, 1859-08-26
Brlgadlsr.Gsnsral U. 5. Army, c eO.a@andiin
Reply Of Gov. Douglas.

Z e''s vancouver's Island, Aug. 18th, 1859. 7a
BFigadieF- General VIM. S. Harney, commanding
the troops in the department Of Oregon. H.T
SiR: On the evening Of the 10th instant had
the honor Of receiving your dispatch dated Fort
Vancouver, Aug. 9Th, 1850. ~ arh ifal
In reply thereto, Z must thank you foV the
flank and straightforward manner In which you
communicate to me your reasons for occupying
the island Of San Juan in the Haro Archipelago
with aportion Of the military forces Of the Uni
ted States under your command asf7H.s1
am glad to ilnd that you have done 90 under
your general instructions from the President Of
the United States as Military Commander of the
Department Of Oregon, and not By any direct
authority emanating from tho Cabinet at Wash
ington. 9d = ,s1 9Hi liasm attgi aali
You state that the reasons which induced voa
to take that course are the .insalls and indieni-
ties which the British authorities of Vancouver's
Islani, and the estabIishmeut Of the HudsOn's
Bay Company, have recently offered TO Ameri-
can citizons residing on the island Of San juan
81 sending British slip Of war from VancouVer's
Island % convey the Chief Factor of the Hud.
sons Bay Company 10 San Juan for the purpose
Of seizing an American citizen. and foroibv trans
porting him % Vancouver's Island 10 Be tried bv
British lawa,i atls aal' ia I3oIi saisIl isoi bEs
z Twill explain, Cor your information. that the
agents Of the Hudsotis Bay Comnar,t hold no
0iiltial position IN Vancouyeyas Islandi nor exer
else ntiv official powef or authority. and are AZ
entirely distinct tom lhe officers o the Executive
Governments as are any Of the other infabitanls
Of Vahco1ver's Island. A i1 D s,'I ~ 30
Z To the reported outrage on an American cid.
zen, 1 beg % give tie most nnhesitatlng and un-
qualified denial. None ofiHer MajestyS ships
have ever been sent % convey the Chief Factor
Or any officer Of ne IHudsonis Bay, %. 70 San
Juan ior tie purpose Of selling an American cit-
izon. nor has any, attempt over been made 70
seize any American citizen and 10 transport him
fofcbly 70 Nancouvm's Island for trial. as repre-
sIj, Up q yva yerv recent perod but one American
\ citizen has been resident on San Juan. About
the eonimencpment Of The present wear. a Few
American citizens began 10 squat upon the
Island, and upon one occasion acDmpiaint was
made 70 me BY British subject o some wrong
committed against his properly BY an American
citizen, but no attention was paid to that com
plant. out ef consideration and respect 70 The
friendly government 10 which the alleged offender
BELONGED: and whose citizens', / think Il cannot
be de1ied, have always been treated with marked
attention BY an the British authorities N these
parts. With reference to San Juan in particular,
have always acted with the utmost caution p
feeling arising from collisions between British
subjects and American citizens. and have in that
respect cordially endeaVored 70 carry out the
views Of the United States government As ex-
pressed N dispatch from Mr.. Marcy, dated nth
July, 1850, 70 Her Majesty Minister at Wash
ington, 4 copy Of which ! herewith enclose for
your Information, as presume thatlhe document
cannot be in your possession y !,
Following the dgnilied policy recommended
by that dispatch, ] should, 10 any ell-gronnded
complaint against an American citizen, have re-
lelred the matter 70 the Federal authorities IN
Washington TERRITORY, wen assured that IL wrong
bad been c6mmiited, reparation would have fol-
lowed. ,,I x, ~ ,,.i VA y, s,,,,
deeply regret that you did not communicate