The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-20 00:00:00

THE DISPUTED ISLAND OFF BRITISH

COLUMBIA.

The San Francisco Times contains the following
account of the little " difficulty" which appears,to
have grown up in our newly-recognised colony :
" VICTORIA, V. 1., Aug. 7.
"You are, perhaps, aware before this, while you have
been absorbed in political controversies at home, or watch-
ing the events of the great world in the far East, war, with
all its attendant evils, has been threatening us here in the
distant North.
" Some weeks ago came to this port, in the United States
steamer Massachusetts, General Harney. His arrival was
acknowledged by a salute, and, after a day's sojourn as the
guest of Governor Douglass, he passed by on the other
side.'
"A few days after the General's departure for Puget
Sound, our town was thrown into the greatest excitement
by the news that a company of American troops had seized
the disputed island of San Juan, and that barracks were
being established upon it. No one knew by whom the act
was authorised, and especially did certain chivalric Ameri-
cans, with Filibustering proclivities, seem not to care. Then
commenced blustering and bloviating on both sidss, the
American population waxed rampant, as usual on such oc-
casions, and the British indignant. Numerous lively dis-
cussions sprung up among groups of citizens at the street
corners, and a considerable quantity of the king's English
was demolished on both sides.
" Very soon vessels for the conveyance of passengers to
the seat of war were in demand. Small boats were char-
tered for the trip, and several steamboats departed with
visitors, both English and American, to the island of San
Juan, a distance of 15 or 20 miles from this place. Two of
the English vessels of war from Esquimalt Harbour had
gone over on the first reception of the news. Most of those
who went to the island did so, perhaps, through curiosity ;
but others, no doubt, went determined to lend a hand to
their respective countries if their services were needed. In
the harbour of San Juan were found, beside several British
men.of-war, the United States' ships Massachusetts, Shu-
brick, and a revenue cutter from Fuget Sound. A company
of American soldiers, to the number of 40 or 50, had taken
possession of the island, and' quite boldly indicated their in-
tention to keep it, as will be seen by the followinc, order,
which was posted in various places about the island:--
(Order No. 1.)
" ' Military Post, San Juan Island,W. T., July 27

"' 1. In coriiplianCe with orders and instructions from
the General Commanding, a military post will be established
on this island, on whatever site the commanding officer may
select.
" 2. All the inhabitants of the island are requested to
report at once to the commanding officer, in case of any in-
cursion of the Northern Indians, so that ho may take such
steps as he may deem necessary to prevent any future oc-
currence of the same.
" 3. This being United States territory, no laws other
than those of the United States, nor Courts except such as
are held by virtue of said laws, will be recognized or allowed
in this island.

" By o*Jer of CAPTAIN PICKET.
" James W. Forsyth, Second Lieutenant,
9th Infantry, Post Adjutant.'
"It will be observed from the tone of this order that it
ignores the Treaty and Boundary Commission, and admits
of no compromise ; if, therefore, it proves to have had no
higher authority than General Harney, and any concession
is hereafter made, it will afford us another example of the
reckless manner in which Filibustering American citizens
jeopardize the peace and compromise the honour of their
countr'Sr.
" From the first,it appears that the British desired to avoid
a collision, as their ability at any moment to take the
island can scarcely be doubted ; it was their wish to gain a
joint military occupation of the island with our troops,
until orders could be received from the heads of the two
Governments. A proposition to that effect having been
made, was rejected ; but, it is believed, will yet be acceded
to. It is unnecessary to repeat that if such a concession is
made, after what has passed, it will be a dastardly compro-
mise of the country's honour.
" Affairs have rested in this plight, with little change,
during the past week. A small company or two from Fort
Bellingham have been added to the American forces' and a
Number of Americans have gone from this place and Wash-
ington Territory, with the avowed intention of settling at
San Juan. A British vessel of war brought down some
Sappers and Miners from Fraser River a few days since,
and renewed the request to land their forces, but were re-
fused. They had not landed at the last accounts, and mat-
ters remained in statu quo.
" On Wednesday Governor Douglass issued a protest
against the occupation of San Juan Island by the Ameri
cans, and declared the island to belong to her Majesty
Queen Victoria. His Excellency also sent a message to the
Vancouver Legislative Assembly yesterday, in which it is
declared that the British forces will be landed on the
island. If such be their intention, a collision seems inevi-
table.
"The disputed island lies north-westerly from the en-
trance to Puget Sound and the mainland of Washington
Territory, in the vicinity of Port Townsend, the broad,
beautiful Sti ait of Fuca being between. Sailing from the
Sound to Victoria, across the Fuca, San Juan appears to be
a part of Vancouver's Island, and the disputed channel
cannot be distinguished until you have come down oppo-
site its mouth or junction with the Strait.
" Notwithstanding the treaty, and the loud talk that is
made about the commanding importance of San Juan to the
Americans, it naturally belongs to the British, and is of
infinitely greater value to them than to the United States.
The channel in dispute is the gate to the Gulf of Georgia,
Fraser River, and British Columbia—mostly British water
and British possessions. If this channel is by the treaty, de-
termined to be the boundary line, it only gives us a small
island of small value, with no other advantages, as we own
nothing north of it, while to them it is the doorway to all
their possessions. This is no reason, however, why the
United States should not have the island, if by any right It
belongs to them ; but if John Bull goes to war for this
island it will be because it is of great value to him ; and if
Jonathan backs out, as he usually does, it will be because
it is not of much value to him and his master. King Cot-
ton and Lord Democracy tell him it is not in the right
direction to be worth fighting for.
"Considerable ill-feeling appears to have arisen among
the people at Victoria in consequence of this movement of
General Harney. The Victoria Gazette, having assumed
a positibn upon the subject which is deemed there to be an
' American view,' is asailed severely by several English
writers in the Colonist.
"The Pioneer and Democrat commends the action of
General Harney in taking possession of San Juan Island.
It says
The treaty is based upon the principle that all south
of the parallel of 49 degs. was United States territory, and
the deviation made was simply to give Vancouver's Island
—only a very small portion of which was south of that
parallel—to that country which, had the line continued
directly across it, would have owned the greater part of it.
If, then, the question were one of doubt as to the proper
channel, a consideration of the intent of the treaty must
solve that question in favour of the United States. But it
is not a question upon which a doubt should be permitted
to exist. The Canal de Haro is the broadest, deepest, and
most direct channel from the Straits of Fuca into the Gulf
of Georgia. And this would not be questioned were it not
for the value of the intermediate islands. To England they
are valuable as well for the land, of which there is much
that is of a superior quality on some of the islands, as also
that they are supposed to command the southern entrance
to the Gulf of Georgia. To us they are necessary as a
military post, being the only place suitable for the protec-