Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-08
Tho Seizure of the Island of San Juan.

can learn respecting General Harvey
course in Oregon, it seems reliable that he
had no instructions to seize the Island OF
San Juan in the Straits of Fuca, but that
such result probably sprung from an appli,
cation to him from Americans there for aid,
and against party of the defunct Hudson's
Bay Company, who, like the former, have
occupied the island as sort of common
ground.
The American and British commissioners
for running the boundary line, are now on the
ground or near it, and they are charged with
the duty of establishing the proper lines
This done, all cause of difficulty disappears.
1t is not supposed, however, that Gen. IIar.
ney will be ordered to withdraw detach.
ment Of troops from an island east of the
old recognized channel of Haro, in the Straits
of Fuca, since that not only is our right to
the island regarded as scarcely disputable,
but that we now have the strong position
usually possessed by the British-namely,
to seize territory first, and negotiate after.
wards.
General Harvey has acquainted Lieut..
General Scott with all the circumstances at
tending his occupation Of the island Of San
Juan. 1t appears that he had not been pre-
viously specially instructed to take posses
sion, but sent troops thither to protect the
twenty-five or thirty Americans residing
there, who had been included in the taxation
limits by the authorities of Washington Ter
ritory. Our boundary commissioner, Mr..
Campbell, has no doubt about the land be-
longing to the United States, but the British
commissioner made an issue, and hence the
protest Of Governor Douglas. This subject
excites much interest in official and di plo-
matte circles.
The San Juan ImbrogliO.
GOVERNMENT House, VICTORIA, Aug. 3, 1889.
To the Legislative Council and House of Assembly
of the Colony Of Vancouver's Island
GlN1LRxgN:-I have to communicate, for
your information, the intelligence of the
landing Of detachment of United States
troops on the Island Of San Juan, avowedly
(see enclosures Nos. and p for the purpose
of forming military post and Of asserting
the sovereignty of the United States to that
Island.
Having received no information from any
quarter that the United States ever contem-
plated taking possession of any part Of the
disputed territory, while the boundary line
remained unsettled, am forced to believe
the late unwarrantable and discourteous act,
30 contrary to the usages of civilized nations,
has originated in error, and been undertaken
without the authority of that government.
That impression is corroborated by let
ter ia copy Of which is here enclosed) from
the Hon. W. l.. Marcy, Secretary for the
United States, dated Washington, 18th July,
1853, to her Majesty's Minister ut Washing
ton, which contains instructions from the
President of the United States to the Gov
ernor of Washington Territory, and displays
in the clearest manner the conciliatory and
moderate views entertained by his Govern
ment on the subject of the disputed territory.
Though the right of Great Britain to all
the islands situated to the westward of yam
couver" or Rosario" straits, is to our minds
clearly established by the first article of the
treaty of 1916, and though those islands have,
since the foundation of this Colony, been con-
sidered as dependency OF Nancouver's Is
land, it is we'll known to~yOu, gentlemen,
that out of respect to the construction that
has been put upon that Treaty by the Gov
eminent Of the United States, we have alb
stained from exercising exclusive sovereignty
over them.
Convinced that any assumption on either
side of exclusive right to the disputed terri
tory would simply be a fruitless and mischlev-
Gus waste of energy, neither detracting from,
nor adding force to the claims OF either ma
ton, wise and considerate policy enjoins upon
us the part of leaving so important national
question for settlement by the proper author
tiles, and ofavoiding complications foreign to
tho views and wishes of, and probably embarr-
assiug to both Governments.
Immediately on being informed ofthe land
ing Of United States troops at San Juan, Her
Maiesty's ship Tribune, under the command
of Captain Horribly, was dispatched to that
quarter, and soon after detachment OF Royal
Engineers and Royal Marine Light Infantry,
were ordered from New Westminster by
her Majesty's ship Plumper, Captain Rich
ards, and those troops will be landed ut San
Juan to protect the lives and property OF Bri-
fish subjects.
You will observe, gentlemen, from enclo-
sure No. /, that the captain in command OF
the United States detachment of troops, in II
public notice, dated 9th Of July, assumes
the exercise Of exclusive sovereign rights III
the Island of San Juan, while the President
of the United States altogether disclaims such
pretensions, and seeks at most to discontinue
the Joint right of sovereignty and domain in
common with Great Britain. We may pre-
sumo from that circumstance, that the notice
in question was framed in ignorance of the
intention of the United States Government,
and that the pretensions set forth will not
be maintained.
Entertaining such opinions, have not
failed to impress upon her Maiesty's naval
officers, now stationed at San Juan, the desire
of her Majesty's Government to avoid every
course which may unnecessarily involve
the suspension Of the amicable relations
subsisting between Great Britain and the
United States; at the same time those officers
have been instructed and are hereby prepar-
ed to assert the rights and maintain the honor
and dignity Of our Sovereign and her domin-
ions. / have the honor to be, gentlemen,
YOUR most obedient servant,
JAMES DOUGLAS.
Affairs in Washington.
WASHINGTON, Sept 5, lS59.-Powerful et-
forts ara still being made by pretended friends