The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-05
(Rou, the Boston Past.
The Occupation of San Juan.

Vancouyer's Island was supposed to iorn
! part of the main land until 1888, when the
CAPTAIN of an American vessel sailed through
the channel which separates it from the con-
tinent; and in 1892, when Vancouver visited
it, the present name was given. The bounda-
nv line settlement Of the forty-ninth parallel
OF latitude, if run straight, would have cut OF
the South part Of Vancouver; but as Great
Britain had occupied the island, it was agreed
it should belong TO this power. Hence the
forty-ninth parallel was fixed as the line as.
follows We cite from the 1916 treaty -
westward, along the said forty ninth par
allel of North latitude, to the middle Of the
channel which separates the continent from
Vancouver's Island; and thence Southerly
through the middle of said channel and OF
Fuca's Straits, to the Pacific Ocean; Prov
ded, however, that the navigation Of the whole
of said channel and straits, South OF the forty
ninth parallel of North latitude, remain free
and open to both parties"
The line dotted on the map, according To
this description, leaves the Islands of San Juan
and Others to the United States, and they are
SO coored as our territory. One Of these II
San Juan, and of course the line leaves the
whole of Vancouver to GRAFT Britain I h.
channel which makes this division is the
Haro Strait the middle of which is laid dow
in the maps as the line. But between this
island of j uan or Bellevue and the main land
there is another channel, the Rosario Straits
and if this be the line it will throw the San
Juan Island TO the British, and thus they con
tented for this line.
This first named strait is termed Canal de
Haro. 1t is ten miles longer than Rosario
strait and is also wider, while the volume Of
water passing through it is greater and the
current is stronger. The Rosario strait has
long been used by the vessels Of the Hudson'S
Bay Company. The main island between
these straits, San Juan or Bellevue, has an
extensive fishery and is place of great resort
for the Indians. ~ consider the island be-
tween Canal de Haro and Rosario strait q
United States surveyor, las fitted sonly for
limited settlement, there being little arabic
land great scarcity of fresh water. They
can be used as fishing depots, and coal, per
haps, exists on some of them. The Hudson's
Bay Company has settlement on Bellevue
Island"
From the above citation from the 1916
treaty, it will be seen that our conte mporaries
who quote the term middle Of the main chan
nel," as from the 1916 treaty, are not correct,
there being no such term in the treaty; but the
description is more definite. The term lis the
channel aohich separates the continent from, Tas-
.coares's Lslasld.n ard the sizsElo question Is,
are sBelIevue IslaBd Sxnd- voncouyerss the
same or are they two islands and been e.
was so named p? If the latter be the case and
Great britain intends to abide by plain treaty
| stpulatlons we do not see how she can claim
San Juan or Bellevue Island; in the treaty.
| Though the name Of the channel is not speci-
| lied, yet the place indicated is as plain as a
turnpike. 1t is not the channel that separates
Bellevue Island from the continent of course
carrying this island and all other islands North
and West Of it, including Vancouver's; but il
is the strait that separates KdRcouUer's Island.
of course leaving all the islands South and
East of the channel to the United States.
The only argument Great Britaian has is
that San Juan is part of Vancouver's Islands
or rather a mere appendage of Vancouvers;
just as Great Britain affects to hold that Rua-
tan, in Central America, is an appendage to
her Belize territory, or her old right to cut
and dry log wood, and so exercises sovereign
ty over it. On the other hand, our authori-
ties hold that this San Juan is no mere appen-
dage, out and out independent island with
separate name, and which is United States
territory Here is order number one ola Uni
ted States officer stating this fact -
Military Post, San Juan Island, W. H.
July q, 1859.
lOrder No. l.
l. In compliance with others and instruc-
ton from the General Commanding, military.
post will be established On this IslaplA -.
whatever site the commanding officer may ST.
lect.
2. All the inhabitants of the island an, ~
quested to report at once to the commandinc
officer in case of any incursion by the North
ern Indians, so that he may take such steps
as he may deem necessary to prevent any
future recurrence Of the same.
). This being United States territory. nc.
laws, other than those of the United States
nor Courts, except such as arc held by yirtu,.
Of said laws, will be recognized or allowed on
this island. By orderof
CAPTAIN PICKETT.
James W. Forsyth, Second Lieut., Sixth
Infantry Post Adiutant