The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-15
THE NORTHWESTERN BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
british Opinion of the American Claim
10 San Juan and-John Bull Again

II appears to be the fate of England and the United
States always to have unfortunate quarrel on hand
Al the commencement century Br,ish Orders
in Council and 'slmpressmen led to sanguinary and
unnecessary war, the results of which were not very
glorious either beigerents. Since then disputes have
occurred between the two countries with respect to the
following ma,ters:-The acquisition Of Cuba, when the
Monroe doctrine first announced; the Maine and
Oregon boundaries the Caroline affair the foreign enlist
ment question, the Bay Islands sovereignty, aud the
Central America generally, and, last of all, that
chronic cause of irritation, the attempted exercise
Of the right of search by this country in time of peace
Fortunately for the happiness OF the world all these dis
putes have been settled by diplomacy but at times the
countries have been the vefy brink Of war. Ia
the winter of 1889 Sir Alan Macnab cut from the Anne
rican territory and destroyed the American steamboat
arms and ammunition to the rebels Navy Island. The
intelligence OF this exploit caused an amount of excite
ment throughout the States which the federal govern
ment had great difficulty in aIlaying Again. in 1916,
President Polk in his first address, cooly recommended
the people Of the United States go war if Eag-
land did not at once settle the Oregon boundary
according TO the views Of the Cabinet Washington.
We mention these two instances N threatened host
es for the purpose OF showing that the proceedings of
General Harvey the OF the North Pacific though
offensive, violent and opposed TO public law-itaisSs
formally adopted By Bichasan-ough. not 10 lead 10
complication chich diplomacy ,cH find itself any mare an
abe 70 arrange than ne many angry disputes IF aohich
eon he Of hs Sif y s sn u sas
be attributed the folly precpancy of the person
who lately acted as United States CORNERSTONE in British
Columbia We allude to Mr.. Nugent who, from the time
of his landing in the colony, has endeavored oment
discord between the British authorities and the American
Harvey to settle tue question by force, and thus to
at defiance tho Instructions of the head of the Ameri
very boundary dispute decared-Thc title ought TO be
settled before either party should exclude the other by
force and then expressed his hope that 'by concla
tory and moderate course on both sides, all difficulties
would be avoided until adjustment Of the boundary
line could be made in mutually satisfactory
AT the present time have repeatedly stated the
English and United States Commissioners have drawn the
line TO the coast of the Pacific and the only question
Which remains to be determined is, whether the line
through the middle of the channel which separates the
continent from yancouvers Island is the Canal de Haro
on the west Of San JUAN or the Straits of Vancouver
St. Rosaiie, to the east Of that island Upon this
point the commissioners cannot agree. What then, is
the course which has heen taken by the American
thorities?
The island Of Juan ha. seized and taken from
the possession the Hudsons Bay Company under the
pretence Of protecting American settlers from the attacks
OF the Indians. We haze hesitation saying that q
more gross and ,eoly jusfalle outrage than The rec,
act Of General Harvey committed upon sope
rgy and dignity Of friendly Power. The insoence Of
s ,y sa, Inc bsa meet on the
broadsdes. Governor Dougacs and Admiral Baynes
fortunately men Of great prudence and nrmness Whilst
asserting the rights Of England they do wish pro-
woke conflict which would be sure TO be misunder
stood in the United States, Mr.. Buchanan
seizure Of the island BY General Harvey act
Justice and awfulness Of which he could support Mr.
Buchanan, it must be remembered, negotiated the treaty
of 1885, he is therefore well acquainted with the subject
and cannot be supposed that during the tendency Of
inquiry to this last portion of the boundary matter
which, the commissioners the spot cannot SETTLE the
TWO cabinets must in some shape other manage
range-SuCh experienced statesmen Mr. Buchanan
General Cass will now sanction the rash and insulting
ceedDgs Of General Harvey. The following will
describe the value of the island Of San Juan the respec
tive couDries-sTo the United States the island really
useless except for purposes Of annoyance eyesore and
impeachment" whilst Great Britain at is " told,
tsof the first importance II is the key to the Gulf
of Georgia 1t commands the narrow channel
through which alone British Columbia and the
inner coast OF Vancouvers Island be approached
We require lit 10 give US right Of access, ingress and
egress to our own possessions, unmosted by another
Power. Both vancouver's Island and British Columbia
had better be given with Juan a
forthcason on this island would command our western
much and TOO enav up g Sorarane Of Eaan sSo
We trust that this dispute, like many others which
have preceded /, will be settled by diplomacy If unortu.
England will take every step TO vindicae the national
honor and dignity and TO show that not foot Of her ter
rtory shall be lched from her, either TO crafty Ameri
cupidy 10 appease American buster. Our trans
atlantic cousins had better watch the progress Of Russian
power in the Pacific than quarrel with their best
and best customers-the people Of England.
From the London Times Sept. 291
We are SO accustomed to territorial disputes with the
American people, in which Engishmen hardly be
brought to take an interest," while their adversaries give
play 10 all the excitement peculiar to them that
hardly be surprised at the which the socaed San
Juan dispute has taken The American papers, per-
haps the American government will judge of the course
most advantageous themselves by tone of public
opinion in England. II is to be feared that the people of
this country immersed in the Of European politics.
will treat the san Juan question they have
treated many Others and that the Cabinet Of wash
ington Twill find the apathy Of British opinion
ter. 1t is with wish to dissension between
kindred nations, or TO be wanting in that courtesy
which charaeterzes modern politics, that we ex.
press hope that this question the government Of Great
Britain uiU be found true to Itself and u those hardy and
trusting ddrsturers Uho, under the supposed protection Of
the British fdg hare spread themselves the globe. We
totally Unsuccessful in conceang from the world that
the habua practice of the English government in yield
ing to every demand of the American government aud
every usurpaion Of American enterprise tends TO lower
the esteem in which the Of Britain held and the
eject on the dependencies OF the English s far
more important than any notion which may be encou-
ragged in the minds Of Frenchmen Russians The
Is that the government and people of the United States
by concentrating their whole power and ali the We.
hemeDce OF their disposition on the politics of their
continent, have been able win ad yantages over
the mother country, which, however little they may
felt at heme are not without the very greatest coct on
the subjects of the British crown in North America
There may be something radically wrong IN the relation
which the colonies of this country bear TO the parent
by more than one disciple Of the Manchester school,
There may be no reason why we, the inhabitants Of an
island on the northwestern shores Of Europe should rou
BILE ourselves with the Of few at the dis
Of many thousand miles, but long we pre-
tend to the supremacy over great empre-as lang as
Canada and Oregon and British Columbia look up 10 tie
protection Of our fleets and drms-as lone send out
governors and secretaries. generals and regments-so
shores Of tie Pacific much If the French Emperor had
declared against as, and apere fighting for the leadership
With respect to the right the island Of San Juan
not here called upon to pronounce dogmatcaly The
evidence to our thinking, ncines strongly in favor Of
England There can be doubt that the ''channel''
which used in 1885, the period Of the treaty
which placed the island under the dominion Of Great
that since that time another channel has been used by
steamers and has become equally well known with the
former But that the question ought to be what the
channel within the meaning OF the treaty Of 184S Is plain
enough However, the dispute s like another dispute
enc 70 be settled by negotiation where scientific
measurement and legal Interpretation have failed.
u Is the act Of General Harvey, OF the United
States army which has caused the great complication
In this matter This officer, not content 70 allow
matters 10 remain In the state as during the last
thirteen years. or even TO wait while the question was re-
ferred home 70 the two governments thought proper to
take military possession Of the island, issue proc
lamaon establishing the law Of the United states and
commanding the payment Of the regular customs duties
levied ut the ports of the republic II appears thai Tho
Americans, In their usual manner had been TALKING az
their undoubted right TO The island and their determine
iss cbaracerisiIc moderation Of Enash ae no
been holding back from making anything more than n
verbal claim AT last however, the intentions Of the
Americans were no longer in doubt They laid in large