Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-09-07


speoE Of war on the Norih Paeiae oeas'.
TIE telegraph yesterday announced that
Gov. Donelsts bad iasued = pfotsS, againss
Gen. Hsrneys occupalion Of San 9uan' and
had Sent 4 n,essagsto the VeheOuyer Assem-
bly, declaring that the British forces would be
landed AZ San Juan. Also rumor that tho
British steamer sitellite had attacked the ISL
and and killed thirty Americana.
Ths San FrGncsco Times has letter from
Victoria, V. l. August 7tb, giving The partcu-
lars Of the taking possession of the British
claimed Island Of San Juan by American sol
diers under Gen. Harney. In brief they are
as follows Early in July General Harvey ar
rived at Vic.Orh on the steamer AIassaehusetts
His arriyslwas acknowledged by solute.and he
became the guest Ct Gov. Douglass. Gen. II.
soon left for Puget Sound and in few days after
Victoria was thrown into great excitement by
the news that company Of United States
troops had seized the disputed leland Of San
Juan, and that barracks were being establish
ed upon IT, No one knew by whom the act
was authorized, and especially did Americans
with flbustering proelivities seem not to care
The American population waxed rampant, the
British indignant A demand for vessels to
convey passengers to the seat of war sprung
up, the distance f'om Victoria being about 20
miles. On the first reception Of the news two
Of the English vessels Of war from Esquimault
harbor proceeded to San Juan and Joined three
or four other British men. of-war in the harbor.
The u s. ships Massachusetts,, Shubric, and
a Revenue Gutter from Puget Sound cOmpos-
ed the American feet in the harbor OfSan Juan
The company Of American troops who took
possession Of the Island numbered but 40 or
so, quite boldly indicated their Intention to
keep it by posting the following order in various
places about the Island:
MrL1rARY Posr, SAN JUAN ISLAND,
W. T., July 27th, 1859.
"tI tOrdefs No. IL J-- : ~
/. In compliance with orders, and instruc.
tions from the General Commanding, Military
Post will be established on this Island, on what
ever site the Commanding Officer may select.
@ All the inhabitants of the Island are re-
quested TO report at once to the Comm anding
officer, 10 case Of any incursion Of the North
en Indians-so that he may take such steps as
he may deem necessary to prevent any future
occurrence OF the same. M
g. This being United States Territory, no
Laws, other than those Of the United States,
nor Courts, except such as are held by virtue Of
said laws, will be recognized or allowed on this
island
By order of CAPTAIN PICKEY.
JAMES w. FoRsYTH,
I'd Lieut. 9th Infantry, Post Adjutant
The order ignores the trea ty aud Boundary
Commission, and admits of no compromise. 1t
ia stated that the British desired to avoid col
lision, and proposed joint military occupation
Of the island until orders could be received from
the heads Of the two Governments. The prop
osition was rejected, and small company or
two from Fort BelliBgham were added TO the
American force A number Of Americans from
Victoria and Washington Territory had also
proceeded to San Juan with the avowed inten
ton of settling there. A British vessel of war
from Fraser River had arrived with some sap
Pers and miners, but they were not permitted
by the Americans to land.
The British Governor Douglass issued pro-
test against the occupation of San Juan by the
Americans, and declared the Island to belong
to Queen Victoria. He also sent messenger
to the Vancouver Legislative Assembly, in
which he declared that the British forces should
be landed on the Island. This gives some
probability to the rumored collision.
The island in dispute lies north.westerly
70 Puget Sound and the mainland of Washing
ton Territory in the vicinity of Port TOwnSerd
the broad and beautiful Strait of Fuca being
between. The movement of Gen. Harney has
created much excitement at Victoria, and his
conduct is assaiIed severely by the British
press The Victoria Pioneer, however, com.
mends the action of Gen. Harney in taking
possession of San Juan Island, and says:
The treaty is based upon the principle that
all South of the parallel Of forty nine was U.
5 Territory, aud the deviation made was sim
ply to give Vancouver's Island-ony very
small portion of which was South of that par
allel-to that country, who, had the line con-
tinued directly across it, would have owned the
gIeater part Ol IL. HI lntIls Lue questlOu WeIe
one Of doubt as to the proper channel, con-
sideration ofthe intent ofthe treaty must solve
that question in favor Of the United St,tes.-
But it is not question upon which doubt
! should be permitted TO exist. The Canal de
Haro is the broadest, deepest, and most direct
channel from the Straits Of Fuca into the Gulf
Of Georgia. And this would not he questioned
were it not for the value Of the intermediate
is ands To England they are valuable as well
for the land, OF which there is much that is of
a superior quality ON some OF the islands, as
also that they are supposed to command the
southern entrance to the Gulf Of Georgia. 10 us
they are necessary as military post, beng the
cnly place suitable for the protection Of our
people from the hordes of Northern savages,
from whom we have already suffered, and from
whose threatened attacks many Of our settle
ments down the Sound are kept in continual
alarm. San Juan is just the place for poet
The Indians must pass within striking dista, ce
in coming TO and returning from the setile'
menst.
Gen. Harvey no doubt views it in this light,
and has ordered the establishment of the post
there as he would ON any other pjrtion Of
American soil. We honor him for il.