The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-05
THE SAN JUAN ISLAND DIFFICULTY


IN comparison with which the Maine and former Oregon
questions will appear tring and contemplate We need
only refer 10 the significant fact saied-namey
that at the date OF the last advices "there three
British and four American men of war at San Juan
What do the Americans want with large force in those
seas The object must we suspect, be something more
important than 10 give protection to American subjects in
British Columbia. Governor Douglass concluded his
message by announcing that "her Majestys ships Tr
hume and Plumper had been ordered to land deiach
of royal engineers and marines for the protection
or Brush subjects, and that the officer in command has
been ordered TO be concaory but firm in maintaining
British rights. We say nothing about the fifty Ameri
cans on shore; but it possible that the four American
men-ofwar, in spite of the Cancellation Of the senior
British officer, may oppose the landing. II is stated
though not believed, that British steamer had opened
fire upon the Americans Should any untoward event
bake place the people Of the United States will be ur
susy enraged against this country; and Mr. Blu chanan,
whose Presidency has not been very brilliant dis.
angrshed may leave to his successor the legacy OF
unjust and unnecessary complication which the most
ctory and firm diplomacy may fail in solving The ques
ton Of course has excited great interest and excitement
n British Columbia and Vancouvers Island We told
that great number Of Americans and English hearing
oi the dispute, have started for san JUAN We trust that
the officers OF the mcnofwar of the will see
the absolute necessity Of preventing the landing
OF these men. new and disgraceiu chapter
MINERS of California should be permitted to settle
even for time, question affecting the territorial
boundaries of two of the greatest States the world Tn
der the circumstances Gov. Douglass appears have
adopted the only that open him The con.
dact of Gen. Harvey, the other hand has been totally
opposed 10 the first principles of public law England and
the United States claim the Island OF San Juan-n island
which Of the utmost Importance from its military posi-
II
TINS right only be determined by the iuerprea-
non OF treaties and by the actual marking of the boun-
DIARIES which at present only exist upon the astronomical
parallel General Harvey disregardng the right of dis
coverydisregardng the fact that The boundaries are
a. the present time in process Of ascertainmenthas
chosen 10 take the law into his hands. II be
hoped that he has exceeded the instructions wet the
wishes Of bis own government The proper course would
be the question arbitration of some third
Power This, everybody knows, done il reference
10 abe Maine boundary but the United states most unfair
ly refused to obey the award Of the King the Neither
In he afn
further arbitration. t. however. the act of General
Harvey should not be- 6savowea biz ;he Cabnet n
Washington, trust that the British government will
take immediate and ciectuai vndcate the right
Of this country to territory small in extent but impor
tans in position which believe belongs ii by disco
very well by treaty The Americans have hitherto
been successful in their negotiations with this country
that exhibition OF military force for the purpose
ritoral aggrandisement would be wholly unne-
Cessary The Ashburon eapulaton gave them the best
part OF the present state of Maine and Rouses Pont-a
most valuable military post; and Lord Aberdeens com
promise Of the Oregon dispute, in 1916, gave them large
district which was undoubtedly British, and still left IN
aeiermned mat general question Of boundary one of the
incidents OF which diplomacy has now to consider and
We would fam hope, witt be left to adjust.
From the Manchester Guardian cotton organ) Sept 20
The New York HERALD indeed gTandly announces
that San Juan is particularly important in military
point view, commanding the Straits Of Fuca and the
navigation of the Georgian Cuff which is doubtless rs
true az il would be to say that Jersey commands The
British Channel and the navigation Of the German
ME Herald at the same time conveys TO another piece
Of intelligence which reminds OF those monStrous
canards which the French newspapers always hat IL
ing about the conversion Of The rock Of Perrin into
another Gibraltar. . In fact" says New York
contemporary, the propriety Of terrifying the island
and making il second cronstadt has been re-
Gently discussed in Engbnd," Really, if there be
any foundation for this statement what for the
culpabe remssness Of government in negecting
Mace even corporaIs guard on this invaluable island
and letting il be ANONYMOUSLY captured by company Of
American soldiers and annexed to the United Staess The
fact however, that not one Ensshman out Of one
hundred thousand knew that such island existed and
q those who did know H. not in hundred cared
siraws whether it belonged TO- or was occupied by Eng
land or the United States.
will Of course, be urged in defence Of the British au-
horites that they were quite unprpared for the bold
stroke by which General Harvey has endeavored
TO his country the dominion Of the Northern Pacific.
And. indeed, when the matter is calmly considered,
the American generals exploit seems 70 have been nothing
more than one oil those acs d piracy oy which the
lawless representatives Of the United States
toned to settle their disputes with their and
barbarous neghbors but which Is time they should be
taught that they cannot safely indulge IN against powerful
and civilized nations. We DO not propose at presentor
that would require fuller and accurate information
than possessto pronounce decided opinion the
merits Of the original question 10 which Of the two
lions has the treaty right to the possession Of san Juan
The first article Of the treaty of 1876 concerning the
gon boundary lays down that the line of boundary be-
he territories Of her Britannia Majesty and those Of
the u ted States shall be continued westward asng the
forty ninth parallel Of north latitude to the middle of
the channel which separates the continent from
vancouvers Island, and thence sontherly through
the middle of the said channel and Of Fuca's
Straits 10 the Pacific Ocean" The natural construc.
ton OF the language Of this article is, that by the word
sschannei' is meant the whole body Of water between
the Continent and Nancouyers island and as san Juan
by all accounts lies TO the westward middle
This channel the inference is that belongs the British
But the Americans assert that the channel pocu
OF IN the treaty y that which runs not between vancou
YER island and the Continent bur between the former
place and San Juan and of If this Interpretation
be accepted the island ia dispute, lying altogether the
east of the channel, is properly claimed BY the Aner-
To US the argument advanced by the United states
seem 10 be based on a mere bubble and is clear
that the island, being valueess by their confession
except for offensive purposes is demanded by the Amer
cans in an unfriendly spirit, this is evidently one
OF those matters in which we cannot wthol,
dSh0UDr 4 Dp-r tbora
real grounds for doubling what the true nearing OF
the treaty With that fairness and modepaton however
which government always shows in controversies with
the government of the United States England consented
when the discoveries Of gold in British Columbia
affair of consequence to define the boundary
refer the matter to commissioners and till these gave
their award Governor Douglas, though he had
whelming British force his disposal ordered
fain from attempting prejudice the question by sezn
the island in the OF his sovereign. With this in
junction Governor has strictly complied The fedora
government at Washington instructions at the
time TO their representatives i'll Oregon to observe tn,
most concilatory demeanor towards the British auhori
ties. We how the republican government IS obcyet
by It's servants In the beginning OF last month Genera
barney sent company Of American troops to san Juan
who occupied the island proclaimed it to be part Of be
territory of the United States, and exhored its citizens
10 obey laws bu, those Of the States Although natu
rally rri,ated by this mpudcnt atteppt the part
Sixty men, whom he had soldiers enough at handto GA
pieces 70 upset by violence solemn treaty, Governor
Dougass seems have acted with the utmost orbcarance
.alng purely defensive measures and refusing t.
nu pIsh troops on the island till he had taken precau
lions to prevent the collision which the American com
10 be seen whether the federal government will sane.
zion the silly and reckless conduct OF General Harney
or whether the British Governor IS Justified hi be.
believing that this " unwarrantable and uncourteous
act, contrary TO the usages Of civilized nations ba
originated in and been without The an
th0rity of that government The NEw YoRK HERALD
coolly declares that II ''presumes" General Hirncy's
movements Sin obedience 10 iustrrc,ione
and for the purpose Of bringing the affair sucn II
seems not 10 strike the American journalist that oycr
Douglass had been hasty man, the Generals mode
Of "bringing the affair 10 issuen might have caused
between two powerful nations is IL apparently
thought Of the sghcst mameMt That n Tho nm.