Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-10-07

Hudson Bay Company have recently offered them, by
sending British ship of war from VancouVers Island
to convey the chief factor of the Hudsons Bay Com
pany to San JUAN for the purpose of Selling an Ameri
can citizen and orcbly transporting him to Vancou-
ver's Island to be tried by British laws.
have reported this attempted outrage to my Gov
ernmen and they will doubtless seek the proper redress
from the British Government. In the meantime have
the honor to inform your Exceency shall not permit
repetition of that insult, and shall retain command
San Juan Island to protect its citizens in the name
of the United States, until receive further orders from
my Government
| have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
w. S. HARVEY
Brigadier General U. S. Army commanding.
Gov. Douglass TO Gen. Harvey.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, VICTORIA,
Vancouvers Island, Aug. Is, 1859
Brgader. General VIM. S. Harvey, Commanding the
Troops in the Department OF Oregon:
SIR On the evening of tn 10th instant [ had the
honor of receiving your dispatch dated Fort Vancouver
Aug. T. 1859.
In reply thereto must thank you for the frank and
straightforward manner in which you communicate to-
your for occupying the island of San Juan,
in the Haro Archipelago with portion of the military
forces Of the United States under your command
am glad to find that you have done under your
general instructions from the President of the United
States as Military Commander of the Department Of
Oregon and not by direct authority emnatng from the
Cabinet at Washington.
You state that the reasons which induced you to
take that course the insults and indgnities which
the British authorities of Vancouvers Island and the
establishment OF the Hudson's Bay Company" have re-
Gently offered to American citizens residing the is
land of San JUAN" by sending British ship of war
from Vancouvers Island to convey the Chief Factor
of the Hudsons Bay Company to San Juan, for the pur
pose of Selling American citizen and forciby
porting him to Vancouves Island to be tried by British
laws"
will explain for your information that the Agents
of the Hudsons Bay Company hold official position
in Vancouvers Island, nor exercise any official power
or authority, and entirely distinct from the Off
GERS of the Executive Government are any of the
other inhabitants of Vancouver's Island.
To the reported outrage all American citizen,
beg to give the most unhesitating and unqualified de-
NAL None of her Maesty's ships have been sent
to convey the Chief Factor any officer of the Hud
sons Bay Company to San Juan, for the purpose of
Selling American citizen, has any attempt
been made to seize any American citizen and to trans
port him orciby to Vancouver's Island for trial as
represented by you.
Up to very recent period but one American citizen
has been resident San Juan. About the commence
ment OF the present year few American citizens began
to "squat upon the Island, and upon one occasion
complaint made to by British subject of some
wrong committed against his property by an American
citizen, but attention paid to that complaint
out of consideration and respect to the friendly Govern
ment to which the alleged offender belonged and whose
citizens think it cannot be denied have always been
treated with marked attention by ali the British author
ties in these parts. With reference to San Juan in
particular, have always acted with the utmost caution
to prevent SO far mi ht lie in my power, any ill feel
ngs arising from collision between British subjects and
American citizens and have in that respect cordially
endeavored to carry out the views of the United States
Government expressed in dispatch from Mr.. Marcy
dated 18th of July 1855, her Maestys Minister at
Washington copy Of which herewith nclose for your
information, presume the document cannot be in
your possession
Following the digniGed policy recommended by that
dispatch, should in any well grounded case of COM
plant against American citizen have referred the
matter to the Federal authorities in Washington Terri
tory, well assured that if wrong had been committed
PREPARATION would have followed.
l deeply regret that you did not communicate with
for information upon the subject of the alleged griev-
ance-you would then have learned how unfounded was
the complaint, and the grave action you have adopted
might have been avoided. also deeply regret that you
did not mention the matter verbally to me when had
the pleasure of seeing you at Victoria last month for
few words from would, am sure, have removed from
you mind any Impressions and you would have
ascertaned personally from how anxious have ever
been to cooperate to the utmost of my power with the
officers of the United States Government in any meas
which might be mutually beneficial to the citizens
the two countries.
Having given you distinct and emphatic denial OF
the circumstances which you allege induced you to
cupy the island OF San Juan with United States troops
having shown you that the reasons you assign exist
and having endeavored you of my readiness
all occasions to act for the protection of American citi
Zens and for the promotion of their welfare, must call
upon you, Sir if not as of matter right at least as
matter of justice and of humanity to withdraw the troops
quarered upon the island OF San Juan; for those
troops not required for the protection of American
citizens against British authorities and their continu
ance upon an island, the sovereignty of which in dis
pute not only is marked discourtesy to friendly Pow
er, but complexities to undue degree the settlement in
amicabe of the question of sovereignty and
is also calculated to provoke collision between the mil
itary forces of two friendly nations in distant part
the world. ! have the honor to be,
Sir, your most ob't servt -
JAMES DOUGLASS