Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-03

| VANCOUVER, w. T., Oct, 2lst, 1869
| Ed. DEL. INQUIRER ;--SIR-I presume il may
not prove uninteresting TO many of your read
ers to know of the safe arrival of 1t. Gen. Scott
and staff at this place, who are en- Todfe, and
charged with the mission, to settle the recent
difficulty between the British and American au-
thorities at San Juan Island. The Generals
reception San Francisco was very cnthusi-
astic indeed. At this place he was received
with general salute. Himself and Gen. Har-
ney had conference, the result of which is
not known outside of themselves. Gen. Scott
remains here about six hours, and will reach
\ San Juan Island by tomorrow 10 o'clock A. NJ
| BY this steamer we have eastern papers of
\ the goth of Sept, from which we learn that
the steps taken by Gen Harvey in the San Juan
affair were solely of his own judgment, and
without instructions from Washington. Be this
as it may, every good and intelligent citizen
will agree with me in saying that Gen. Harvey
acted in this whole matter justly, equitably
and promptly that he did no more than was
| his bounden duty, las military commander)
under the circumstances.
It was generally understood by both British
| and American subjects on this coast, that the
| treaty of 1916 gave to us the undisputed right
of Juan Island. The Oregon Legislature acting
upon this belief, passed an act Incorporating the
same Island, and makngit part Of Qbeleve)
liking County" also extending over it civil and
military jurisdiction. Subsequently, the Leg
| islature of this Washington Territory, in the
| year 1854, passed an act to establish new lines
| and make new counties. By this act the county
of Whatcom was created and organized, the
boundary lines of which embrace all of the Is
| land of San Juan, with the same laws, &c., as
other counties in this Territory. The action
| of both Legislatures have been recognized by
Congress- or at least Congress has never, to my
| knowledge taken any exceptions to them.
Not until the gold in British Columbia was
discovered, did Great Britain lay any claim TO
that Island. Since the great travel to these gold
| regions, they see the vast importance OF having
| and keeping possession of it. In military point
of view if the possession of this Island is OF so
great importance to England for the defence OF
| her North American Colonies it is more so to us,
asst commands the entrance ofa long line ofcoast
on Puget sound 1t is true, the Island has been
occupied for some time by some traders OF the
Hudson Bay Company, but it is equally true
that there are traders of the same company in
many places of the interior Of California, Ore
ron. and Washington Territory. Therefore,
England could not claim the Island on that
account. The factis, Gov. Douglas, wished to,
and certainly did proclaim the Island as be-
longing to Great Britain, and boldly set ii forth
in proclamation at that time that such was
the case. He did not even hint ut joint occu-
pancy of the disputed Island, at the time Gen
Harvey placed troops thereon, but claimed II
in the name of his Queen.
Prior to the troops being placed there by
Harneys orders, the authorities of II b. Co.
residing on the Island, repeatedly committed
outrages upon the American citizens of the
Island, who were there peaceably cutivating
the soil. In one instance, the head of H. d. Co
and some officials of Vancouver's Island, came
over on purpose to seize, with force, an Amerl-
can, on pretence of killing a hog belonging to
the Company, and take him by force 10 Nicto-
| ria and there be tried under the British laws
mis- gross outrage was resisted. These things
coming to the knowledge Of Gen. Harvey, and
he being satisfied of the necessity of securing
| that nrotection which is due to every American
citizen, acted in the premises promptly, actua-
| ted with no other motive than to give protec'
ton to the rights and property of American citi
zens.
Taking everything into consideration, thu
circumstances under which Gen. Harvey wa'
actuated TO take these steps in garrisoning thu
Island, say he was right and could not havl
done otherwise, and acquitted himself witt
honor, and venture to predict, that when tn
facts are fully developed, il will be obvious t
every intelligent man that the old veteran sol
der was right, and be sustained by the Depart
: ment and community in general notwitllstand
ing the petty malice exhibited through tn
medium Of California paper, by "a Lieut.
TO the contrary.
Matters are at this time, and have been 10
some time quiet, both parties awaiting inslruc
tons from their governments. 1t is not Know