Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-07
A Speck Of Trouble

With England looms up, again, in the
Oregon horizon, credting the news by the
Overland Mail. at St. Louis. The facts Of
the case, in brief, are these:-The l. s. Gov.
ornment claims, and sends Gen. Harvey u
take possession of, the small island OF san
Juan, lying between NancOuyer's lslanda and
the main land Thereupon the Governor Of
British Columbia protests against the pro-
ceeding, and, upon the assumption that SAN
Juan belongs to the Crown of England, irs
patches an armed force to drive OF the
Americans. If the news stopped here,
now, it would be alarming; but when 1t is
added, that 1T was unoffclally stated at Vic.
toria that the matter would be compromised
| by Joint occupancy Of the island, until the
British and American Governments could
| be informed of the condition OF affairs, ones
anxiety is measurably allaycd. Tn" COY
eminent at Washington, it seems, have con
sidered the matter ~ one Of pressing mpor.
lance, and our correspondent teIegraphS tha.
the mail steamer which leaves to-day will
convey instructions to General Harvey SUI.
tanning his position. Oar title 10 the island.
on the same authority, is SO clear and I'm.
us HUI Va u'llIlll va 'HI'I'lll''
Now, if these representations be correct,
there can be no doubt that General Harvey,
in the course Of a few weeks, will be cacl
upon to give the British Governor notice 70
quit" General H., though a gallant AMI
! patriotic soldier, is understood to be a man
of rather excitable temperament, and II be-
can get the four u. ;. vessels Of war, sad u
be anchored in the vicinity, TO back him ~,
we should not be surprised if the little island
Of San Juan should be, ere long. the theatre
of stirring events. The English Governor
| lDouglass) il himself Il sort Of mischief maker
and during his brief administration III Bn
fish Columbia, he has frequently gone out 'i
his way, ~ it seemed to us, to get into hot
water with the Yankees. II mischleyou'y
| disposed in this instance, he is not without
tho means of indulging his wishes, three
English men-ofwar, the Tribune, Satellite,
and Plenipo, being mt his command IN tho
immediate vicinity.
As to the island of San Juan Itself, apart
from the principle" involved, it is not worth
making very great ado about. II will not
make the party that gets possession "I
much richer-nor the party losing 1t mnr'
poorer. For some time past, 1t IS SAID %
have been occupied by British subjects, as s
sheep pasture, for which it is said to be sd
mirably adapted. 1t is some seventy th2H'
sand acres in extent, and covered for 10,
most part, with fine grass. Tho disputed
ownership has it's origin in the vague w,'l.
of the Oregon Treaty, which providc- ii'
the dividing line separating the terrton.''
| of the two countries shall run wcstwa''
with tho 10Th parallel to the middle OF tas
Gulf of Georgia, thence southwark with "a
main channel to the Straits Of Fura, AMI
through the middle OF those Straits u ih'
| Ocean" 1t now turns out, however tns'
there are two "main channels" the Rosar,
Straits and the Canal de lloro, and though
the former is the one chiefly used by vessels
going to Fraser River, the latter is the wii+''
Between them lie number Of island, W
chief of which is San Juan. The BrI','
claim that the Rosario Strait is the ma.
channel referred to by the treaty ""'
if this be conceded it will give them
session Of the intermediate islands. bu' u''
American Commissioners contend that -
the Canal do Haro is the widest, 80 It i o.,
ccssarily the "main channel" and BY US
rendering Of the treaty the island, IN ii'p..
become American territory. This . "'
case as it stands.-N. \. RrptssS.