The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-11-24
from tie NeO York Times.
THE SAN JUAN DISPUTE.

region, has handed us the following concise state.
mrnt "f the basis of our claim.
l. The treaty provides that The boundary shall
run westward along the said forty. ninth par.
alel OF north latitude to the middle of the chan
nei which separates the continent from Vaiico,l.
vcr's island, aud theuce sou,l,erly through the
middle oi the said channel and of Fucas straits to
the Pacific ocean" a glance ut tho map will
show that the Cana! De IInro (near Vnncouver's
islond) in the natural channel and outlet. A
vessel coming through the centre of :he Gulf
of Georgia, from above the 10th parallel, de-
string to go to the Pacific ocean, would move
through the Canal De lIaro. as going at once
routherly and nearest to Nancttver's island
There Is more reason FOR our cluiming Snturnn
island west Of the Canal De iIuro, than for the
British to claim the Archipelago De Ilaro, Us u
good ship channel west of said island.
2. 1t is the widest, shortest, and deepest chan
ncl. The main body Of water runs through il.
Examine the large Coast Survey Map, published
III 1854, Of those waters, with all the soundings,
md you will notice in the Canal De iInro 30
fathonls and no bottom, 75 and no bottom, l5O
and no bottom, throughout the whole of it,
Whereas IN the Straits of Rosario. near I.uinini
island You will See Z and lOfAthoms. No such
sunndinys are found on the other channel. The
general width of the former is nearly twice that
"f the latter, and it Is shorter by at least miles.
We n"tice that Captain Alden of the navy, on
this chart, acknuw lrdgcs that large share of
these soundlngs i'll the Canal De lluro de-
tNtN tuose VI >'Hptill W likes, OI Tile Oni-
ted States navy, made on his exploring exp"di-
ti0n 1912 and lS~4}, some three Years before the
treaty was negotiated We give the date, rs
SEINE w;sracre, in Il London paper, alleges that
the Canal De lIaro had never been nu vigated by
anything larger than ut the date Of tho
treaty.
8. The boundary by the Rosario straits would
be roundabout, unnatural, crescenic, as If a
sweep had been purposrly made to hug the con-
tinent and rake everything into John Bulls
lap.
4. Under the laws Of nations the Islands are
the natural arpen'lagcs of the continent, and not
of Vnnrouvcr's island. This idea is acted upon
by the British Parliament in it's recent legslatiui
II prov idcs that the colony "f Nancouv-r's Is.
land can, by the consent uf its Legislature, be
snerg"d in the colony of British Columbia.
s. The laws Of Oregon Territory, bcf're Wash
lngton Territory was organized, were extended
over these islands ns " Island County," and be-
f"re the Hudson Bay Con.pan had any sheep
pastures Oh San Juan Island. Not until 1852
did that company make their settlement on said
Island. 1t is believed that the whole claim
ia an after thought Of the Hudson Bay Com.
pany.
q. Hon. Loris McLnne. our Minister to Eng
land. wrote TO the Secretary of State on the 1911,
Of May. lS4G. one month before the Treaty was
signed in Washington city, that the basis of n
settlement of The boundary could he made on 'the
i9th rarrllr TO the sea, aud thence through the
Canal De llaro to the Straits Of Fuca 10 the
ocean"
T. The understanding of the Senate, which
ratified the treaty was TO the same effect. The
speeches Of Mr.. Benton and of Mr.. Cass and Of
Others, mention implicitly the Canal De uaro MS
the boundary.
e. 1t was the general understanding through
out the whole country that only Nancouver's
Island was yielded to Great Britain.
With great reluctance did the Government
aud the people come down from 81 deg. 40 min.
to The ~ parallel.
The following extract of n letter from nm Off
Ger of the army gives further information of con-
siderable interest in the same connection:
''The archipelago of islands exhibited on the
chart. and claimcdb the United States, partic-
uIarly that Of San Juan, which visited with tho
General on the LIST Of July last, is very desira
ble not only for its excellent and safe haibor
but is fine forms and abundance of wood and
water. AS the London Times once said il is the
'Cronstadt Of the waters OIL the Sound. And in
fact the whole of Puget's Sound, from the 49th
parallel. north latitude. up to Olympia. is the
finest body Of water in the world. For ships Of
every size and dranght Of water, good anchor.
age and excellent harbors can be found in every
part Of the sound. 1t also contains the finest
forest of timber Large ships from England
and France are here every year for spars 10 sup
ply their navy and merchantmen; and for seven
IN 'nills i'll the year will venture to say il can
not be surpassed for its climate"
COrtimns, the Leader of tie Brownsville A.
snnl.-The New York Times gives the follow
ing statement respecting the leader Of the recent
attacks on Brownsville, in Texas:
Public attention is at this moment diverted
from the outbreak at llarper's Ferry TO one of
another sort i'll the region Of Brownsville, Texas.
healed by Corinas. said TO he a Mexican. The
extent of this guerilla cheftains operation, aud
the pertinncmy with which purs,es his ,nur.
dcrous rlaus. would lead 10 the belief that he is
giving free course to deer-sened and long .smolh.
cred feelings Of revenge. If the information
we have nj hand respecting that man is correct
and we have every reason 10 believe il is-such
is the true state Of the case.
Cortinas is about As years of age, and was
born at a ranch on the Texas side of the Rio
Grande, known as Edinhnrg, SONS ninety miles
above Brownsville. During the Texas war
with Mexico, the family of Cortinas was, accor-
ding 10 his story, robbed and unmerciiuIIy treat
ed by the Americans. Since that period he has
led rather predatory life, sometimes at peace.
but in the main robblng. stealing horses, aud in
various ways evincing his hatred of the whites.
a few Years since, uf his friends or compsn
ions was executed nt Brownsville. and Co:tlna.
himself was imprisoned at thut place eighteen
months ago. and on his escape reIense he VOW
cd signal vengance against the Sheriff and other
ciiens of the town. by whom he considered him
self grievously wronged. /. is in fulfilment of
his oath Of revenge that Cortnas ia now with
lu,
breeds, Indians nnd rufiins Of various grades,
endeavorIng 10 lay waste Brownsville and its
vicinity. This affair does not originate in anv
differing on the part Of Mcxicans OIL the other
side OF the Ri" Grande; and whether Cor,iuas
or any of his hand have in reality experienced
unjust treatment from their fellow citizens in
Texas, we. of course, do not pretend 10 decide
II Is Probable these outlaws will continue the war
upon Brownsville until a strong force arrives.
when they will doubtless fee into Mexico.
Hon. ". w. Boyee.-We had the pleasure of
seeing our esteemed and distinguished Repre-
sentative in tow Tuesday, and h-arino
briefly his views in short address at the Court
House, upon some Of the leading topics of the
day. MIR. Boyce said that msapprehension
of his views has been taken by some of the pa.
pers in tho Stale. BY moGerationn he dnss
not mean submission: lie is unwilling to submit
TO the domination of a Black Republican party,
and upon the election Of President, as tile e..
ponent Of such party, lie is not only for
prompt dissolution Of the Union and Southern
Confederncy, hut, II need be, for separate 30.
cession Of South Carolina from tbs Ee1ar.I IL.