The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-08
Rirthmonh qispatth.
THURSDAY MORNING. SEPT 4 ,sso
THE SEIZURE OF SAN JUAN ISLAND.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.


claimed rs part of Washington Territory, by
the United States, is explained by the papers
received in the last California mail The is-
land. IL appears, has many American settlers
on it, and the Indians have proved very trou-
blesome TO them, committing many murders,
and successfully concealing the perpetrators.
Recently. Gen. Harney. at the solicitation OF
the people, sent to the island military force
OF 90 men, under Capt Pickett, who, on reach
ing his post, iss ued an order asserting that 1t
was part of the United States, and nonc but
its laws should be recognized thereon. There
are at present at the island, the Z. ). revenue
cutters Shubrick and JEFF. Davis, and the
British war steamer Pylades. The L. s. Dep
uty Collector for San Juan furnishes writer
in the Victoria Gazette with the following
particulars:
The island being deemed n portion OF W hat
com county, Washington Territory, IL. X.
Crosbie, Esq, has been appointed resident
magistrate for the adjudication OF sueh mat
ters as usually come before that officer under
United States Territorial regulations. Paul
X Hubbs, Jr, the revenue officer. has made
his residence near the Ii. il. Co.'S buildings,
and beneath the American flag. He has not
been invested with, nor exercised, any judicial
prerogatiye but as resident u. 5. officer, has
referred such matters to the proper authorities
the main land
The most friendly relations existed between
the American officers on shore and the officers
attached TO the British yessels-of-war IN port
The most important event has been the re-
ception by Capt. Pickett OF an order from the
Hudson's Bay Company TO remove ms force
from the Island. Capt. +. replied that while
he did not recognize their authority to make
the demand, he would state that he had received
his orders from the United States government
and should occupy the Island until recalled
- btnIra tel6
the American flag at Chepultepec in the Mex
lean war; is n brave and cautious officer, and
Will go far duty and honor require
In 1854 the civil authorities OF Whatcom
county, Washington Territory, assessed the
usual taxes on property in San Juan Island,
which, not being paid, the assessor seized thlr-
~ sheep belonging to the ii. B 20. ana sold
them to liquidate the taxes claimed The ii.
B. Co. have since made claim on the United
States government for Sl5UO0, for the value OF
the sheep.
The British steamer of war Tribune, had
remained in the harbor since the commence
ment of ''hostilties, )" with her broadside com
manding the shore The latest dispatch from
the 'seat of war; states that the British
steamer Plumper had arrived with large
number of soldiers from New Westminster
No troops We're landed from her, and it was
believed that none would be. The I. ,. reve-
nue. cutters JEFF. Davis and Massachusetts, had
also arrived The correspondent says:
''It is well understood on the island that the
less than an hour after it should be attempted
by the British fleet. Still, it was not doubted
that the GOODNESS and wisdom that has hither-
to guided her Maiesty's officers in this quarter
would be manifested in the present difficulty,
as all are aware that while Capt. Pickett has
but sixty-six men, he will obey his orders as
fully as though his force were ten-fold that
number. | cannot but feel c0nndent that the
subject will be referred to the Home govern
ments for adjudication, and the American
forces left in their possession OF the island
without hindrance until such decision shall be
given.
tailed as committed, l would mention that on
Tuesday forenoon MIR. Crosbie, the coroner
for Whatcom county, was called upon to hoid
an inquest on the body of white female,
which was found on the adjoining Island,
ELopez) The head was found encased III
sack, which was covered with blood stains
Nothing further could be ascertained as to
who were the perpetrators; but no doubt inns
was another victim of the barbarous hordes
Who make that island their stamping ground.
1t is now confidently predicted on the island
that outrages hereafter Will be met with such
a retribution that terror Will be felt of the
'Bostons' never before experienced on this
coast, and that the American plan will be
found much more eiiicacous in suppressing
Indian outrages, than the blanket -bribing'
system SO long practiced by the IL. Is. Coz
Considerable ill-teeling appears to have
arisen among the people at Victoria i'll conse-
quence of this movement of Gen Harney.-
The Victoria Gazette, having ass umed posi-
lion upon the subject which is deemed there
to be an american view" is assailed severely
by several English writers i'll the Colenist.
The Pioneer commends the action OF Gen.
Harney in taking possession of the island 1t
saws:
that all south of the parallel of forty nine was
United States territory, and the deviation made
was simply to give NancouVer's IsIand-only
a very small portion Of which was south OF
,l, Hal that try hn had ha
line continued directly across ii, would have
owned the greater part of ii. IT, then, the
question were one Of doubt as TO the proper
channel a consideration OF the intent of the
treaty must solve that question i'll favor OF The
United States. But it is not a question upon
which a doubt should be permitted TO exist
The Canal de Haro is the hroadest, deepest and
most direc channel from the Straits oIFuca in
to the Gulf of Georgia. AAu tiils would not be
questioned were it not for the value of the in
termediate islands. To England they are valu-
able as well for the land, OF which there is
much that Is of a superior quality on some Of
the island, as also that they are supposed TO
command the southern entrance to the Gulf of
Georgia. To us they are necessary rs a militia
ry post, being the only place suitable for the
protection of our people from the hordes OF
northern sayages, from whom we have already
suffered, and from whose threatened attacks
many of our settlements. down the Sound, are
kept in continual alarm San Juan is just the
place for Il post. The Indians must pass
turning from the settlements.
Gen Harvey no doubt views it in this light
and has ordered the establishment of the post
here rs he would on any other portion of Ame-
rican soil. We honor him for it's
An extra session of the British Colonial As
sembly was called on the Sd of August, TO re-
ceiyc n message from Gov. Douglas in rela-
ton to San Juan affairs. Ostensibly the mes
sage was for the information OF the House
and, according to the Colonist, it was really
to secure a vote of confidence in favor of the
Executive. Some inflamInatory remarks were
made regarding the invasion of San Juan OF
which advantage was taken to secure the vote
OF confidence. This was objected TO on the
ground that the subject was so important that
il quired time for consideration.
The opposition to the vote of confidence tri-
umphed aud the question was postponed till
the sth, when il would be again made the SUBJ
ject of consideration.
Gov. Douglas in his message, after announc-
ing the seizure of the island by the United
States troops, says:
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 re-
manned unsettled, l am forced 10 believe that
the late unwarrantab and diseourteous act,
so 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 letter
from the Hon. w. l.. Marcy, Secretary for the
United States, dated Washington, 18th July,
1855, TO her Majesty's Minister at Washington,
which contains instructions from the Presi-
dent of the United States to the Governor OF
Territory, and displays in the
clearest manner the conciliatory and moderate
views entertained by his government on the
subject of the disputed territory. Though the
right OF Great Britain to all the islands sit
aated TO the west of Vancouver or sRosa-
rio'' straits is, to our mind, clearly established
BY the first article of the treaty of lsi6, and
hough those islands have, since the founda-
lion of this colony, been considered as a de.
tendency of Fancouver's Island, II Is Weli