Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-09-23
The New Boundary Dispute.

and Great Britain relative to the Northwestern Boun
Diary line the several authorities cited which sus
tanned the adoption Of the 49h parallel the line and
such authorities state this line to run to the Northwest
ern Ocean Thus Postlethwayts Dictionary of 1851
states the line as follows to the 49th degree through
lake Abtiis to the Northwest Ocean, There is no
DETECTION from it named.
Such line however would cut in two Vancouvers
Island-which was unknown when this line was alleged
to have been determined by Commissioners. Suisse
quently the discovery of this Island made, and in
1916, there was at its Southern extremity British
settlement and the sole object of DETECTION from the
49th parallel before it reached the Pacific Ocean, at
point in the Georgia Gulf and thence through Fuca
Straits was to this Island to Great Birtan-the
only island then Of consequence, and the only one
which there British settlement This object would
be accomplished by running the line through the middle
Of the nearest channel to Vancouver This would leave
the other islands they properly, belong to the
tinent, its natural appendages.
The two channels, Of the Canal de Haro and the Ro-
saro Straits leading from Georgia Gulf to Fuca Straits
then Q846) perfectly we'll known by the nearest
channel the Canal de Haro San Juan falls to the Uni
ted States by the Rosario Strait between San Juan
and the Continent, the island falls to Great Britain
The first navigator who passed entirely through
the Fuca Strait was Capt kendreck, in the Washing
on in 1889 after Capt Gray had left this vessethree
years before Vancouver reached these coasts Neither
Kend, lex his vessel ever returned to America. He
killed in 1898, at Owyhee, by ball accidentally
fired from British vessel while saluting him.
In 1892 Vancouver sailed through this strait, survey
ing its channels in the most thorough and eectua
ner, and his account of it fills large portion of his Jour-
nal By his charts subsequent navigators easily made
their way through Fuca Strait and the Georgia Gulf
He lays down clearly the two channels of the Canal de
Haro and the Rosario Strait
year before the conclusion of the 846 treaty Hon.
VIM Sturgis, of that city, delivered lecture before the
Boston Mercantile Library Association the Oregon
Question He perfectly familiar with the whole
ground for he had passed seven winters in this region
and in 1901 be had navgated his ship through the whole
length of the Georgia Gulf-gong in the North at
PiLturel Queen Charlotte Sound and coming out at
the Fuca Straits. 10 this valuable lecture Mr.. Sturgs
suggested boundary as follows:
continuation of the parallel of 40 deg across the
Rocky Mountains to dewater say to the middle of the
Gulf OF Georgia " thence by the northermost navigabe
passage mot North AZ deg) to the Straits of Juan de
Fuca and dO1yn these Straits to the Pacific Ocean the
navigation of the Gulf of Georgia and the Straits Of
Juan de Fuca to be forever free to both partesaH the
Islands and other territory lying South and East of this
line to belong to the United States, and all North and
West to Great Britain. By this arrangement should
cede TO great Britain the portion Quadra and Vancou
vers Island that lies South of latitude 40 deg, which, in
territorial point of view is of two little Importance to
deserve moments consideration; and both parties
would secure for considerable extent we'll defined
natural boundary, about which there would hereafter
be no doubt or dispute
All the British pretended to strive for in 1916 was
the iOuer portion Of VancouUe,'s Island and If the
treaty be interpreted according to the obvious in
tentlOn OF making the DETECTION from the 49h parallel
there would be but little doubt of the Justice
title to such construction would fix the line by
the Canal de Haro which would leave the United States
the island which Gen. Harvey has occupied
The Toronto Globe takes the following view of this
affair =
1.-The island of San Juan mot the home of Robinson
Crusoe) but one which lies in much higher latitude
promises to become place of Importance during the
next few months years 1t is low lying bit of land
situated at the mouth of Puget Sound between the Is
land Of Vancouver and the American territory Of Wash
ingtOn. The treaty between Great Britain and the
United States, of 1850-Q846)- declared that the
boundary line should be in the middle Of the channel
between Vancouver and the main land. Now, the
trouble is that there several channels. By follow
ing one San Juan would be given to the United States
by another to Great Britain. 1t is of for pur
poses Of settlement, being small and far from fertile ;
but has been regarded place Of Importance
from idea that commanded the entrance to the sound
Late writers say that this is not correct-that the
channel it is very Wide-and that there others
far distant from it. The American General has, howev
err very reckless and improperly taken possession OF
it, and presume that there will be great deal of
protocOing before he will be removed. In American
matters the imperial authorities generally make great
fight about small matter and abandon everything i'm
portant without struggle. We therefore anticipate
keen contest about San Juan, but we venture to say
that there will be fighting. If Brother Jonathan
says he must have San Juan all hazards he will prob
ably get it perhaps the matter will be allowed to lie
over till there batch of little matters to be settled
and then Uncle Sam may make great merit Of sur
rendering the island consideration of getting some
thin worth ten times much. Such generally the
results OF British diplomacy 10 America
Boston Post.