The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-11
The San Juan Dispute.

The San Juan Dispute.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Much has been said relation to San Juan Island, now
in dispute between Great Britain and this country The
matter however, should be looked upon calmly, until tho
whole facts made known 10 the people Of both nations
because important questions between nations-ke mpor
tant matters between individuals have many ways of ad
us.ment Some prefer arbitration, law, and others
TO fight ii out But there be doubt but this
try will exhaust every honorable means rather than re-
sort to the latter therefore great should be taken by
the people, and the press particular of both countries
not to msead create feelng, but stick to facts, and
the result Of honorable settlement, one can be
had The object of my writing this to lay before the
public such facts in possession, and to show as
believe, the absurdty of the British claim well as to
show up the parties fault-havng often been the
territory dispute long before Gov Douglass of vancou
vers Island, took upon himself to exercise jurisdiction
San Juan and the other islands, before he attempted
10 land stock and make there and being also
well acquainted with Gov. Douglass and his history from
boy hood and believing that statement of facts may be
read with interest the people Of both nations In the first
place. when the treaty of s46 progress the United
States claimed all of yancouvers Island, being within
the distance Of the continent which gave her the right
it, but afterwards agreed 10 fix on the 49h parallel
the final settlement for the boundary between the two
nations but when they to follow the 10th parallel
westnto the Pacific they found through vancouvers
Island and would leave all OF the most important part Of
il in the American waters. Members OF the hiudsons
Bay Company found in possession Of the south por
ton Of the island ct that hme and we'll they knew i'm
potance TO Great Britain. The south end Of Vancouvcrs
Island forms the whole north side Of the entrance Of the
Straits Of Juan de Fuca 50 that vessels catering the
Straits OF De fuca ana oand 10 any OF the ports Of Pa
get sound Washington Territory Victoria Fraser
river or ports in British Columbia, must enter between
Cape Flaiery, the south, or American side, aud Van
COVERS Island on The north The distance acrosson
Ighsh SIDE eight or ten miles, and there
other entrance TO PUGET Sound, Washington Territory
TO Victoria or Fraser river, IN British Columbia, except
20 around The north end Of Vancouvers Island,
lance Of some three hundred niles the north which Is
exceedingly dangerous navigation; therefore, TO get 10
any OF the ports ia Puget Sound Washington Territory,
or TO Victoria. on Fraserriver, IN British Columbia,
sells must enter and sl up the Straits Of Juan DE- Fuc
nac the treaty Ct 1876 continued the boundary line
along the 49,h parallel 10 the Pacific Ccca, included
cation 10 the British Columbia would have been
through American waters, except those that would
ure around the north end OF vancouver's Island.
may be easily eeen VIVA, great importance II T.
England 10 lave he. navigation md footho'i the Straits
OF Juan De Faca The people Of either nation knew but
Little Of the geography &c the importance Of that portion Of
the west coast ut tho time Of the frosty of 1885, except
members of the Hudfnn Bay Cor pany the paths now
at fault sole the pre- III dispute 1t pretty
well kIwn, ly Ios' OF the commercial and political nsr
OF England ano the United States who and Whist the Hud
sons Bay Company are. But Tor the benefit Of
not know viii that their treat wealth ia derived
from the sales 4 fs ana skins animals Tach they pro-
cure on tits tnert ara their influence in Eagand and
4 y
20 he ID that vas tier knowiedge Of the mportancs
OF tie south end o; VancoiTers Stand in connection
tie navigation Of the Straits OF Juan De Fucs
Britain at the time o the settlement OF the treaty of 1915
that caused gland au6 the Hudsons Bay Company pull
fur over the OF the people Of the United States ard
deprive them OF their most import cossessons This is
the whole secret end Hcdson's Bay influence and intrigue
is the cccr- Of al the present dispute.
We all kIow that Nancoaver's Island belongs 10 EGG
land Bat how comes she 10 claim san Juan apd al
othsr group OF Islands lying between that isAi. and the
cor,Aent south 4sth parallel? must De plain 70
lei
Yapcouvers Island ad the continent, must bsloog tho
Continent froIn the fact that yanconvers Island beooged
| 10, it only gwen up England by tie terms ~
the treaty OF ls46 The words Of the treaty plain
simple, TO my mind, and says "that the i,ac shall
| extend along the 49ih parallel TO the o.
the charmed that divides Vaacouvers Island from
The conIncntn It Goes not say Vaneouyer's sar
Juan AID all tbG groap Of islands, bat simply says
40 the GENRE o. the channel Tat divides Vancouvers
Island from the continent
Some seven eight years ago. when in conversation
with Governor Douglass, at Victoria, mentioned 10 him
that nlbcr Of American citizens making locations
on San ) nn AID lie other islands. He was much OPP
posed TO having Americana 50 rear hs settlement u Vic
oria as il wouId interfere with his traffic with the In
diars and take away the men who were employed by
the HUdsons Bay Company IN England aud there
| serve numter OF years, with compensation OF from
sixty to eighty dollars per annDn. He also his
opinion that all the territory north Of the Conoa river
belonged by right to Great Britain and the United
States had no enae cams on the Pacific, pl what
they obtained from Mexico soon after this con
ton, Governor Douglass commenced he said, ia the
name OF Great Britain aad the Hudsons Bay Com
| papy. hlibusteIing expedition, and one OF
1 III
number Of men, hnned them San joan, and
commenced make Improvements that island.
This TOOK place N the latter part Of the aad fall Of
\ 1852 Mr.. Douglass this continent when quits
YOUTH some forty years ago rapper in the employ
Of The IIIdsoDs Bay Company, ana has but tls Of
what is called civilized life until quite lately and al
though perfect gentleman 10 address STILL
having been long amongst Indians, he possesses all
peculiar art Of the dian deceive Strangers
so tina. almost all who visit him misled and kave
much pleased with the man-unless they have business
such nature as TO draw him out His cunning and pcrse
1 verance made him governor aud chief factor in the
Hudsons Bay CompaDy's service ami their influence got
him appointed by be Governor the colony
OF Varceuvers Island, thereby serving two masters at
i the same time, and just the sort of for
! tool TO both. His first commission however az
| Governor, the part Of the crown, located him
on Vancouvcr's Island that being the only spot
toned in the articles Of agreement between
HudsoDs Bay Company, which knowo the colony
Vapcouvers Island Neither San Juan, any other terri
tory mentioned at that time 10 their agreement,
Gov. Douglass commission. And Is PLAIN be
that the whole OF this Mbusterog San Juan scheme
has been concocted 70 obtain OF the United States another
slice Of her territory well greater inu-
| ence for members Of the Hudsous Bay Company and
others in power in EDgandp Such my belief aud will
leave 70 the people Of the two nations gay how far
| am right PACIFIC.