, 1859-03-18
The "SWiss BOyp-22d February, etc

can citizens, residents of Victoria, asking
the privilege of piece OF ordinance to be
used in firing q salute in honor of the
birthday of Gen. WASHINGTON The reply
of the governor, and subsequent proceed,
ings of public meeting relative thereto,
were also then published.
On the first page to-day, will be found
an account given to the San Francisco
He' aid, by Capt. WALDEN, master of the
Stoiss Boy, relating to that vessels spring
ing leak, going into Neitnat Sound in
distress, being plundered and destroyed by
the Indians Of that locality, and the cap
tain and crew being, for a time, retained
as prisoners by the redskins,
Concerning both transactions, as reflect
ed by the procedure of Gov. DOUGLAS, as
Che head of authority in the "fast anchored
ISLE" and of the new colony, north, we ell
dorse, without an erasure or interlnaiion,
the following from the Herald, of San
Francisco, as meeting the lion "'i the
teeth" The irony mnst be forgiven:
r. Her Britannia Majesty's subjects located in the
colony Of British Columbia, have certainly manifold
reasons to be thankful that their destnies are pre-
sided by great and good man as james Doug.
| to show the discretion by which the home govern
ment actuated, when the Hon. James Douglas re-
ceiyed his appointment as governor OF the colony.
The account Of capture, plunder and destruction Of
the American brig SriSs Boy, by Indians, resident u
the territory under the control Of Governor Douglas
published few days aSo-coltains q remarkable in
stance of the lore wisdom and understanding Of that
OIL ,ial. With hGmanity aud discretion alike credr
table to his heart and head he offered to send her II
b. NJ ship Satellite to put Captain Walden in possess
sion OF brig and cargO-when Obtained--alter the
one had been burned and the other plundcred by the
savlges. The generous offer being refused simply be
cause its accomplishment was physical impOsslb-
ty, the modern King Log decided that the brig was
lawful prize to the sayages as she had no right to
ter any harbor of Vancouver Island in Distress other
than port of entry, because was under foreign
hag. "Oh, rare Ben Jonson !" was once remarked
Of that celebrated scholast and had the writer exist
ed in our day, he would doubtless have exclaimed
" Oh, rare Jim Douglas ~ but with totally different
significance We will venture 10 assert that the civ
ilzed world cannot supply another official Of such
profound atainments as Governor Douglas gives fire.
quent Of possessing In proof of this aser
tion it is only requisite to note the steadiast consist
ency of his course in reference to American citi1eas
He holds the savages guiltess for robbng and burn
ing an American vessel in distress, and keeping the
master and crew prisoners for n long time, because
the vessel was in distress, and because the master
was silly enough to believe that the Governor OF Brit
ish Columbia understood the planest and most uni.
versaly recognised maxims of International law,
and would extend 10 him that protection never sought
in vain by mariners in distress except from beasts Of
prey barnarians, Governor Douglas. It Is uniyer
sally conceded that even during the existence Of
rigid blockade, neura vessel in distress has right
70 enter the bockaded port for the purpose Of REPAIRS
but the long residence Of Governor Douglas among
the Indian tribes of British Columbia, must be ac-
eeptcd as his excuse for not knowing dsregarding
this pertinent fact Another instance OF the batba-
rons training to which his Excellency has been so
long subjected is to be found in his reply to American
residents at Vancouver Island asking his approval Of
celebrating the birthday OF George Washington. by
firing a salute. That reply will live upon the page Of
history as ndeble proof Of the retrogressve ciyza.
ton achieved by Gov. Douglas 1t is worthy Of being
preserved In letters Of lead the argument and reason
given for Withholding his consent being 50 lucid, SO
pertinent. conclusive. Governor Douglas through
his Subaltern, replied as follows;
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, VICTORIA, W.
February 2lst, 1859.
| GENTLEMEN ii am directed by Ills Excellency
the Governor, to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of this date, applying to His Excel.
ency for permission to celebrate the " Birthday Of
Gen. George Washington by salute at meridian to-
morrow
In reply thereto, l am to acquaint you that His
Excelancy although possessing the most sincere de-
sire to show especial regard to the memory of so es-
lllnhDlc ana NlluOus gentleman, ana SO llusttOu9
patriot and statesman Washington, does not feel
authorized, even in this case, to depart far from
custom to sanction any public demonstrations Of
any marked character such as the firing Of salutes
public professions through the Streets being under
taken by private individuals
Your most Obedient servant
WILLIAM A. G. YOUNG,
Acting Colonial Secretary
hWho, with the above extracts in view, will say
that the estimate placed upon His ENcelency by the
American Special Agent to British Columbia was not
accurate and just2 Who will deny that His Excel
: ency wasp pet critically weighed in the balance and
just verdict pronounced against himl Where in all
the possessions of Great Britain shall we look for
such another Justice Shallow? When We contem-
plate the true character and genius Of Gov Douglas
rs elected by the recorded ever ts find it difficult
to account for the courtesy of language and generOs
y of tone displayed in the following paragraph OF the
address from tie United States Commissioner to
American residents in British Columbia: Consider
ing the circumstances attending the recent settlement
OF these Colonies 1t was scarcely to be expected that
lwell-regulated Government could be once built up
out of the chaotic elements suddenly thrown together
in such confusion. Much was TO be pardoned to the
inexperience of an Executive hitherto dealing for the
most part with savageS, and possibly unprepared by
previous training for the more refined exgencies i'm
posed by governmental relations with white pOpula
tion much of the cause Of complaints that have
arisen to some extent eXcusabo, because due to
the unlicensed rudeness of the subordinate officers Of
the Hudson Bay Company and the Colonial Govern
mcnt who, by reason OF their long isolation from civ
llLeu society ana thelf haOitua intercourse with III
dians had unearned most Of the finer traits of hu
manity, and were scarcely accountable for q gross
ness OF conduct that had become to them a second
nature and lastly, much was to be excused in the
ignorance and want OF tone of courts organized out
OF such and unfit materials those, the only ones
that were at hand the sudden influx OF the strang
ers In some instances, no doubt, these courts have
fallen short of even the limited expectations justified
by the peculiar circumstances Of their construction
and the strange constituents Of which they
posed. But it is not to be doubted that the British
Government will, without unnecessary dolay, provide
remedies for the evils and abuses arising from this
condition of things-evlls and abuses affecting not
alone the prosperity Of its own subjects, but the
rights Of citizens Of foreign and friendly power'
k BLOCK HousE.-The block house, erected
in this place for the security of its citizens