, 1858-08-20

tory Of Washington and the British pos
sessions on the Pacific. have now turned
out to be an absolute fact By my latest
advices from that territory miners were
fiockiug 10 to the new Edorado from Cal.
ifornia, Oregon and Washington, in great
numbers; and the San Francisco papers oI
the latest dates, advertise for the departure
Of both steamers and sailing vessels for the
newly discovered mines.
From the best authority have received,
the result Of the mines has been eqOOl to
California in her palmiest days The local
ity ofthe richest region, is on Fraziers Riv-
er, and it's branch, ThOmpson's River, in
English Territory, distant from our bound
ary line, from twelve to twenty miles ia a
direct line.
In the month Of December, 1851, Cover
nor Douglas Of Vancouver's Island issued
bis proclamation in reference to these mines,
as being crown lands, &c, establishing a
rate Of license for working the same, and
the manner and form Of taking such license
out.
II is hardly necessary TO state that the
announcement Of the existence OF a country
so rich in the precious metal as this is re-
ported 10 be, would at once attract the at
tention and stimulate the energies and de-
sires Of the American population Of the
| Pacific coast. Miners of course would at
once flock in, carrying with them the ne
cessary adiuncts-traders. The most ma
iural approach TO the promised land is by
water, via Frazier's river, in English Terr-
itory, as afording, at present, the most
easy, expeditions, and cheap mode Of trans
portation either Of individuals or supplies
from Puget Sound on the Pacific Ocean,
which from the nature of things must be
the main thoroughfare for the adventures
seeking this country.
kS>From the Collector Of Puget Sound and
from citizens of the Territory Of Washing
TOD, upon whose information eau rely, l
am informed, that Governor Douglas, Of
Vancouver's island, has determined to
blockade the mouth Of FraZier's River and
prevent its navigation by any persons ex-
eept British subjects.
My intention in addressing this commun-
ication TO yon is to call your attention to
this fact As citizen Of Washington
Territory and Its late Executive, am
aware Of Gov. Douglas being the Execu-
tive Of Vancouver's Island, but have no
knowledge of any official authority Of bis
over the country in question, called New
Caledonia, save that derived from his po-
sition Of chief factor in the Hudson Bay
Company. He has always declined, as an
Official officer Of the British Crown, to as
sumo responsibility for the outrages Of saw
wages, living in bis pretended Jurisdiction,
on our unoHendiug citizens, but he express
ed his willingness as q member Of the II.
B. Costo exert bis influence to bring the
offenders to justice.
BY the treaty Of 1s46, between the
United States aud Great Britain, British
subjects, in the navigation Of the Columbia
River with their goods, &C, are to be
placed upon the same footing as American
citizens, subject to such regulations as our
government may make, and the H. b. Co.
and other British subjects are to be re-
spected in certain rights they assumed TO
have acquired by possession. To the P.
s. A. Co. certain properties were confirmed.
After the confirmation Of such claims, and
the extension Of such privileges to foreign
corporations and foreign subjects, l have
to ask whether under the comfy that exists
between us and Great Britain it can be
competent for q colonial Governor, in his
capacity as an executive member OF q com
pany Of traders, to exclude citizens Of the
United States from the navigation of o
large river, flowing for many miles para.
lell with our boundary, and watering an
extent Of country almost equal to that ol
the Great Columbia?
1t will be borne in mind that the II. B
Co., Of which Gov. Douglas is very pro.
minent member, has still, or pretends to
have, extensive claims in the Territory oil
Washington, exercising still a pretended
right to trade with Indians, &c.
The carrying out Of the blockade ol
Frazers River, and shutting that large
stream up from the use of American citi
zens for navigation and transportation, can.
not fail to increase that animosity against
that company already, though not without
cause, too deeply seated in our citizens.
| Jam very truly your most obedient,
" r- ISAAC l. STEVENS.
i'll "A