grove ollice. came regularly, he nndoubt
edlr would have been satisfied that there was
no cause to complain of the Postmaster at Oak
land. The paper mails for this oHice, and of
fice smith of here, are generally sent from
Corvallis via Eugene Citv. the mail by this
route often arrive here nfW the other mails
have left this office. When this occurs, the
mail are unavoidably detained at this office
uutil the next week. Respectfully yours,
E. C. LORD. P. M.
We were well aware, a tve stated, thnt no
fault w as chargeable upon the Oakland office.
We have ever understood that the 1. M. at
, that office, w a among the most competent and
faithful in the State.
j ,8 tm.re not ilnt,M.r tmtf, fn,m Corralli!,
' . , ,
j f4,uth thaM th,at rta, tiigeue City, by which the
Ik: niaJc t coiiii.-ct at Oak
1 la"'1 ' 111 u,c 1 - at vorvalii ascertain ;
Lafayette, Jan. Nth, 1300. :
EriTon Statesm an Sin Will yon please
give the following Resolutions an insertion in
yonr paper, nn.-l by so iloing. yon will unieli
oblidge the uieniber of Lafayetle Ioilge No.
3 of A. F. & A. M. V.inrx ri-spectfnllv,
EDWARD DL'PL IS.
15
ems Ueeplv rrieveil at t he iiiflaiu-liotv
.t i. i i i . . r. -
! .i ; ..... , , .
i ami ilsirill!r to evmvss our n-fiiril for Ins
. . er - i - -
I orr iNttb a a man and a a unison. . La fa ret te
; I ,J. v.. .. t 4 i i..
! ' - r . cx .a. ... upeeiai
; etMi.i.nin.enTio.i rimri'mii. iio i.ii:iimiikiumIi
J-...7 .1... i . i. . r
' 'tn, ii.i m uir 'jmuiirn .-.til. fii iinr
WortnV nill lnnif..t.-fll l.rotht.r hit u-iu li
wu lost in
the lite rlis.istroiH siiinn reck of I he steaiushii
.1 :.. ... : r 1 . '
, r:nrrnrr, ill lllf lirilllC OI Uini.II MHI ntlll Use-
liitbiess, we have an i:niiressive lesson of the
uncertainty ol Ii.itiian lile, ami the coutaut
preparation Tor D.-.tlu.
so: it a. i u u we recognize in tiie tiiaiac-
br of ouriKceased bnilher, a man. wlmse lift
was eminent fir virtue, honor, ami iniegritv
wbo. a a citizen was enterprising and useful.
as a menu, laiililul an I true, ami as a brother,
tliiistratetl l.v his lite those exalted tr.ut
which t.i iMissesst the hi-hest honor of a Mason,
Resnlred, Th tt we sympathise d.n-ply with
tin laiuny ol trie ttecease.1 in this great misthr
tune, and tender to hi afflicted widow our iu
cere condolence.
Resolved. That as n public testimoni:l of
our reganl. the luemlH r of tins Loilire will
il. the luemlH-r of this LoJt
wear the usual baJire of moiiruiiiir tor tliirtv
: .1... r . . . t -i . - -
, ; " .' TV-i r . r T
i"" rTl"''"" be lonvanknTu. U.o press
tor puiiiicaiioii. ami a coi.v lie tra
: t. ... ..r .... i . ii .i
dov of our deceased broth, r.
be transmitted to
GEO- II. STEWAUD, W.
Ei. Drpcis, See'r.
M.
i Oltl'P.(.X A I'PI PS Til- ktsil.a Mf tl.aa A fl-
tM MilM IlltV ltMrl ife araai arf !.
.,n. ..nnlucea in fruit-grow'ing on the Pa
ei,jv. f Iir ,,ijr t.,MJltPr esterday wi
i,mJ iH-.-nlar demonstration ol tT.eTact Uiiu
pics with old. familiar names, grow in Oregon
to enonnons sizes and great so iditr say. oub e
the ordmarv size. J.weidi Hamilton Went out
, Oregon, across the Plains, iu IS47. and set
, i,jm. ftr, alM.ut 1IM miles from
Portland. Here he established n farm, and in
time began to think of getting fruit in time.
At first he planted seeds: then he procured
scions, and crafted the seedlings: and now he
llas nppl.ii, 8ue, abundance that he cannot
tlij,We f them, because his neighbor also
l,HVe them, and of such excellence and size
that Dominie Sampson might well fray : " I'ru-
dihuts !"
Jl-iiieron a visit to his father in Iowa, lie
bnui.l.r with bim a r, iinuiH. .! .-..II. J
t the Trihune office to give us a sight or what
C C
tLllt ctat , ,,..., . r nM ,.;,,. lo.-as-
area a lew specimens. A Gloria .Mnu.li was
174 inch.- in circumference, n p-iuish Rein
nette 14 inches, n blue Winter Penrtuuiii 14
inches. A Tolpalmckiug ulteti weighed at
home over two vouiids eneh. The market price
of apples iii Portland is tinve cents a pound for
early inter sorts, ami rive cents lor lute sorts.
At Vancouver's Island, when 51r. Hniiiilron
wa there a few week f inee. the coiiiinoii price
was fourteen cents a ponn.l. He rejp-etr.il
that ho had not sent his own npph-s to timt mar
ket, though it would cost about three cent it
pound to get them to Portland.
On the Pacilic side all sort of fruit and most
vegetable are sold by the pound. It its a cus
tom that should prevail every here.
Mr. Ila-nilton stated that his grafts at two
years nl.l, ottcn produce Innu tin. I nt three
years, .jnile nbiiniiaiitly. Ill tree have uever
had any extra sti imlns. except giMnl cultit atiou
oi't'ie n it'.tra! soil, w liieh c-iiaiuly is productive
of very fine apples. A". V. Tribune.
Moke Qcaktz. Last night. Mr. George
Ish came to tow n with seven. I pieces of a'turtx
gold PH-k, of extraordinary richness, taken from
a lead discovered soiitcw hero in tin; wcighltor
h.ahl f llg Kar. yeterday. The rK.-k is w Lite
and very hard, with fine veins of gold coursing
ail through it. He says the pieces exhibited
are fair samples, and thnt the lead is quite ex
tensive. If so, he will surely soon arrive at for
tune. Jacksonville Sentinel.
n By our exchange we see, that when an
onslaught was made in Congress upon the Ad
ministration, for its sin of omission and com
mission, that Gen. Lnnc liecame the apologist
for the removal of Douglas from the chairman
ship of the Committee hmhi Territories. He
also assumed grounds upon the slavery iiies
tion, that would debar the people of the Terri
tories from "regulating their domestic concern?
in their own way." Advertiser.
We could multiply this chts of choice '.-x-tract
indefinitely. Delazonian. -
In declaring tliat you could dive deeper in
perfidy, you declare a falsehood. You have
betrayed everything in your possession which
would minister to your vilcucss and treachery.
I Mf.ax to be a Mas A gentleman once
met a little fellow, seven years of age, on his
way to school, with hi book tinder his arm.
Stopping the little fellow for a moment he said
to him :
" Well, niy Tittle boy, what do you intend to
be, when vou grow up J"
lie had asked the question a great many
times, lielore. . and some boys told him they
meant to be farmers, some niercuai.ts, and some
ministers. But what do vou think was the an
swer of this little boy f Better than all of
them.
I mean to be a man f" he said.
It matter very little whether he be a farmer,
or a merchant, or a minister, if he be a man
he will be successful, and lie loved and respect
ed. Some persons never ltecnme men, but are
great lxiys after they have grown up. "
Ask your parents, or teacher, children, what
makes n man and th.-n. like this little boy, re
solve to bo a mail ia all things.
Woman's M issios. To aton at borne br the
fireside whilst man goes out to collect muterial
Us mako the po hU 'twicA, -
PRaT.aaTTq HIBIUGK.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and .
House of Represenlatices:
Onr deep and heartfelt gratitude i due to
that Almighty Power, which has In-stowed upon
s stn-li varied an J nti"tvf blessings through
out the past year. . The general health of the
country has lieen eroelJrtit. Our harvests have
been unusually plentiful, and prosperity smiles
throughout the land. Indeed, notwithstanding
our demerit, we hare much reason to liclieve
from the past events in our history, that we
have enjoyed the special protection of Divine
Providence, ever since bur origin as a nation.
We have been exposed to many threatening
ami alarming diffiuulUos in our progress ; but
on each successive fceension the impending
cloud has lieeu dissipated at the moment it ap-
Jieured ready to burotiapon our head, and the
langer to our iiisjjU ions ha passed away.
May we ever be undef the Divine guidance and
protection!, V'
Whilst it I the djof the President from
time tw-tinie to give to TCoiigrcsa 'information of
the state of the Union, I shall not refer to the
ri-oeiit and bloody occurrence at Harper's Fer
rv. Still, it i proper to obscrxe that these
event, however bad and cruel iu themselves.
derive their chief import a nee from the appre
hension that they are hut symptom of an in
curable disease iu the public mind, w hich may
break out in still more dangerous outn.e. mid
terminate at la-t in open war bv the North to
abolish slavery iu the South. Whilst for my
self I entertain no such apprehensions, tiny
ought to afford a solemn warning to n nil to be
ware ot the approach ol danger. - Our Linoii
is a stake of such inestimable value a to de
mand our coiisUmt and watchful vigilance for
ttspreservnii .il. In th th-w let me implore
my countrymen. North and South, to cultivate
tiie ancient fccliuirs of mutual forlM-arauee and
g.MM.1 will towards each other, and strive to Jill ;iy
the demon-spirit of sectional hatred and strife
now alive Hi the land. I In advice pnne. .Is
from the heart of an old public i'uiiciioiniiy.
whose service commenced iu tlte l ist cetera
tioit. anions' the wise and eons, rrntix e states
men of that day, now nearly al! p-iM-d away,
mid whose first ami deaiet earthly uisii is "to
leave hi country tnintuil. prosperous, united
and powcrt.il.
. , We ought to reflect that iu this age. and es
pecially in this country, there is u incessant
li.ix and retlux of public iipttiiou. tjin-stions,
which iii their day assumed a most threatening
sccf, have unw nearly guuc from the lucnmry
of men. They are volcanoes hunted out, nud
on the lava and as es and -iaid sco i e of old
eruptions grow the pcncclnl olive, the cheering
vine and sustaining com. Such, in my opin
ion, w ill prove to be tiie fate of the present sec
tional excitement, should those who wisely seek
to apply the remedy continue always to confine
their i-t'fort w ithiu the pale of the Constitution.
If this course be pursued, the existing agitation
on the subject ot domestic slaver)', bke every
thing human, will have it day, and give place
to oilier and less threatening coutruvcrsics.
I'nlilic opinion in this country is all powerful,
and w hen it reaches a dangerous excess upon
any question, the g.d sense of the people v. ill
furnish the corrective and bring it back within
safe limit. .Still, to hasten this auspicious re
sult at the preseut crisis, we ought to remem
ber that every rational creature must In- pre
sumed to intend the natural collect) tienccs of
his own teachings. Those w ho announce nil
s', rue t doctrine subversive of the Constitution
and the I'llioil. lllllst liotbi' -fi Mirow
lin-rr nrnirn pntmn. av ai.ee one step further
at. nt tempt by violence to carry these h-triiie
into practical etl'eit. In this view of the sub
ject it ought never to be forgotten that, how ev
er great may have Ik-cii the political advanta
ges resulting fiom tl.e Uiii.ni to every portion
of our common country, these would all prove
to be as nothing should the time ever arrive
w hen they cauuot be enjoyed w ithout serious
damage, to the personal safety of the people of
fifteen inemlM-r of the confederacy. If the
peace of the domestic fireside throughout these
State should ever be invaded ; if the mother
of families within this extensive region should
not be ii hie to rest at night, without suffering
dreadful apprehensions of what may be their
own late, and that ol their children in-tore
the morning, it would be vain to recount to such
a people the political benefit which result to
them tn.m the Union. Self preservation i the
first instinct of nature; ami therefore anv state
id" society iu which the sword i nil the time
s.i-peiided over the heads of the people, must
at last become intolerable.
Hut I indulge iu no such gloom v foreboding.
On the contrary I firmly lu-heve that the events
at Harper's Ferry, by causing the eopIc to
pause ami reflect uim.u the possible peril to their
cherished institutions, will ie the means, ni.iltr
Providence, of allaying the existing excitement
and preventing future outbreaks of a t-i.uilur
character. Th.-v will resolve that the Consti-
luti mi nud the Union shall not be endangered
bv r.ish counsels, know insr that, should the sil
ver cord be loosed, or the troldeli bowl lie bro
ken nt the fountain, human power could never
reunite the scattered nud hostile fra.niifi.18.
I eonltallv congratulate vou upon the iii nl
settlement by the Supreme ('.tint of tin- I', r ..
d the q-.iestnm iii slavery in the i.iritmos
winch li.nl presented an aspect sotrmv Ioim.i.i-
alde nt the commencement of my i.itmiiiistra
tion. The right has beeu established of even
ed. sen totakehi prH-rty of any kind, includ
ing slaves, into the common territories la-long-
ini; eounllv to nil the State of the Confederaev,
and have it protected there under the Federal
Constitution. Neither Congress nor a Territo
rial legislature, nor any hu.nan power, ha any
authority to annul or impair tin vested right.
1 he Supreme Judicial tribunal ol Hie country.
which i a co ordinate branch of the Govern
ment, has sanctioned and affirmed these prin
ciples of cotistitutiiHial law, so manifestly just
ill themselves, and so well calculated to pro
mote pence and harmony among the States. It
is a striking proof of the sense of justice which
i inherent iu our people, that the property in
slaves has never b-eii disturlied, to my knowl
edge, in any of the Territories. Even through
out the late troubles in Kansas there has not
lieen anv attempt, tu I aui credibly informed,
to inU-rtWe in a singlo instance with the right
of the master. Had any such attempt been
made, the Judiciarv would doubtless have af
forded no adequate remedy. Should they fail
to do this herculler, it will then be time enough
to strengthen their hand by further legislation.
Had it been decided that cither Congress or the
Territorial Legislature possess the power to
annul or impair the right to property iu slaves,
the evil would be , intolerable. Iu the latter
event there would lie a struggle for a majority
of the member of the Legislature at each suc
cessive election, and the sacred rights of prop
erty held under the Federal Constitution would
depend for the time being on the result. The
agitation would thus be rendered incessant
whilst the Territorial condition remained, and
its influence would keep alive a dangerous ex
citement among tue - people ot tue several
States. ,
Thus has the status of a I erritory, dnnnsr
the intermediate period from it first settlement
until it shall become a State, been irrevocably
fixed bv the final decision of the Supreme
Court. " Fortuuate has this been for the pros
perity of the Territories as well as the tranquil-
itv ot the States. . Now, emigrants lrom the
North and South, the fc.ast and West, will meet
in the Territories on a common platform, hav
ing brought with them that species of property,
best adapted, iu their own opinion, to promote
their owu welfare. From uaturnl causes, the
I slavery .piestion w ill, in each case, soou virtual
ly cetolu itself, and before tho Territory ia pro-
posed for admission as a State into the Union,
this decision, one way or the other. w-II have
been a foregone conclusion. Meanwhile the
settlement of the Territory will proceed without
serious interruption, and its progress and pro
perky w ill not lie endangered or retarded by
violent political struggle. When, iu the pro
gress of events, the inhabitants of any Territo
ry shall have reached the number required to
form a State, they will then proceed in a regu
lar mautier, and, iu the exercise of the rhtl.ts
of Popular Sovereignty, to form a Constitution,
preparatory to admission into the Union. Af
ter this has beeu done, to employ the language
of the Kansas and Nebraska Act, they shall be
received into the Union, with or withoi-t slavery,
as their Constitution may prescribe, at the time
of the admission. Thii principle ha happily
been recognized, in some form or other, by an
almost unanimous vole of both houses of the
last Congress.
All lawful menu at my command have lieen
employed, and slmll continue to be empioved,
to execute the laws ngahrst tin? African "htvc
trade. After a most careful nud vigorous exam
ination of onr coasts, and thorough investiga
tion of the snbject. w have not been able to
discover that any slave have been imported
into the United States, except the cargo by the
If'fafVrer, numbering between 3U(t and'-lOO.
ri.nse engaged iu the unlawful enterprise have
is eu ntir-.tisiy pr. wen ten : nut not witti ns
a uch success ns their crime deserved. - A
umber of them are still under nmaccutiun.
Oar history proves that the father of the Ke-
Jnihlic. in advance of all other nations, con-l.-i.nied
the African slave trade. It was. not-
n;t!itain!ia;r. deemed cxm-dicM br the fra. iters
id the Coii-titutioii to deprive Congress id" the
power to pr .hil.it the migration or importation
il smcIi persons a anv ot tlte States now ex
isting shall think proper to adopt prior to the
yertr ItJO-J. It trill be seen that ibis restriction
on the power nf Congress. was confined to such
State only :i might tliLik pruia-r to ad. nit the
:iiip.U1a!joii ol slaves. It did uot exteud to
other States or to tiade carried on abroad. Ac
cordingly, we liu.l that o enrlv as the 'MUI of
M m il l!U. Conaress ea-sed nn act imtmshi!;
severe jH-ti::lties and piluisli nt ufs upon citizens
and residents of tin- United States who slm-ild
eiignge i'i t'lis tratle b.tneeli for. Liu liati. ns.
Th.- iiror:ioits nf this act were cxti-it.Icit and
enforced bv ti..- act of llltii :.. ISIKI A
the Slates thciu-eivei. ha I a clear . ight to w i e
the constitutional privilege, intended for their
iieiii-hf to prohibit, bv their own laws, this
trade at any time they thought prH-r. pr-vi..:is
ti IIH. JSeVenil of them exereiseil this r:-bt
fun- that periml. and anion? them sonic con
taiua.g the greatest im.iiber of slaves. Thi-
gave to t ongres the limneilliitc potter to act i:i
repird to i.li such States, because they lln-iii-
scivc had removed the Coustitnluuial harrier.
Cougres, nccordmslv. risrd an act on thf
2Jth .htv of Febrnarf. I to prevent the i :i
portition of certain K-rsoi.s into certain States
w h-re. by tin- law thereof, their nd.uissiou is
pmhibited. In this manner the iaioort i:i..n of
A'ricm stives into the U. wa to a great
extent p: hibited, some years in advance of
If i.
A tin- year ISO atiiirortilied, Consres de-
teriiiined not to suffer this trade to i xist even
for a single day niter thev had the power to
abolish it. Oi'u the id of March. I-S07, thr-v
passe.1 an act to take effect from anil after the
1st day of January. I?l)i. prohibiting the im
portation of African slaves into Ihe I . This
character, to niiieh I need in sjn-cial!y refer.
Such were the principles, ami such the practice,
of onr ancestors more than filly years ago in
regard to the African slave trade." It di.l not
occur to the rcVercd patriots w ho had been del
egated to the Convention and afterward lie
came member of Congress, that in passing
these law they had violated the Constitution
which they had framed with so much care and
deliberation. They tip.sed that to prohibit
Congress, iu expres terms, from exercising a
sHt-ilic jM.wer lcfirc nn apMiiited day. neces
sarily involved the right to exercise this power
after that day had arrived. If this were not
the c-isc. the fiumer of the Constitution had
expended much labor in vain. Had thev im
agine J that Congress would possess in. mo. r to
prohii.it tho trade ei'.in-r In-fore or after I H).
they would not have taken so nu:cli care to pro
tect the State against the exercise of this p.w
er before that period. Ny, more; they would
not h ive attached such a vast importance to
this provision as to have excluded it from the
possibility of future repeal nr aaieiidnieut, to
which other portion of the Coustiiutiou were
cspo-ed. It would then have btvn wholly un
necessary to engraft on tl.e tilth article of tile
('institution, preset. ting tin- tumle of its ow n
future a iteiid.iieut. the r'io that no aim-. el
mei.t which may be made prior to the tear
ll'i, shall in any in inner aiieit the provision
in the Cousritiitioii securing to tiie Slates the
right to admit tlio importation of African slaves,
previous to that period.
According to tin- adverse construction, the
claie itself on w iticii so much c ire and .lis
Oilssioii ! lit been eiiiploved i.y the Mletobi-r-s ( t
toe t UTtVeiiri'-'.i was an ab-oiu'e iitb;rt !:-e.ti tit.
beginniiig. -in. I a!i tii.it h:is since been done in.
d.-r it a in. re nsui I' l.'.on. t was Weil and
wis- to confer liiis p .wer on Conr. s. b, cause,
had it been left to ihe Mates. iU liicieiit i-Xie
riciice wo'li.I have been baptit-sihic. In this re
sK-ct that any cue State eon Id have rift-tu-iiliy
continued (he Hade not only li.r itself Out
for all the other slave States, though never so
much against their will. And why .' because
African slaves when once brought within the
limit nf any one State in accordance with its
law, cannot practically lie excluded from nov
el her State w here slavery exist; and even if
all the States separately passed law prohibit
ing the iutHirtalioii-of slave, these law would
have failed of elf.-ct for want of a naval force
to capture the slave and to guard the coasts.
Such a force no State can employ in tiv e oi
peace without tiie consent of Congress.
These acts of Congress, it is believed, have,
with Very rare and insignificant exceptions, ac
complished their purpese, for a period of more
than half a century. There ha been no per
cei able addition to the number of onr domes
tic slaves during this period. Their advance
ment in civilization has far surpassed that of
any other portion of tl.e African race. The
light nud blessing of Christianity have been
extended to them, and both their moral and
physical condition has Ik-cii irrcatly improved.
ke-oK-u the trade, and it would be ditiicult to
deU-rioine whether the effect would lie more
deleterious on the interest of the master, or on
tliose of the native-born slave. Evil to the
muster the moat to lie dreaded, would be the
introduction of wild heathen and ignorant bar
barian among the sober, orderly and quiet
slave, whose ancestor have beeu ou the soil
for several generation. This might tend to
barbarize, demoralize and exiisM-rate the hole
mass, and produce most deplorable consequen
ce. The effect upon the existing slave would,
if possible, be still more deplorable. At pres
ent he i treated with kindness and humanity ;
he is well fed, well clothed, and not overwork
ed ; hi condition is incomparably better than
that of the coolie which modern nation of
high civilization have employed n substitute
for African slaves. Both the philanthropy and
the self-interest of the master have coiuiiiiied
to produce this humane result. But let this
trade bo opened, and what will be the effect ?
The ' same, to a considerable extent, a ou a
neighlH.riug island tho ouly spot now ou earth
where the African slavo trade is openly tolera
ted, and this in defiance of solemn treaties with
a power abundantly able at any moment to eu
frtrou their uxeouuuu. There Um muotur,- in
tent npon present gain, extorts from the slave
as much lain t as his physical powers are capa
ble of enduiing, knowing that when death
comes to his relief, hi place can be supplied at
a price reduced to the lowest point bv the com
petition of rival African slave-traders. 'I do
not deem probable, the present nsefnl charac
ter of the don t-stie institution, w herein those
too old and too young to work are provided for
with cure and humanity, and those capable of
htlor are not overtasked, would undergo an nn
fortunate change. The feeling of reciprocal
dependence aud attachment which now exists
between master mid slave, would be converted
into mutual distrust and hostility.
But we are obliged a a christian and moral
nation to consider what wonld lie the effect
upon unhappy Africa itself, if we should re-,
open the stave trade. This would give the
trade an impulse aud extension which it has
never had. even iu it palmiest days. The nu
merous victims required to supply it would con
vert the w hole slave coast into a perfect pande
monium, for which this country would be held
responsible in the eyes r.f both God and man.
Its petty tribe would then be constantly en
gaged iu predatory war against each other, for
the purpose of seizing slaves to supply the Amer
ican market. All hope of African civilization
would tho be ended. On the other bund,
lieu a market for African slaves shall no long
er be furnished in Cuba, and thus all the world
be closed against the trade, we roar then in
dulge in the reasonable hope for the gradual
improvement of Africa. The chief motive of
war among the triltes will cease whenever there
is tin longer any demand for slaves. The re
source of that fertile hut miserable country
might then lie developed by the hand of indus
try, aud afford subject for legitimate foreign aud
domestic commerce. In this manner Chris
tianity and civilization may gradually penetrate
the existing gloom.
The wisdom of the course pursued by the
Government tow arils China has been vindicated
by the events. Whilst we sustained a neutral
position in the war waged by Great Britain and
k' ranee guiust the Chinese Empire, our late
minister in olicdiciice to hi instructions, judi
cially co-operated with the minister of those
powers in all peaceful lucasnre to seenre by
frentv the just concessions demanded by the
iuti-res s of foreign commerce. The result is.
tha s ttisfactory treaties have concluded with
t'h.n.i, by the respective Minister of the United
Smtes. Great Britain, France ami Kusria.
U'ir treaty or general convention of peace, ain
bi iiu.l co nnierce with that Empire, wa c:i
cbi l-1 ul 1'ieutziit on ti.e 13th .Jane. 1 3 ). aud
was ratified by the President by arid with the
a ! u-e a:i. I consent nf the senate, on the 21st
December f.dl iwi.ig. Oil tiie l ith D.-cem'n-r.
J - ii. John E. Ward, a dtiuguLhed citizen of "
Georgia, was duly c!iiu.is.iom-d as Envoy K V
Ir (ordinary and Mini-er Ph-iiipoteii'iary to
China. - lie left tin- U. S. for thi place of his
destination on the ;ith February, taking
with hi:J the ratified C 'pr of tais treaty, and
arrived at Shanghai on tlir i?:h Mar. From
:lu-lice be proceeded to Pekin on the 10th
.June, but did not arrive iu ttat city nutil the
-it!i July. According to the terms of the
treaty, the riitiiicatioas were to lie exchanged
on or before the lSrh of June, ISoti. This wa
rendered impossible by reason and event be
yond his control, not necessary to detail ; bnt
still it is due to the Chinese authorities at
Shanghai to state that they always assured him
that no a. haul nre Mioiihl be taken of the delav.
, On the arrival of Mr. Ward at i'ekin. he re
quested au audience of tiie Emperor to present
nt letter .a" credence. This he did not obtain,
in consequence of bis very proper refusal to
snb.t.il to the humiliating ceremonies required
by the etiquette of this strange eope iu ap
proaching their sovereign. Nevertheless, the
interview ou this question were conducted in
the must friendly spirit, aud with all due regard
to hi jK-rsonal feeling, aud the honor of his
country. When a presentation to hi majesty
was found to lie impossible, the letter of cre
dence from the I'rcsideut was received with pe
culiar honors, by Kwiel.-mg. the Emperor's
Prime-M iuister, aud the second man in the Em
pire to tiie Emperor himself. The ratifications
of the treaty were afu-rwards. ou the ltjth Au
g 1st. exchanged m proper furai at tiie liei
aug. As theexeh uige did not take place un
til niter the day prescribed by the treaty, it i
deemed proper before its publication, again to
s'.leuit it to the Senate. It is but simple jus
tice to the Chinese authorities to observe that
thriutghoiit the whole transaction they appear
to have acted iu good faith, and iu a friendly
spirit toward the United States. It is true,
this ha been done after their own peculiar fash
ion ; but we ouslit tit regard with u lenient eye,
tint ancient custom of au empire dating back
for timu-aiids of years, so far as this may be
consistent with onr own national honor. The
conduct of our Minister, on the occasion, has
received my entire approbation.
In order to carry out the spirit of this treaty,
aud to give it full effect, it liecame necessary to
conclude two supplemental Conventions one
for tli ii.ijuslmeiif ami satisfaction of the claim
d our citi.ens, mid the other to fix tlte tariff on
import and exports, and to regulate the transit
duties and trade of our merchants with China.
Th". duty was satisfactorily performed by our
l it.- Minister. These Couveution bear date
at .- haiigiiaeoii the 6th November, IdoS. Hav
ing been considered in the light of binding
agree.iN-iit subsidiary to the principle treaty,
aad to he -carried into execution without lcl;M
they do not provide for any formal ratification,
by " the contracting parties. This was not
.l.v.n.-d iicoes iry Ity tue ChiiK-sc, who arc al
ready proceeding in good faith to satisfy the
claims of our citizens, and. it i hoped, to carry '
out the other provisions of the conveiiti.Ni.
Stiil 1 tie oght it was proper to sub.i.ir them to
the Senate. I.y which they were ratdied on 3d
Marth. Irfwl'. The ratified copies, however,
d;d not reach Shangnae until niter the depart
ure ol our M iuister to Pckin, and these conven
tions could not therefore be exchanged at the
sometime with the principal t.eaty. No.loulit
is entertained that iney w ill lie ratified and ex
changed by the Chinese Government, should
this be thought ad tseable. ' But under tiie cir
cumstance presented. I shall consider them
binding engagement from their date, ou both
parties, and cause them to be published a
such, for the information of our merchant
trading with tiie Chinese Empire.
It iilibrd me such satisfaction to inform you
that all oar dilhoaltics with the Republic f
Paraguay have Ih-cm satislactortiy aijustel. It
happily did not become necessary to employ
the force for this purjioee w liich Congress had
placed at my command, under their joint reso
lution of Sd June, 188. Ou the contrary the
President of that republic in a friendly spirit,
aucecded promptly to the just and rcaswuable
demands of the government of the U. S. Our
Commissioner arrived at Assumption, t lie cap
ital of the Kepublic, o.i the 5th of January, -lijLM,
and left it on .lie 17th February, having,
in three weeks, ably and successfully accom
plished all the object of hi mission. The
treaties which he has concluded will be imme
diately submitted to the Senate. Iu the view
that the employment of other than peaceful
means u.ight become necessary to olitain just
satisfaction lrom Paraguay, a strong naval
force was concentrated iu the waters ot the La
Plata, to await contingencies, whilst our Com
missioner asveuded Uie river to Assuuij tion
Thc Navy Department ia entitled tu great
credit for the promptness, efficiency and econ
omy with which tin expedition was fitted out
and conducted. It consisted of 19 vessels,
great aud small, carrying iiOO gun and2,3U0
num. aU audux tlto ouiMUiaisI ot Una wteraM Mid
gallant Shubriek. The entire expenses of the
expedition have been defrayed out of the ordi-n-irv
appropriation for the naval service, ex
cept the sum of 4239.000 applied to the pur
chase of seven of the steamers eonscitatiug a
part of it, under the anthority of the Naval
appropriation act of the 3d March, last. It is
believed that these steamers are worth more
than their cost, and they are all usefully and
actively employed in the naval service.
The apnea ranee of so large a force, fitted
ont in such a prompt manner, in the far distant
waters of the La Plata, and the admirable con
duct of the officers and men employed in it,
have had a happy effect in favor of our coon
try, throughout all that remote portion of the
world.
Onr relations with the Rreat empire of France
and Rnsia, a ws-11 as with other government on
the continent of Enrope, unless we may except
that of Spain, happilr continue to be of the most
friendly character.
In tnr last annnal message I presented a state
ment of the unsatisfactory condition of onr rela
tions with Spain, and 1 regret to say that this has
not materially improved. Without special refer
ence to other cls.ims, even the Cuban claims the
payment of which has been ably arred by onr
ministers, and in which more than a hundred of
onr citizen are directly interested remain nnsat
Istfed, notwithstanding both their justice and their
amonnt ($12,635 54) had beeu recognized and
ascertained by the Spanish government itself.
I again reeommend that an appropriation bo
made to be paid to the Spanish government for
the purpose of distribn;iu among ihe claimants in
the Aimstad case, in common with two of my pre
decessors. I entt-r'ain no doubt that this is re
qnired by our trt-arr Ttith Spain of the 27th Oct..
1735. The failure to discharge this obligation has
been employed by the cabinet of Madrid as a rea
son against the settlement of onr claim. -
I need not repsat the arguments I used in my
last annnal message, ia favor of the acquisition of
Cnba by fair purchase. My opinion on that meas
ure remains nnehauged. 1 therefore again invite
the serions attention of Congress to this important
snbject. Withmit a recognition of this policy on
their part, it wi!i be almost impossible to institute
negotiation with any reasonable prospect of suc
cess. - -
Cntil a rerent period, there was good rewoB to
believe that I should"- ble to annonnce to you
on the present occasion that onr difficulties with
O'reat Britain, arising ont of the Clayton and Bul-
wrr trenty, had been hua.lr adjusted, in a manner
nl:fc: honorable and sjt:if-e .rv In both parties.
Kr.T csoses, h v- t-r. whieh British groveni
tneni had not an:ieip-t ihy hive not rer eia
pl -t'-d treaty arrangements wi.h ihe BVpnblies of
jlon'bir . and Xicirana. in pursuance of the nn-
d rstandiug native -i - It! two jovernm -nt. It is
n rer, hs-less cn8-!cnr! expes-r.-d that thi good
vr.Hc trill ere lo. h-- aeroiup i-hrd-
Wlril-t imtn ein-s th- h.--ie :h .t no other -nbfert
rc-u;isned which r.!d-l .-i-.rnrn?ht;g n?d understand
ing iH-iaeeu ihe :wo ro-it.Jr"e, flic q;;es:in ari
iny onr of th advers.t clii;n of Ihe p.t.-ties ro the
inland of Sin Juan, nndr ths nvgm treaty of
tfie l.h of June, ?;o, s.ijjenfy assnnreo a threat
ening promiin-nce. In rd-r to prevent unforta
is.tre o Ilisions on th-: reim-i e fr.rnier, the tara
S'-crel.-try of St A e. on she lih ef Jnly, I "'.VS, ad
drset a nore to Mr. Cratiip'on. rh -n Briiish min
isrer at Wrtsi.intoi., ct:ijiH.iriit-a in;r lbr iustmc
rims whit-h h;(Mr Mrey ) hud given, n rbe I4ih
of Jnly, to Gov. S;evens of Washingson Territory,
hving a sp c al r-ferrm-e to an apprehended con
flict be wei-u onr cit reo au I the Briiish subjects
on the is and if S in Juan.
To prevent this, the gnvernor was instru-ted
that the citiiens of the Terrimry shonld "abstain
from all act ? the disputed gronnd which are
cah-niated t provoke any onfliels, si fWras it can
he done withont implying the concession to the
aurhri:ies of Great Hrii.-.in of an exclusive right
ttVf TM'y vr?Lji;Sff-i. TlK f i r t f plight tn he settled
u- Jrr di-tier psi .y oTiut iu si; irropi
rhe fSher by force, or exercise of complete an-J ex
clusive sovereign rights within the disputed litn-
iis;'
J In acknowledging the receipt, on the next day.
of Mr. Marcy's note, the British minister expressed
his "entire concurrence in the propriety of the
course recommended to the governor of Washing
ton Territory by your Mr. Marcy's instruction to
that officer," and stating that he had "lost no time
in transmitting a copy of that document to the
Governor Genera! of British North America," and
had " earnestly recommended to his Excellency to
take sneh measures as to him may appear best cal
culated to seenre on the part of the British local
authorities, and the inhabitants in the neighbor
hood of the line in qa-s'ion, the exercise of the
same spirit of forbearance which i inculcated by
your Mr. Mare? on the authorities and citizens of
ih- United States."
Thus matters remained, npon the faith of this
arrangement, until the 9th Jnly last, when Gen.
Harney paid a visit to rhe island He found npoa
it American residents, with their families, and
also an establishment of the H. B Co. for the pnr
pse of raising sheep. A short time before his ar
rival oueof these residents had shot an animal bo
lorging to the Co. whilst trespassing npon his
premises, for which, however, he offered to pay
twice Us value, bnt that was refused. Soon after
the chief factor of the Co. at Victoria. Mr Dallas,
son-in-law of Gov. Douglas, came to ihe island in
the British s!oop-of-warSsfrrfe. and threatened to
take rhis American (Mr. Cutler) by force to Vic
toria, to answer for the trespass he had committed.
Tho American seised his rifle, and to!d Mr. Dallas
that if any sncb attempt was ro.lJe he would kill
him on the spot. The afif.iir then ended.
Under these cirenmstaoces, the American set
tlers presented a petition to the Gen. through tha
U. S. Inspector cf Customs. Mr. Hnbbs, to ptaeea
force npon the island, to protect them from the In
dians as well as tha oppressive interference of tha
anthoriik-s tf the H. 1 Co at Victoria, with their
rights as American citizens. The Gen. immedi
ately responded to this petition, aud ordered Capt.
Geo. Pickett, thh InranTy. to establish his com
pany on Be!!evne or San Jii in island, on some
suirable position nejfr th- harbor at the son: b -east-el
n ex.r-miry. This .-r-ler wa promptly obeyed,
aud a military p jst was esta-li-hed at the place
d-siglen. I he force was after ards increased.
s that by the last reiir. h- whole n-imber of
rr-w'ps "h -n en tha isl-iad :ii-jiated in tha ag:-e-gt
e to 6-1 men.
Wni.s.- I do not d- em ir pri-per on lb? present
ere.-isit... lo go f.irih-r iiitt .he subject, and -fisc.iss
the weight which onhi to he ictnched lo the state-in-
-.-is if ilut Briii.-h coioi.iiil auihoriries. conrest
ir; the aeeariev f .he informatiou on vhieh tba
j.-iitxi.t Gen- rai acted, i. ws due to him that
sleiiild h:i pre-ent his o-.vi. r.-asons for isning
tttr orf-rs to Cap'- P.eSett. Fnau ihes ir is qnice
c!-'ir ih-tr his object to prev.-iit th.-H.i.isi. ati
tli -ri:ies on Vne.itver Island from exercising ji
ris.tterioii over Atiu-riea.i residents ou lh isi.-iiid
f J aan, as we:l as f prutec. tiie.il .-tgiinst tha
liie.irsioiis ot the lmltatis.
Mueb excitement prevailed f.vsiime fimethro"
out l liar region, and serious danger of collision be
tween the parties was appreheiled. Tha British
had a inrgf naval force in the vieinity, and it is an
aet of si mole jttsiice to rhe Admiral nu rhat station
to stare that he wisely and discreetly forebore to
co.i.in:t any hostile aet, bnt determined to refer
tiie whole adViir to hi government and await their
instructions. .
This n.tjwrl of the matter, in my opinion, de
manded serions airei.kion. It wonld have te-n a
great calamity fur both nations, had they been pre
cipitated into arts of hostility, not about tbeq;es
tion f titie to the island, but merely concerning
the iuterveningperiod whilst the two government
might be employed in settling the question to
which of I hem it belongs. For this reason Licot.
Gen. Scott was despatched, on the 17th Sept. last,
to take immediate command of the V. S. forces on
the- Pacific coast, should ha deem thi necessary.
The main object of hi mission was to carry out
the spirit of ihe precautionary arrangement be
tween the late Secretary of State and the British
Minister, and thus to preserve the peace and pre
vent collision between the Britisr and American
auihoriries pending the negotiations between the
two governments. Eutertaining no doubt of the
raliuiivof onrtiile.I need scarcely addihat in any
event American citizens wero to be plaeed on a
footing at least as favorable aa that of British sub
jects, it being understood that Capt. Pickett's co.
should remain on tti island, xt is proper to oo
serve that, considering tho distance from the scene
of action, and ignorance of what might have traaa
uired on tha soot before tie General's arrival, it
was accessary to leave mur'a to his discredoo; and
X am nappy to state the event ns proven mac tci
discretion could not have baB entrusted to more
competent hands.- Gu. Scott b:i recently re-
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