Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-10-05
Vol XXV.-No. no. TO-" fass 30: .ss,,.
.,tEffI ,.sNibII
The San Juan Difficulty.

The latest intelligence from Washington TeErito=
ry represent the relations between the governments
of Great Britain and the United States as having
been highly critical If the intention of the British
Governor had been carried out collision would
have been inevitable, two of the British vessels
had been ordered to fire; but in the meantime
British Admiral arrived, took command, and coun-
termandcd the orders. ,aitlg4{
The original misunderstanding was with the Hud.
son Bay Company the interests of which were rep,
resented by Governor Douglas. The Island Of San,
Juan had been in the occupancy of the Americans
at least eighteen months, nobody seeming to ques
ton their rights, and for longer period was con-
sidered and treated in all respects belonging to
Washington Territory ~t.
1t was not until Gen. Harvey applied to, and was
informed by Boundary Commissioner Campbell, that
our title to the island clear and certain that he
despatched troops thther at the earnest request of
ish aggression; and especially from the predatory
incursions of Northern Indians who had even taken
and held possession of lighthouse for three days;
and against whom private expeditions had repeated
ly been sent to chastse them. Col. Rankin says
the people of Washington Territory and of the Pa
cifc States unanimous for our retention of the
island of San Juan. And suc! is their enthusiasm,
that if the Uni ed States troops should be directed
to vacate it. private parties, in formidable numbers,
would Immediately occupy that important position.
and not surrender without a severe struggle. But
it is not supposed in Washington that our troops will
be withdrawn, as this would be considered as an
admission that our title is clearly disputable
The VIRGINIA BASKs.-The Charlottesville Adro
cate gives the following Statement: of the condition
of the Virginia Banks, and the reasons for the exist
ing stringcncy in the money market of that State:
"There is then a reduction OF our bank note cir
culation since October /, 1857, of $254l, 7O6 upon
aggregate circulation of 81, 753, 395, being re-
duction of little over twenty five per cent or one
fourth Of the bank-note circulation of the State A
reduction of ten per cent in tie currency of
munlty is seriously felt in commercial affairs. 1t is
therefore not at all surprising that We whose curren-
cy has been reduced twenty five per cent should
be made kccnlv sensitive of the monetary Stringcncy
in all the departments of capital and labor Nor is
this the worst We afraid from all We can learn
that further reduction in our currency may be deem
cd necessary by the bank directors to guard their
interest against the daily recurring 'ruI,S made up
on them by the brokers' of Richmond and Baltimore
This reduction is not due in any degree to Il str;n-
gcncy in the monetary affairs of the country, but is
solely attributable to the operation of the new law,
which requires all the banks to redeem their notes
| in the cities of Richmond and Baltimore. II such
be really the effect of the law, it onght to be repeal
ed at once. On the other hand the anti-bank men
assert that the reduction of circulation by banks has
been made for the purpose of creating monetary
difficulties throughout the State and thereby nhu-
encing the approaching Legislature to repeal the
new law. We think this charge is without much
foundation. At any rate the whole question is one
whose Importance should demand close and tho.
rough examination at the earliest hour of the next
session of our State Legislature"